Surging Sparks represents an interesting set for the Pokémon TCG. While its priciest cards pale in comparison to those from its succeeding “Special Expansion,” Prismatic Evolutions, Sparks does have a number of chase SIRs that are sure to increase in value over time.
In that spirit, let’s take a look at the most valuable PTCG cards from 2024’s Surging Sparks expansion. “Thunder Stones? Where we’re going we don’t need… Thunder Stones.”
The most valuable Surging Sparks Pokémon TCG cards prove you can never have too many Pikas
10. Lisia’s Appeal – Special Illustration Rare, 246/191
Market Price: $29.02
A Hoenn idol first introduced in 2014’s Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Nintendo 3DS games, Lisia’s first-ever SIR card begins our list auspiciously.
Featuring gossamer artwork that includes Lisia’s beloved Dragon/Flying-type Altaria, nearly $30 is pretty good for a popular character on a hard-to-find SIR. That is a them of cards on this list, as Surging Sparks seems to be relatively undervalued currently on the market.
9. Pikachu ex – Ultra Rare, 219/191
Market Price: $31.35
One of three notable “Tera-type” Pikachu cards herein, the first one is the brightly colored Ultra Rare version, which boasts a rainbow-inflected ‘Chu on a pristine white background, though this rendition is the least valuable of the bunch.
Despite that, a PSA 10 graded copy of the card will still set you back around $185. That’s the Pikachu tax, baby!
8. Alolan Exeggutor ex – Special Illustration Rare, 242/191
Market Price: $33.05
Some SIRs are beautiful, some are competitively viable, and others are downright goofy. Thanks to boasting one of the most amusing designs in Pokémon history, this Alolan Exeggutor SIR was always going to fall in the latter camp.
Despite that fact, artist Yuriko Akase makes the most of Alolan Exeggutor’s amusing design and delivers a striking, cross-hatched artwork featuring the ‘Tor’s bejeweled exoskeleton courtesy of its Tera typing. An intriguing card, and another one that seems somewhat undervalued.
7. Latios – Illustration Rare, 203/191
Market Price: $33.56
Forming a triptych of interconnected artworks with the Latias ex SIR (more on that later) and the Mesprit IR (which didn’t qualify for this list) is this IR rendition of the legendary Pokémon Latios.
Both the Latios and Latias full-arts from Surging Sparks boast artwork from tremendous PTCG illustrator OKACHEKE, who is responsible for a number of amazing full-art cards, including the IR Oshawott from White Flare, one of that set’s most valuable cards overall.
6. Durant ex – Special Illustration Rare, 236/191
Market Price: $36.53
Pokémon cards with interconnected artwork are always fun, especially if those cards can (technically) interconnect forever like this SIR Durant ex. Of course, seeing as this card is worth over $35 a pop, you’ve got to be Mr. Monopoly to pull off a transaction like that.
The enjoyably thick-lined artwork from osare represents a perfect distillation of the artist’s style, as his cartoonish and colorful illustration have helped buoy the prices of a number of full-arts, including the SIR Pecharunt ex from Prismatic Evolutions and the IR Tatsugiri from Twilight Masquerade.
5. Hydreigon ex – Special Illustration Rare, 240/191
Market Price: $38.44
While this Hydreigon definitely lacks the naturalistic, moody artwork of its White Flare SIR it still kicks off the top five of this list with aplomb. A powerful special attacker, Hydreigon represents Generation Five’s pseudolegendary Pokémon, putting its stats on par with some of the video game’s best.
While the Dragon/Dark-typing doesn’t do a lot for it defensively, it remains a potent offensive threat due to a toweringly powerful Draco Meteor and a STAB Dark Pulse.
4. Pikachu ex – Hyper Rare, 247/191
Market Price: $92.73
The second Pikachu ex rendition herein is the nearly all-gold Hyper Rare version. While this set predated the reworked Mega Hyper Rare rarity from the Mega Evolution—which would surely be worth a lot more than $92—an over-$90 price point for a simple Hyper Rare from the Scarlet & Violet era is surely nothing to sneeze at.
Of course, a graded copy of this card increases its value exponentially, with a PSA 10 copy sitting around a $400 valuation per PriceCharting.
3. Milotic ex – Special Illustration Rare, 237/191
Market Price: $130.64
The most beautiful artwork on this entire list belongs to this incredible Milotic ex SIR. Artist Kuroimori is no stranger to spectacular full-art cards: their astonishing Articuno IR is one of the most valuable cards from Journey Together, while their Gardevoir ex SIR from Paldean Fates—one of this writer’s personal favorites—further strengthens Kuroimori’s impressive and rapidly growing Pokémon TCG portfolio.
As part of an interconnected series featuring Milotic’s pre-evolution Feebas (also illustrated by Kuroimori), this striking SIR is the first card herein that crosses the $100 threshold.
2. Latias ex – Special Illustration Rare, 239/191
Market Price: $191.60
As the lucky owner of a PSA 10 copy of this card, which I opened in a pack and graded myself (before PSA paused their value tier grading submissions, that is), I’m rather fond of this striking SIR rendition of the roaming Dragon/Psychic-type legendary ‘mon from the Hoenn region.
While nearly $200 is a hefty sum, it doesn’t hold a candle to the most valuable card from Surging Sparks. You know it, you love it, it’s the one and only…
1. Pikachu ex – Special Illustration Rare, 238/191
Market Price: $328.97
Unsurprisingly, one of the box-art ‘mon for Surging Sparks, who also is featured for the third and final time on this list, is the SIR rendition of Pikachu ex, which also happens to rank as one of the most valuable English-language Pikachu Pokémon TCG cards of all time.
While over $300 seems pretty spicy, this card’s value hasn’t changed much over the past year, as it’s been sitting between $250 and $300 since April of 2025. As such, and seeing as this is the singular chase card from Surging Sparks, this card is ripe with potential for impressive gains down the line, so if you have this card – either raw or graded – definitely hold onto it as it will only go up in value.
Surging Sparks might not boast the staggering values found in Prismatic Evolutions, but its best cards are hardly short on electricity. Between Pikachu ex, Latias ex, Milotic ex, and a surprisingly deep bench of appealing SIRs and IRs, the set offers considerably more than a single headline chase card.
Whether these cards continue climbing is impossible to guarantee, but Surging Sparks has several ingredients collectors tend to favor: iconic Pokémon, interconnected artwork, memorable illustrations, and difficult-to-pull full-arts. Pikachu ex might sit comfortably atop the set for now, but there is still plenty of potential crackling beneath the surface.
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