The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations expansion was released on October 8, 2021 with a series of celebratory cards that fetch a high price among traders and collectors. Marking the 25th anniversary of the iconic card game, Celebrations commemorates the Pokémon TCG’s most beloved, momentous, and interesting cards from throughout its history.
Celebrations gave long-time fans and newcomers the opportunity to collect 25th-anniversary editions of cards marking some of the franchise’s most important milestones. In addition, new prints and versions were released that had been updated to the TCG’s current standards, making them playable as of the expansion’s release. However, some of the cards retained their original art and abilities and cannot be played if the original card is not legal.
The Celebrations Classic Collection included 25 cards from the franchise’s past, which quickly became some of the expansion’s most valuable cards during its pre-sale and initial release. These Classic cards weren’t guaranteed pulls in the expansion’s four-card packs, making them a rare, hot commodity that players were willing to spend some extra money on. However, several of the set’s new, unique cards also joined the top-valued list with their commemorative value as part of Pokémon TCG's 25th-anniversary expansion.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Charizard ($114)
To nobody’s surprise, the Classic reprint of Charizard has stayed at the top of the pricing charts since Celebrations was released. Commemorating this iconic Base Set Pokémon, Celebrations has reprinted the TCG’s most expensive card to date, making it more widely available for players who don’t have thousands to spend on an original Base Set card. Charizard Pokémon cards are extremely popular in each set that they’re a part of. This classic Pokémon’s popularity as one of the franchise’s mascots has not dwindled in its 25-year history, which is reflected in the cost of its Celebrations reprint release.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Gold Poké Ball ($75)
While prices on Celebrations’ golden Poké Ball have fluctuated since release, it continues to sell for upwards of $130, though it can also be found for as low as $20. This promotional card was included in the Ultra-Premium Collection box along with commemorative metal prints of Base Set Pikachu and Base Set Charizard, as well as a gold Pikachu V print.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Gold Shiny Mew ($57)
This gold shiny card of Pokémon Mew is Celebrations’ only secret rare card, making it one of the most desired pulls in the expansion. Gold Shiny Mew is only available in the Celebrations collection and did not make an appearance in the Japanese 25th Anniversary Collection.
While Mew is another old franchise-favorite, this Gold Shiny Mew is a new card introduced in the Celebrations expansion rather than a reprint. With its extreme rarity, it peaked near $120 at the expansion’s release, making it one of the more valuable cards in the expansion.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Gold Pikachu V ($54)
Along with the gold Poké Ball included in the Ultra-Premium Collection box, a gold print of Pikachu V joined the game as another playable promo card. These gold cards are an exclusive print for Celebrations, making them highly desired by collectors seeking unique cards from this commemorative anniversary expansion.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Gold Star Umbreon ($45)
Gold Star Umbreon is another of the expansion’s most coveted cards, commemorating the 2007 release of Gold Star Umbreon, which was exclusively available in special packs of the POP Series 5 released at certain Pokémon Organized Play events. Along with Gold Star Espeon, these two Eeveelutions from Pokémon were part of the last release of Japanese promotional cards to be made available in English.
The Gold Star cards have been famously difficult to obtain, earning Gold Star Umbreon a celebratory reprint. The release of Celebrations’ Gold Star Umbreon made this famously rare card more widely available for the first time in the TCG’s history, reaching a $200 price tag during the game’s presale.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Shining Magikarp ($27)
The original Shining Magikarp was one of the first shiny Pokémon introduced to the TCG, marking an exciting addition to the game that is commemorated by its Celebrations reprint. With Red Gyarados being the first shiny Pokémon introduced to the series in Pokémon: Gold & Silver, Shining Magikarp followed suit in 2001 as an unnumbered promotional card. Shining Pokémon were extremely rare secret cards, originally limited to only 1 per deck, making them highly sought-after by players and collectors.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - M Rayquaza EX ($18)
M Rayquaza EX features another popular Pokémon in Rayquaza, whose Mega EX form introduced the Mega Evolution mechanic from Pokémon: X & Y. This card is playable in expanded format, making it highly sought after for players seeking M Rayquaza EX’s powerful stats and ability to deal damage.
With its deck archetype allowing players to deal up to 240 damage on the first turn, it was an extremely popular card in 2015 and 2016 competitive play.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Pikachu VMAX ($16)
Among several other full art Pikachu VMAX cards that were released as part of the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection—Pikachu VMAX set. With its massive Gigantamax Pikachu figurine, this set has massive appeal for collectors. The Pikachu VMAX card is highly collectible as the set’s etched foil promo card.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Mewtwo EX ($13)
Another fan-favorite Pokémon, Mewtwo's card is featured in the Classic Collection with Mewtwo EX, a reprint of the full art card from 2012’s Pokémon TCG Next Destinies expansion. As its original print was a Black Star Promo from the Pokémon: Black & White series expansions, this reprint has joined the ranks of highly sought-after Mewtwo cards. Like M Rayquaza EX, Mewtwo EX is playable in expanded format.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations - Happy Birthday Pikachu ($12)
Another iconic Pikachu card, ______’s Pikachu was originally released as one of the original 53 Wizards Black Star Promo cards before Wizards of the Coast stopped producing Pokémon cards all the way back in 2003. Popularly known as Happy Birthday Pikachu in Pokémon TCG, this card had a special ability that let players deal 50 extra damage if it was their birthday, quickly getting it banned from competitive play.
It was printed in Japan as part of a “Create Your Own Pokémon Card” campaign run by Wizards of the Coast, and became available in English in the Pikachu World Collection which could be purchased exclusively at Pokémon Park 2000, which was held in Sydney, Australia. The rarity and history of this card makes its Pokémon TCG: Celebrations reprint valuable for collectors and fans.
Source: Pricecharting.com