With the V and VMAX mechanic coming to a close with the Pokémon TCG’s Sword and Shield sets, the most valuable of them can now be assessed.
As the end of the Pokémon Trading Card Game’sSword and Shield era nears, so too does the (possibly temporary) end of V and VMAX cards. In the tabletop adaptation of the Gigantamaxing mechanic, V and VMAX cards feature some of the strongest, most expensive Pokémon in the series. Though V and VMAX cards can all find value on the battlefield, a few have risen above the others in the marketplace.
This is to be expected for V and VMAX cards. V cards have higher HPs than their regular forms, can be played immediately like Basic cards, and can potentially possess stronger moves or abilities than they regularly have. VMAXs evolve from V cards with even higher HPs and better moves. On top of this, many V and VMAX cards come with Alt Art and Secret Rare alternates that make them both rarer and more appealing. Between their abilities in battle, their scarcity, and their designs, V and VMAX cards have everything Pokémon TCG collectors are looking for.
V & VMAX Cards Are Nearly Equal In Price In The Pokémon TCG
Though it might be expected for VMAX cards to sell at a higher price than their lesser V counterparts, the two actually usually sell for the same price, except in a few cases. The marketplace for the Pokémon TCG is turbulent, but generally speaking, three traits tend to guarantee a card having value: being nostalgic (e.g., being an Eeveelution), being a Legendary, and/or being a Secret Rare or Alt Art. The most valuable of these V and VMAX cards all have at least two of these traits.
The Most Expensive V Cards In The Pokémon TCG
The most expensive V card in the Pokémon TCG is leaps and bounds ahead of its peers. TCGPlayer lists Giratina V (Alt Art)'s market price at $266.52. This makes Giratina V not only the most expensive V card but also one of the most valuable Pokémon TCG Sword and Shield series cards. YouTuber Ptcgradio even lists it as one of the most valuable Alt Arts. Given its haunting alternate design and legendary status, the card was bound to be an expensive one.
Following Giratina V is Charizard V (Alt Art). TCGPlayer reports this card as having a market price of $173.78, but it generally sells for $20 more than that. Charizard cards tend to be expensive (the pocket monster broke the record for the most expensive Pokémon TCG investment), so its Alt-Art V card's value is expected. Less expected is the third most expensive V card, Aerodactyl V (Alt Art). TCGPlayer lists Aerodactyl V as having a market price of $120.72. While Aerodactyl harbors nostalgic value for some players, its market price surpassing those of VMAX Eeveelutions is an anomaly in the Pokémon TCG community.
The Most Expensive VMAX Cards In The Pokémon TCG
The most expensive VMAX card is also the most expensive card from Pokémon TCG's Sword and Shield sets. Umbreon VMAX (Alt Art) is listed as having a market price of $475.85 on TCGPlayer. However, this card's median listed price is over $100 more than its market price, suggesting collectors are still pricing it at over double Giratina V's cost.
Following Umbreon is Rayquaza VMAX (Alt Art). TCGPlayer lists this card at $275.79. The card's value has been steadily declining for the last three months, though, so it may not hold second place forever. The third most expensive VMAX card is Pikachu VMAX (Rainbow Rare). As the only card in this list that isn't an Alt Art, Pikachu VMAX (Rainbow Rare) gains much of its value from being a Secret Rare and, more importantly, featuring "Chunk Chu." TCGPlayer lists this card as having a market price of $141.86.
Besides Umbreon VMAX and Rayquaza VMAX, V cards and VMAX cards sell for similarly high prices in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This goes to show just how unpredictable the marketplace is for both investors and players. Though VMAX cards are undeniably more powerful, V cards can still manage to be as valuable if not more so than VMAXs.
Sources: TCGPlayer / Giratina, Ptcgradio / YouTube, TCGPlayer / Charizard, TCGPlayer / Aerodactyl, TCGPlayer / Umbreon, TCGPlayer / Rayquaza, TCGPlayer / Pikachu
Related Topics About The AuthorFletcher Varnson is a writer for Screen Rant, where he covers video games. He also writes for the Georgia Voice, where he covers LGBTQ+ literature, cinema, and news, has contributed poetry to the film journal Day For Night, and has written the podcast for the Five Points Literary Journal. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia with 5 brothers and sisters, Fletcher developed a passion for books, movies, and games and their ability to connect people with disparate dispositions from disparate backgrounds. He has a special affinity for the Super Smash Brothers series; despite this, his Yoshi is still quite terrible.
Recommended Articles
ncG1vNJzZmirk6eyprrRmqWtZpOkunC8zqScpqeeYsGks4yvZK%2Blka16pK3RnapmrpGhwqKuy55kpqeemsZuvNGimp5n