Series: Scarlet & Violet
Release Date: June 9, 2023
Set Abbreviation: PAL
Paldea Evolved is the Scarlet & Violet set famous for its Illustration Rares, and the Magikarp still sits miles above everything else. Here are the top 10 hits and chase cards, ranked by current market value.
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10. Fuecoco - $44.95
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 201/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Fuecoco is riding in a shopping cart in this one, tucked into a purple backpack with an apple in its mouth while its Trainer grabs something off a grocery shelf. kantaro drew a totally normal grocery run, and I love how everyday it is. It's our first Paldean starter on the list, but not our last.
9. Iono - $50.38
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 269/193
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Iono was a staple in competitive decks right up until recently, which is a big part of why this Supporter is worth chasing. kirisAki surrounds Iono with desserts, with Pikachu sitting on a stack of pancakes and Eevee tucked in with the sweets. It's one of the most fun Trainer cards in the set.
8. Marill - $52.30
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 204/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
It never fails with cute Water Pokémon and Illustration Rares. Marill floats right at the waterline, with a sunny island above it and a crowd of Water Pokémon down on the sea floor. It's a split-view scene that shows off just how clear the water is.
7. Chi-Yu ex - $53.40
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 259/193
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Chi-Yu ex is one of the four Treasures of Ruin, and it's the Fire-type of the group. AKIRA EGAWA has it swimming upward through a red and purple forest while golden sunlight pours down from above. The lighting is what sells this one, and it looks great in a binder.
6. Tinkaton ex - $55.58
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 262/193
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Tinkaton ex swings its giant hammer in a glittering crystal cave, all pinks and purples with sparkles in the air. Tinkaton looks fierce, which is exactly what you want from a Pokémon that carries a hammer bigger than itself. That mix of tiny and terrifying is the whole appeal.
5. Sprigatito - $56.16
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 196/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Now we're getting into the real chase cards for Paldea Evolved with Sprigatito. Kouki Saitou has the Grass Cat Pokémon curled up asleep in a garden full of pink, red, and blue flowers. It's our second, and last, Paldean starter, and one of the coziest cards on the list.
4. Tyranitar - $75.44
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 222/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Tyranitar towers over a rocky landscape at sunset while a flock of birds flies through the glowing orange and purple sky. The Pokédex entry on the card says it can change the landscape, and the art really shows that off. Tyranitar has been a fan-favorite since Gold and Silver, and it still pulls serious attention in Paldea Evolved.
3. Maushold - $89.55
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 226/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
The Maushold Illustration Rare is a whole family of them, snacking on berries and napping in a pile, with one wearing a red mushroom as a hat. It's also a rare case where the art matches the card, since Gnaw Relentlessly gets stronger with every Maushold you have in play. Nothing says collectors love a cozy card like a Maushold at #3.
2. Raichu - $100.69
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 211/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Raichu is lying on its back in bed, tail trailing down to the floor and looking completely worn out, with a table of leftovers next to it. Toshinao Aoki is the same artist behind Chansey and Lana's Aid on our Twilight Masquerade list, and the flat, slice-of-life style works perfectly for a lazy day. Pikachu usually gets all the attention, so it's nice to see Raichu get its moment.
1. Magikarp - $352.14
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved
Card Number: 203/193
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Magikarp is the undisputed top pull in Paldea Evolved, and it sells for more than three times the next card on the list. The incredible Shinji Kanda has it leaping up a waterfall against a black background in an etched, rainbow-foil style, with a Gyarados lurking in the shadows above. It tells the whole Magikarp-to-Gyarados story in a single card, and it's one of the most valuable Illustration Rares of the Scarlet & Violet era.
Final Thoughts
Paldea Evolved is an Illustration Rare set through and through, with seven of the top ten spots going to them and only three Special Illustration Rares mixed in. Magikarp is in a league of its own, but cozy cards like Raichu, Maushold, and Sprigatito keep the rest of the list interesting. More than three years later, it's still a collector favorite.
FAQ
What are the best pulls from Pokémon Paldea Evolved?
The best pulls are the Magikarp Illustration Rare (#203), Raichu (#211), and Maushold (#226). Tyranitar and Sprigatito round out the top five. Tinkaton ex, Chi-Yu ex, and Iono are the Special Illustration Rares on the list.
Is the Magikarp from Paldea Evolved worth buying?
If you want one of the biggest Illustration Rares of the Scarlet & Violet era, yes. It's far and away the most valuable card in Paldea Evolved, and the art is a fan favorite. Check the current market value on Rare Candy before you buy.
What is an Illustration Rare in Pokémon TCG?
An Illustration Rare (IR) is a full-art card where the artwork stretches across the whole card and shows the Pokémon in a scene. They sit below Special Illustration Rares in rarity and are some of the most collected cards in Scarlet & Violet sets.
How many cards are in Pokémon Paldea Evolved?
Paldea Evolved has 193 cards in the main set. Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and other secret rares are numbered past that, which is why you'll see cards like #203/193 and #269/193.
When did Pokémon Paldea Evolved come out?
Paldea Evolved released on June 9, 2023, as the second expansion of the Scarlet & Violet era. Its set abbreviation is PAL, and it's where the Iono Supporter card debuted.
