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Let's take a trip down memory lane and look at the most expensive cards of the Pokemon TCG Sword & Shield era. The last set to be released in the Sword & Shield series was Crown Zenith, making a total of 15 different Pokemon TCG sets released within a 3 year period!
With Scarlet & Violet series now underway, it's interesting to go back and look at some of the most expensive cards from previous eras. Sword & Shield series happened to also coincide with a late Pokemon TCG Boom, where product became scarce and prices skyrocketed.
Sword & Shield was the first set released in the SWSH series on February 2020, concluding with Crown Zenith on 20th January 2023. There were also some special sets released in between, including Pokemon Celebrations and Pokemon GO sets, which we won't be including in this list.
This list is based on prices at the time of writing this article, so the prices can definitely fluctuate over time.
Check out the Top 50 Most Expensive Pokemon TCG Cards from our database.
Most Expensive Pokemon TCG Sword & Sheild Era Cards
Umbreon VMAX
Set: Evolving Skies
Evolving Skies was one of the best sets released in the Sword & Shield era, featuring four different cards that make this list. The best of the bunch is the Umbreon VMAX card, currently going for over a staggering $600.00+! Nicknamed the Moonbreon, this card showcases one of the most popular Eevee Evolutions in an amazing scene illustrated by Keiichiro Ito.
Evolving Skies is said to have some of the worst pull-rates, so combine this with super-rare and popular cards, it's no wonder this card is one of the most expensive!
Rayquaza VMAX
Set: Evolving Skies
Rayquaza VMAX is second in this list, hitting the lofty heights of $400.00+ when sold on external markets. Rayquaza is always a fan-favourite legendary Pokemon from the Generation III era, combined with Evolving Skies having many incredibly pulls, makes this card a stand out to pull.
Giratina V
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Set: Lost Origin
Lost Origin is one of the later sets in the Sworld & Shield series and the top pull from the set is the Giratina V card. The amazing artwork by Shinji Kanda is what probably propells it over $300.00 and the fact it is an alternative art rare card.
Blaziken VMAX
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Set: Chilling Reign
Surprisingly, Chilling Reign has lots of amazing artwork card, including the 3 galarian versions of the legendary birds: Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno. But none of them make this list as the Blaziken VMAX hits over $250.00! This secret rare alt-art card has a vibrant artwork that makes it the top pull in the Chilling Reign set.
Charizard VMAX
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Set: Champion's Path
Surprisingly it took us this long to find a Charizard card in our top cards to pull. The Charizard VMAX Rainbow Rare from Champion's Path has managed to keep it's value above $200.00 and it was released in 2020! Rainbow Rares lost a lot of their "glam-pull" due to the amazing alt-art shown in other cards.
Lugia V
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Set: Silver Tempest
The Lugia V of Silver Tempest is the top pull of this second-to-last released set in the Sworld and Shield era. When the set was first released this card was hitting highs of $300+ but now the market has time to calm down the card now goes for a respectable $200.00. Lugia is a legendary Pokemon from Generation II and even features in it's own Pokemon Movie: The Power Of One.
Charizard V
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Set: Champion's Path
Another Charizard from Champion's Path makes our list of most expensive cards from Sword and Shield era. This one has the Shiny artwork seen in sets like Shining Fates and Hidden Fates. Other cards in the Champion's Path barely break $10, so the two Charizards dominate it by a large margin.
Sylveon VMAX
Set: Evolving Skies
The Eevee Evolutions from Evolving Skies all make our top list, with most of them going for between $180-$200 each. Evolving Skies is one of the most expensive sets to collect if you're buying singles; even the Booster Boxes have surged in price after the initial release.
Leafeon VMAX
Set: Evolving Skies
In Japan, Evolving Skies was known as Eevee Heroes set and many fans imported the product before Evolving Skies was released into the UK because they were so excited to pull the Eevee Evolution cards. Leafeon VMAX is the fourth most expensive card in the Evolving Skies set.
Charizard V
Set: Brilliant Stars
Brilliant Stars gets a mention in this list with it's amazing Charizard V artwork. Sword & Shield released a lot of Charizard cards, so it may have been fatigue that Charizard cards are not topping this list; there was even a special Charizard Collector's Edition set released that came with three different Charizard cards!
Glaceon VMAX
Set: Evolving Skies
Glaceon makes the bottom of our list, but it is still an expensive card going for over $180.00! If Pokemon makes Evolving Skies booster boxes more accessible, the price of these cards could come down to make them more obtainable.
Gengar VMAX
Set: Fusion Strike
And finally, Gengar VMAX from Fusion Strikes rounds off our list. With a price of $180+ it is nothing to be sneezed at; in fact Fusion Strikes also has an Sylveon card that goes for $170+ that could easily have made this list too.
Have Your Say
What cards do you think will become the most expensive in the future? Do you see the prices declining or becoming higher as we move onto the Scarlet & Violet series? Let us know in the comments.
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