Cresselia Tops Another Pokémon Sweep of Weekly TCG Sales

Pokémon Takes the Top Five Again

Pokémon continued its run at the top of the high-end trading card market this week, sweeping all five spots in the latest TCG sales rankings. The combined total for the top five sales reached $2,964,000, a strong figure even though it fell well short of last week’s $10.5 million total.

The week’s results showed just how broad the modern Pokémon market has become. The list included cards from 2001 through 2019, with sales spanning promotional releases, a Diamond & Pearl-era chase card, a Gold Star Rayquaza, a Detective Pikachu promo, and a Crystal Lugia from Aquapolis.

Card Ladder provided the sales data used in the rankings.

No. 5 - 2003 Pokémon Aquapolis Holo Crystal Lugia #149 PSA 10

The week opened with one of the most recognizable chase cards from the early 2000s. A 2003 Pokémon Aquapolis Holo Crystal Lugia #149, graded PSA 10, sold for $360,000 through Fanatics Weekly on October 4.

Aquapolis remains a standout from the Nintendo e-Reader era, and Crystal Lugia has long been one of the set’s most desirable cards. Even in a week packed with major sales, a gem-mint example was only enough for fifth place.

The result reinforces how much demand still exists for high-grade examples from the early 2000s, especially when the card features one of Pokémon’s most popular Legendary characters.

No. 4 - 2004 Pokémon Japanese Clash of the Blue Sky Holo Rayquaza Gold Star #67 BGS 10 Pristine

Rayquaza Gold Star has become a familiar name in weekly high-end rankings, and it returned again with another major result. A 2004 Pokémon Japanese Clash of the Blue Sky Holo Rayquaza Gold Star #67, graded BGS 10 Pristine, sold for $384,000 through Fanatics Weekly on October 4.

Gold Star cards remain among the most coveted Pokémon releases of the mid-2000s, and Rayquaza is one of the biggest names in the category. The combination of a major character, the Gold Star design, and a pristine grade continues to draw serious collector attention.

For collectors tracking the market for top-tier Japanese Pokémon cards, this sale is another reminder that elite-condition Gold Stars remain firmly in demand.

No. 3 - 2019 Pokémon SM Black Star Promo Detective Pikachu Holo #SM170 PSA 10

Pikachu appeared again in the top five, but this time in a much newer format. A 2019 Pokémon Sun & Moon Black Star Promo Detective Pikachu Holo #SM170, graded PSA 10, sold for $420,000 on eBay on October 9.

The card ties into the Detective Pikachu franchise rather than a traditional expansion set, giving it a different kind of appeal from the vintage cards that often dominate major sales lists. It also stands out as a strong result for a promotional card released just seven years ago.

The sale shows that major Pokémon prices are not limited to the oldest cards in the hobby. In the right grade, even a modern promo can reach the same level as some of the most famous vintage chase cards.

No. 2 - 2001 Pokémon Southern Islands Promo Holo Mew #1 PSA 10

One of Pokémon’s most beloved characters claimed second place this week. A 2001 Pokémon Southern Islands Promo Holo Mew #1, graded PSA 10, sold for $840,000 through Fanatics Weekly on October 4.

The Southern Islands collection is remembered for its colorful artwork and distinctive presentation, and it remains a favorite among collectors who appreciate early promotional Pokémon releases. Mew has long been one of the most popular characters in the franchise, and that combination helped drive this result well above the rest of the field.

The sale finished just $120,000 behind the top spot and was one of the clearest signs that demand for premium Mew cards remains extremely strong.

No. 1 - 2008 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Great Encounters Holo Cresselia #2 PSA 10

The biggest surprise of the week came from the top spot. A 2008 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Great Encounters Holo Cresselia #2, graded PSA 10, sold for $960,000 through Fanatics Weekly on October 4.

Cresselia does not carry the same mainstream recognition as Pikachu, Charizard, or Mew, but this sale highlights how far the market for elite-condition Pokémon cards has expanded. A gem-mint example of a card from the Diamond & Pearl era was enough to lead the entire week.

Great Encounters arrived during a period that does not always receive the same attention as Pokémon’s earliest releases, yet this result shows that collectors are willing to pay major prices for top-grade cards from later eras when the character, condition, and scarcity align.

What This Week’s Pokémon Sales Say About the Market

Pokémon swept the top five TCG sales for another week, and the range of cards on the list says a lot about the current market. The sales included a 2001 promo, a 2003 Aquapolis chase card, a 2004 Japanese Gold Star, a 2008 Diamond & Pearl card, and a 2019 Detective Pikachu promo.

That spread shows that high-end Pokémon demand is no longer confined to a single era or a handful of familiar names. Collectors continue to place major value on condition, character popularity, and scarcity, whether the card comes from a vintage promo line or a more recent release.

It also stood out that Cresselia and Mew combined for $1.8 million without a Charizard in the mix. For a market that once seemed heavily centered on a few headline characters, this week’s results offered another clear example of how much depth Pokémon collecting now has at the top end.

With five different Pokémon cards each selling for at least $360,000, the latest rankings reinforced the strength of the upper tier of the hobby and the continued appetite for premium graded cards across multiple generations of the franchise.