The best Pokémon cards to collect in 2026
The cards collectors keep coming back to have three things in common: a much-loved Pokémon, outstanding artwork and real scarcity. That leads to the Special Illustration Rares of Charizard, Pikachu, Umbreon and Gengar, the Evolving Skies alternate arts, the 151 chase cards and the original Base Set holos. Here is our shortlist, grouped by what you want from your collection.
Today's chase cards
| Card | Found in | Why collectors want it |
|---|---|---|
| Charizard ex Special Illustration Rares | 151, Obsidian Flames | Charizard demand combined with superb art. See every Charizard card. |
| Umbreon ex SIR and the Umbreon VMAX alternate art | Prismatic Evolutions, Evolving Skies | Collectors' favorite Eeveelution. See our Umbreon cards. |
| Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rares | Surging Sparks and the Mega Evolution sets | The mascot at its finest. See our Pikachu cards. |
| Mega Pokémon ex and Mega Hyper Rares | The Mega Evolution series | The latest cards to chase. See our Mega cards. |
Affordable art cards
Illustration Rares show everyday Pokémon in full-card scenes and usually cost a fraction of the headline chase cards, so many collectors fill entire binders with them. Good places to start are the Illustration Rares from 151, Paldea Evolved and Prismatic Evolutions, the Trainer Gallery, and the Galarian Gallery in Crown Zenith. See what we have on our full art cards page.
Classic cards
- The 1999 Base Set holos: Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur. Read more in our vintage card guide.
- Gold Star cards from the EX era, 2004 to 2007.
- Shining and Crystal cards from the Neo and e-Card eras.
Great cards on a small budget
Poké Ball and Master Ball pattern reverse holos, Illustration Rares of lesser-known Pokémon and Japanese printings of popular cards often cost far less than the big names. Sort any set page by price to find them.
Common questions
What is the best Pokémon card ever?
By price, the Pikachu Illustrator. For a card you can actually buy, a clean Charizard or Umbreon Special Illustration Rare.
What should I collect?
Pick a theme you enjoy, such as a single Pokémon, a set or an illustrator, and collect its full art and Illustration Rare versions. A themed collection usually stays rewarding longer than a random pile.
Which Pokémon cards are the cutest?
Illustration Rares of small Pokémon like Pikachu, Eevee, Snorlax and Bulbasaur. Have a look at our Eevee, Snorlax and Bulbasaur pages.
