The history of thePokemon Trading Card Gamespans multiple eras with new gimmicks and mechanics being introduced alongside new Pokemon to mix things up every few years. In the games, one of the most popular gimmicks is Mega Evolution and this comes from the rough diamond of a region known as Kalos.
With Kalos fan service being brought back into both the TCG and the video games withPokemon Legends: Z-A,it is a great time to take a look back on one of the TCGs best but least popular eras. The XY era had some gorgeous cards that have gone under the radar for far too long, but that may not be for much longer.
Cards have been chosen both based on their price and the likeliness that they will see a price increase with upcoming releases. All prices have been taken from the cards’TCGPlayermarket price, which are subject to change.
10Professor Sycamore: Steam Siege (Ultra Rare, 114) – $9.03
Why Isn’t The Professor Researching?
Kalos is full of colorful characters and none are as suave and brilliant as the professor who might be interested in your Poke-mother, Professor Sycamore. This card was one of the originalProfessor’s Research cardsbefore the effect was unified under the name. Professor’s Research is still printed in many sets, since it has become a card no deck can play without and this full art has historical value as the start of it all.
Supporter full art cards have always been cheap, but from the Sword & Shield era onwards there has been a price increase for specific characters. Considering the popularity of Professor Sycamore and the legacy of this card, this card could become quite valuable. While his role may have been replaced in Z-A it’s likely that he will reappear in the Mega Evolution series expansions due to his ties with Kalos.
9AZ: Phantom Forces (Ultra Rare, 117) – $16.80
The Legend Himself
Anyone who has playedPokemon X & Ycan tell you that AZ is more than just a one-off side character. Being integral to Kalos’s story and lore, AZ has lived for thousands of years searching for his special partner, Eternal Flower Floette. Continuing his connection to Kalos, he is seemingly going to play an equally big role in Legends: Z-A too, and was even one of the first characters shown off.
AZ is an intriguing character and considering we never got to know the full extent of his history, there is so much more we may see from him in both the future and the past of Pokemon games. Being included in Legends: Z-A ensures that more AZ content is on the way, and he may even get more cards, sparking interest in this card as it was his very first card.
8Dragonite EX: Evolutions (Ultra Rare, 106) – $23.40
A New Form Means New Fans
With the reveal of Mega Dragonite coming to Legends: Z-A, this popular cutie is likely to become even more popular. The set Evolutions is considered one of XY’s best and while the Generation One starters overshadow all other cards, it makes ones such as this majestic Dragonite EX full art fairly cheap, despite how popular Dragonite is.
XY Evolutions was a set that was released for the TCG’s 20th anniversary alongside another festive set, Celebrations. Evolutions focused on only the very first set and this was a massive hit. Collectors still adore many of the cards from this set but, like most full-art cards, this Dragonite deserves to be worth more. The Mega giving it more relevance in modern times might just do the trick.
7Lysandre: Flashfire (Ultra Rare, 104) – $26.59
A Powerful History In The TCG
Almost all of Lysandre’s cards have left an impact on the TCG and while Lysandre’s Trump Card is a well-known banned card, this one is much less known and could see a resurgence for its history. This card has the ability to switch your opponents' Active Pokemon for one of their Benched Pokemon which sounds awfully familiar… That’s because it is one of the first printings of Boss’s Orders before it existed.
Boss’s Orders has gone on to become one of the TCG’s most annoying and powerful cards and any modern player can instantly run in fear the second they see it. Lysandre may have been a questionable villain in XY alongside his pathetic Team Flare grunts, but his excentric anime villain energy made him memorable to X & Y players and horrific for TCG players and this card is unique for being so up-close.
6Volcanion EX: Steam Siege (Secret Rare, 115) – $28.00
The Loreless Mythical
Volcanion is one of the weakest Mythicals in terms of lore and history that we know of as it has rarely been explored in games or even in other media. This has also led to it becoming one of the least popular Pokemon having very few cards to its name to top off the pain even further on the poor thing.
Volcanion did get an illustration rare inJourney Togetherwhich may have made more people aware of its existence, but it still did not help it gain more fans. With Z-A however, Volcanion might finally get its chance to show why it is even a Mythical. It may even get another EX card in the Mega Evolution expansions if it does get its long-time-coming spotlight.
5M Kangaskhan EX: Flashfire (Secret Rare, 109) – $31.83
A Second Chance
Unlike the other secret rare Mega cards from the XY era, this one is currently relatively cheap for being such an old card with the highest rarity of its set. Kangaskhan, while iconic, does lack the same die-hard fan base that many Generation One Pokemon have, and it often gets left in the middle as not a forgettable Pokemon but not a huge favorite either.
With more Mega cards being released, we have already seen fans starting to get nostalgic for the older, simpler style ofMega cards.The bold Japanese text makes these cards stand out among other EX cards. While the secret rare XY Mega cards use the exact same art, the gold trim on the border and Japanese text make them a subtle yet a wonderful way to make the rarest cards feel more like a collectible.
4M Diancie EX (XY Promo, 44) – $32.95
The Mistreated Mythical
Mega Evolution was introduced in Generation Six, but despite this, the only Pokemon to get a Mega from the same Generation was Diancie. This Promo card is one of Diancie’s few cards and, while the art isn’t anything all too special, Diancie is a Pokemon that has been dormant and waiting for its chance to sparkle.
Diancie is currently one of the most sparse Mythical Pokemon having its last distribution, the main series being in its introductory Generation all the way back in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. Diancie will likely get a small event in Z-A, like Shaymin and Darkrai did inLegends: Arceusand despite how limited Diancie has been, it is popular, and soon it will get a chance to shine again.
3M Venusaur EX: Evolutions (Full Art, 100) – $38.73
Overshadowed For Too Long
While Charizard cards are always on top of the market with their ridiculously inflated prices for such a boring Pokemon the other two Generation One starters are never far behind. Both Blastoise and Venusaur are incredible Pokemon that deserve better, but at least they get to benefit from the ever-burning flame of Charizard.
One of the main cards that is being highlighted in the grand return of Mega Pokemon to the TCG is the giant plant toad itself, Mega Venusaur. While this old card from Evolutions can’t compare to the illustration rare from the new era, it is a relic of nostalgia. Since it is from a highly-regarded set, thanks to its nostalgic throwbacks, this card will likely become one of Venusaur’s most prized as more time passes.
2Gardevoir EX: Steam Siege (Secret Rare, 116) – $80.83
Fan-Favorite Privileges
Being a Pokemon as popular as Gardevoir means that nearly every era of the TCG has printed countless cards featuring the fan favorite, but none have ever come close to being as menacing as this one. The artwork has a stunning lineless style done by Mitsuhiro Arita and even features Yveltal to cement it as an iconic XY era card.
At the time, the expansion that this card is from,Steam Siege,was widely hated as one of the worst of the era for countless reasons, despite having some quality cards. Now as we return to the Kalos region in the modern era, it’s likely that all the hate for Steam Siege will shift gears into love as the set does have some brilliantly hidden gems such as this one.
1Gyarados EX: BreakPoint (Secret Rare, 123) – $126.72
Raging For More
The XY era adored Shiny Gyarados as not only did it get this secret rare card, but it was even the face of the BreakPoint expansion. This is not all, as it also got a Mega EX in this set, while the base Gyarados was one of the few Mega Pokemon thatnever got a cardin the XY era. This rare card not only features Gyarados but also Greninja, who has gone on to be one of theTCGs most valuablePokemon.
Being a Generation One Pokemon gives Gyarados even more popularity, and in the modern era we have even seenMagikarp cardsreach unbelievable prices. With its edgy Mega Evolution returning, this card is likely to follow suit in value as all the pieces in place for it to become as valuable as a modern illustration rare card, as it is practically the blueprint for their introduction to the TCG.
