6 Pokémon TCG Price Drops: Illustration Rares Worth Watching in 2025
Pokémon TCG Price Drops: Illustration Rares Worth Watching in 2024
The Pokémon Trading Card Game continues to be a thriving market for collectors, investors, and players alike. Recently, several modern illustration rares and promo cards have seen significant price drops—some by more than 50 percent. These dips present strong opportunities for collectors looking to grade cards or invest in long-term value.This article highlights key cards that have fallen in price, along with recent PSA 10 graded sales and valuable background on the illustrators behind the artwork. Understanding the artists can provide additional insight into the long-term collectability of a card.
Cresselia – Shrouded Fable
- Illustrator: Satoma
- Previous Market Price: Around $35
- Current Market Price: Around $17
- Recent PSA 10 Sales: Approximately $100
Satoma is known for a soft, dreamlike art style, often using glowing, muted tones. Crisalida showcases their gentle, ethereal palette and flowing composition. This card’s recent price drop may be short-lived, given its unique art and consistent graded demand.
Scarmory – Surging Sparks
- Illustrator: Takumi Wada
- Previous Market Price: $20
- Current Market Price: $9
- Recent PSA 10 Sales: $80 to $90
Takumi Wada (Japanese: 和田 拓, Wada Takumi) is a distinguished Japanese illustrator renowned for his contributions to both the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda serie.
Wada's artwork is characterized by its detailed and dynamic compositions, often blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern design elements. His experience with The Legend of Zelda series, particularly Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, showcases his ability to create immersive and emotionally resonant illustrations. This style seamlessly translates into his Pokémon TCG artwork, where he brings a unique depth and narrative quality to each card.
Pikachu Promo – Paldea Adventure Chest
- Illustrator: Saino Misaki
- Previous Market Price: $14
- Current Market Price: $6
- Recent PSA 10 Sales: $70 to $80
Saino Misaki is a Japanese illustrator renowned for their contributions to the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and its mobile counterpart, Pokémon TCG Pocket. Since their debut, Saino Misaki has become recognized for a distinctive art style that blends soft, expressive character designs with detailed, storybook-like backgrounds.
Saino Misaki's illustrations are characterized by a gentle, whimsical aesthetic. Their use of soft lines and harmonious color palettes creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, often depicting Pokémon in serene, natural settings. This approach brings a sense of tranquility and charm to the cards, resonating with both collectors and players.
Pikachu Promo – Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box (ETB)
- Illustrator: Atshushi Furusawa
- Previous Market Price: $10
- Current Market Price: $5 to $6
- Recent PSA 10 Sales: Around $70
- Pokémon Center Stamp Variant: Sells for significantly more
Atsushi Furusawa (Japanese: 古澤あつし) is a Japanese freelance illustrator who has contributed artwork to the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). He began illustrating for the TCG with the Chilling Reign set and has illustrated over 40 cards since then. Furusawa was a semi-finalist in the Pokémon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix, where he submitted an illustration of Charizard. His first official artwork was on Morpeko, one of the SWSH Black Star Promos. He has also illustrated cards appearing in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.
Metagross – Temporal Forces
- Illustrator: Katsunori Sato
- Previous Market Price: Over $35
- Current Market Price: Under $20
- Recent PSA 10 Sales: $100 to $150
Katsunori Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 勝則) is a Japanese illustrator who has contributed artwork to the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He began illustrating for the TCG with the Temporal Forces expansion and has illustrated several cards
His illustrations are known for their detailed and dynamic compositions, bringing Pokémon characters to life in unique settings.For more details on his work, you can visit his profile on Bulbapedia: Katsunori Sato - Bulbapedia
Graveyard – Scarlet and Violet Base Set
- Illustrator: Sowsow
- Previous Market Price: $25
- Current Market Price: $10
- Recent PSA 10 Sales: $100 to $120
Sowsow is a Japanese illustrator renowned for their contributions to the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and other Pokémon-related projects. Since debuting in 2018 with illustrations for the Forbidden Light expansion, including cards like Avalugg, Inkay, and Cubone, sowsow has illustrated over 130 Pokémon cards, excluding reprints
Final Thoughts on the Pokémon TCG Illustration Rare MarketAs the market cools from previous highs, now is an ideal time to acquire undervalued cards, especially illustration rares and promos with strong artistic direction. While raw prices may fluctuate, PSA 10 graded sales remain relatively consistent, highlighting ongoing demand for premium condition cards.
Tracking illustrators, not just Pokémon characters, is becoming increasingly important in the world of TCG investment. Cards illustrated by popular or cross-franchise artists often retain long-term value due to their visual and cultural significance.
Always inspect raw cards for centering, surface condition, and corner sharpness before submitting for grading. With proper timing and careful selection, these current price drops may represent the best entry point of the year for collectors and investors alike.
REFERENCES
Cardmarket. (2024). Pokémon Single Cards Prices and Trends [online]. Available at: https://www.cardmarket.com/en/Pokemon [Accessed 8 May 2025].
eBay, 2025. Sold Listings for PSA 10 Pokémon Cards. [online] Available at: https://www.ebay.com [Accessed 8 May 2025].
PKMNcards, 2024. Pokémon Card Database and Illustrator Credits. [online] Available at: https://pkmncards.com [Accessed 8 May 2025].
PokéBeach, 2024. Pokémon TCG News and Collector Insights. [online] Available at: https://www.pokebeach.com [Accessed 8 May 2025].
PokéGuardian. (2024). Illustrator Features and Promo Card Releases [online]. Available at: https://www.pokeguardian.com [Accessed 8 May 2025]
https://www.pokeguardian.com [Accessed 8 May 2025].PSA, 2025.
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).Pokémon Pop Report and Graded Sales Data [online]. Available at: https://www.psacard.com/pop [Accessed 8 May 2025].
TCG Player, 2024. Market Pricing for Pokémon Cards and Set Information. [online] Available at: https://www.tcgplayer.com [Accessed 8 May 2025].
