Want to know what the hottest new Pokemon cards of 2025 are?

In this guide, we’ll be looking at the top 10 most expensive Pokemon cards released this year.

From Prismatic Evolutions and its acclaimed Eeveelutions, to the Trainer’s Pokemon making their triumphant return, to rivals destined to clash, and all the way back to Kalos for a brand new, mega evolution, we’ve seen it all this year.

I’ve been closely watching the market trends for each and every new set that’s come out, and below are the top cards of them all from the new Pokemon sets released in 2025.

#1 Umbreon ex Special Illustration Rare – Prismatic Evolutions

For two eras of the Pokemon TCG – Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet – one Pokemon has been the defining chase across two historic cards. While the Sword and Shield era may have had Umbreon VMAX – or Moonbreon – Scarlet and Violet has the Umbreon ex SIR – a card that almost singlehandedly initiated a renewed interest in the Pokemon TCG that rivaled or maybe even exceeded the great Pokemon TCG craze of the pandemic.

For a time, this Umbreon was worth even more than the Moonbreon from Sword and Shield. Now, however, Umbreon VMAX is worth more. Still, fetching over $1000 is very impressive for a modern Pokemon trading card.

Umbreon ex will likely be remembered for a long time as the most expensive Prismatic Evolutions card as well as the greatest card from the greatest pack of 2025.

#2 Mega Charizard X ex Special Illustration Rare – Phantasmal Flames

We still have many, many sets to go in the Mega Evolution era of the Pokemon TCG, but it’s already off to a great start in 2025. We’ve had two strong sets for it – the well rounded Mega Evolution set that released in September, and the latest and greatest Phantasmal Flames set which caused a huge uproar in the hobby thanks to the above gorgeous Mega Charizard X ex.

With more sets to come – including the already hyped Ascended Heroes releasing in January – we can’t say for certain what the definitive chase of this era will be. However, it will be hard to top this insane card. But if there’s one thing that the Pokemon TCG has been really good at doing these last few years is outdoing itself. So we will just have to wait and see what’s in store for us in 2026!

#3 Mega Charizard X ex Mega Hyper Rare – Phantasmal Flames

Many assumed the Mega Hyper Rare version of Mega Charizard X ex would be the chase card of Phantasmal Flames. However, the gorgeous SIR won out over the rarer gold card above. Still, both are worth similar amounts of money, making this one a huge pull for collectors.

#4 Zekrom Black White Rare – Black Bolt

Zekrom BWR — Market price: $468

Buy on TCGPlayer

While originally the BWR Victini with its gorgeous red monochromatic design was considered the defining chase card of Black Bolt and White Flare, today the most valuable card from the two-part-set is the Zekrom Black White Rare. Black White Rare is a rarity type unique to the historic set. And although we haven’t had the same kind of rarity since, Pokemon did continue the trend with the next sets also having one or two mega chase cards that were rarer than the rest.

Still, the exclusive nature of the BWR makes these cards highly desirable and likely to be one of the top collector items from modern sets for quite some time.

#5 Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare – Destined Rivals

https://www.josephwriteranderson.com/blog/the-most-expensive-phantasmal-flames-pokemon-cards — Market price: $468

Buy on TCGPlayer

You don’t always need an exclusive rarity to be a massive chase. Sometimes all you need is some excellent artwork and a solid nod to Pokemon lore. Destined Rivals took the “trainer’s Pokemon” theming of Journey together and elevated it to the next level. The greatest trainer’s Pokemon chase card is this Mewtwo ex – a clear tribute to the earliest Pokemon days when Giovanni (Team Rocket’s leader) and Mewtwo teamed up.

While the bond wasn’t “destined” to last, this unlikely pairing remains iconic today thanks to how prominently featured it was in the original Pokemon movie from way back when.

#6 Victini Black White Rare – Black Bolt and White Flare

Next up is a two-for-one special. Victini is another anomaly in the Pokemon TCG as it is essentially the same card released in both sets. However, they are technically speaking still two different card, and each has its own market price, with the Black Bolt Victini edging out the other ever so slightly in value.

#7 Mega Lucario ex Mega Hyper Rare – Mega Evolution

Enter the Mega Hyper Rare! Mega Hyper Rare is the new form of rarity introduced in the Mega Evolution era of the Pokemon TCG. It takes the old, established hyper rare gold card and flips its on its head to good effect. Whereas the gold cards from Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet were something of a mixed bag – sometimes being desirable sometimes flopping – Mega Hyper Rares take the gold concept, mix it with the design elements of the BWR cards and end up with something truly special.

#8 Reshiram ex Black White Rare – White Flare

Reshiram BWR — Market price: $371

Buy on TCGPlayer

Reshiram may be the same rarity as Zekrom and Victini, but it’s worth the least out of the exclusive BWR cards from the dual set. It’s the perfect depiction of how subjective the Pokemon TCG market can be. Cards can look very similar, be of equal rarity, and yet be of drastically different value based on external factors like popularity, taste, and even just hype.

#9 Mega Gardevoir ex Mega Hyper Rare – Mega Evolution

Two Mega Evolution cards feature prominently on the list of top Pokemon chase cards of 2025. While Mega Lucario ex may be the more desirable Mega Hyper Rare right now, you never know what could happen! Gardevoir is a very popular Pokemon, and the Gardevoir ex deck has been a mainstay competitively in the Pokemon TCG for years. We should see this epic chase continue to fair well on the secondary card market for some time, and could potentially be worth as much as the Lucario some day.

#10 Sylveon ex Special Illustration Rare – Prismatic Evolutions

Ending this list on a very lovely note – #10 goes to Sylveon ex SIR – the most expensive Eeveelution chase card in Prismatic Evolution outside of the iconic Umbreon ex. Why is Sylveon so valuable? Lovely artwork and perfectly chosen colors aside, maybe Sylveon is just that popular? The last Eeveelution added, Sylveon is also the memorable partner of Serena in the Pokemon XY and XYZ era of the anime.

2025 was a huge year for the Pokemon TCG. Each new set felt like a blockbuster. From the Eeveelution smash hit of Prismatic Evolutions, all the way to the Charizard-themed Phantasmal Flames, you can’t go wrong with the latest and greatest Pokemon packs from one of the Pokemon TCG’s most exciting year’s yet!

The 10 Most Expensive New Pokemon Cards of 2025