Weekly TCG Sales Return to Familiar Territory
After the previous week delivered a massive $10.65 million in Pokémon sales, the latest trading card game rankings settled back into a more typical range. For the period from October 31 through November 7, the five highest TCG sales combined for $2,276,013, according to Card Ladder data.
Pokémon once again dominated the list, taking four of the five spots. The week also produced a notable outlier from another franchise, as a Naruto promotional card crossed the six-figure mark on eBay and pushed into the top five.
The rankings included two Gold Star Pokémon cards, a World Championships trophy card, and a classic Expedition Mew, showing continued demand for key cards from multiple eras of the hobby.
No. 5 Naruto CCG Shonen Jump Promo Sasuke Uchiha PSA 10
The week’s biggest surprise came at No. 5, where a 2011 Naruto Collectible Card Game promotional card featuring Sasuke Uchiha sold for $401,013 on eBay on November 2. The card was graded PSA 10.
The promotional release was associated with the May 2011 issue of Shonen Jump, the manga magazine closely tied to the Naruto franchise. While Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh! often dominate headlines in the high-end TCG market, this result showed that other major franchises can still command serious attention when rare, high-grade examples surface.
The six-figure sale also highlighted the strength of Naruto collecting, which has its own dedicated fan base and a long-running card game history.
No. 4 Pokémon EX Dragon Frontiers Gold Star Charizard PSA 10
Charizard returned to the top five with a 2006 Pokémon EX Dragon Frontiers Gold Star Charizard #100 PSA 10 that sold for $408,000 through Fanatics Weekly on November 1. The auction listing identified the card as a 2003 release, but EX Dragon Frontiers was released in 2006.
Gold Star cards remain among the most sought-after Pokémon cards from the EX era, and Charizard is one of the most recognizable names in the hobby. The card’s shiny coloration and premium status continue to make it a centerpiece for collectors chasing high-grade examples from this period.
Related coverage includes Top 3 TCG Sales of the Week: Mew Leads as Trophy Pikachu and Gold Star Gyarados Surge.
The result reinforced how strong demand remains for rare Charizard cards, especially when they come from a respected and limited-era set.
No. 3 Pokémon EX Holon Phantoms Gold Star Gyarados PSA 10
Another Gold Star card claimed the No. 3 position, with a 2006 Pokémon EX Holon Phantoms Gold Star Gyarados #102 PSA 10 selling for $450,000 on eBay on October 31.
EX Holon Phantoms is a favorite among collectors, and its Gold Star cards are widely considered some of the most desirable releases from the era. Gyarados has long been a popular Pokémon in its own right, and this sale put it ahead of Charizard in the week’s rankings.
The result showed that high-end Gold Star collecting is not limited to the franchise’s most famous mascot-style characters. Strong demand can extend to other iconic Pokémon when the card is rare enough and the grade is strong enough.
No. 2 Pokémon World Championships No. 2 Trainer Trophy Pikachu CGC Pristine 10
A rare piece of Pokémon tournament history took second place, as a 2004 Pokémon World Championships No. 2 Trainer Trophy Pikachu sold for $488,000 through Goldin on November 1. The card was graded CGC Pristine 10.
Unlike cards pulled from packs, trophy cards were awarded to top competitors, which makes them especially difficult to acquire. The 2004 event was the first Pokémon World Championships, adding another layer of historical significance to the card.
This was also the only card in the top five not graded by PSA, making it stand out even more within a list otherwise dominated by PSA-graded examples.
No. 1 Pokémon Expedition Holo Mew PSA 10
Leading the week was a 2002 Pokémon Expedition Holo Mew #19 PSA 10, which sold for $529,000 through Fanatics Weekly on November 1. The card comes from Expedition Base Set, the first Pokémon e-Card expansion released in English.
Mew has remained one of Pokémon’s most popular mythical characters, and top-condition examples from early sets continue to attract strong collector interest. In a week filled with premium cards, the Expedition Mew finished ahead of the Trophy Pikachu by $41,000.
The result put a classic e-Card release at the top of the market and underscored the lasting appeal of early-era Pokémon cards in gem mint condition.
Pokémon Still Leads, But Naruto Makes Its Mark
Pokémon still accounted for four of the five biggest TCG sales of the week, but the list offered more variety than the previous all-Pokémon sweep. Two Gold Star cards, a trophy card, and a classic Expedition Mew showed continued strength across several important corners of the Pokémon market.
At the same time, Naruto’s appearance in the top five was the week’s most notable development outside Pokémon. A Sasuke Uchiha promotional card selling for more than $400,000 is a reminder that high-end demand can extend well beyond the hobby’s most established franchises when the right card reaches the market.
For collectors tracking the upper end of the TCG market, the week provided another example of how early-era rarities, trophy cards, and premium promotional releases continue to define the highest levels of sales activity.
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