The Most Valuable Pokemon TCG Common Cards

Every card in the Pokemon TCG has a value, whether it's as menial as a penny, or it catapults into the thousands of dollars. Common cards are an excellent example of the unprecedented value of Pokemon cards, as even cards on the lowest tier of the rarity scale can command price tags akin to some of the Pokemon TCG's most expensive Secret Rares.

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While modern common cards are incredibly easy to find due to their mass production and availability, the most valuable common cards in the Pokemon TCG are more difficult to come by. From unusual limited printings like Red Cheeks Pikachu to a special stamped card from the POP Series, these common cards stand out as some of the best.

Cards are ordered according to their Market Prices on TCGplayer. Any cards without a Market Price are not included.

Vintage cards are first-edition printings, unless otherwise stated.

8 Caterpie: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $51.16

As Common As They Come

When it comes to the most valuable common Pokemon TCG cards, Caterpie's inclusion is appropriate, as this Bug-type Pokemon is one of the most plentiful encounters you'll see in the early stages of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

First edition copies carry a premium, but condition is easily the most important factor, as even a lightly played (LP) version of this card sits well below the market price. If you want to cash in on this common Caterpie, you'll need an exceptionally clean copy if you want to sell it for the market price.

7 Charmander: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $76.93

Looking Back At The Greats

Charmander is arguably the most popular starter Pokemon of the first generation, given Charizard's status as one of the most iconic characters in the series. However, popularity doesn't translate to a higher value for Charmander, as its fellow starter Pokemon eclipse it by significant margins.

If the market price for a first-edition copy is a bit out of your budget, you can aim for an LP copy instead, which will likely cost you less than $50. This is an exceptional discount compared to the market price, but it is still a fairly substantial price for a common card.

6 Pikachu (Pokemon Day Stamped): POP Series 6 (Common) – $85.04

The Mascot's First Appearance

The POP Series is beloved for its collection of valuable cards, though some of the most expensive, like the Umbreon and Espeon Gold Stars, are nearly impossible to find sales data for on TCGplayer. This special edition features a 'Pokemon Day' stamp and was distributed during Pokemon Day 2008.

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This card is rarer than its 'Common' status would indicate, as only a limited number of copies were distributed to those who enjoyed the day's festivities. Expect this Pikachu to continue rising in value as it becomes more difficult to find.

5 Squirtle: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $109.59

Another Starter Stands Tall

Squirtle's common card from the Base Set is another beautiful first-edition favorite that leads the way among the best common cards in the Pokemon TCG.

This card offers one of the most recognizable depictions of Squirtle and sets an impressive mark at over $100, separating it from the POP Series Pikachu card by an impressive margin. Given how difficult it can be to find an NM copy of a first edition Squirtle from the Base Set, this card's price is likely to hold firm.

4 Yellow Cheeks Pikachu: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $148.17

First Edition Folly

The first of two nearly identical Pikachu cards among the most valuable Pokemon TCG common cards is the Yellow Cheeks Pikachu, the less-rare version of the two valuable Base Set Pikachu arts.

There's an equal split of Red Cheek and Yellow Cheek Pikachu cards in Shadowless and First Edition, but the Unlimited print run exclusively features yellow cheeks.

While the Yellow Cheek Pikachu is the only design you'll find in Unlimited printings, this card will command top dollar in the first edition, as the market price indicates. Other, non-first-edition versions will sell for much less money if you're interested in owning this card on a budget.

3 Bulbasaur: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $179.98

A Chance To Shine

Surprisingly, Bulbasaur earns its place as the most valuable of the original three starter Pokemon with this iconic common card. A first-edition Bulbasaur card might not be the most expensive common card you can find, but its impressive price tag hovers dangerously close to the $200 mark.

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As per usual, you can find this card for much cheaper if you're willing to settle for a less-than-perfect first-edition copy, with NM copies hovering around the market price compared to LP copies, which offer about a $40 discount.

2 Red Cheeks Pikachu: Base Set First Edition (Common) – $320.00

All About The Cheeks

Despite its status as a common card, the Red Cheeks version of the Base Set Pikachu stands out in one of the best sets to ever feature this iconic Pokemon in the TCG. Pikachu's red-cheeked artwork only appears in the first edition and Shadowless printings of the Base Set, making it the far rarer version of the two.

To illustrate how big a gulf there is between Shadowless and first edition copies, the former version of this card only commands about $40 in near-mint (NM) condition, while the first edition copy typically sells for somewhere around the market price. You can buy about eight Shadowless Red Cheek Pikachu cards for the price of a single first edition copy.

1 Voltorb: Professor Program Promos (Common) – $2,000.00

A Misnomer At Best

While it's technically categorized as a common card, the Voltorb Professor Program card stands out as one of the most valuable promo cards ever. This strange common card has a very unusual backstory, as it was given as a reward by mentors to select judges who were able to answer a difficult quiz question regarding nuanced rulings.

This card comes in two versions: a reverse holo and a cosmos holo version. There were roughly 100 to 120 copies of the reverse holo distributed, compared to only about a dozen of the cosmos holo.

Given that these cards are not standard distributions and require a high level of TCG knowledge (plus a position as a Pokemon TCG judge) to earn, they're probably the most difficult common card to get in the entire history of the Pokemon TCG.

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