Pokemon TCG: 11 Most Valuable Ancient Cards

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has been a key part of every new generation and adapts the new Pokemon in their own unique way. In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet we got a brand-new type of Pokemon with the Paradox Pokemon.

Paradox Pokemon are Pokemon from the distant past or the far-flung future and have been brought over as Ancient and Future cards in the TCG. With them comes a whole host of gimmicks that only these Pokemon can interact with. Ancient Pokemon bring power with some dangerous downsides and have some super-valuable cards with art reminiscent of the past.

All the prices featured here have been taken from TCG Player, and we have only listed English print cards.

11 Koraidon: Temporal Forces (Rare, EB Games Exclusive) – $42.46

Oceanic Store Exclusive Pride

You may notice the EB Games logo on this card and that is what makes it so valuable. This stamped version of the Koraidon from Temporal Forces is not very special, but it was a limited card that many just couldn’t get their hands on, and now it has become gold in the eyes of collectors.

The only way to obtain this rare card was by spending $20 on Pokemon TCG products in an Oceania-located EB Games store. Since EB Games are defunct in the U.S. and Canada, these regions received a GameStop stamped version instead.

The GameStop stamped Koraidon is much less valuable due to how much more accessible it was to obtain.

10 Earthen Vessel: Shrouded Fable (Hyper Rare) – $48.09

Golden Ancient Acceleration

While many may look down upon Shrouded Fable, there are some wonderful cards that can be pulled from the set and this golden Hyper Rare Earthen Vessel is one of them. Often, Hyper Rare Item cards never get to reach the same heights of value that Pokemon and Supporters do, despite being more rare than some of them, but Earthen Vessel is an Item card that nearly every deck uses.

Earthen Vessel has seen tons of usage in a wide variety of decks thanks to its useful effect. When used, you can discard one card from your hand to search your deck for two Basic Energy cards and then put them into your hand. Accelerating Energy into your hand is something that nearly every deck needs and being able to get two from an Item card makes Earthen Vessel a star in a plethora of decks.

9 Gouging Fire-ex: Temporal Forces (Special Illustration Rare) – $50.75

A Beautiful Card For Collectors

Entei’s ancient ancestor, Gouging Fire, is burning to enter your collection with this vibrant nature-filled Special Illustration Rare from Temporal Forces. The pleasant jungle full of lush green colors makes the Fire-type beast pop out dynamically well.

Unfortunately, the playability of Gouging Fire-ex hurts its value quite a bit. With two less than stellar attacks and no ability, it just can’t compete with other attackers in the format. It is overlooked by many collectors despite how unique this Special Illustration Rare is for a Fire-type, and it deserves to be in your collection.

Fluttering For Greatness

Being an unbreakable powerhouse in Generation Nine’s competitive scene, Flutter Mane has quickly risen to become one of the most iconic Paradox Pokemon. In the TCG, it carries on this reign of terror with this card having the ability to prevent the opponents’ Active Pokemon’s ability as long as it is in the Active Spot.

While it may seem a bit strange that a tiny little stamp makes this Flutter Mane Promo almost 10 times more expensive than it otherwise would be, the rarity of the card makes it worth owning. Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Boxes sell out almost instantly and rarely ever go back up for restock, so these stamped Promos instantly become some of the hardest to get cards from the Scarlet & Violet era.

7 Roaring Moon-ex: Paradox Rift (Special Illustration Rare) – $58.91

Destroying All That Approaches, Even Your Wallet

Roaring Moon is the monarch of all the Ancient Pokemon and in the TCG it carries that power with pride. This art really shows its power better than any other representation and gives it the justice it deserves from the little time it gets in Pokemon Scarlet.

The artwork really puts the Roaring part of Roaring Moon’s name to good use as it is seen asserting its dominance over all the other Ancient Pokemon and screeching even louder than Scream Tail. Roaring Moon is a threat to all and this art, alongside Roaring Moon-ex’s attacks, makes it truly a ruler of a long-gone era and now also your money.

The Past Has Never Looked So Eye-Catching

Few Illustration Rares are able to be more valuable than any Special Illustration Rares, but this Scream Tail Promo card is able to with ease thanks to a tiny little stamp. To get this card, all you have to do is buy a Paradox Rift (Roaring Moon) Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box, and it will be there waiting for you.

This card may be all about Scream Tail, we can tell that is not the reason this card is so expensive. The environment on this card is jaw-dropping, especially in person, where the holo makes the lush greenery and the phenomenal lake below shimmer with the glistening glory of the past.

If you want to pick up this hidden gem of a Promo card, luckily the non-Pokemon Center stamped version goes for less than $10.

5 Walking Wake-ex: Temporal Forces (Special Illustration Rare) – $65.55

A Waterfall Of Details

While this card is focused on Walking Wake, it will catch many collectors’ eyes for more than just the Pokemon. This blue-obsessed card has more blue hues than you could ever ask for that compliment Walking Wake to create a scene that you won’t forget.

A flowing waterfall takes the center focus of this card, and it brings everything together and, with the way it is textured and shines in the light in person, it looks even more outstanding. This card is just more proof that we need Illustration Rare Stadium cards, as the Pokemon TCG art team are the masters of not just Pokemon but also environments.

4 Sandy Shocks-ex: Prismatic Evolutions (Special Illustration Rare) – $78.21

A Shocking Hidden Gem

Prismatic Evolutions is filled to the brim with striking Special Illustration Rare cards that all stand tall as some of the most detailed and interesting cards that each Pokemon has ever received. A hidden gem within the strong line-up is this Sandy Shocks-ex, which has a distinct style that makes it look truly ancient.

It almost feels like this card is a fossil with all the muted dirty hues of brown and orange and the thick lines on Sandy Shocks itself complement it and make it pop out. While the card itself may not be anything noteworthy, this artwork makes it more than worth chasing as long as you have the patience to open hundreds or even thousands of Prismatic Evolutions packs.

3 Raging Bolt-ex: Temporal Forces (Special Illustration Rare) – $105.74

Raging Through A Distant Past

The most popular of the Ancient Paradox Legendaries from the Scarlet & Violet DLC, Raging Bolt has alot to love with its Brachiosaurus-like design. This Special Illustration Rare is the main chase card of Temporal Forces and brings Raging Bolt as a powerful ex with art of it surrounded by a gorgeous scene from when it thrived.

Raging Bolt looks ready to cause a thunderstorm like no other in the artwork for this card and this reflects in its power in its attacks as well. This powerhouse is one of the strongest Basic Pokemon of the Scarlet & Violet era with its versatility and huge potential being nearly unmatched.

2 Raging Bolt-ex: Prismatic Evolutions (Special Illustration Rare) – $156.51

Traditional Art Of A Long Gone Era

This special version of Raging Bolt-ex looks like it has been taken right out of an ancient Japanese temple with its traditional artstyle. Shocking all with beautiful colors and detail, this card is really unlike any other and is a perfect match for an Ancient Pokemon.

Prismatic Evolutions is a rough set pull rate wise, which makes any Special Illustration Rare cards from the set alot more valuable. It’s pretty hard to pull a normal Illustration Rare or even a Double Rare and with over 32 different Special Illustration Rares, it’s near impossible to pull the one you want.

1 Roaring Moon-ex: Prismatic Evolutions (Special Illustration Rare) – $306.01

A Detailed Piece Of History

While everyone else was chasing for the Stellar Tera Umbreon-ex card, this Roaring Moon-ex slipped through the cracks despite being one of the most detailed and stunning cards of the set. This beautiful card has an art style that almost looks like an eastern painting from the past of an ancient mythical dragon and that perfectly fits Roaring Moon.

The reason this card is desired is not just because of its art, but because of its playability too. While it may not be meta-relevant, Roaring Moon-ex does have an attack that can Knock Out any foe instantly. Time and time again, this kind of attack has proved to be lethal throughout TCG history.