Summary
Ultra Rare rarity in thePokemon TCGcan be a bit of a head-scratcher. In modern sets, it’s easy to spot—just look for those shiny double silver stars under the card. But older sets didn’t always follow that sparkly rule, yet still managed to sneak Ultra Rares in there. Generally, Ultra Rare cards include special mechanics like Pokemon ex or Pokémon V.
Most of the cards on this list are Pokemon Star, which also qualify as Ultra Rare. But hey, if all this rarity talk is frying your brain like a Thunderbolt, just remember this: some Ultra Rares are really expensive—and we’ve rounded up the priciest ones for your viewing pleasure.
All these prices are fromTCGplayer.com’s Market Value and are subject to change at any time.
10Latios Star - $742.39
EX Deoxys - 106
Like most cards with a star next to their name, Latios Starfeatures the Pokemon’s shiny version—though, to be fair, shiny Latios isn’t exactly winning any awards for bold new colors. Still, this card has been one of the top-tier ultra rares in terms of value for ages.
Its Miraculous Light attack heals a measly ten damage and cures special conditions, which in today’s game is about as threatening as a polite sneeze. But don’t be fooled—its Shining Star attack dishes out 150 damage to Stage Two Pokemon, turning this glittery jet-dragon into a legitimate threat back in the day. Shiny, subtle, and surprisingly savage!
9Charizard ex - $890.63
EX FireRed & LeafGreen - 105
Charizard is easily one of the most overexposed Pokemon ever—if you’ve played any game, chances are you’ve seen this dragon-lizard’s face more times than your own. Still, this Charizard ex makes the list for good reason. It channelsserious Base Set nostalgia, especially with its attacks. The Slash move? Yep, straight from the games.
And thanks to its Energy Flame Poke-Body, all Energy attached to it magically counts as Fire Energy—like turning pocket change into flamethrower fuel. Its Burn Down attack hits hard, but there’s a catch: it eats up all five of your Energies. Not the most efficient Charizard, but definitely one of the most valuable.
8Latias Star - $900.39
EX Deoxys - 105
Where there’s a Latios, a Latias is usually not far behind—and this list is no exception. Like her shiny brother, Latias Star shows up in her alternate color scheme, which at least looks a bit more noticeable than Latios’s “did-you-even-change?” shiny. Sadly, you may’t run both in the same deck, since only one star-icon card is allowed per deck.
Her attacks are basically copy-pasted from Latios, but with a twist: her Shooting Star attack dishes out 150 damage specifically to ex Pokemon. The real kicker? Latias Star is actually more valuable than Latios Star. Guess being the stylish twin pays off.
7Charizard Star (Delta Species) - $993.99
EX Dragon Frontiers - 100
This card isn’t just a Star—it’s also a Delta Species, which means if you were expecting a Fire-type Charizard… surprise! It’s Darkness-type. Think of Delta Species as the old-school version of Tera Pokemon—just without the fancy disco-ball crystal hats.
Its Rotating Claws attack is pretty clever: you discard an Energy from Charizard, then grab one from your discard pile and reattach it. Recycling, but make it battle-ready. Dark Swirl hits for 150 damage, but it guzzles Energy like a dragon at an all-you-can-burn buffet. Maybe not the strongest Charizard, but with its sleek black shiny form and action pose, it’s definitely among the coolest—and priciest.
6Mew Star (Delta Species) - $1,502.50
EX Dragon Frontiers - 101
This version of Mew is seriously cool. Sure, regular Mew is already adorable and iconic, but slap a shiny blue makeover on it and suddenly it’s cuteness with extra sparkle. As a Delta Species card, it ditches its usual Psychic typing and goes full Water-type—because why not?
One of its attacks, Mimicry, sounds awesome, letting you copy an opponent’s move… unless Mew doesn’t have the right Energy for it, in which case it’s just playing pretend. Rainbow Wave is more colorful chaos: pick an Energy type attached to Mew, and it hits all of your opponent’s Pokemon with that type for 20 damage. Flashy? Yes. Practical? Debatable. Valuable? Absolutely.
5Mewtwo Star - $1,650.49
EX Holon Phantoms - 103
You can’t have a Mew on the list without its edgy counterpart, Mewtwo—and this Mewtwo Star doesn’t disappoint. At first glance, it looks like a Shiny version, but hardcore fans will notice: the tail isn’t green like the usual Shiny Mewtwo.
Instead, it’s more yellow-ish, a nod to Mewtwo’s Gen II Shiny palette—because apparently even legendaries go through fashion phases. Posing like it’s about to drop the hottest Psychic album of the year, this Mewtwo can use Energy Absorption to grab Energy from the discard pile, then unleash Psychic Star for 100 damage to Evolved Pokemon. Stronger than Mew, and yep, also more expensive.
4Latias & Latios GX (Alternate Full Art) - $1,825.25
Team Up - 170
Tag Team cardsalways have amazing artwork, but this one might just be the crown jewel. Latias and Latios strike a perfectly balanced pose, and the way their heads touch to form a heart shape? It’s so sweet it could be a Valentine’s Day gift—yes, even for non-trainers. Beyond the romantic symbolism, though, this card packs real power in battle.
Just be careful: if your Tag Team gets knocked out, your opponent grabs three prize cards. Kind of like love—beautiful, but high risk. And while love may be priceless, this card definitely isn’t. It’s stunning, symbolic, and seriously expensive.
3Gyarados Star (Delta Species) - $1,999.99
EX Holon Phantoms - 102
Gyarados is already one of the coolest and most intimidating Pokemon out there—but what’s cooler than that? A red, raging, Shiny Gyarados, of course. Straight out of the Gen II games and their remakes, this fiery version takes it up a notch—literally, since it’s a Delta Species card and Fire-type instead of Water.
Its All-out Blast attack is one of the wildest in the TCG: you discard cards from your deck until there’s only one left, and it deals 20 more damage for every Energy you toss. Massive damage potential… and a massive chance to deck yourself out. High risk, high reward—just like trying to tame this angry sea serpent.
2Pikachu Star - $2,066.66
EX Holon Phantoms - 104
When it comes to Pokemon, no one steals the spotlight like Pikachu—the franchise’s forever mascot. In this Pikachu Star card, the little electric rodent shows off its Shiny form, striking a confident pose like it just soloed the Elite Four. It’s got Thundershock, a classic move from the games, though here it’s more of a light zap than a real threat.
The real action is in Spring Back, which hits for 70 damage if your opponent is down to one Prize card. Not the strongest attack out there, but come on—who wouldn’t want this flashy Pikachu in their deck? Just one problem: your wallet might not agree.
1Torchic Star - $2,499.99
EX Team Rocket Returns - 108
Torchic Star might not be the card you’d expect to top a list, but surprise—it’s one of the most expensive Ultra Rares out there. Its shiny form is so irresistibly cute, it basically demands a hug. Unlike most of the other Star Pokemon on this list, Torchic Star comes from the EX Team Rocket Returns set.
While that set mostly focuses on Gen I and II Pokemon, the sneaky inclusion of Hoenn starters like Torchic adds a fun twist. This little fire chick looks like it accidentally wandered into the wrong generation—tourist vibes included. This Torchic looks harmless… until you check the price tag.
