Introduced as part of the very first Pokemon TCG set, Blastoise, a classic, iconic Water type Pokemon has seen numerous iterations over the years.
As one of the three starter Pokemon players were introduced to in Pokemon Red and Blue, the final evolution of Squirtle holds a valuable place in many players’ hearts.
We’ve only included currently available English language cards in this list of the most valuable Blastoise cards.
As is always the case with our lists of the most valuable cards of any given type, we’ve used TCG Player to get the most current and accurate average values for these cards.
Which are the most valuable though?
Let’s find out!
1. Blastoise (1st Edition) – Base Set ($500)
As the first Blastoise card ever printed, it’s understandable that it holds the top spot of the most valuable Blastoise cards.
Though we’ve seen CGC Grade 9, 1st Edition Blastoise cards sell for as much as $4750, it won’t surprise you to learn that Grade 10 cards are significantly more valuable, but much rarer!
However, note that the current average price for this particular Blastoise card is around the $500 mark, so if you are not determined to have a grading company’s guarantee of a card’s quality, you can get your hands on this card for a more reasonable, though still very high, price.
It’s definitely important to note the variations on cards that can cause considerable fluctuations in price too; many early printings of this card look similar and perhaps even identical to the untrained eye, but there’s a few things to look out for.
For example, this particular card is a 1st Edition; it’s marked as such with a ‘1st Edition’ logo at the bottom left of the card art. Cards that look identical except for this logo are from later printings and, therefore, less valuable.
There’s also no drop shadow on the box that surrounds the card’s Blastoise art; that marks this out as a ‘Shadowless’ card, which again contributes to its value.
You’ll need to be aware of these differences so you don’t accidentally sell or buy the wrong card; it’s always worth consulting sites such as TCG Player to ensure what you have, or what you’re buying, is the exact same card!
2. Dark Blastoise – Team Rocket ($225)
The Team Rocket set for the Pokemon TCG was only the fifth expansion ever released, and it’s this set that Dark Blastoise was featured in.
Dark Blastoise wasn’t alone; the Team Rocket set introduced numerous Dark Pokemon; for example, you’ll find Dark Charizard on our list of the most valuable Charizard cards. These cards had different stats to their regular counterparts, namely higher damage and lower HP.
These cards are also marked with a ‘1st Edition’ logo, just as the original Base Set cards were.
The ‘Dark’ in the titles of these cards refers to the fact that they’re part of Team Rocket’s organization, implying its evil nature corrupts these Pokemon.
Each Dark Pokemon has an “R” logo, in the middle right of the card, in reference to Team Rocket.
As with any other card, graded copies can sell for phenomenal prices, and we’ve seen PSA Grade 10 Dark Blastoise cards sell for up to $3,200.
However, though the current average price of this card is still expensive, it’s much more reasonable at $225.
Of course, this high level of collectability around the game’s cards, not to mention ever evolving, compelling mechanics, is what has kept Pokemon near the top of the food chain when it comes to being one of the best trading card games in the world.
Given the demand around both classic and more modern cards, collectors love chasing those rare variants, and the game is genuinely great too!
3. Blastoise EX – Fire Red & Leaf Green ($188)
This Blastoise EX card was available as part of the EX Fire Red & Leaf Green expansion, the launch of which closely followed the release of the Game Boy Advance game of the same name.
Fire Red & Leaf Green was an especially anticipated video game, given that it remade the very first Pokemon games, bringing them into colour for the first time, with nicely updated visuals and even some modernised mechanics.
So naturally, the excitement level was high for the TCG expansion of the same name!
This Blastoise EX card was the very first one, and as such, we’ve seen it sell for as high as $370, for a PSA 9-graded card. Its current average value is a bit lower than that, however, at $188.
Though the Scarlet & Violet expansion resurrected the ex-type Pokemon that were introduced in the Fire Red & Leaf Green era, they are classified differently. Note that the older cards are EX, but newer ones are ex, in lower case!
4. Blastoise – Plasma Storm ($181)
This Blastoise card, from the Plasma Storm set, reprinted an earlier card.
The original card featured in the Boundaries Crossed expansion; it featured unique artwork, but the stats were identical.
The reprinted, and more valuable, card, is a Secret Rare; what that means is that its card number is greater than the ‘official’ number of cards in the set.
For example, this Blastoise is card number 137 of 135 cards!
Plasma Storm Blastoise has been seen to sell for $350, for a PSA 9-graded card. However, its current average selling price for a non-graded copy is $181.
It’s worth noting that this card also depicts a Shiny Blastoise; there wouldn’t be another card that featured the Shiny variant of Blastoise until 2022!
5. Expedition Blastoise (37/165) – $160
This Blastoise card was part of the 2002 Expedition Base Set, the first expansion of the TCG’s e-Card series. Like all the others in this set, you could scan this Blastoise card with the Nintendo e-Reader.
This accessory for the Game Boy Advance unlocked Melody Box tunes and hidden attacks for the card.
This series had several other unique features; it was the first without 1st Edition prints, and booster packs were reduced from 11 to 9 cards.
This makes Expedition Blastoise a sought-after and unique card.
As with other cards, we’ve seen graded copies sell for much higher than the average selling price; a PSA 9 card for $520, for example, but you should expect to see a standard, non-graded copy of this for around $160.
Despite that fact that the Nintendo e-Reader accessory was very short-lived and limited in availability outside the US and Japan, this Blastoise card is the perfect addition to any retro gamer’s collection.
If you’re lucky enough to have a Nintendo e-Reader, you will, of course, still be able to scan this unique Blastoise card to find its bonus features!
6. Blastoise – Base Set ($123)
You’ll recall that we advised you to closely check the details of the number on card on this list; you’ll see why that’s so important now!
At first glance, this particular card and the most valuable Blastoise card are identical, but there are definite differences.
The 1st Edition stamp isn’t here, for example, and there’s also a drop shadow around the illustration box.
Despite also being from the Base Set of Pokemon cards, these differences between this card and the 1st Edition, Shadowless card make its value significantly lower; it’s currently selling for an average of $123.
If you’re not fussed about the specific edition and those details, despite still being pretty costly for a single card, $123 certainly seems like a less bitter pill to swallow than the $500 that the 1st edition card commands!
7. Blastoise & Piplup GX (Alternate Full Art) – Cosmic Eclipse ($105)
Strangely, the adorable Blastoise & Piplup GX card is worth more as this variant than the rarer Rainbow version, perhaps because of its alternate art.
Though we’ve seen this Tag Team card sell for around $500 when graded at PSA 10, its current value sits at around $105 for a non-graded card.
The Tag Team cards formed part of a brand new mechanic that introduced in the Team Up set in 2019; not only did they showcase unique, unusual pairings of Pokemon, but Tag Team cards also had unique effects when extra energy cards were attached to them.
They were also worth three Prize cards when Knocked Out by your opponent, so as satisfying as they were to use, they did come with an extra risk!
Their pairings of Pokemon and gorgeous art make them quite sought after by collectors, as this Blastoise and Piplup card demonstrates!
8. Dark Blastoise – Legendary Collection ($100)
Another card you will have seen before, this Dark Blastoise reprinted the Team Rocket card as part of the Legendary Collection in 2002.
The Legendary Collection reprinted fan favourite cards from the Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket expansions.
So naturally, Dark Blastoise got another chance to shine!
This variant of the card has a different set number, but is also missing the Team Rocket ‘R’ logo too. So it’s relatively easy to spot the difference!
Given the differences and the fact that it’s a reprint, it is of course the lesser of the Dark Blastoise cards in terms of value, but it still sells for an average of around $100!
9. Blastoise – POP Series 3 ($75)
The POP (Pokemon Organized Play) Series 3 Blastoise card’s rarity is partly due to the short lifespan of POP Series 3. While it was initially only available through the POP promotional sets, it could also be acquired through the Crystal Trainer Set, exclusive to Toys ‘R’ Us in 2006.
These factors contribute to the high value of an otherwise ordinary card; a PSA 10 graded, POP Series 3 Blastoise can be worth up to $600.
Thankfully (or perhaps not if you’re looking to sell one!) non-graded copies of the card are currently valued at an average of $75, so if you’re not fussy about getting a card in absolutely pristine condition, it’s far less likely to break the bank!
10. Blastoise EX – XY Promo ($55)
Released as part of the XY Evolutions set in 2016, this is a Promo card variant of the Blastoise EX card.
The XY Evolutions set celebrated 20 years of the TCG (from the date of the first Japanese set) by reprinting cards in their original format (albeit with updated moves and abilities).
This Blastoise EX card differs from the retro theme of most of the set’s cards, as its full art scheme was more in line with modern card designs.
Despite the fact that a graded, PSA 10 rated Blastoise EX card has sold for as much as $1,500, its current average value is much, much lower, at $55.
Of course, card values change all the time, and with new sets emerging for the Pokemon TCG at a steady (some may say relentless!) rate, you can bet that this list will continue to evolve, just like the Pokemon it contains!
