Pokémon TCG: Celebrations stands for the special expansion the Pokémon Company released during the Sword & Shield Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. However, the creators in Japan gave this name to the seventh subset they published during the Sword & Shield Era.
The Celebration collection is a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Trading Card Game (TCG), which the producers launched in October 1996. The fans could only purchase these cards in specifically branded merchandise and today are much harder to find than a year ago.
Both the Japanese and Western sets include Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, although the former has 28+ cards while the latter has 50. Moreover, the collection features various Pikachu cards and some that revisit the Original Series concepts, adding refreshed aesthetics and mechanics.
Celebrations have no Reverse Holo parallel set, but each card has the Pokémon 25th Anniversary logo and gold and blue “25th” graphic imprint. This set also features a 25-card Classic Collection subset and faithful replicas of popular cards from the previous series.
This list explores the rarest Pokémon Celebration Cards according to the price and odds of pulling them.
10. Xerneas-EX
Estimated Price: $7
Type: Fairy
HP: 170
photo source: Bulbapedia
Even though the EX Pokémon are among the most long-standing TCG variants, fans weren’t excited about these cards at the start. However, the wave of nostalgia or dropping prices may have reignited the interest.
Nevertheless, the cost of Xerneas-EX cards continuously fluctuates, and it was ranked higher than Blastoise only a few days ago. Xerneas-EX is also unique because it’s the Fairy-Type card, the one the TCG now releases as the Psychic-Type cards.
Did you know?
The Celebrations features the XY Regular print as a part of the Classic Collection. The Pokémon Company first released this card in the Japanese Collection X, XY expansion, alongside the Full Art card.
9. Blastoise
Estimated Price: $8
Type: Water
HP: 100
photo source: Bulbapedia
Blastoise is a Stage 2 Pokémon card, and The Pokémon Company released it in the Base Set. This card provides the Rain Dance power, enabling players to attach a 1 W Energy card to one of their W Pokémon before the attack, for as many times as they like.
However, they can’t use it if Blastoise is Paralyzed (turned sideways and unable to attack), Confused (the card is turned upside-down and the player must flip a coin), or Asleep (unable to attack or retreat). Initially, this card fared better, but its sales dropped after the presale, and it’s unlikely to recover.
Did you know?
The Pokémon Company first included Blastoise in the Base Set, featuring the artwork by Ken Sugimori, published in the Japanese Expansion Pack. It was a part of the Trainer Deck B and had an exclusive red border accompanied by a “Trainer Deck B” print on the back.
8. Gardevoir ex Delta Species
Estimated Price: $10
Type: Fire
HP: 150
photo source: Bulbapedia
Gardevoir ex δ is a Stage 2 Pokémon-ex card, and the Pokémon Company first released it as part of the EX Dragon Frontiers expansion. However, in Japan, it first appeared in the Japanese Imprison! Gardevoir ex Constructed Standard Deck.
However, the Gardevoir Celebrations card belongs to the Classic Collection and includes the 25th Anniversary logo in the right corner at the bottom. Even though it might not be that challenging to find this card, people adore Gardevoir, which is why it had the privilege of being on this list.
Did you know?
In Japan, the Pokémon Company reprinted the Gardevoir ex card as a Jumbo Unnumbered Promotional card. It was among the two cards that people who bought a ticket for the Pokémon Jungle Tours ~The Legend of Diamond & Pearl~ venues received. The other card people would get is the Tyranitar ex δ card.
7. M Rayquaza-EX
Estimated Price: $12
Type: Colorless
HP: 220
photo source: Bulbapedia
M Rayquaza-EX Mega M Pokémon-EX card that the Pokémon Company first published as part of the Roaring Skies expansion. They featured the card as a Regular card and a Full Art card in Expansion. But only the latter is included in Celebrations set, the Classic subset.
The Japanese release is a reprint of the Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition and has a gold and red “25th” logo at the bottom left corner. However, both cards are Confetti Holofoil with an imprint resembling the Full Art prints.
Did you know?
The Japanese print was first published in the Emerald Break expansion. However, the Regular card was reprinted as a Mirror Reverse Holofoil card featured in the Premium Champion Pack.
6. Shining Magikarp
Estimated Price: $20
Type: Water
HP: 30
photo source: Bulbapedia
Shining Magikarp is a Basic Pokémon card, and the Pokémon Company first released it in the Neo Revelations expansion. However, this card was also the start of Shiny Pokémon appearing in the TCG.
In Japan, the Shinning Magikarp got its reprint as the Unnumbered Promotional card, and the publishers made it available through the Pokémon Card Fan Club between May 2001 and December 2002. However, the players had to gain 600 GET Points to obtain it.
Did you know?
The Japanese Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition released the Neo Revelation print with a gold and red “25th” logo at the bottom. However, both versions have a similar imprint as Full Art cards.
5. Umbreon
Estimated Price: $25
Type: Darkness
HP: 70
photo source: TCGPlayer
The Gold Star Umbreon was among the hardest to get cards from the beginning. The odds of pulling it were 1/111. As a result, many fans were eager to find or trade it, making it one of the most wanted cards.
The Pokémon Company originally only made it available in packs that fans received at Pokémon Organized Play events in 2007. The Celebrations Collection brought back this rare card, making people beyond happy, but it may cost up to $200.
Did you know?
The Umbreon card has the Dark Ray Power, enabling the player to put the Umbreon Star from their hand onto their bench during their turn and choose one card from their opponent’s hand without looking and discarding it. It also has the Feint Attack, allowing the player to cause damage to their opponent’s Pokémon.
4. Mewtwo-EX
Estimated Price: $11.50
Type: Psychic
HP: 170
photo source: Bulbagarden
Even though there are more expensive cards on the list, Mewtwo-EX is rare because the odds of pulling it from Celebrations were one in x. Thus, Mewtwo had an essential role in the Pokémon franchise due to its lore importance and undeniable competitive potential.
Mewtwo-EX is a Basic Pokémon-EX card, and The Pokémon Company released it in the Next Destinies expansion in 2012. That expansion featured a Full Art card and a Regular Card, but the Celebrations included only the Regular one in its Classic Collection.
Did you know?
The Mewtwo-EX card has the X Ball power, allowing the player to cause damage 20 times the amount of Energy this Pokémon has, plus the one the Defending Pokémon has. It also has the Psydrive, enabling them to eliminate energy linked with this Pokémon.
3. Tapu Lele
Estimated Price: $10
Type: Psychic
HP: 170
photo source: Bulbagarden
Tapu Lele might not be among the most expensive Celebrations cards, but it’s among the hardest ones to find. Fans had to open x packs to try their luck and pull this rare card.
Besides, it has unique artwork and features an undervalued Pokémon. This card was first available in the Guardians Rising expansion in 2017, and the Celebrations expansion featured the Regular Print in its Classic Collection.
Did you know?
This card has an outstanding Ability and allows the player to heal the damage two of their Benched Pokémon suffered. However, they can’t use more than 1 GX attack in a game.
2. Gold Mew
Estimated Price: $43
Type: Psychic
HP: 60
photo source: Bulbagarden
Gold Mew is a Basic Pokémon card and the only Secret Rare card. Since it’s not a remake, it didn’t bring waves of nostalgia, and fans weren’t thrilled initially.
However, that quickly changed because it has no Japanese version, has a low pull rate, and outranks nearly all the cards in the Celebrations expansion. Today, Gold Mew is among fans’ favorites, explaining why it may cost up to $150.
Did you know?
Mew appeared 36 times in the Pokémon TCG. However, this is the first time they included it as a Secret, Shiny card.
1. Charizard
Estimated Price: $77
Type: Fire
HP: 120
photo source: Bulbagarden
Charizard sits proudly at the top of the rarest Pokémon celebrations cards thanks to its outstandingly low pull rate and high price. It is a tribute to the iconic Base Set Pokémon, and the value continues to grow and spark interest at auctions.
The card was first released in the Japanese Expansion Pack and later reprinted as an Unnumbered Promotion card featuring Ken Sugimori’s artworks. The Pokémon Company shared it through the Trade Please campaign in 1998.
Did you know?
The Charizard card was once the most sought-after in the TCG. Various versions exist, with the price starting at $30 and the original 1st Edition Wizard of the Coast version selling for up to $1000.
