When the Isle of Armor DLC was released for Pokémon Sword and Shield in June 2020, it was only natural that The Pokémon Company bolstered the release with a new set for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. One year later, that set, Battle Styles, already has a few cards that are worth some decent money.
Of course, the Pokémon Trading Card Game is rather infamously enjoying a recent resurgence in popularity. The surge in interest has even caused card appraisers to warn customers that their wait time for new Pokémon TCG cards is approaching a full year. Still, for those who have the Battle Styles set, it's worth knowing what those Pokémon cards could be worth.
Here are the most valuable Pokémon cards as of mid-June 2021. Be warned that card prices fluctuate and these will not remain the same forever. While the top cards are pretty set at this point, their relative ranks to each other slip around a little bit - with some surprising upsets, too.
#5 Expensive TCG Battle Style Card: Phoebe (Secret) - $33
The Battle Styles set has a quite a few secret rares - even secret rare trainers. But good ol' Phoebe is consistently ranked as the most valuable trainer in this set, despite the fact that she's not even in the Isle of Armor DLC. Rather, as players of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald will remember, she's one of the Elite Four of Hoenn. The rainbow secret rares aren't quite as valuable as the golds or the alternate art ones, but they sure look impressive.
#4 Expensive TCG Battle Style Card: Single Strike Urshifu VMAX (Alternate Art Secret) - $44
Any player of Sword and Shield knows that a gigantamax Pokémon is incredibly powerful, and this Single Strike-style Urshifu certainly looks the part. This card is a secret rare, which means that no one knew what it would be or look until one was actually found after the set's release. Secret rares also go beyond the number of any given set, which is displayed on the card itself. In this case, Single Strike Urshifu is "168/163."
#3 Expensive TCG Battle Style Card: Houndoom (Secret) - $49
Some Pokémon TCG players were confused when, out of all available Pokémon, it was Houndoom who received a golden secret card. However, the incredible staying power of the value of this card as proven its own worth - as well as the incredible passion of Houndoom-lovers.
The fact is, the secret Single Strike Urshifu has almost dropped half in price compared to where it was in April, but Houndoom has only slipped $10.
#2 Expensive TCG Battle Style Card: Tyranitar V (Alternate Full Art) - $109
Here's where the cards jump up dramatically in price. Tyranitar V is arguably the best card from the Battle Styles set - both from a playing point of view and an art point of view. Look at him! A gentle, sleeping, quietly terrifying monster. When he wakes up after his post-snack nap and uses that Single Strike Crush, it is no wonder Pignite continues to look nervous.
#1 Most Expensive TCG Battle Style Card: Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX (Alternate Art Secret) - $129
This Gigantamax Rapid Strike-style Urshifu is spectacularly intimidating - who could remember that it evolved from the tiny, innocent Kubfu who eagerly followed the player around the Isle of Armor? Not only does this card look amazing, but it's also devastating in gameplay. As for why the Rapid Strike Urshifu is three times as valuable as the Single Strike Urshifu... who doesn't love rapid kung fu? Of course, as mentioned earlier, prices tend to fluctuate. But anyone who does want to sell should keep their eye on the Pokémon Trading Card Game, in order to strike while the Houndoom is hot.
Source: TCGPlayer