The second expansion from the Mega Evolution era of the Pokémon TCG was Phantasmal Flames, and it saw the reveal of one of the most sought-after Special Illustration Rares in recent history: a full-art Mega Charizard X ex that showcased the entire Charmander evolution line on it.
Beyond that, the set is replete with plenty of other notable full-arts and other striking pieces of cardboard. Let’s take a look at the set’s most valuable cards.
There are the most popular Pokémon card from Phantasmal Flames
10. Wigglytuff – Illustration Rare, 105/094
Market Price: $7.87
Kicking this list off is a seemingly ever-present card at card shows if you’ve ever happened to go to one. Almost every vendor always has this IR in multiples; perhaps The Pokémon Company is trying to blanket the secondary market in Wigglytuffs – much like Wigglytuff’s entire body is blanketed in a soft, downy layer of fine fur.
9. Piplup – Illustration Rare, 098/094
Market Price: $18.10
The Water-type starter from the Generation Four series of mainline Pokémon games gets its first-ever “solo” full-art card. In prior sets, it has been featured alongside another notable Water-type ‘mon, Blastoise, as part of a Tag Team card in Cosmic Eclipse.
Also in that set, Piplup was featured alongside popular trainer Dawn as a Secret Rare. Both of those cards are worth a pretty penny, but this brand-new solo IR for Piplup can still be had for under $20 – though don’t expect that price tag to hold for too long.
8. Rotom ex – Special Illustration Rare, 126/094
Market Price: $19.07
Seeing as Phantasmal Flames has had some time to cool off on the secondary market, it’s no surprise to see one of the headlining cards from the set, an SIR, sitting with a price point just above a regular IR and actually lower than some other IRs herein.
Rotom is now an omnipresent part of the Pokémon video games as its ability to inhabit any electronic device means it has become one with both PCs and smartphones, and this SIR shows the many other notable forms that Rotom can take in the games.
7. Mega Lopunny ex – Special Illustration Rare, 128/094
Market Price: $20.62
This dynamic SIR showcases the Normal/Fighting-type ‘mon Mega Lopunny delivering a ferociously powerful High Jump Kick to the face of whoever is peering at this card.
With an intriguing combination of bright orange and hot pink energy swirling around this mega form, this SIR represents the first-ever “solo” card featuring Mega Lopunny. Much like Piplup, it was featured as part of a series of Tag Team cards alongside Jigglypuff.
6. Mega Sharpedo ex – Special Illustration Rare, 127/094
Market Price: $23.69
Mega Sharpedo, the only Water-type Shark Pokémon in the entire franchise, represents one of the most notable “glass cannon”-style ‘mons ever, as its low bulk and incredibly high attack and speed (especially in its mega-evolved form) mean it can take out many Pokémon if allowed to, but it will often faint to any attack at all.
This SIR Mega Sharpedo harkens back to past full-art renditions of Mega Sharpedo, though the exacting line work of artist nagimiso underscores Sharpedo’s speed and precision while attacking.
5. Meowth – Illustration Rare, 106/094
Market Price: $26.07
An amazing work of Pokémon TCG art shows the Scratch Cat Pokémon Meowth in its natural habitat south of Viridian City in the Generation One Pokémon games. Seeing as the Meowth ex SIR ranks as the most valuable card from Perfect Order, there can be no denying that Meowth fans are eating well these days, whether we’re talking kibble or wet food.
Artist Uninori brings this scene to life in vivid detail, as the nonchalant Meowth looks back at the player as it lounges on a tree branch. Perhaps Giovanni’s signature Persian was once a Meowth lounging in a tree south of Viridian; it really makes you think, doesn’t it?
4. Dawn – Special Illustration Rare, 129/094
Market Price: $28.76
A gorgeously lush SIR courtesy of Yuu Nishida showcases fan-favorite player-character Dawn from the Generation Four Pokémon video games in a verdant natural expanse.
Nishida has illustrated a number of incredibly valuable full-art cards over the years, including Stellar Crown Bulbasaur, Iono’s Bellibolt ex SIR, and the Alternate Full Art of Sylveon V from Evolving Skies. This awesome SIR can be added to that hit list from Nishida.
3. Mega Charizard X ex – Ultra Rare, 109/094
Market Price: $37.41
Kicking off three straight full-art Mega Charizard X ex cards from Phantasmal Flames is the pink-and-green-hued Ultra Rare rendition, which sits with a price tag below $40. While still hefty, it pales in comparison to the next two cards herein, starting with…
2. Mega Charizard X ex – Mega Hyper Rare, 130/094
Market Price: $363.03
While it seems pretty settled that SIRs remain the preferred top chase cards from modern PTCG sets, the jury is still out on whether the new all-gold Mega Hyper Rare cards represent the second tier below SIRs, but above regular IRs, in terms of collectability.
In this Mega Charizard X ex’s case, the all-gold MHR sits with a lofty price point above $350, which is still well below the stratospheric highs of the SIR.
1. Mega Charizard X ex – Special Illustration Rare, 125/094
Market Price: $882.84
Sometimes you just know a card is going to stand in the annals of Pokémon TCG history as one of the biggest chase cards of all time. While the most valuable cards from Ascended Heroes actually best the Charizard SIR from Phantasmal in terms of sheer dollar value, there is no denying that the staggering Mega Charizard X SIR from this set is one of the most iconic cards of recent vintage.
The only card in the game’s history that showcases four forms of the same Pokémon (Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, and Mega Charizard X), the swirling, shadowy artwork courtesy of danciao is a truly staggering achievement in Pokémon TCG artwork.
While nearly $900 for a small piece of cardboard is pretty wild, netting this in a graded PSA 10 slab will set you back nearly $2,500. That’s a Flamethrower attack for your wallet!
The most valuable cards from Phantasmal Flames range from below-$10 to one of the most notable and expensive cards in the TCG’s recent history. That difference in value showcases the extreme volatility of the secondary market right now, though a sky-high price tag for the iconic SIR Mega Charizard X ex makes sense. Come on, it’s Charizard!
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