Investment Opportunities: 10 Graded Cards to Watch
The following listings represent opportunities that align with the prevailing market trends, offering a mix of vintage scarcity, modern appeal, and event-driven potential.
1. Gengar EX (Full Art) 114/119 - XY Phantom Forces (2014) - PSA 9
- Listing: Pokemon Gengar EX (114 Full Art) 114/119 XY - Phantom Forces Holo Mint PSA 9 - Price: $3,099.99
- Rationale: This card exemplifies the renewed interest in the overlooked XY era. Its price spiked dramatically in mid-2025 due to speculation and scarcity, and a PSA 9 grade offers exposure to a high-demand vintage card at a more accessible price point than a PSA 10.
2. Lugia V (Alternate Full Art) 186/195 - Sword & Shield Silver Tempest (2022) - PSA 9
- Listing: Lugia V 186/195 Alternate Art Pokémon SW&SH Silver Tempest PSA 9 - Price: $698.00 (or Best Offer)
- Rationale: As a top chase card from the Sword & Shield era, this Lugia has experienced significant buyouts and has established itself as a modern classic. A PSA 9 grade provides a solid investment in a highly popular alternate art card with proven market demand and resilience.
3. Dragonite EX (Full Art) 106/108 - XY Evolutions (2016) - PSA 9
- Listing: Dragonite EX - 2016 Pokemon XY Evolutions Full Art 106/108 - PSA 9 Mint - Price: $69.99 (or Best Offer)
- Rationale: This card presents a multi-faceted investment case: it is from a 20th-anniversary set speculators are targeting ahead of the 30th anniversary, and it features a Pokémon central to the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A video game.
4. Mew ex (Special Illustration Rare) 232/091 - SV Paldean Fates (2024) - PSA 9
- Listing: PSA 9 Mint Mew EX Bubble Mew Pokemon Paldean Fates SIR 232/091 - Price: $648.00
- Rationale: The "Bubble Mew" has become an iconic modern card due to its unique artwork by USGMEN, driving its price to surpass nearly all other cards from the Scarlet & Violet series. A PSA 9 represents a high-grade investment in a card with immense popularity and demonstrated long-term potential.
5. Metagross Gold Star (Holo) 113/113 - EX Delta Species (2005) - PSA 8
- Listing: 2005 Pokemon EX Delta Species Gold Star Rare Holofoil #113 Metagross - PSA NM-MT 8 - Final Price: $915
- Rationale: Gold Star cards from the EX-era are revered for their rarity and feature shiny Pokémon, making them highly sought-after grails. A PSA 8 grade for this iconic card offers a more accessible entry into the high-end EX-era market, where PSA 10 copies command extreme premiums.
6. Charizard (Holo) - Japanese CD Promo (1998) - PSA 9
- Listing: PSA 9 CHARIZARD CD Promo holo #6 - Japanese 1998 Pokemon Card! - Price: £500.00 (or Best Offer)
- Rationale: This card is a piece of Pokémon history, offering a vintage Charizard investment with strong nostalgic appeal that is more affordable than its 1st Edition Base Set counterpart. A PSA 9 grade is a strong benchmark for a card of this age, positioning it as a potentially undervalued vintage pick.
7. Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat (SVP EN 085 Promo) - (2023) - PSA 9
- Listing: Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat PSA 9 MINT Pokemon 085 Scarlet & Violet Promo SVP - Price: $379.99 (or Best Offer)
- Rationale: This unique promotional card gained notoriety from its chaotic release at the Van Gogh Museum, which fueled intense speculator interest. Its unique history and proven market resilience make a PSA 9 a solid investment in a modern collectible.
8. Gengar & Mimikyu GX (Alternate Full Art) 165/181 - SM Team Up (2019) - PSA 9
- Listing: 2019 Pokemon Sun & Moon TCG Team Up-FA Gengar Mimikyu GX Card #165/181 PSA 9 - Price: $1,600.00
- Rationale: As the #2 chase card from the popular, pre-pandemic Team Up set, this card's value has appreciated steadily based on organic collector demand rather than sudden buyouts. This trajectory suggests it is a strong candidate for long-term growth.
9. Shining Magikarp 66/64 - Celebrations Classic Collection (2021) - PSA 9
- Listing: Shining Magikarp Celebrations 66/64 PSA 9 Pokemon Card Classic Collection 2021 - Price: £70.50 (or Best Offer)
- Rationale: This is a nostalgia-driven investment, as cards from the 25th-anniversary Celebrations set are being targeted by speculators in anticipation of the 30th anniversary. Its recent price increase reflects this trend, making it a timely purchase.
10. Dragonite V (Alternate Full Art) 192/203 - Sword & Shield Evolving Skies (2021) - PSA 9
- Listing: Recent PSA 9 auction results on eBay show prices ranging from $380 to over $500.
- Rationale: This card is a top-tier chase card from Evolving Skies, one of the most popular and valuable modern sets. While less expensive than the set's Umbreon VMAX, its strong artwork and scarcity make it a premium modern investment with significant upside potential.
