Squirtle, Bulbasaur are Pokemon Stellar Crown’s most in-demand cards
The Pokemon Trading Card game’s newest set, Stellar Crown, is officially a week old. Already, two of its Illustration Rare cards are separating themselves from the pack.
TCGplayer lists Squirtle’s current market value at $39.64, ranking it third in the set. Bulbasaur’s market is $31.47, good for fifth.
So Squirtle and Bulbasaur aren’t quite Stellar Crown’s most expensive cards. But according to TCGplayer, they are its most sought after, selling at volumes well above their pricey peers.
| Pokemon | Market Price | Sales Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Terapagos ex – 170/142 | $112.55 | 216 |
| Lacey – 172/142 | $48.56 | 124 |
| Squirtle | $39.64 | 538 |
| Hydrapple ex – 167/142 | $35.78 | 180 |
| Bulbasaur | $31.47 | 574 |
So why is this?
Well, obviously Squirtle and Bulbasaur have more than 20 years of tradition as two of Pokemon’s most popular characters. Additionally, these Illustration Rare depictions in a common household setting were drawn in stark contrast to Pokemon 151 counterparts that show them in their native environments.
But perhaps more so is the year-plus of hype that built around these cards.
Pokemon’s Obsidian Flames set released on August 11, 2023, and featured a Charmander promo card from the Elite Trainer Box in this same style. The angry lizard is pictured peering out the window of a home at Pidgey.
Squirtle and Bulbasaur, perhaps also members of that same household, are also ineracting with Pidgeys…though with apparently better intentions based on the art. These three were always going to complete the set — but until Stellar Crown’s card list was released, collectors didn’t know when exactly to expect them.
Stellar Crown’s release can be credited with a slight uptick in the Obsidian Flames Charmander. This isn’t a rare card, unless you opt for the Pokemon Center-stamped version priced at $75. The standard version is still readily available for purchase from an Elite Trainer Box available in the $30-$40 range.
However, according to PriceCharting.com, the Charmander’s market in a PSA 10 bumps to $140. That’s 21 times its raw value, showing the value of collecting three memorable illustration cards from Pokemon’s popular original starters.