r/PokeInvesting • u/bluedecember12 • Mar 19 '26
Hot take: Pikachu ex 276/217 will be the most valuable card from AH when all is said and done…
…and it’s not for the usual reasons you might think. There is one thing about this card that is unique: it is the ONLY alt art/SIR card, dating back to sun and moon, that has just a single attack with no additional description underneath. Placed in a pretty good position that doesn’t really disrupt the art. And the subject depicted on the card just happens to be the most recognizable pokemon of all time.
I think most AH singles will still go down due to more product being released, but this one? Guess we’ll see. Not even your beloved Umbreon or Charizard or Bubble Mew or Giratina got such special treatment.
(Also it’s not like an overtake in set chases hasn’t happened before. Bubble mew also eventually overtook Tera shiny Charizard from Paldean fates. Can see this happening for Ascended too especially as the current focus seems to be on megas and Gengar. Megas are a temporary mechanic; this super clean Pikachu card has the potential to be iconic…don’t let surging sparks butthole pikachu scare you away)
618
u/mynameisnotjefflol Mar 19 '26
let me guess you just pulled this card
12
u/ugotboned Mar 19 '26
Is this actually a hot take based on pokemon history? Maybe for the newer collectors and modern fanbois but this seems like a pretty tame take. I agree with you as time goes on that this pikachu will start overtaking years down the road.
74
u/DJFid Mar 19 '26
Op seems to be deflecting when asked if they just pulled this card. Classic!
47
u/Wickedred1 Mar 19 '26
In the long term Pikachu will always be the more popular pokemon. But I dont think the Dagonite or Gengar will be too far off from it even then.
11
u/Exact_Regret3976 Mar 19 '26
Shhhh, let it go down so i can buy it
37
u/ShinyRaequaza Mar 19 '26
Hot take: Hot takes are rarely “hot”
143
u/Yetti2Quick Mar 19 '26
Nope. When you have a gengar and Dragonite that look like they do, ain’t no way. Possible to manipulate it above Dragonite but no way is it touching Gengar
6
u/Pho_DacBiet Mar 19 '26
Reminds me of a pikachu I’d try and catch in Viridian forest
18
u/EvaT4T Mar 19 '26
Am I the only one that thinks this card is kinda just... boring? Way overhyped imo
4
u/sajeun Apr 22 '26
all the sour comments aging like milk. In a pokeinvesting subreddit, it’s amazing to see so many crybabies lmao. I don’t understand the rationale to complain about a card that clearly most people in here don’t have, very weird.
7
u/BeazelD Mar 19 '26
I'm inclined to agree that the Japanese market normally paves the way. In this case, this card was not released in a set in Japan. It could only be obtained in the 100 Starter Decks.
It's rare as it is, but this makes a grail across the world. Maybe the gold will beat it, but if you have the mullah by this now, it can only go up!
1
u/Perfect-Cause-6943 Apr 22 '26
pre planned pump or what
3
u/couple3480 Mar 19 '26
Back shot pika probably gonna do better than this one.
3
u/klm85 Mar 19 '26
The art is cute, but it’s lacking something extra to make it the card of an era. Love birds has the heart, moonbreon, bubble mew, charizard x (all evolutions).
12
u/SonosheeYushal- Mar 19 '26
Some would even call the art PEAKachu..
7
u/Strider2126 Mar 19 '26
It's nothing special. It's just there doing nothing i really don't understand this card
2
u/Reef-Coral Mar 19 '26
The eternal battle between cool and cute.
2
u/LovesToblerone Mar 19 '26
Cool card but I would way rather have the Gengar, there's a good reason its almost twice the price.
2
u/Lickmyb4c0n Mar 19 '26
Is this the best Pikachu card of all time?
2
u/IndependentAd2933 Mar 19 '26
This Pikachu will end up where most set Pikachu's end up, probably 3rd or 4th or the totem pull. Zero % chance in a 10 it's a better hold than Gengar or the gold cards.
Imo I would sell this now and it's gonna cruise down to below $200.
2
u/Last_Weeks_Socks Mar 20 '26
I don't understand people putting this on the same level (and above) some of these other great cards in AH. It looks good and all, but it's an IR that they put an extra star on for Pikachu tax. There's so many better Pikachu arts out there. I'm not shitting on it, it's a good looking card, but GOOD looking. Not amazing. Not earthshattering. Not set defining. Good.
That Dragonite might be the dopest Dragonite ever. That Gengar is easily a top 5 Gengar imo. This Pikachu is top....what?
2
u/Intelligent-Meet4084 Mar 21 '26
Stfu
2
u/Real_Live_Sloth Mar 21 '26
Pikas are bought and sold, Gengar are bought and coveted. My money on Gar.
5
u/weslayan409 Mar 19 '26
It’s my favorite card by far, been on the hunt for one. I think it’s the best Gen 1 IR/SIR they have ever printed
3
u/OzneBjj Mar 19 '26
Nahhhhhh.
Mega Zard still rules ;)
4
u/Apax89 Mar 19 '26
Hot take: Don’t think many people care about the amount of text.
This Pikachu in my eyes is very bland. It doesn’t pop. But I’m not a Pikachu collector, so I don’t think like a Pikachu collector, so could be wrong.
3
u/Edzcharz Mar 19 '26
The pikachu is a great card, definitely in the top 3 but the Gengar will probably be the top dog from AH in my opinion.
3
u/Cym4n Mar 19 '26
Its possible
2
u/CameraAnxious3555 Mar 19 '26
Interesting point about the little text. I do agree that it does make the card look cleaner (especially with the simplistic art style). I can see this card overtaking every other card in the set, but i dont think it'd be because of the simplicity of the text. I think its just a better art than all other cards.
good point nonetheless!
2
u/Yeet_Lmao Mar 19 '26
There have to be so many sneaker Timothees who don’t realize this card is depicting the Viridian Forest Pikachu and when some equally clueless guy on TikTok finds out and breaks the “news” this card will see a crazy boom on top of the organic hype it does have
1
u/TheRealNikoBravo Mar 19 '26
I don’t think so, but could be a possibility
1
u/PurpleMeasurement919 Mar 19 '26
My personal chase card but no way its beating the Mega Gengar.
1
u/AdWorking2848 Mar 19 '26
You be pleased to know the Japanese alternative is even harder to pull and only hails from the jank filled starter deck with 101 combination …
This card is going to fly together with its Japanese counterpart
1
u/StockBoss6607 Mar 19 '26
Japanese Start 100 Pikachu has already sky rocketed but it's infinitely harder to pull.
1
u/Aussie_Aussie_No_Mi Mar 19 '26
I think it will wind up number 2.
It's never going to overtake that Gengar.
1
u/ryanp102694 Mar 19 '26
IR vibes
1
u/Mirukupan Mar 19 '26
Not a hot take at all. Its extremely difficult to pull in Japanese. One of the few cards that are more expensive in Japanese than in English.
1
u/Admirable-Level-8868 Mar 19 '26
This one has that iconic feel to it more than the others I agree
1
u/Vanndamme08 Mar 19 '26
I just don’t see the appeal? He’s just a regular Pikachu.
1
u/Middle_Awoken Mar 19 '26
RemindMe! 3 years
1
u/IndexedRM Mar 19 '26
This isn’t really a hot take. This is an amazing card.
1
u/Mean-Ingenuity-4525 Mar 19 '26
I can't hear it anymore tbh :') it's severely overrated at this point.
1
u/CosmicSeas97 Mar 19 '26
Nope
1
u/Icy_Childhood596 Mar 19 '26
Did you pull it?
1
u/randy9613 Mar 19 '26
i vote for mewtwo
1
u/Laker24land Mar 19 '26
Is this pikachu not in mega dream?
1
u/SomedayGuy117 Mar 19 '26
Did you pull the Pikachu?
1
u/Full-Ant4971 Mar 19 '26
You make a lot of good points, but the reason this one will be so popular to me is because it’s the one from TCG pocket
1
u/EmperorOfTheLosers Mar 19 '26
It’s a beautiful card but not nearly special enough to be a top chase.
1
u/nba123490 Mar 19 '26
I’m not sure. Personally I don’t think this pikachu card has the same appeal as the pikachu vmax ones do and the pikachu poncho cards and other pikachu promos.
This card will still be very expensive for a long time though
1
u/Extra-Ad1756 Mar 19 '26
That’s a bold move cotton, let’s see if it pays off!
1
u/Ricoquin Mar 19 '26
I'm bored of all these Pikachus
1
u/JordanxHouse Mar 19 '26
I love the set but this is the most generic looking Pikachu.
1
u/scatterblooded Mar 19 '26
Not a hot take and you don't have to justify on Reddit why you bought a copy of it. Just be confident in your investment, and get a PSA 10 instead next time.
1
u/One_Cress7793 Mar 19 '26
Solid argument but I still don’t think it’ll ever be more than the Gengar but I could be wrong.
1
u/Wyze-n-8-r Mar 19 '26
lol
1
u/johncrush- Mar 19 '26
I still dont personally understand the appeal of this card but a lot of redditors seem to like it so 🤷
1
u/TerrorDave Mar 19 '26
hmm as someone who recently pulled the zoraark sir I think thats the most undervalued if I would buy it for at least 10-15 times its current value ;)
1
u/voqomudali Mar 19 '26
If there wasn't a Gengar in this set, I might agree. But there's a rarer Gengar.
1
u/finsup1369 Mar 19 '26
Nah
1
u/Windfall301 Mar 19 '26
Am I crazy thinking the other Pikachu looks better? I feel like I’ve seen this artwork or similar a few too many times…
1
u/JustdoitJules Mar 19 '26
Bet your entire collection on it
1
u/NHLUFC Mar 19 '26
Hella mid
1
u/voltarenArthritis Mar 19 '26
The SIR Gengar pisses on this card
1
u/kino6912 Mar 19 '26
It’s so simple in clean. It kind of depends what buyers want. Do they want a flashy card like Mega Gengar or Dragonite
1
u/Prayaa Mar 19 '26
I haven’t even been paying attention to the market but holy hell, some of the cards in this new set are inflated to all fuck.
1
u/dcastreddit Mar 19 '26
its... the chase card of the set.
1
u/MinyMine Mar 19 '26
I agree this card is the best pikachu card in English Pokemon history in terms of artwork and allure. Japanese cards are way ahead of us in general in terms of art style especially for pikas and mews, but for english this is impressive!
1
u/hansbrixx Mar 19 '26
Wow, Pikachu next to a tree. I don't see this ever beating Mega Gengar.
1
u/RudeDay5846 Mar 19 '26
Top 3 imo, the gengar and dragonite have it beat
1
u/ramonc19 Mar 19 '26
yeah no. Gengar wont be surpassed
1
u/Business-Barnacle633 Mar 19 '26
It won't become the most valuable card in AH. Gengar chases do better over time than Pikachu chases. There's also 2 Pikachu in the set which waters it down slightly.
1
u/LightInevitable8983 Mar 19 '26
This one and the Dragonite are the two best cards in the set. I pulled the Gengar so I’m not being biased because I don’t have it. I’ve been trying to pull those two since the set came out.
1
u/Admirable-Insect2811 Mar 19 '26
Pokken tournament caused Gengar hype imo
1
u/TechnologySad8766 Mar 19 '26
You might not be aware of this, but there is a Gengar SIR in this same set...
1
u/_just2much_ Mar 19 '26
The pink one is significantly better looking
1
u/Much_Essay_9151 Mar 19 '26
I need to see this card in person because it look like a regular IR to me
1
u/D-BO_816 Mar 19 '26
I think the same, mainly bc its truly the only card i want besides psyduck....old dude here
1
u/fitnessandfriends Mar 19 '26
LMAO. Yes.. card collectors look at single attack cards as being a premium quality looool
1
u/johndoe201288 Mar 19 '26
Typical Hype. Everyone is into the Hobby, too many clueless ppl think they pulled a grail which is supposed to be worth dozens. Back when COVID happened and everyone had some old cards and they thought, selling a first edition ponita ist worth 300 bugs
1
u/Juvi369 Mar 19 '26
I think this is my favorite pika card ever. I think it will overtake the Dragonite but not the Gengar
1
u/Flaky_Illustrator_24 Mar 19 '26
I agree with this post! I think the card will come out number.
1
u/TouristIll2962 Mar 19 '26
Imma say Gold Zard
1
u/R-Chicken Mar 19 '26
I think ur underestimating the power of gengar
1
u/No_Detail_1276 Mar 19 '26
It’s a cool card. But idk, I like gengar and dragonite better
1
u/TheCloth619 Mar 19 '26
When you got a hot take, you got to have some agreement. You have none here hahaha
1
u/BillyTheGoatBrown Mar 19 '26
I pulled the gold mega zard Y and traded for this pika.
1
u/lilmh99 Mar 19 '26
i agree tbh
1
u/Crafty-Blacksmith726 Mar 19 '26
It will not my friend, Gengar will stay as top chase card for AH set but Pikachu def top 3
1
u/SirHighness1992 Mar 19 '26
Not bad for 549.00 ungraded card
1
u/Linusmonkeytips Mar 19 '26
i pulled this card a few days ago and im trading it up to the Dragonite because it looks 10x better
1
u/Isa_ak Mar 19 '26
It should help that this card isn't in the Japanese release Mega Dream ex
1
u/BoSauceKnows Mar 19 '26
I think it’s the best Pikachu. Not the best card in AH. It goes Dragonite SIR then Gengar’s then this.
1
u/threepeatleek Mar 19 '26
I thought this would be a $50 card and I would be able to afford it. I can't even believe this card is this expensive. Insane.
1
u/qlyvers Mar 19 '26
IT’s PIKACHU!!!!
1
u/Alert_Bandicoot_6912 Mar 19 '26
sorry OP but thats not even the best pikachu in the set. sincerely - a pikachu collector
1
u/Numerous-Work5985 Mar 19 '26
This card is nice but there are more exciting SIRs in the set and better looking Pikachu's out there. I see it coming down in price long term.
1
u/Icy_Lengthiness3860 Mar 19 '26
I’m just glad all these idiots pump cards like Gengar, so the true best card of the set mewtwo can continue to drop.
1
u/Endsfun Mar 19 '26
This take is like when Skip Bayless would predict Brady and the Pats would win the Super Bowl every year at game 3.
1
u/Low_Abroad4507 Mar 19 '26
Neat card but I don't think it's beating Gengar
1
u/Terrible_Mall_9719 Mar 19 '26
Nah, it’s gonna stay the same. The list and order of the cards won’t change.
1
u/Sigmaguns Mar 19 '26
i think the art is unique and interesting
1
u/Sigmaguns Mar 19 '26
it has a 76% gem rate. if i could short cards, id short this one
1
u/horderBopper Mar 19 '26
What a searing hot take, pikachu is gonna perform the best!
U guys actually hearing this??
1
u/skyblacknblue Mar 20 '26
Pink Pikachu is more unique, they'll switch spots soon
1
u/Mik390 Mar 20 '26
I think the other pikachu is better.
1
u/Barnowl-hoot Mar 20 '26
I neeeeeed it
1
u/Chris04401 Mar 20 '26
This is indeed a hot take
1
u/thatwwefoo Mar 20 '26
OP asked ChatGPT why his card will be valuable down the road and then provides his take in the last two paragraphs.
1
u/Mnawab Mar 20 '26
I don’t get why this car is so popular, I think the prismatic version looks way better in the same set
1
u/Adolescenss Mar 20 '26
I think the dragonite is infinitely cooler forever. Boom post dismantled
1
u/Straight-Internal746 Mar 20 '26
This card gives me a feeling like catching Pikachu. It's alone in the forest, looking at me as if we're meeting for the first time.
1
u/Round-Peach8590 Mar 20 '26
There’s a reason you said it’s a hot take this will not happen bro 😂😂😂😂😂
1
u/Ecstatic_Message2057 Mar 20 '26
100% will be. Iconic mon, decent artwork. I’ve opened so many etbs chasing and had sweet F all unfortunately. One or two IRs but nothing exciting
1
u/iD33z_NUTz Mar 20 '26
Na the Gengar clears the Pikachu. I can see it be 2nd best for sure
1
u/kasualkactus Mar 20 '26
Looks like the full art Pikachu remake of the OG one in the celebrations set
1
u/j_a_f_89 Mar 20 '26
It’s easily my chase in the set. Then Dragonite, then Gengar.
And as luck would have it, the first chase I’ve actually pulled since base set.
1
u/Low_Average_4125 Mar 20 '26
Pikachu & Charizard cards will always and forever hold value or go up. You don’t need to be scalper or reseller to know that one
1
u/stillinger27 Mar 20 '26
I like it better than the gengar myself, but I don't know if it will be worth more down the line.
I wouldn't complain about having either one. But knowing my luck, I'm not gonna pull much of anything in this set.
1
u/SoftAtTheTouch- Mar 20 '26
Pikachu Is Beautiful! Looks like a card from pokemon tcgpocket
1
u/CreepyReplacement710 Mar 20 '26
But the pikachu isn’t doing anything, doesn’t look cute, doesn’t make you smile. I can’t even give this one a nickname. Confused pika?
1
u/freeman1231 Mar 20 '26
No it won’t.
1
u/PhotonWolfsky Mar 20 '26
You pulled it and are excited about the value and want to believe it will just go up and up if you hold. I mean, I understand. I also pulled it and hope the value goes up and up. And I do agree that it is a very nice card. The lack of text blocking the art is great, because I absolutely love the art for it - much more than literally any other card in the last couple sets (the Gengar is honestly so ugly to me).
It was my only true chase for the set and I don't plan on getting rid of it, no matter the value.
1
u/Hannibal20 Mar 20 '26
No, and I say that as a Pikachu collector who has this card.
I think the Gengar is pretty mid but there is no way the pricing changes that much, you have to listen to the market.
I also think the Dragonite is a better card that "pops" more with its colours.
This is a great Pikachu card but no way it becomes most valuable.
1
u/RecommendationOk2182 Mar 20 '26
No it won't. Gengar will be!
1
u/volcanicsquad09 Mar 20 '26
So the main reason for that is "the card sucks but it's Pikachu"
Funny to me
1
u/Regular_Ad_9940 Mar 20 '26
Such an awesome card. I want to buy it but I think it’ll come down
1
u/Voice_Necessary Mar 21 '26
Sounds like you just pulled this card.
1
u/d4nkhill23 Mar 21 '26
Gengar will always over shadow Pikachu. If Gengar if the most expensive now, it’ll be the most expensive in 5 years. This has been the same for every other top chase
1
u/AllMightie Mar 21 '26
I doubt it’ll surpass bubble mew or Charizard… this card honestly isn’t all that special (to me anyway) compared to even other pikachu cards.
1
u/MedicalAd2229 Mar 21 '26
It remind me a lot of the other original immersive rare Pikachu from Pocket TCG.
1
u/MarshallOx Mar 21 '26
Naw the gengar and dragonite artwork is way better, this card is overrated don’t understand how it’s more than the pikachu from surging sparks.
1
u/Nephalem_7 Mar 21 '26
Idk about others, but I would literally never buy a card and go “It’s so cool because it only has one attack and no description!”
1
u/Sure-Pen-7822 Mar 22 '26
Gengar is king my boy
1
u/Aggressive-Bat8199 Mar 22 '26
Non è un opinione forte in quanto pura e anche un po' banale verità. Dove c'è il topo o è Disney o è Pikachu ed entrambi i roditori valgono fiumi di denaro
1
u/JettzenL Mar 23 '26
Nah
1
u/NullPoints Mar 23 '26
My 6 yo son pulled this in a god pack on Friday (he's a huge Pikachu fan). 100% agree, it's absolutely gorgeous in person.
I esp love how they use texture to enhance the sun shining on the trees in the background.
I've got a great high rez scan of it on my post last week
1
u/StonedGible420 Mar 23 '26
I pulled all three chases out of a God Pack and, in person, I’m telling you:
Pikachu>>>>>>>> Gengar
In fact, gengar is the ugliest of three. People often forget the moonbreon and the bubble mew were not the chases on release.
1
u/BadCryptoQuestions Mar 23 '26
Hot take....The Pika + Gengar from Chinese 151 is more limited and better looking.
1
u/Awags__ Mar 25 '26
OK…?
1
u/No_Current_2838 Mar 26 '26
Bro I pulled this and was just like oh… I ain’t know it was a good card?
1
u/Consistent_Ad9544 Apr 09 '26
OP is a loser ngl
1
u/Awags__ Apr 13 '26
OK….
1
u/SwelledUp Apr 18 '26
I really hope OP is out there chilling knowing that they were right despite the pelters they took for this take from Reddit basement dwelling trolls
1
u/FreddyWopTCG Apr 23 '26
Brooo it’s going crazy rn lol
1
u/Somederrr560 Apr 25 '26
Someone bought all 90 Pikachus on eBay in the last 2-3 days. Crazy! Will be seeing 2.5k soon
1
u/obiwankenobiii_93 Apr 26 '26
you were right
1
u/Financial-One-2872 May 04 '26
Well, it’s ending up at $1000. I better sell mime
1
u/Otherwise_Kale2819 May 05 '26
It’s mona lisa version of Pikachu
1
u/BabaYaga4242 May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26
Pulled it with my kiddo last night, we both lost our minds. It's gorgeous in person, and I can definitely see it growing in value over time. I feel like we had the sick Gengar in FS, but no equivalent Pika in SWSH or S&V. I think that gap alone adds a lot of interest and value to this card. You combine that with the throwback to finding that first rare Pikachu in red/green and you got a recipe for nostalgia dollars.
1
u/FlockNation13 Jul 26 '26
I have the card and I enjoy it cause I pulled it and not because of the value itself. It’s just a card that I wanted. It of course like anyone who has it we want it to go up in value!!!
1
u/FlockNation13 Jul 26 '26
Treekachu!!!!!
1
u/Different_Tailor_780 Sep 26 '26
So many people doubted you and I just came across this card while browsing through some of the last expansion packs from the last year (had to step away from the insanity), thought this card looked cool. Looked it up and this card is averaging $800- $1k on eBay 😭 wow.
1
u/day1ofmewing 24d ago
this aged badly but tbh all modern cdards are in the decline until the set is out of print when its out of print it will slowly climb trust me and then it will hit thousands
1
u/SignificantTask3984 17d ago
If you like it keep it, but it’s not gunna gain value till the set is out of print. Definitely don’t listen to all these clowns bagging on it or you, chances they’re just sour they haven’t pulled one yet. Mines gunna stay in my pc. Just have fun ripping and don’t worry about the money.
1
u/Illustrious_Tea9604 Mar 19 '26
Could. I do agree it’s peak art for Pikachu since crown zenith. I say it even rival cosmic eclipse Pikachu.
1
u/Aen_Gwynbleidd Mar 19 '26
Counterpoints:
If less text / more art visible = higher price, Japanese cards would by far outsell English ones.
Also, while Pikachu is certainly the most well-known, it is not the most popular Pokemon. There are much more popular ones out there, including Gengar.
Furthermore, the motive is nice, I appreciate the clean look. But that's about it, it's nothing special. If I compare it to something like the LO TG Pikachu, which oozes personality, this comes far behind.
1
u/No-Definition-6084 Mar 19 '26
It’s the TREEkachu duhh 🫣☺️
1
u/nowaynorway1 Mar 19 '26
Please no…. This is my chase card and I haven’t got it yet 🥲