Pokémon TCG: 5 of the Rarest and Most Valuable Alakazam Cards

Alakazam remains one of the most sought after Pokémon cards in the history of the TCG. Let's take a look at five of the rarest and most valuable Alakazam cards you could find in your collection. One even goes for $600!

When it comes to the world of Pokémon, there are countless creatures with remarkable abilities and unique characteristics. Among them stands Alakazam, a psychic-type Pokémon that has captivated collectors and fans alike with its extraordinary psychic powers and unmatched intelligence.

The Alakazam Base Set card is a highly sought-after and iconic card from the original Pokémon TCG Base Set, released in 1999. In fact, it is the very first card noted in that serialized set list since its set number is 1/102.

However, since 1999, Alakazam has appeared on dozens on rare and valuable Pokémon cards from Alakazam EX (Secret) in XY: Fates Collide to Dark Alakazam inTeam Rocket.

Break out your collection! Let's take a look at five of the rarest and most valuable Alakazam cards ever printed!

Alakazam - Expedition (2002)

1. Alakazam— Expedition (2002): $75

The first card on this list comes to us from Expedition, an often forgotten about later Wizards of the Coast set which features the short-lived E-reader border feature. This thick border includes a bar code that collectors could swipe through an attachment made for the Game Boy Advance to see more details about the Pokémon featured on the card.

Because Expedition premiered a few years after Pokémon's initial spike in popularity, the print volume of Expedition cards is much lower than many other sets. As a result, many of Expedition's rare cards, like this Alakazam, are extremely tough to find.

If you have a near mint copy of this Alakazam, you can sell it for around $75.

Sabrina's Alakazam— Gym Challenge (2000)

2. Sabrina's Alakazam— Gym Challenge (2000): $125 in First Edition

This next rare Alakazam card was included in 2000's Gym Challenge set, which featured Pokémon that appeared in, were attributed to various iconic characters from the original Red and Blue games by Gamefreak.

Many features contribute the demand for this particular printing, including the dynamic illustration of Alakazam in the right most third of the frame, harnessing his psychic powers against a backdrop of holographic negative space.

Additionally, Gym Challenge was released on the tail end of the initial Pokémon craze, making cards from this set slightly rarer than cards from Jungle, Fossil, or Base 2.

If you're able to find a near mint unlimited copy of Sabrina's Alakazam, you will likely only pay around $40, but if you manage to find a first edition printing in near mint, you may end up paying $125 or more!

Alakazam— Skyridge (2003)

3. Alakazam— Skyridge (2003): $300

Alakazam from Skyridge is the final printing of this Pokémon to be released by Wizards of the Coast, the Washington-based company responsible for adapting the Pokémon trading card game for the American market from 1999 to 2003.

Similar to Expedition, at the time this set arrived in America, the popularity of Pokémon cards had taken a significant dip, so relatively few Skyridge cards were printed. In fact, Skyridge packs are among the most expensive sealed product that are from regular set release, with just one booster pack going for $1000!

But you won't need to sift through dozens of one-thousand dollar packs to get your hands on this Alakazam because you can get a near mint copy for $300 or more!

Alakazam Star— Crystal Guardians (2006)

4. Alakazam Star— Crystal Guardians (2006): $450

This Alakazam Star card is the "newest" printing featured on this list, having been released in EX: Crystal Guardians, a 2006 set, and the fourteenth regular set released by the Pokémon Card Company International.

Collectors passionately chase cards with the "Star" designation, a rarity type that was far rarer than "ex" cards of the time. This designation first appeared in 2004's Team Rocket Returns with cards like Mudkip Star, Treecko Star, and Torchic Star, but continued through the Ex series until the premier of Diamond & Pearl in 2007.

Star Pokémon appear, on average, in only one in seventy-two booster packs, meaning that you would need to purchase two booster boxes of Ex Crystal Guardians to pull just one Star card on average.

Fortunately, you don't have to start ripping open $300 packs of Ex Crystal Guardians because you can find a near mint copy of Alakazam Star for around $450!

Alakazam - Base Set (1999)

5. Alakazam - Base Set (1999) $600 in First Edition

Rounding this list off is the very first Alakazam card ever printed: Alakazam from Base Set. The Alakazam Base Set card showcases the striking artwork of Ken Sugimori, who has created artwork for numerous Pokémon cards over the years, including Base Set Blastoise and Base Set Mewtwo.

However, if you find this card in your collection, be sure to check which printing it comes from, because there are three different printings of Base Set, and the value of each varies widely.

Prices shown for different Base Set printings of Alakazam.

Unlimited Alakazam cards were printed in the highest volume, and were manufactured to meet the explosive demand in Pokémon cards during 1999 and 2000. There are a few ways to tell if you have an unlimited Alakazam, but the easy tell is that these cards feature a drop shadow around the bottom and right side of the illustrative frame. These Alakazams will go for around $35 in near mint condition.

Shadowless Alakazam cards were printed after the initial very short "First Edition" release of Base Set in 1999 but before "unlimited" were printed. These cards are called "shadowless" because they lack the drop shadow around the illustrative frame present in unlimited cards. You may also notice that their coloration is a little lighter than their unlimited counterparts. These Alakazams can go for around $150 in near mint condition.

First Edition Alakazam cards will look almost identical to shadowless cards. However, they will include the iconic "Edition 1" stamp outside of the bottom left corner of the illustrative frame. If you find a first edition copy of Alakazam in your collection and it's in near mint, consider yourself lucky. These Alakazam cards can go for $600 or more!

Happy Collecting!

As we come to the end of our journey exploring the wonderful world of Alakazam Pokémon cards, it's clear that this psychic powerhouse holds a special place in the hearts of collectors. With so many rare printings, it's plain to see that Alakazam is a Pokémon that will continue to be featured prominently in the TCG, and remain highly sought after by enthusiasts for years to come.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.