10 Most Expensive Paldean Fates Pokémon Cards

Set to release on 26 January, Paldean Fates is the sixth Pokémon TCG expansion from the Scarlet and Violet series. 

From the biomes of Paldea and its sprawling lands, we’ll be welcoming a special set of cards, featuring over 100 shiny Pokémon, ex Pokémon, past and future forms, tera type Pokémon, and of course some must-not-miss trainer cards. In total, there will be over 240 new cards. 

Of course, the clamour for specific pulls (there’s always a Charizard isn’t there) has already begun as the anticipation for this release ramps up, so let’s take a look at the most valuable cards coming from Paldean Fates.*

1. Iono Special Illustration Rare (~£190)

First up we have the Iono full-art, special illustration rare, which is going for £190 on eBay in its Japanese version.

So, what makes it such a valuable pull you ask? Well, there is the long-standing love for Iono, and this card designed by Hanabushi encapsulates her personality alongside some partner Pokemon, such as Mismagius. Iono’s striking pose cast across the plum purple palette makes the card a truly glorious collectible – which explains why it is commanding such a top price on the TCG market as things stand. 

The release of this Paldean Fates Iono adds to the growing fanfare around the electric-type Gym Leader from Levincia, who has already stacked a few valuable mentions. Among these is the Iono special illustration rare from Paldea Evolved, which shows off her penchant for Pikachu pancakes, and her oh-so-obvious love for Magnemite.

Yet, while there are predictions that the release of Paldean Fates in the UK will cool the cost slightly, with current cards being listed from Japan, it will no doubt still hold a huge pull as TCG fans chase Iono. 

2. Shiny tera Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare (~£150)

Bearing similarities to the tera Charizard ex from Paldea Evolved drawn by Akira Egawa, but this time bringing a shiny new design, is the imperious shiny tera Charizard ex. It is currently selling for £195 upwards on eBay. 

Once again drawn by Akira Egawa as the Pokémon TCG continues its trend of reworking already iconic cards, the new Charizard card shows the blacked-out shiny bearing a water tera type crown and its wings spread at full expansive. It’s quite the design.  

Competitively, the shiny tera Charizard ex from Paldean Fates is just as powerful as its counterpart from Paldea Evolved. Its Infernal Reign ability allows you to search your deck for up to three basic fire energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon, giving you a quick-fire way to power up for its Burning Darkness attack, which deals out a fiery 180+ damage. 

The truly beautiful textured image will make this an absolute find for any players, though for the Charizard collectors there will always be that little bit extra incentive.

3. Shiny Mew Special Illustration Rare (~£150)

The mythical Mew has been released as a shiny with its tame blue palette, taking its price on eBay to around the £150 mark. 

The card, designed by illustrator USGMEN, depicts shiny Mew in a truly unique cartoon style, with the thick felt lines and trademark facial features hitting home the immaculate baby Pokémon vibes. As the famous generation one Pokémon hovers in the air, a cast of Kanto first-stage Pokémon aim their gaze up in awe. 

This Mew card also features the attack Genome Hacking, which allows you to choose an attack from your opponent's active Pokémon and use it against them – a fun spin on the fact that Mew is said to contain the DNA of every single Pokémon within its body. 

From Corocoro cards to exclusive ex versions, there have been many versions of Mew released, but there have been few full art shiny versions. The Paldean Fates release adds to that legacy.

4. Shiny Gardevoir ex Special Illustration Rare (~£145)

A part of the popular and hugely successful decks in the current meta, Gardevoir ex is cemented on the scene. Now, it is here in its shiny form, selling at approximately £145 on eBay. 

While tera Charizard ex follows on with similarities, this new shiny Gardevoir ex is introduced with a whole new look-and-feel to its predecessor, as a new artist brings a fresh approach. 

And the artwork is on point, capturing the mystique of this solid physic type levitating by the side of a watery dell. There’s also a Wooper in the back, face etched with amazement – no doubt the expression TCG players would pull upon packing this costly card. 

Shiny Gardevoir ex’s Psychic Embrace ability allows you to recycle a basic psychic energy card from your discard pile and attach it to your Pokémon, making it a solid partner for many who can hit hard. Examples, such as Zacian V who’s Storm Slash attack can be powered up by attaching more psychic energy cards, show how valuable the psychic type is. Shiny Gardevoir is certainly not an all style no substance card. 

5. Shiny Pikachu (~£60)

Punching pretty high on this list is shiny Pikachu – one of the regular shiny Pokémon from the Paldean Fates set. Yet while being one of the only regular shiny Pokémon to feature in the top ten most expensive cards, it is going for a pinch-me-that’s-a-pull price of approximately £60 on eBay. 

The 70HP Pikachu is drawn springing across the card in its off-gold colourway, contrasted against a silver background, with the trademark shining stars of Paldean Fates featuring around it. A solid, clean design for this mascot Pokémon.

In spite of it being one of the regular shiny Pokémon from the Paldean Fates set, you’ll still need no small amount of luck to land shiny Pikachu, as there are two or three shiny Pokémon per box and 129 shinies in total being released. Maybe you’ll be the one that lands this electrifying pull…

6. Penny Special Illustration Rare (~£60)

The second supporter card on the list is the Penny special illustration rare, commanding a fairly hefty price tag of around £60 on eBay. 

The sought-after card features the student from the Naranja Academy and the ever-popular Umbreon, which is likely sign number one as to why this card is costly. Penny stands behind the Pokémon with her Eevee backpack on, holding her Pokéball out of her backhand. This Pokéball placement is actually a neat theme carried across a few of the other supporter cards that feature on this list that have been created by artist Aspara. 

Sign number two is the fact that this card does see quite a lot of competitive play, finding its way into many deck lists as it lets you pick up one of your active Pokémon and place it in your hand. Penny supporter cards have previously featured in decks such as Hisuian Arcanine V.

And while we have seen Penny appear in the Scarlet and Violet TCG series as a special illustration rare before, though this one trumps the previous for price, and arguably style too, as things stand.

7. Nemona Special Illustration Rare (~£30)

There are two Nemona cards being released in the Paldean Fates set, however, it is the special illustration rare that comes out on top of the full art version. This special illustration card is currently trading at around £30 on eBay. 

The detailed design shows the trainer looking down the line of sight as she tosses her Pokéball – a clever design that makes it feel as if Nemona is truly animated and in action. In the background, you see shiny Pawmo caught up in a whirlwind of commotion. It’s a nice touch to keep the partner Pokémon shiny, a running trend within the set. 

And of course, Pokémon fans love Nemona, so it is understandable it is a fairly expensive card. That said, it is not particularly useful in competitive play. It is more of a card to show off in all its glory in a sleeve or a binder for a collector. 

8. Arven Special Illustration Rare (~£28)

Perhaps the most useful supporter card on the list, but the lowest ranked in terms of cost, is the Arven special illustration rare, which is selling for around the £28 mark on eBay. 

This is the third supporter card on this list with some neat Pokéball alignment, and it shows Arven in his Naranja Academy outfit for the first time in a Pokémon TCG print. Just under his upside down Pokéball – a clever easter egg for those who have played the main series Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games – is Arven’s trusty Mabosstiff wearing his stayed expression. 

Competitively, Arven allows you to search your deck for an item card and a tool and place it in your hand. This is often used by players to quickly land upon Rare Candy item cards, so they can quickly evolve their strongest attackers. 

9. Shiny Pawmi Special Illustration Rare (~£17)

Seen huddled next to regular types from its species is shiny, special illustration Pawmi which is no doubt going to be one of the cutest cards coming from the set. 

Shiny Pawmi, which featured on the promo poster for the set, is currently selling for around the £17 mark on eBay, which makes it a solid pull from Paldean Fates. There will no doubt be fans of this Pokémon who are set on landing it. 

And while it can’t hold competitive acclaim like so many of the others on this list, it should be admired for its artwork, designed by REND, who has returned for the first time since the Arcanine illustration contest promo card from 2022. That surely makes this a little bit special. 

10. Shiny Mimikyu Special Illustration Rare (~£13)

A final solid chase card from the set is the Shiny Mimikyu special illustration rare, which is fetching upwards of £13. 

Designed by Mitsuhiro Arita, the artist behind the iconic Base Set Charizard, the Shiny Mimikyu shimmers in radiant light while perched on a lady’s lap. The card is of course alluding to Mimikyu’s lore which says the lonely creature who wears a disguise in order to seek affection from humans within the Pokémon world. A nice nod within this design. 

You'll be able to land yourself this card as a promo within the upcoming Pokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet 4.5 - Paldean Fates Elite Trainer Box too.

What Paldean Fates cards will you be chasing?

With so many special cards featuring memorable artwork coming out, it is little surprise that we are seeing this set full of shinies commanding some pretty high prices. Though among all the big pulls, my fanfare will be lying firmly behind shiny Scyther and shiny Slowbro. Those colourways have just got me. 

What will you be chasing?

Check out the full collection of Paldean Fates Pokémon Trading Cards. To discover the more competitive cards in Paldean Fates, why not read our blog on the 5 Most Important Paldean Fates Pokémon Cards for TCG Players? 

*Prices are correct as of time of writing, though they are often subject to change.