Lost Origins saw reprints earlier this year, but now that they’ve dried up, we’re seeing the usual climbs in this Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield expansion. What I didn’t expect was to see so many Trainer Gallery cards drop in value, but I think this is more of a market correction.
It was only at the beginning of the year that Gengar and Pikachu were in the pocket money binder at your local TCG and collectables stores, but those days are still a distant memory.
Crashers and Climbers: Lost Origin
With Pokémon Mania 2025 still going crazy, everyone is trying to grab new release sealed product at retail, which means it’s a great time to snag some overlooked cards from older sets before they climb up.
For example, I got most of the cards in today’s crasher section for around $5 each 12 months ago, so although they’re currently lowering in price, they’re still a great buy. Let’s get straight into it.
Pokémon Card Crashers
Gengar TG06/TG30 is a bit of a risk to play in-game, Netherworld Gate can bring it back from the dead without the need to evolve it, but you also get three damage counters. Screaming Circle can work out well then opponents have a full bench for one Psychic energy, but it’s still a risk that might not be worth taking. The artwork itself is fantastic, and it’s one of my favorite Gengar cards just for the bold colour and Gengar being fascinated by a washing line. This card has had a brutal crash from $56 to $38, but I see this as more of a correction.
Pikachu TG05/TG30 has the exact same charm, seeing it having a nap with the female trainer from Legends: Arceus. It’s such a sweet image and can see why this card is worth over $26. It’s come down from over $30, but I’m sure this will grow far past this point in the next 12 months. It’s really not worth including in your deck, but it’s a cracking pick for a trainers binder.
Gold and black cards never really did much for me personally, so I can see why the value of Mew VMAX TG30/TG30 has dipped from $26.04 to $21.42. But that’s besides the point, it’s still Mew and there’s plenty of people who need every Mew they can find in their collection, so this still isn’t bad.
Charizard TG03/TG30 is another card im suprised to be calling a crasher this week. It’s Charizard cuddling up with Champion Leon, which is a recipe for a banger card. We’re seeing a lot of Trainer Gallery cards go through a bit of a correction right now, but a 25% drop from $23.95 to $17.98 is a bit rough. I’d reccomend picking one up before it ticks back up.
Pikachu VMAX TG29/TG30 is matching that Mew energy. I pulled this from a booster earlier this year, and it’s a bit of an underwhelming card despite the rarity. It’s not dropped by much, only 9%, and it will probably climb in the next year or two, but black gold cards could have been so much cooler.
Pokémon Card Climbers
Giratina V 186/196 has gone through the roof and into the stratosphere over the last month. In September these we’re going for $570, but it’s now over $720, and I’m here for it. I’m yet to get my hands on one, but what an incredible work of art this card is. It illustrates the Distortion world perfectly.
It’s nice to see Aerodactyl card climbing up in value, especially it’s V Alt Art (180/196). It’s a gorgeous scene of it slying over a tropical area, with a shedload of detail and some lovely use of color. It’s easy to see why this card has been bumped from $129 to just over $180 in the space of a month.
Red and Pikachu, this is peak Pokémon generation one nostalgia at its finest. Showcasing Red checking out a map and Pikachu looking ready for a new adventure, there’s no reality where Pikachu V TG16/TG30 twouldn’t double in value in a month. At $99.07 right now, trainers would be wise to add this to their collection sooner rather than later.
Pikachu VMAX TG17/TG30 takes this nosgalia and kicks it up a gear into the Sword and Shield era of Pokémon with Pikachu Gigantamax form. The posture of Red ready for another challenge with chonky Pikachu just happy to be standing upright is a cracking scene. This card used to be $10-20 higher than Pikachu V, but is settling in the same ballpark at $96.
Rotom is a cool Pokémon and no one will tell me any different. I’d have one in my phone making it fly around every day of the week, and i’d love to have Rotom V 177/196 in my collection one day. It’s cheap and cheerful at $26, but it’s climbed up from $22 in a month, so I’d call that a low risk investment.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
