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Top Pokémon Card Gainers and Losers - Week of May 9

by Harper May 13,2025

Another week, another exciting shift in the Pokémon single card market as trainers eagerly await the release of Destined Rivals. Fortunately, the Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon Center preorders managed to steer clear of any bot-related chaos this time around.

The most significant price drop this week is Greninja ex 214/167, which has plummeted nearly 50% since the start of the year. We're also seeing some appealing price reductions across the Obsidian Flames and the elusive 151 expansions. On the flip side, Dragonite V from Evolving Skies is on the rise, nearly doubling in value compared to the beginning of the year, and its stunning artwork has always been a steal.

Charizard V Alt Art continues to impress, showcasing a dynamic battle against Venusaur while steadily increasing in value. Meanwhile, Rayquazza VMAX Alt Art is soaring to new heights, gaining an additional $100 in value since the start of the year. Let's dive into the biggest Pokémon TCG climbers and crashers of the week.

Pokémon Card Crashes

IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

While we're finally witnessing a noticeable climb in Sword and Shield era Pokémon Cards, Scarlet and Violet series cards are settling back into more reasonable prices.

Alakazam ex SIR from 151 is a stunning card, and its price is 34% lower than at the beginning of March. There's absolutely no reason not to add Uri Gellar's Grandad to your binder this year.

Bulbasaur was my first starter Pokémon when I first played Pokémon Blue, so this Bulbasaur IR holds a special place in my heart. This card has dropped by a massive 52% since mid-March, making it an excellent opportunity to add this beautiful card to your collection.

Moving onto Obsidian Flames, Ninetales IR has always been one of the best cards in the set. If you agree, it's time to snap this card up as it's crashed by 40% since February, now at a reasonable $18.17.

Greninja ex - 214/167

$411.62 save 33%
$275.00 at TCG Player

Alakazam ex - 201/165

$56.62 save 34%
$37.62 at TCG Player

Bulbasaur - 166/165

$52.82 save 49%
$27.00 at TCG Player

Ninetales -199/197

$30.04 save 40%
$18.17 at TCG Player

Charizard ex - 223/197

$64.80 save 7%
$59.99 at TCG Player

People can complain about Obsidian Flames all they want, but the Charizard ex SIR is undeniably cool. With its stained glass look in its Tera form, it's a showstopper for sure. Although it hasn't dropped significantly since March, saving $5 is still $5.

Finally, the biggest crasher this month is Greninja ex SIR, which was once poised to be the most expensive Scarlet and Violet era card. Then Prismatic Evolutions came along and cranked up the FOMO to 10. It's still a fantastic card, holding its value at $275, but imagine paying $411.62 at the end of February. Ouch.

Pokémon Card Climbers

IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Moving onto this week's climbers, Rayquazza VMAX alt art is one of the main grails of the Sword and Shield era. Already a $500+ card, it's now at $649.99 and shows no signs of slowing down. It could potentially hit the $1,000 mark in a few years, so grab one if you can afford it.

There can never be enough Kanto love in my book, and Charizard V Alt Art smashes it out of the park with its battle against Venusaur. The angle is fantastic, making it feel like a dynamic scene rather than a static shot, unlike many Pokémon cards from the WotC era. It's earned another $40 since January, and there's no reason why this card can't reach $200 before the year is out.

Rayquaza VMAX - 218/203

$649.99 at TCG Player

Charizard V - 154/172

$184.61 at TCG Player

Dragonite V

$225.00 at TCG Player

Greninja ex - 214/167

$411.62 save 33%
$275.00 at TCG Player

Dragonite V Alt Art is one of the highlights of Evolving Skies. It's a fan favorite Pokémon that can look adorable or ready to battle. Its full package looks nothing like its pre-evolutions, but that's okay because it's Dragonite.

Its cute side shines through in this artwork, which is exactly why it's nearly doubled in value since mid-January. Now at a solid $225, make sure to grab yours before it flies even higher. Did you catch last week's article? There are some great cards featured there too.

Pokémon Card Sealed Boosters

If you're dedicated to pulling chase cards yourself, here's what we can find in stock right now. Just be cautious of prices above MSRP; we're in a weird spot as Pokémon trainers right now, so don't pay more than you have to.

Here's the Pokémon TCG full Release Schedule so far for this year too, so you don't miss anything. Buying singles is the cheapest way to collect right now, but don't feel like you have to "Catch 'Em All!".