Pokémon Cards PSA 10 Investing: Wizards of the Coast Sets

Investing in Pokémon cards: the Wizards of the Coast sets (1999–2003) in PSA 10 — real sale prices, annual returns and a comparison with Bitcoin and gold.

Pokémon cards as an investment, compared with Bitcoin, stocks and gold. These pages cover 420 cards from 18 sets, based on 5,193 actual sales. Each set has its own page with price history, annual returns and comparisons with major asset classes.

For investors, not collectors. Only PSA 10, the highest grade, is covered. In this condition, trading cards compare most consistently as an asset class. Print variants are kept separate as well: 1st Edition, Shadowless and Unlimited are treated as distinct markets and never combined in the same series.

Price Index for This Asset Class

Calculated from 2,506 price pairs for the same item across 420 cards. Not from medians: a quarterly median can consist of different items and therefore also reflects what happened to be offered for sale.

Level1,085
Since inception+984.5%
Quarters20
PeriodMar 28, 2022 – Nov 9, 2026

Base 100 at the first quarter. Method after Bailey/Muth/Nourse — the same one behind official property indices. It evaluates only price changes of the same standardized good; positions never sold a second time do not enter, frequently traded ones are overweighted.

Data note 1

Ranked by Return per Year

218 positions with at least 10 documented sales. Annual return from the first to the most recent period value; real = after inflation over the same period.

Positions by return per year
#PositionPer yearrealYearsRecordsSales/yrGap
1Machamp #16 · Expedition (2002)+2,062.2%+1,993.3%3.9123.114 d
2Rapidash #26 · Expedition (2002)+1,759.0%+1,687.3%4.6102.221 d
3Starmie #H28 · Skyridge (2003)+1,702.6%+1,634.6%4.5112.5112 d
4Steelix #H23 · Aquapolis (2003)+1,122.2%+1,079.4%4.2112.652 d
5Octillery #H20 · Aquapolis (2003)+714.0%+685.5%4.2112.6112 d
6Zapdos #H32 · Aquapolis (2003)+667.4%+644.0%3.7102.721 d
7Celebi #3 · Neo Revelation 1st Edition (2001)+409.8%+391.9%4.2215.021 d
8Alakazam #H1 · Skyridge (2003)+400.0%+381.6%4.3112.570 d
9Umbreon #13 · Neo Discovery Unlimited (2001)+354.5%+341.3%3.1123.877 d
10Dark Feraligatr #5 · Neo Destiny 1st Edition (2002)+338.8%+326.1%3.0103.363 d
11Giovanni's Persian #8 · Gym Challenge 1st Edition (2000)+314.1%+299.6%4.2133.152 d
12Gengar #5 · Fossil 1st Edition (1999)+308.2%+292.2%4.6112.480 d
13Hitmonlee #7 · Fossil 1st Edition (1999)+272.1%+259.1%4.2204.749 d
14Ho-oh #52 · Wizards Black Star Promos (2002)+264.5%+251.7%4.2102.4238 d
15Crystal Lugia #149 · Aquapolis (2003)+249.6%+236.4%4.5143.191 d
16Gyarados #6 · Base Set Shadowless (1999)+224.8%+212.5%4.4153.452 d
17Arcanine #H2 · Skyridge (2003)+213.4%+204.2%3.4154.570 d
18Umbreon #H29 · Aquapolis (2003)+210.7%+199.8%4.2143.363 d
19Light Togetic #15 · Neo Destiny 1st Edition (2002)+202.6%+193.7%3.4133.928 d
20Raichu #H25 · Skyridge (2003)+189.7%+181.2%3.3133.984 d
21Umbreon #13 · Neo Discovery 1st Edition (2001)+177.4%+168.9%3.7164.328 d
22Blastoise #4 · Expedition (2002)+161.9%+152.0%4.5122.763 d
23Hypno #H12 · Aquapolis (2003)+148.3%+141.0%3.4103.091 d
24Cool Porygon #15 · Wizards Black Star Promos (2000)+145.7%+137.9%3.9102.6125 d
25Poliwrath #H24 · Skyridge (2003)+143.9%+135.4%4.2153.677 d
26Kabutops #9 · Fossil 1st Edition (1999)+142.4%+133.9%4.2184.370 d
27Shining Tyranitar #113 · Neo Destiny 1st Edition (2002)+142.3%+133.6%4.2184.291 d
28Typhlosion #18 · Neo Genesis 1st Edition (2000)+135.3%+127.5%4.0102.563 d
29Politoed #H23 · Skyridge (2003)+135.1%+127.9%3.7154.145 d
30Flying Pikachu #25 · Wizards Black Star Promos (2000)+134.1%+125.9%4.2112.649 d
31Mewtwo #20 · Expedition (2002)+133.7%+124.9%4.5112.445 d
32Pichu #12 · Neo Genesis 1st Edition (2000)+132.6%+125.8%3.0124.091 d
33Dark Espeon #4 · Neo Destiny 1st Edition (2002)+127.6%+120.9%3.4113.377 d
34Shining Mewtwo #109 · Neo Destiny 1st Edition (2002)+124.6%+115.9%4.5296.424 d
35Machamp #H15 · Skyridge (2003)+121.5%+113.0%4.6163.570 d
36Snorlax #11 · Jungle 1st Edition (1999)+117.5%+110.3%4.1133.291 d
37Azumarill #2 · Neo Genesis 1st Edition (2000)+116.2%+108.0%4.4122.763 d
38Togetic #16 · Neo Genesis 1st Edition (2000)+116.1%+108.3%4.4122.814 d
39Delibird #5 · Neo Revelation 1st Edition (2001)+114.2%+105.8%4.7102.121 d
40Crystal Ho-oh #149 · Skyridge (2003)+113.0%+105.2%4.4122.784 d
41Electrode #H7 · Aquapolis (2003)+110.6%+102.5%4.6143.191 d
42Jolteon #H12 · Skyridge (2003)+108.7%+100.7%4.6132.977 d
43Kabutops #H13 · Skyridge (2003)+108.6%+100.6%4.5122.6147 d
44Misty's Gyarados #13 · Gym Challenge 1st Edition (2000)+108.0%+101.1%4.1215.221 d
45Steelix #H29 · Skyridge (2003)+105.9%+99.7%3.6133.680 d
46Giovanni's Nidoking #7 · Gym Challenge 1st Edition (2000)+103.6%+96.5%4.2112.670 d
47Blissey #H6 · Aquapolis (2003)+103.4%+95.4%4.7122.677 d
48Lt. Surge's Raichu #11 · Gym Challenge 1st Edition (2000)+101.9%+95.2%4.1174.149 d
49Scizor #H21 · Aquapolis (2003)+101.4%+94.3%4.2143.356 d
50Zapdos #16 · Base Set Shadowless (1999)+99.0%+91.5%4.5143.170 d

For context: the median across all 218 covered positions is +64.4% a year. “Gap” is the typical time between two sales — it tells you how long you may wait for a buyer. Returns are gross price changes: premium, commission, grading and storage costs are not deducted.

Data note 2

PSA 10 Pokémon Trading Cards vs. the Markets

Real auction prices of PSA 10 cards compared with the S&P 500, MSCI World, Bitcoin and gold. All series are indexed to 100 as of July 11, 2024, and shown on a logarithmic scale.

Period Jul 11, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. Positions are picked by the number of recorded sales, not by return. Prices are hammer prices including the buyer's premium; seller's commission, taxes and holding costs are not deducted. All cards in detail

Data note 3

Sets

Data note 3

Related Research

Updated