Among Pokémon card collectors, Charizard is considered a Holy Grail. With his dinosaur-like appearance, the fire breathing dragon Charizard cards are highly sought after. Many of them are expensive to acquire when they are launched, and they tend to increase in value over the years.

Read on for a complete look at the world of Charizard cards and their value – including a list of the most valuable versions of the card and how to distinguish the genuine from the fake.

Evolution of Charizard

Charizard is a favorite character among many Pokémon fans. Charizard is actually the Stage 2 evolution of another Pokémon called Charmander. Charmander is one of three start Pokémon that can be chosen in the Pokémon video games (the other two are Squirtle and Bulbasaur). A stage 2 evolution means that a character evolved two times to reach its current form. Most of the original characters only had a stage 1 evolution, so those with a stage 2 evolution were considered powerful.

Besides in the video games, Charizard appears in Kalling Kadabra, a manga issue that was released in 1997 in Japan. Charizard evolved from Charmeleon. He was the first of Ash’s Pokémon to fully evolve. Charizard was popular with children – every kid wanted to own Charizard Pokémon cards!

The 15 Most Valuable Charizard Cards in 2023

The Charizard Pokémon card is extremely popular among collectors. Special versions of this card can sell from anywhere between a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars! Read on to learn about the top fifteen most valuable Charizard Pokémon cards of all time.

FireRed/LeafGreen

This Charizard card comes from the FireRed and LeafGreen sets, and its current market value comes in at $120.

Vivid Voltage Promo

Promo cards from the Pokémon Trading card game are always valuable because they are a limited release. This particular Charizard promo card was actually created for staff working at a prerelease event, so it is even more rare than a standard promo card. It is worth around $250.

XY Series Charizard EX

This card made a splash back in the 2014, and years later the value has soared to $1,000.

Japanese XY Series Charizard EX

This particular card features Japanese text, and its value is set at around $1,700.

1995 Japanese Topsun Holofoil

Topsun cards existed before the Pokémon Trading Card Game came into being. This makes them rare and valuable. This card is worth a whopping $2,000.

Team Up Black Star Staff Prerelease

Promotional cards are usually quite rare because they were printed in a limited run. This card had a promotional staff version that was gifted to members who helped with the prerelease event. The Charizard version of this card is worth $2,000 in perfect condition.

Charizard VMAX Brilliant Stars

This card can command a high price of $5,000 in perfect condition and without factory defects.

2002 Reverse Holographic Legendary Collection

Holographic cards are an alternate shiny version of a card. The reverse holographic Charizard card is extremely valuable, coming in at $6,500.

EX Dragon Frontiers Holographic

This holographic card also features a shining Charizard in black rather than orange. This card is worth a stunning $9,000.

2003 Skyridge Holographic

The Skyridge set of Pokémon cards was released in 2003 and featured stunning artwork. The Charizard version of this card can sell for an average of $12,000.

2002 Holographic Legendary Collection

This Charizard card is a reprint of the base set card, but with the addition of a metal emblem in the middle right of the card. The card can sell for as much as $12,500.

1996 Japanese Holographic

The Japanese version of Pokémon cards are often worth more due to the high demand for them among collectors. A 1996 base set Charizard card in good condition from the Japanese collection is worth up to $25,000.

Shining Charizard 1st Edition

This card from the 2002 NEO Destiny 1st Edition set features a black Charizard. This dark Charizard is worth around $26,000 in perfect condition.

1999 Holographic Shadowless Charizard

Shadowless cards are specific prints of Pokémon cards that don’t have the shadow design element that is worked into the design of most card. This makes the card a rarer find. The holo version of the 1999 Shadowless Charizard is worth around $25,000 in perfect condition.

1999 Holographic First Edition

For many collectors, this shiny Charizard is considered the Holy Grail of Charizard cards – and among all Pokémon cards. This card is incredibly rare and is worth $300,000 in perfect condition.

Identifying Authentic Charizard Cards

The thing about Pokémon cards is that there are plenty of fakes out there. It’s important to be able to distinguish whether or not your collectible Charizard cards are real or fake. How can you tell the difference? There are six ways that you can distinguish between the two.

Inspect the edges of the card

Real Pokémon cards are made up of layers. There is the top and bottom layer, and sandwiched in between is a thin black layer. You don’t have to rip your card, as some might suggest, to detect these layers. This is visible when you inspect the edge of the card. You’ll see a thin black line sandwiched between the top and bottom layer, indicating a genuine card.

Inspect the colors on the back of the card

Often times, fake cards are a lighter color of blue than a genuine card. Also, real Pokémon cards use different shades of blue, while fake cards often just print in one flat shade.

Check the fonts for kerning, spelling, grammar, and other errors

In a fake card, the spacing between the letters might be off. You can detect this by holding your card next to an online scan to determine if the lettering looks the same. Also, be on the lookout for errors in spelling and grammar.

Inspect the design and placement of the energy symbols

In a fake card, the design and placement of the energy symbols is often a little off. Compare your card to an online scan to determine if the energy symbol placement is where it should be.

Inspect the holofoil patterns

Because holofoil cards are so popular, they are often counterfeited. Familiarize yourself with the design of a true holofoil card so that you can distinguish between real and fake. A genuine card has a textured foil that runs diagonally, and many fakes have a pattern that runs vertically.

Examine the feel of the card

If the card feels flimsy, too light, too slick, or too rough, it just might be a fake.

Collecting Charizard Cards

If you are interested in collecting Charizard Pokémon cards, you’ll want to do your homework before you start building a collection.

Learn Which Cards Are Valuable

First, you’ll want to learn about which cards are valuable and which aren’t, as not all Charizard cards are created equal. The rarest cards are the ones that hold all the value. Once you learn which cards are in demand, you can search for deals online at auction sites, such as eBay. You might have to invest a bit of money to get your collection going.

Take Care of Your Cards

Once you’ve got an assortment of Charizard cards for your collection, you’ll want to keep them in tip-top shape. Cards that are in mint condition command the highest value! Invest in hard card protector cases that will keep your edges crisp, and be sure to store them away from direct sunlight, which can cause fading.

Get Your Cards Graded

A graded card is worth more than an ungraded one. Consider sending your cards to a grading company such as PSA to have them evaluated. This is especially important if you are looking to resell your cards of if you view them as an investment.

Check Out Our Pokémon Investment Guide

Finally, if you are looking to collect more than just Charizard cards, be sure to check out our guide to investing in Pokémon cards.

FAQ

What is the best Charizard card to invest in?

For investment purposes, you’ll want to invest in Charizard cards that are rare and in demand – and therefore, the most valuable. Check out the list earlier in this post for a look at which Charizard cards are worth big bucks.

Are all Charizard cards worth money?

Not all Charizard cards are incredibly valuable. Some of the more common cards are only worth $100 or less. However, the rare and in demand Charizard cards are among the most valuable from the Pokémon Trading Card game.

What is the rarest and most expensive Charizard card?

The 1999 Holographic First Edition Charizard card is the Holy Grail card that collectors are after. It is extremely rare and valuable, worth around $300,000.

Sources

https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-valuable-charizard-cards/

https://boardroom.tv/charizard-pokemon-trading-cards/

https://says.com/my/lifestyle/how-to-tell-pokemon-cards-real-or-fake