Series: Scarlet & Violet
Release Date: November 8, 2024
Set Abbreviation: SSP
A Surging Sparks Pikachu ex just flew to the International Space Station, and it's still the set's biggest chase card. Here are the top 10 hits and chase cards, with three Pikachu ex versions in the mix, ranked by current market value.
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10. Lisia's Appeal - $25.04
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 246/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Lisia's Appeal gets the full pop idol treatment, with Lisia winking and reaching toward the camera while confetti flies everywhere. Lisia is the Contest Idol from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, so it's a nice callback to those games. It's also the only Trainer card on the list.
9. Alolan Exeggutor ex - $25.15
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 242/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Alolan Exeggutor ex stands tall against a pink and orange tropical sunset, with palm trees behind it and a bouquet of Tera crystals blooming from its heads. That famously long neck curls across the whole card. Alolan Exeggutor has been a fan favorite since Sun and Moon, mostly because of that neck.
8. Pikachu ex - $27.79
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 219/191
Rarity: Ultra Rare
Our first, but not our last, Pikachu ex. This is the Ultra Rare, and aky CG Works has Pikachu mid-cheer with a crown of Tera crystals and a prismatic background made of tiny rainbow shards. It's the same artwork as the gold Hyper Rare you'll see at #4.
7. Latios - $29.88
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 203/191
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Latios cruises over a sunset-lit coastal town with orange and pink clouds all across the sky. OKACHEKE drew this one, and the Latias at #2 is by the same artist, so the two are built to sit side by side in a binder. It's our first of the Eon duo, but not our last.
6. Hydreigon ex - $36.18
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 240/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Hydreigon ex is a dark, cosmic piece, with the three-headed dragon surrounded by floating Tera crystals against a starry purple sky. AKIRA EGAWA gave it a crystalline look that feels completely different from the sunny cards around it. Hydreigon has been a fan-favorite dark dragon since Black and White.
5. Durant ex - $39.31
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 236/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
My personal chase card of Surging Sparks is a line of ants. The Durant ex SIR is flat, cartoony, and set in a plain desert with not a sparkle in sight, which makes it stand out against all the Tera crystals on this list. It's easily the most unique art in the set.
4. Pikachu ex - $78.70
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 247/191
Rarity: Hyper Rare
Now we're getting into the real chase cards for Surging Sparks, and it's our second Pikachu ex. The Hyper Rare is the full gold version of the same aky CG Works art from #8, with the crystal crown and sparkles all glowing against shiny gold foil. It's worth quite a bit more than the Ultra Rare version.
3. Milotic ex - $113.57
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 237/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Milotic ex is the elegant one of the bunch, gliding through a sunlit pond surrounded by green plants. Kuroimori paints the water as clear as glass, and the bright light from above gives the whole card a calm, almost dreamy feel. Milotic has long been called the most beautiful Pokémon, and this card agrees.
2. Latias ex - $184.75
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 239/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Latias ex glides right at the camera over a coastal city lit up in gold and red by the sunset, and it's the other half of the Eon duo from #7. It's the second-most valuable card in Surging Sparks, and the only card ahead of it is a Pikachu.
1. Pikachu ex - $283.48
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks
Card Number: 238/191
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Pikachu ex is the undisputed top pull in Surging Sparks, and this exact card just traveled to the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot for World Space Week. Pokémon says it's part of the first Pokémon TCG cards ever to reach space. GIDORA has Pikachu wearing a crown of Tera crystals in a sunny meadow, and the rainbow border makes it glow. It's our final Pikachu ex on the list, and it's no surprise it's still the one everybody wants.
Final Thoughts
Surging Sparks came by its name honestly, with Pikachu out front. Three Pikachu ex cards in the top 10, plus the Eon duo of Latias and Latios, show how much character love drives this set. With the space trip making headlines, the Pikachu ex cards could see a bump, and I'd keep an eye on the Special Illustration Rare in particular.
FAQ
What are the best pulls from Pokémon Surging Sparks?
The best pulls are the Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare (#238), Latias ex (#239), and Milotic ex (#237). The gold Pikachu ex Hyper Rare (#247) and Durant ex round out the top five.
Did a Pikachu ex card from Surging Sparks go to space?
Yes. ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot took the Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare (#238/191) to the International Space Station for World Space Week. Pokémon says it's part of the first Pokémon TCG cards ever to reach space.
Is the Pikachu ex from Surging Sparks worth buying?
If you want the face of the set, yes. It's the most valuable Surging Sparks card by a wide margin and a fan favorite, with the space trip adding to its story. Check the current market value on Rare Candy before you buy.
What is a Hyper Rare in Pokémon TCG?
A Hyper Rare is the gold top tier of the Scarlet & Violet era. These cards are fully gold with shiny foil across the whole card, and they're numbered at the end of the set past the Special Illustration Rares.
How many cards are in Pokémon Surging Sparks?
Surging Sparks has 191 cards in the main set. Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Hyper Rares are numbered past that, which is why you'll see cards like #238/191 and #247/191.
