If there's one Pokémon card that can be a major chase for any fan or collector, it's Pikachu. The electrifying mouse is so much more universally famous and beloved than every other 'Mon that every new 'Chu automatically becomes 'one to watch. While Surging Sparks' example (known fondly as 'butthole Pikachu') quickly became an expensive chase, Sword & Shield's last hurrah had a beautiful Pikachu that, until recently, was severely underrated and forgotten. This year, though, that's changed big time.
As with any set in the Pokémon TCG, chases remain a vital part of that pack-ripping fun. It's light gambling, sure, but getting those essential cards for your collection is a feeling that few things can replicate, and while Crown Zenith remains one of the best Pokémon packs to get, in my opinion, it's now out of print. Considering it's almost three years old at this point, that's understandable.
However, while the Galarian Gallery versions of the legendary Pokémon (Arceus, Palkia, Dialga, and Giratina) remain fairly expensive and worthwhile chases, it's actually Pikachu #GG30 that I'm most interested in. A particularly adorable take on the one Pokémon everyone and their granny has heard of, this card shows Pikachu parachuting to the ground using a leaf. It's cute, it's fun, and it's a neat little card, much like the rest of Crown Zenith's card list.
While it was left in the shadows as other chases were considered more valuable, it's actually seen a 300% price increase, going from a mild and unremarkable $5 price point in November 2024 to a surprisingly chunky $20 value today. That's according to Pricecharting, for reference. And, while that's still a long way from being the priciest Crown Zenith card (let alone joining our all time list of the most expensive rare Pokémon cards ever) it's still a startling jump for what was an inexpensive and cheap card last year.
The reason for this is likely two-fold. For one, if you haven't noticed, Pokémon cards, in general, everywhere, are hard to get. This is the case for all recent Pokémon sets, so it's doubly so for older, out of print ones like Crown Zenith, where we'd expect some scarcity even under pre-hype era conditions. Less availability of packs means most people need to buy singles to complete a set. More demand = higher price.
The other reason is very similar, in that every set is being sold out. The current, all-consuming hype bubble for Pokémon TCG products continues its tyrannical reign over collectors great and small, from innocent, downtrodden Pokéfans like you and me to cynical profiteers and sneaky scalpers.
Considering how lovable Pikachu is, it's no surprise that people hoping to turn cards into investment strategies are gobbling up anything with the yellow mouse involved. The only reason it hasn't gone ridiculously high in price is that Crown Zenith, as incredible a set as it is, had excellent pull rates and people opened squillions of packs of it for fun, rather than keeping them sealed for later sale. A higher population means that prices aren't skyrocketing. Deep breath.
If you want to buy a copy of Pikachu GG30, and I don't blame you, you can find plenty of listings at TCGPlayer. Personally, I miss the Crown Zenith 'give everyone what they want' era of collecting Pokémon, and I really hope it comes back to conclude the Mega Evolutions era. We can only dream.
Do you love Crown Zenith as much as I, and reminisce about the days when Sword & Shield was easy to buy? Well, join our Wargamer Discord and have a chat with trainers like me, or fans of other hobbies, from D&D to Warhammer 40k. I'm a little biased, but it's a great community to hang out in, and as an added bonus, some great AMAs are happening regularly that you won't want to miss.