Pokémon: A Guide to the Rarest and Most Expensive Charizard Cards

Updated: February 5, 2025

If you ask Pokémon fans what their favorite Pokémon is, many of them will have the same answer: Charizard! Charizard is a Fire-type Pokémon, the final evolved form of Charmander. It resembles a fire-breathing dragon, which appeals to kids and collectors alike.

As one of the original 151 Pokémon, it’s no wonder Charizard is a popular character with fans and collectors. Even so, the prices that many Charizard cards sell for are stunning. As Pokémon became a pop culture giant throughout the late 1990s and the 2000s, Charizard emerged as an iconic figure. In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Charizard is typically printed as a rare card, which means that it’s hard to pull in packs. For example, the Base Set Charizard was unevenly distributed in Base Set booster packs, which made it even more elusive.

They are among the most expensive Charizard cards in the Pokémon TCG, which can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Apart from their general rarity, these cards are extremely scarce in top condition, which has led to their value skyrocketing. With Pokémon more popular than ever, their prices continue to rise.

CGC Cards analyzed recent sales of the rarest and most valuable Charizard cards that sold at auction from January 2022 to February 2025. Here’s a look at the most expensive Charizard cards on the market:

The Rarest and Most Expensive Charizard Cards

Charizard (1999) Base Set 1st Edition Holo

For Pokémon collectors and investors, the 1st Edition Base Set Charizard is the holy grail. Released in 1999, Base Set Charizard is one of the most recognizable cards out there due to its popularity and value — and none is more sought after than the 1st Edition variant. 1st Edition cards were only released in the first print run of the Pokémon TCG’s Base Set before being replaced by Shadowless and Unlimited variants, so they are extremely rare.

Most kids who bought 1st Edition Charizards in 1999 used them in decks instead of preserving their condition, so finding one in fantastic condition is very difficult. Because of this, well-preserved examples of the card go for a premium — usually high five figures or even six figures. In March 2022, a Base Set 1st Edition Charizard sold on Fanatics Collect for a groundbreaking $420,000.

Other notable sales:

• $336,000 – (Heritage Auctions, March 2022)
• $252,000 – (Goldin Auctions, January 2022)
• $240,000 – (Fanatics Collect, August 2023)
• $227,999 – (Fanatics Collect, November 2024)
• $218,750 – (Heritage Auctions, December 2023)
• $212,500 – (Heritage Auctions, April 2023)
• $210,000 – (Fanatics Collect, June 2022)
• $195,200 – (Goldin Auctions, February 2024)
• $192,000 – (Fanatics Collect, January 2024)
• $180,000 – (Sotheby's Auction, September 2024)
• $172,026 – (Goldin Auctions, May 2024)
• $168,000 – (Fanatics Collect, February 2024)
• $162,000 – (Heritage Auctions, September 2022)

Other Base Set Charizards

In addition to the 1st Edition variant, there are two other variants of Charizard in the Pokémon TCG’s Base Set: Shadowless and Unlimited. Shadowless Base Set cards were released in limited quantities after 1st Edition’s print run. Then, when all the Shadowless cards were gone, The Pokémon Company released the Unlimited Base Set. Unlimited Charizard cards are the most common Base Set variants we see today, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less valuable.

On top of those, there are also Japanese-only No Rarity versions of the Base Set Charizard. Like their English counterparts, Japan’s Base Set also had a few print runs. The very first print run, however, did not include rarity symbols on the cards. These No Rarity cards are very rare, and Charizard is no exception. A No Rarity Charizard from Base Set that was graded and signed by Mitsuhiro Arita — the artist behind Base Set Charizard’s iconic artwork — realized $324,000 in a Fanatics Collect sale in April 2022.

Other notable sales:

• $300,000 – Japanese, No Rarity Symbol (Heritage Auctions, December 2023)
• $264,000 – Japanese, No Rarity Symbol (Heritage Auctions, September 2022)
• $93,750 – Japanese, No Rarity Symbol (Heritage Auctions, July 2023)
• $72,000 – Base Set Shadowless (Heritage Auctions, December 2022)
• $66,000 – Base Set Shadowless (Fanatics Collect, April 2023)
• $63,000 – Base Set Shadowless (Fanatics Collect, May 2023)
• $57,500 – Japanese, No Rarity Symbol (Heritage Auctions, September 2023)
• $51,600 – Base Set Shadowless (Fanatics Collect, May 2024)

Charizard (2000) Topps Chrome Series 1

Although Topps is most well-known for its sports cards, the company has also spent time creating collectible cards for other pop culture franchises, including Pokémon. Topps began producing Pokémon cards in 1999 with the Pokémon Trading Card Series, which featured Pokémon and characters from the Pokémon anime.

Over time, Topps released a chrome version of the Pokémon Trading Card Series. This set included cards from Pokémon Trading Cards Series 1 and Series 2 in four different chrome holographic patterns: regular Chrome, Spectra-Chrome, Sparkle-Chrome and Tekno-Chrome, with Tekno-Chrome having a rare pull rate of 1 in every 15 packs. Charizard is, of course, one of the most popular cards in the Topps line of Pokémon cards and fetches a small premium at auction. One Tekno-Chrome example sold for $60,000 in a Fanatics Collect sale in January 2022.

Other notable sales:

• $25,200 – 2000 Topps Sparkle-Chrome (Fanatics Collect, November 2022)
• $21,973 – 2000 Topps Tekno-Chrome (Goldin Auctions, February 2024)
• $16,800 – 2000 Topps Sparkle-Chrome (Fanatics Collect, January 2022)
• $11,590 – 2000 Topps Sparkle-Chrome (Goldin Auctions, November 2023)
• $11,400 – 2000 Topps Sparkle-Chrome (Fanatics Collect, December 2022)

Charizard (1995) Topsun 1st Print (Blue Back, No Number)

Before Topps, Top Seika — a popular Japanese company known for their collaborations with Japanese candy brands — produced their own set of promotional Pokémon trading cards in 1995. Included in packs of bubblegum, the Pokémon Topsun cards were some of the earliest collectibles available for the Pokémon franchise (the Pokémon TCG wasn’t released until 1996 in Japan), so they are very valuable to collectors. To learn more about Pokémon Topsun, click here.

Charizard was featured in the very first print of the Pokémon Topsun line of cards. Although first print Pokémon Topsun cards are very rare, they are easily distinguishable by their blue backing — which was exclusive to the first print run — and a lack of a set number. One of these first print Topsun Charizard cards realized $52,800 in a Fanatics Collect Premier auction in January 2023.

Other notable sales:

• $31,200 – (Heritage Auctions, September 2022)
• $23,750 – (Heritage Auctions, February 2024)
• $18,600 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $16,800 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2024)
• $15,000 – (Goldin Auctions, September 2023)
• $13,200 – (Fanatics Collect, July 2022)

Charizard (2021) Japanese Creatures Deck: Corporate History 25th Anniversary – 1999

In 2021, Pokémon celebrated its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, Creatures Inc. distributed the Creatures Deck: Corporate History boxed set to Pokémon TCG illustrators and select employees who have close ties to the TCG’s development and history. This gift set contains a half-deck of special Pokémon cards, as well as several other items. The set itself was never made available to the public and was extremely limited. Single cards from the set sell for high prices, but none more so than the 25th Anniversary Charizard, which realized an impressive $49,250 in a Heritage Auctions sale in August 2024.

(In 2024, CGC Cards graded a group of each of the 30 cards included in the Creatures Deck: Corporate History set and encapsulated them with a special label. To learn more about them, click here.)

Other notable sales:

• $38,000 – (Fanatics Collect, July 2024)
• $33,600 – (Fanatics Collect, January 2023)
• $30,600 – (Fanatics Collect, September 2023)
• $28,800 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $24,000 – (Fanatics Collect, January 2024)
• $21,000 – (Fanatics Collect, June 2024)

Charizard Gold Star (2006) EX Dragon Frontiers Holo

During the Ruby and Sapphire era of the Pokémon TCG, The Pokémon Company introduced Gold Star Pokémon cards — special Secret Rare cards that featured Pokémon in their “shiny” variants. In the video games, shiny Pokémon are incredibly rare — in Ruby and Sapphire, players had a 1 in 8192 chance of finding one in the wild — and The Pokémon Company wanted to replicate those odds of finding a Gold Star in the Pokémon TCG. Collectors have an estimated 1 in 72 chance of pulling a Gold Star per booster pack of EX Dragon Frontiers — that’s one in every two booster boxes!

Obviously, all Gold Star cards are very rare, and Charizard is one of the most coveted examples. One Gold Star Charizard realized $27,600 in a Fanatics Collect auction in January 2022.

Other notable sales:

• $24,000 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $21,000 – (Heritage Auctions, March 2022)
• $19,200 – (Fanatics Collect, December 2023)
• $18,000 – (Fanatics Collect, December 2023)
• $17,100 – (Goldin Auctions, June 2023)
• $15,000 – Japanese (Fanatics Collect, December 2024)
• $13,200 – Japanese (Fanatics Collect, December 2024)
• $12,000 – Japanese (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $11,100 – Japanese (Fanatics Collect, January 2023)
• $9,900 – Japanese (Fanatics Collect, June 2022)
• $9,600 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $9,000 – Japanese (Fanatics Collect, May 2023)
• $8,750 – (Heritage Auctions, September 2023)

Charizard (2000) Legendary Collection Holo / Reverse Holo

In 2000, Wizards of the Coast released a special set for the Pokémon TCG called Legendary Collection. This set featured reprints from many of the original Pokémon TCG sets released throughout 1999 and 2000 and included a unique reverse holofoil pattern, known by fans as the “firework” pattern for its burst-like design. These reverse holofoil cards are worth more than their normal and holofoil counterparts, but Charizard remains popular in both its holofoil and reverse holofoil variants. One holo Charizard realized $20,400 in a Fanatics Collect sale in December 2024.

Other notable sales:

• $15,000 – (Heritage Auctions, May 2024)
• $11,875 – (Heritage Auctions, October 2023)
• $11,700 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $11,400 – (Fanatics Collect, November 2023)
• $11,250 – (Heritage Auctions, September 2023)

Shining Charizard (2002) Neo Destiny

Before Gold Stars, there were Shining Pokémon. Introduced in 2001 with the Neo Revelation expansion, it was the first set to show off Shiny Pokémon in the TCG, starting with Shining Gyarados and Shining Magikarp. Subsequent sets introduced more popular Pokémon in their shiny colors, including Shining Celebi, Shining Raichu and, of course, Shining Charizard. All Shining cards go for hundreds of dollars on secondary marketplaces, but Shining Charizard consistently realizes thousands — this Japanese example realized $19,200 in May 2024.

Other notable sales:

• $13,800 – 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, January 2022)
• $12,600 – 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, August 2022)
• $12,000 – 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, September 2022)
• $11,700 – 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, August 2023)
• $11,400 – 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, March 2022)
• $11,100 – 1st Edition (Heritage Auctions, March 2022)
• $9,120 – 1st Edition (Heritage Auctions, June 2022)
• $7,812 – 1st Edition (Heritage Auctions, December 2023)
• $5,125 – Unlimited (Heritage Auctions, September 2023)

Charizard (2012) Black & White: Plasma Storm Secret Rare

After the Ruby and Sapphire era, The Pokémon Company continued to include shiny Pokémon in future TCG expansions as secret rare cards. One of the more popular cards includes this secret rare Charizard from the Black and White: Plasma Storm set. This Charizard goes for hundreds of dollars ungraded, but its value can go up significantly after being certified. One example sold for $18,000 in a Fanatics Collect Weekly auction on in January 2022.

 

Other notable sales:

• $10,000 – (Fanatics Collect, September 2023)
• $8,700 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $7,800 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $7,200 – (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $6,900 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $6,000 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $5,640 – (Fanatics Collect, November 2022)
• $5,100 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2023)
• $3,600 – (Fanatics Collect, September 2024)

Charizard (2002) Expedition (#6) Holo

Expedition was the first TCG set to introduce Nintendo’s e-Reader functionality. Many cards in the set had special barcodes printed on the sides and bottom of the cards; by scanning them into the e-Reader, players could access exclusive minigames on their Nintendo Game Boy Advance consoles.

Because many children who bought Expedition cards upon release were using them to play minigames, many of these e-Reader cards are damaged or worn. Finding a high-value Expedition holo — such as this Charizard, which is very sought after by collectors — is a difficult task, which is why they sell for high prices. This example realized $17,400 in a Fanatics Collect sale in March 2022.

Other notable sales:

• $16,800 – (Fanatics Collect, January 2022)
• $13,800 – (Fanatics Collect, December 2022)
• $12,000 – (Fanatics Collect, January 2023)
• $8,700 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2023)
• $8,100 – (Heritage Auctions, December 2022)
• $3,000 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2023)
• $2,640 – (Fanatics Collect, June 2024)

Charizard (1995-1996) Bandai Carddass Prism Holo

Before the Pokémon TCG was even released, Pokémon was featured on trading cards created and released by Bandai. Beginning in 1996, Bandai released a set of cards known as Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards. These Pokémon-themed cards featured all 151 Kanto Pokémon — each drawn by Ken Sugimori — along with several other promos and special releases. The set comes in a variety of different colored prism holographic cards. The red prism Charizard is an extremely popular card, which has driven up its value. One red prism example realized $17,400 in a Fanatics Collect sale in October 2023.

Other notable sales:

• $14,400 – Red Prism (Fanatics Collect, January 2024)
• $12,000 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, January 2025)
• $11,100 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, June 2024)
• $10,500 – Red Prism (Fanatics Collect, September 2024)
• $10,200 – Red Prism (Fanatics Collect, September 2024)
• $9,900 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, September 2024)
• $8,700 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, September 2024)
• $8,100 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, January 2022)
• $7,800 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, October 2024)
• $6,900 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, December 2024)
• $3,240 – Green Prism (Fanatics Collect, October 2023)

Dark Charizard (2000) Team Rocket 1st Edition Holo

Team Rocket introduced the concept of Dark and Light Pokémon to the TCG. While mostly aesthetic, Dark and Light Pokémon are highly collectible because they were only present in a few sets throughout the TCG’s lifetime.

Of all the Dark Pokémon, Dark Charizard is one of the most valuable. Collectors love it because of its stellar artwork, which was done by Ken Sugimori, who provided illustrations for each of the original 151 Pokémon in the original games. One example realized $17,100 in a Goldin Auctions sale in February 2022.

Other notable sales:

• $13,200 – Japanese Holo, autographed by Ken Sugimori (Fanatics Collect, August 2022)
• $4,680 – 1st Edition Holo (Fanatics Collect, May 2023)
• $4,250 – 1st Edition Holo (Heritage Auctions, September 2023)
• $4,080 – 1st Edition Holo (Goldin Auctions, February 2022)
• $3,971 – 1st Edition Holo (Goldin Auctions, September 2024)

Charizard (2003) Skyridge Holo

The Pokémon TCG’s Skyridge set was released in 2003, right at the tail-end of Wizards of the Coast’s involvement with the TCG’s production. Unlike other sets before it, Skyridge had a significantly lower print run — it was only printed and released once before Wizards of the Coast lost the rights to print Pokémon cards and never received a reprint. Because of this, the holographic Charizard from the Skyridge set is extremely rare and sought after. One example realized $16,800 in a Fanatics Collect sale in October 2024.

Other notable sales:

• $16,200 – (Fanatics Collect, October 2024)
• $15,000 – (Fanatics Collect, December 2024)
• $14,400 – (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $14,030 – (Goldin Auctions, September 2024)
• $13,200 – Japanese 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, January 2024)
• $12,000 – (Fanatics Collect, November 2023)
• $11,700 – (Fanatics Collect, June 2023)
• $11,400 – (Fanatics Collect, November 2023)
• $11,100 – Japanese 1st Edition (Fanatics Collect, April 2023)
• $10,625 – (Heritage Auctions, December 2023)
• $9,375 – (Heritage Auctions, September 2023)

Charizard Delta Species (2006) EX Crystal Guardians Holo / Reverse Holo

EX Crystal Guardians came out during the Ruby and Sapphire era of the Pokémon TCG. Unfortunately, demand for Pokémon cards wasn’t very high during this era, so many sets were short-printed. Add the fact that EX Crystal Guardians is nearly 20 years old and it’s easy to see why rare cards from the set are so scarce, like this Charizard.

Both the holo and reverse holo variants of this Charizard card are equally coveted by collectors. A Charizard Delta Species holo recently sold for $10,800 in a Fanatics Collect sale in February 2022.

Other notable sales:

• $7,800 – Holo (Fanatics Collect, January 2022)
• $6,000 – Reverse Holo, Washing Machine Charizard (Heritage Auctions, December 2022)
• $5,520 – Holo (Fanatics Collect, May 2022)
• $4,440 – Holo (Fanatics Collect, April 2022)
• $4,080 – Reverse Holo (Fanatics Collect, November 2024)

Do you have one of these rare Charizard cards?

If you’re one of the lucky few who possess one of these cards in your collection, congratulations! Now that you have it, you should consider getting it graded by CGC Cards. CGC Cards’ grading experts ensure the authenticity of your card before encapsulating it in our industry-leading holder, preserving its condition and value. Cards graded and encapsulated by CGC Cards also often realize high prices at auction. Get started by creating a free membership account here!

About CGC Cards

CGC Cards, a division of Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®), is devoted to the expert authentication, grading and encapsulation of TCGs, non-sports and sports cards. All cards graded by CGC Cards are backed by the industry-leading CGC Guarantee.

Each submission goes through a proven eight-step certification process, which includes authentication and evaluation of condition by CGC Cards’ expert graders, encapsulation in the industry’s best holder, high-resolution imaging and a comprehensive quality control check. To learn more about CGC Cards’ state-of-the-art holder, click here.