Portal TCG · Pokemon · 30th Celebration
30th Celebration came out on 16 September. One month on, we have pulled the Pulse UK market again and ranked the ten most valuable cards in the English set, each shown next to the price it opened at on release day.
The headline is at the top. The most valuable card in the set is not one of the new Special Illustration Rares. It is Lugia (Classic Collection) at £159.82, with Charizard (Classic Collection) second at £142.74. Both are Classic Collection reprints, the gold border cards that carry their original numbers. Mew ex is the top Special Illustration Rare at £84.74.
Every card in the ten is below its release day price. The smallest fall is Lugia (Classic Collection), down 6.9%. The largest is Mew ex (Futuristic Rare), down 59.2%. Earlier lists of ours ranked only the modern chase cards. This one counts the Classic Collection too, which is why four reprints now sit in the ten.
Want to track the set as you build it? Our free 30th Anniversary checklist lists every card, Classic Collection included.
All prices from Pulse TCG's UK market. Now is 12 October 2026. Release day is 16 September 2026, from Pulse's own price history. Track your own collection with Pulse, first month of Investor or Vendor tier free with code PORTAL10.
10. Gengar, Classic Collection
30th Celebration · #94/102 · Classic Collection
Now
£41.91▼ 51.6%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£86.61Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £41.91 · peak £86.61A fourth Classic Collection reprint to make the ten, printed with its original 94/102 number. It opened at £86.61 and is £41.91 now, down 51.6% since release.
9. Pikachu ex, Special Illustration Rare (Night)
30th Celebration · #149/128 · Special Illustration Rare
Now
£48.98▼ 50.4%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£98.81Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £48.98 · peak £98.81The night half of the Pikachu pair. £98.81 on release day, £48.98 now, down 50.4%. If you want both Pikachu artworks side by side, this is the cheaper one to pick up.
8. Pikachu ex, Special Illustration Rare (Day)
30th Celebration · #150/128 · Special Illustration Rare
Now
£59.82▼ 47.0%Pulse, 11 OctRelease day
£112.84Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £55.34 · peak £112.84The day half of the set's day and night Pikachu pair. It opened at £112.84 and is £59.82 now, down 47.0% since release.
7. Mewtwo ex, Special Illustration Rare
30th Celebration · #151/128 · Special Illustration Rare
Now
£60.65▼ 51.2%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£124.23Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £48.78 · peak £124.23Mewtwo ex in its special illustration. £124.23 on release day, £60.65 now, down 51.2%. It sits in the middle of the modern chase cards, moving with the rest of them.
6. Mew ex, Futuristic Rare
30th Celebration · #158/128 · Futuristic Rare
Now
£63.41▼ 59.2%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£155.50Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £56.43 · peak £155.50The YOSHIROTTEN Futuristic Rare. This was the most expensive card in the ten on release day at £155.50, and it is £63.41 now, down 59.2%. The release week hype has come out of it faster than any other card here.
Collecting 30th Celebration?
Start with the free 30th Anniversary checklist, fill the gaps with printable placeholders, and keep the set in a 30th Anniversary binder.
5. Gengar ex, Special Illustration Rare
30th Celebration · #154/128 · Special Illustration Rare
Now
£68.36▼ 48.1%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£131.65Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £68.31 · peak £131.65Gengar ex was the surprise of the first weekend and it is still the second most valuable Special Illustration Rare. It opened at £131.65 and is £68.36 now, down 48.1% since release.
4. Magikarp, Classic Collection
30th Celebration · #203/193 · Classic Collection
Now
£79.37▼ 19.7%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£98.80Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £74.11 · peak £100.85The Paldea Evolved Magikarp, one of the best loved illustrations of the Scarlet and Violet years, reprinted in the Classic Collection. £98.80 on release day, £79.37 now, down 19.7%.
3. Mew ex, Special Illustration Rare
30th Celebration · #152/128 · Special Illustration Rare
Now
£84.74▼ 43.4%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£149.75Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £84.74 · peak £155.21The most valuable Special Illustration Rare in the set. Mew ex opened at £149.75 on release day and is £84.74 now, down 43.4%. It was the face of the set at launch and it is still the modern card collectors want most.
2. Charizard, Classic Collection
30th Celebration · #4/102 · Classic Collection
Now
£142.74▼ 10.3%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£159.07Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £131.16 · peak £181.49The Base Set Charizard, back with a gold border and its original 4/102 number. It opened at £159.07 and is £142.74 now, down 10.3% since release. Nostalgia is doing the work here, as it always does with this card.
1. Lugia, Classic Collection
30th Celebration · #149/147 · Classic Collection
Now
£159.82▼ 6.9%Pulse, 12 OctRelease day
£171.60Pulse, 16 SepSince launch
Low £159.82 · peak £268.97The Classic Collection reprint of the Aquapolis Crystal Lugia, and the card that has held its value best. It opened at £171.60 on release day, climbed as high as £268.97 on 29 September and sits at £159.82 now, down 6.9% since release.
That is 30th Celebration one month on. The pattern is clear: the reprints of older cards have held their value far better than the new chase cards. Lugia (Classic Collection) has given back 6.9% since release day, while Mew ex (Futuristic Rare) has given back 59.2%.
The three RGB Mew promos, the Red, Green and Blue Mews by YOSHIROTTEN, sit outside this list. They trade in the thousands and change hands far less often, so we cover them on their own: The RGB Secret Mews.
Building the set? Start with the free checklist. When you are ready to house it, the 30th Anniversary Master Set Bundle puts the binder, the master set checklist and the placeholders together. Collect better.
Start here, free
Free 30th Anniversary master set checklist
Every card in the English set, Classic Collection included, in one printable checklist. Tick them off as you pull them.
Get the free checklist
Build the master set
30th Anniversary (English) Master Set Bundle
The 30th Anniversary printed binder, the master set checklist and the placeholders, together in one bundle.
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Fill every gap
30th Anniversary (English) Master Set Placeholders
A printable placeholder for every slot in the set, so your binder is complete in shape while you hunt the cards above. Digital download, print at home.
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Binder, checklist and sealed
30th Anniversary (English) Master Set Collector's Bundle
The master set bundle with sealed 30th Celebration product included, for collectors who want to open packs and build the set in one go.
See the Collector's Bundle
Open the set
30th Celebration Booster Pack
Sealed English 30th Celebration booster packs. Every card in the set is foil.
See booster packs