This week’s biggest Pokémon card busters and climbers
Blog Andrew Joseph 18 Oct , 2025 0

Lost Origins had reprints earlier this year, but now they've dried up and we're seeing the usual climb with Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield expansion packs. What I didn't expect was to see so many Trainer Gallery cards drop in value, but I think it's more of a market correction.
It wasn't until earlier this year that Gengar and Pikachu appeared in pocket money binders at local card game and collectible stores, but those days are still a distant memory.
Destroyers and Climbers: Lost Origins
With Pokémon Mania 2025 still going crazy and everyone trying to get their hands on the newly released sealed products at retail, that means now is a good time to grab some overlooked cards from older sets before they're available.
For example, I purchased most of the cards in today's quick section 12 months ago for around $5 each, so even though they're currently decreasing in price, they're still a great option. Let’s get right to the point.
Pokémon Card Destroyer
Gengar TG06/TG30 A bit dicey to play in the game, Nethergate can bring it back to life without evolving, but you'll also get three damage counters. Screaming Circle can work well and then the opponent has a full bench of Psychic Power, but it's still a risk that's probably not worth taking. The artwork itself is great, and it's one of my favorite Gengar cards, just because of the bold colors and Clothesline-obsessed Gengar. The card plummeted from $56 to $38, but I think that was more of a correction.
Pikachu TG05/TG30 The way she takes a nap with the female trainer from “Legend of Arceus” also has the same charm. This is a very cute picture and you can see why this card is worth over $26. The price has dropped from the mid-$30s, but I'm sure it will be well above that in the next 12 months. It's really not worth including in your deck, but it's an excellent choice for a trainer binder.
The Gold and Black cards have never really played much of a role for me personally, so I can understand why the Gold and Black cards are valuable Meow VMAX TG30/TG30 It fell from $26.04 to $21.42. But that's not the point, it's still Mew, and there are a lot of people who want every Mew they find in their collection, so that's still nice.
Charizard TG03/TG30 This is another card that I'm surprised to be called a Crasher this week. Charizard snuggles up with Champion Leon, a recipe for a dangerous card. We're seeing a lot of trainer gallery cards going through some tweaks right now, but the 25% drop from $23.95 to $17.98 is a bit rough. I recommend picking one up before it comes back.
Pikachu VMAX TG29/TG30 Matching that meow energy. I pulled this card out of a booster pack earlier this year and despite its rarity, it was an underwhelming card. The drop is modest, only 9%, and will likely climb over the next year or two, but the Black Gold card could have been a lot cooler.
Pokémon card climber
Giratina V 186/196 Over the past month, it has shot through the roof and into the stratosphere. In September we were selling it for $570, but now it's over $720 and I'm here for it. I haven't gotten my hands on one yet, but what an incredible piece of art this card is. It perfectly illustrates the twisted world.
It's great to see Aerodactyl cards rising in value, especially with V Alternative Art(180/196). It's a gorgeous scene flying over the tropics with tons of detail and some lovely use of color. It's easy to see why this card went from $129 to just over $180 in one month.
Red and Pikachu, this is the pinnacle of Pokémon nostalgia for the first generation. It shows Red looking at a map and Pikachu preparing for a new adventure, but that doesn't exist in reality. Pikachu V TG16/TG30 The value will not double in a month. Currently priced at $99.07, trainers would be wise to add this to their collections sooner rather than later.
Pikachu VMAX TG17/TG30 Take this nostalgia and bring it back to the Pokémon Sword and Shield era with Pikachu's Gigantamax form. It's a shocking sight as Red prepares for another challenge while hulking Pikachu stands happily upright. This card used to cost $10-20 more than Pikachu V, but it's currently priced at $96.
Rotom is a cool Pokémon and no one would tell me any different. I have one in my phone that lets it fly around every day of the week, I would love to have it Rotom V 177/196 One day in my collection. It's $26, which is cheap and delightful, but it's gone from $22 in a month, so I'd call it a low-risk investment.
Christian Wait is a freelance writer for IGN covering all things collectibles and trade. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the gaming and technology industries and has bylines in Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also creates hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of the Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.