Finding the most valuable Blastoise Pokemon card in 2023 means trawling through the entire history of the Pokemon TCG.
Introduced as part of the very first Pokemon TCG set, this classic water type 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.
However, those hunting for the rarest Blastoise cards should explore the Japanese Pokemon TCG market for unique variants.
While some of these cards have historically sold for more or less than the listed prices, these are the prices you would expect to buy or sell the most valuable Blastoise cards for this year.
1. 1st Edition Base Set Blastoise (2/102) – $4750
The Base Set 2 Blastoise card is the first Blastoise card ever printed and is nearly identical to its younger, more common brother. This CGC Grade 9 1st Edition Blastoise recently sold for $4750. Grade 10 cards are significantly more valuable but don’t sell often due to their rarity and price.
When buying or selling a Base Set Pokemon card, you’ll need to pay attention to minor differences that can cause considerable fluctuations in price.
1st Edition cards are marked 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.
Drop shadows, Poke Ball logos, and bold typefaces are also crucial differences between similar cards from this era.
Ensure you know these differences so you don’t accidentally sell or buy the wrong card.
2. Team Rocket Dark Blastoise (3/82) – $3,200
Dark Blastoise is from the fifth Pokemon TCG expansion, which introduced Dark Pokemon. 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 like the original Base Set cards.
The “Dark” in these cards’ names means 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 the organization.
While PSA Grade 10 Dark Blastoise cards can sell for up to $3,200, you can snap up Grade 9 or 8 cards for around $400. Some offerings ask for as much as $5000, but you don’t need to pay that much to obtain this classic card.
Now you’re wondering why Pokemon is one of the best trading card games in the world? Well, collectors love it and the game is genuinely great too, adding to the hype back in the late 90’s. and early 2000’s.
3. 20th Anniversary Evolutions Blastoise EX (XY122) – $1,500
The 20th Anniversary Blastoise EX card was released as part of the XY Evolutions expansion in 2016. This expansion 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 expansion’s cards as its full art scheme was more in line with modern card designs.
However, this design didn’t diminish the card’s value; a PSA Grade 10 Blastoise EX card sold for $1,500.
4. Pokemon Unleashed Blastoise Staff Promo (13/95) – $1,180
This Staff variant of the Pokemon Unleashed Blastoise card is significantly more valuable than its standard counterpart. While the original card is relatively unremarkable, usually selling for less than $100, a mint condition Staff variant is worth up to $1,180. If you’re happy to settle for a less than perfect cards, lower grades are offered for $700 or less.
Staff variants of Pokemon Cards are given to staff during Pokemon TCG events. This is the only way to obtain them, making them much rarer than their regular counterparts. Therefore, it is impossible to acquire a Staff variant by opening an HS-Unleashed booster pack; you’ll need to scout around for resold cards.
Unfortunately, there are no other indicators apart from the Staff logo on this Blastoise card, so keep an eye out for the “STAFF” text in the bottom left of the card art when buying or selling this card.
5. Staff National Championship Crystal Guardians Blastoise (14/100) – $1,125
Another card released exclusively to TCG event staff, this limited variant of the Crystal Guardians Blastoise was made available at the TCG National Championships in 2007.
A PSA Grade 9 Staff variant of the Crystal Guardians Blastoise card sold for $1,125, although this may be an outlier as Grade 10 cards usually sell for around $800 and lower grades for$300 or less.
These Staff variants are very distinctive. The logo of the TCG National Championships features prominently in the bottom right of the card art, and the “STAFF” text is displayed in gold foil in the bottom right of the card.
Delta Species Blastoise was also released as part of the Crystal Guardians expansion, but this is less valuable, usually available for only half the price of the regular Blastoise.
6. POP Series 3 Blastoise (1/17) – $600
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 condition Blastoise is worth up to $600.
Unfortunately, while other cards may be valuable at lower grades, the POP Series 3 Blastoise significantly decreases in value at lower grades. PSA 8 cards are worth less than $100, so if you want to sell your card, get it professionally graded first to avoid a disappointing sale.
7. Expedition Blastoise (37/165) – $520
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.
All this makes the Expedition Blastoise a sought-after and unique card. A PSA 9 card is worth $520, but PSA 10-graded Expedition Blastoises are offered for upwards of $900 (although we haven’t seen any sold at this price recently).
While the Nintendo e-Reader accessory is no longer in production, this Blastoise card is the perfect addition to any retro gamer’s collection. Functioning Nintendo e-Readers will still be able to scan this unique Blastoise card.
8. FireRed LeafGreen Blastoise EX (104/112) – $370
This Blastoise EX card was available as part of the EX FireRed & LeafGreen expansion, appropriately named as it was the first main expansion to release after the titular game’s launch. This is the first Blastoise EX card; it wasn’t until 2013 that we got another Blastoise EX.
As the first Blastoise EX card, it is worth up to $370 for a PSA 9-graded card. Even ungraded cards are valuable; they regularly sell for around $100.
This Blastoise EX card is particularly relevant nowadays, as the Scarlet & Violet expansion resurrected the EX logo displayed on this era of cards. This card is also notable for featuring two other Generation 1 water-type Pokemon, Gyarados and Vaporeon.
9. Plasma Storm Blastoise Ultra Rare-Secret (137/135) – $350
This reprint of The Blastoise card from the Boundaries Crossed expansion featured unique artwork but identical stats. As a Secret card, its card number is greater than the number of cards in the expansion, making it automatically rare. But unlike other Secret cards, this Blastoise is a shiny variant sporting an alternate color scheme.
All this adds up to make Plasma Storm Blastoise worth up to $350 for a PSA 9-graded card. However, PSA-10 cards can occasionally sell for over $1000. Until Radiant Blastoise was released in 2022, this was the only shiny Blastoise card available.
10. Cosmic Eclipse Blastoise & Piplup-GX (215/236) – $500
Strangely, the adorable Blastoise & Piplup card is worth more in its Rare Holo form than the rarer Rainbow variant.
This Tag Team card is worth up to $500 when graded at PSA 10, whereas the Rainbow variant is worth less than half that.Blastoise & Piplip-GX were amongst the last Tag Team cards released in the Cosmic Eclipse expansion.
A brand new mechanic introduced to the TCG as part of the Team Up expansion in 2019; Tag Team cards had unique effects when extra energy cards were attached.
Unlike other GX cards, your opponent took three prize cards when they knocked out a Tag Team card.
