Pokemon TCG: 10 Most Valuable Tyranitar Cards

Pseudolegendary Pokemon (aka Powerhouse Pokemon, which apparently is the official term for this subset of ‘mon) have long been among the most popular – and powerful – across the Pokemon TCG and the mainline Pokemon games. Their pseudolegendary moniker refers to the fact that their base stat totals combine to equal 600, which matches the standard base stat total for many legendary Pokemon such as Mew, Jirachi, Manaphy, Victini, and many others.

Pokemon’s Generation Two introduced the second-ever pseudolegendary to the game, and what an interesting evolution line it was: Larvitar, Pupitar, and Tyranitar. Tyranitar, in particular, is a staggeringly powerful Pokemon that sets itself apart from many other pseudolegendaries by being a dual rock/dark-type ‘mon.

In the Pokemon TCG, Tyranitar has been featured on a bevy of incredibly rare and extremely powerful cards, many of which still rank among the most valuable Tyranitar cards of all time. Read on to explore the list, but watch out for a Sandstorm!

Note: The prices quoted all come from TCGPlayer.com’s market price history over the past year, which can fluctuate over time and are reliant on sales of each card on the platform.

10. Holofoil Tyranitar (Delta Species) – Delta Species

Market Price: $55.28

Showcasing the extreme scarcity and popularity of Tyranitar cards, this is the only card featured herein that has a price point below $100. In fact, it can be had for a median price of around $80 less than the number nine spot on this list!

Still, though, cards that sport the Delta Species subtype – such as this Tyranitar – are always a hot commodity, as type-shifted ‘mon are extremely unusual in the TCG, and this dual Fire/Metal-type Tyranitar certainly fits that bill.

9. Holofoil Tyranitar – Neo Discovery

Market Price: $131.24

This card from 2001’s Neo Discovery set marked the debut of Tyranitar in the Pokemon TCG, and the first appearance of any ‘mon in the TCG usually makes for an incredibly pricey card.

The original appearance of Tyranitar showcases stunning artwork by Hironobu Yoshida of a threatening-looking Tyranitar seemingly on the warpath in front of a swirling red and black background. An auspicious start for one of the best pseudolegendary Pokemon ever in the TCG.

8. Holofoil Mega Sableye & Tyranitar GX (Alternate Full Art) – Unified Minds

Market Price: $148.21

Featuring absolutely brilliant artwork by chibi that showcases the two featured ‘mon exulting over an impressive gemstone haul in a cave, this full-art “Tag Team” card retains a truly staggering price tag of nearly $150 on the secondary market.

These alternate full-art “Tag Team” cards are among the scarcest (and priciest) cards from the sets that featured them, including Unified Minds, Team Up and others.

7. Holofoil Tyranitar ex (Delta Species) – Dragon Frontiers

Market Price: $175.00

The second type-shifted Tyranitar on this list is a Lightning-type card that’s worth close to $120 more than its predecessor – and with good reason. As an Ultra Rare from the Dragon Frontiers expansion, it was extremely hard to find these cards in packs when they debuted in 2006.

Beyond that, this card features three total attacks, but two in particular that are fascinating and powerful: the first allows you to place a Shock-wave counter on an opposing ‘mon, and the second allows you to choose any opposing ‘mon with a Shock-wave counter on it and knock that Pokemon out – simple as that.

6. Holofoil Tyranitar V (Alternate Full Art) - SWSH05: Battle Styles (SWSH05) – Battle Styles

Market Price: $209.12

While the full card artwork for the “Tag Team” card was amazing, this full-art card might look even better. The artwork, by HYOGONOSUKE, shows a satiated Tyranitar snoozing under a tree after gorging itself on food – underscored by an absolute mountain of plates and bowls surrounding it.

Behind the Tyranitar, a sheepish Pignite (the middle evolution of Generation Five Fire-type starter Tepig) looks at the Tyranitar as if it wishes it could’ve eaten as much as the pseudolegendary did. Either way, this card tells an amusing story, and it’s nice to see Tyranitar – who is normally shown as a menacing and threatening presence – in a more comical setting.

5. Holofoil Tyranitar ex – Unseen Forces

Market Price: $239.24

The top five kicks off with one of only a select few cards with four attacks in the Pokemon TCG’s history. All four of Unseen Force’s Tyranitar attacks are quite strong and truly showcase the immense canonical power of Tyranitar.

Beyond that, this card’s artwork shows Tyranitar at an odd angle that further underscores the menacing qualities of this Powerhouse Pokemon. When this card came out in 2005, the damage rates of each attack on this card were meta-defining, and the card’s artwork and foiling method have helped this card age exquisitely – likely affecting the card’s skyscraping price point.

4. Holofoil Tyranitar – Aquapolis

Market Price: $289.50

This Tyranitar card hails from one of the most valuable Pokemon TCG sets of all time, and it also happens to feature perhaps the best artwork ever on a Tyranitar card (with one notable exception –  more on that later).

With three strong attacks, the striking e-Reader card format and its aforementioned amazing artwork, it is absolutely no surprise to see this card boast a price tag close to $300. If you were one of the lucky few who collected the Aquapolis set and you cracked this beauty, you’ve got a true chase card on your hands.

3. Holofoil Tyranitar – Expedition

Market Price: $323.65

The e-Reader series of cards from the early 2000s are among the most valuable and rarest cards that can be found on the secondary market. Combine that scarcity with a popular and powerful ‘mon such as Tyranitar and you’re looking at big bucks to acquire these cards over 20 years after they debuted.

This Expedition Tyranitar features intriguing and unusual naturalistic artwork of Tyranitar by Kimiya Masago as well as the unique e-Reader card frame and the beautiful cosmos holofoil method (which is not quite as striking as the Fireworks foiling from Legendary Collection) from cards of this era. A beautiful overall package, with a price tag match, hitting the $300 threshold for the first time here.

2. Holofoil Dark Tyranitar – Neo Destiny

Market Price: $400.00

One of two Tyranitar cards from 2002’s Neo Destiny, this is the only “Dark” version of Tyranitar that has ever been released in the TCG. First unveiled in 2000’s Team Rocket expansion, Dark Pokemon usually represent Pokemon that have been tainted by villainous teams, such as Team Rocket.

This Tyranitar card’s artwork by Shin-ichi Yoshida shows the hulking rock/dark-type’s full body shambling toward the player as if it’s about to bust out of the card and straight into the real world. While this card’s $400 price point is certainly impressive, there is one more card that remains the preeminent Tyranitar chase card of all time – which also happens to be from Neo Destiny.

1. Holofoil Shining Tyranitar – Neo Destiny

Market Price: $454.99

One of eight iconic “Shining” cards from Neo Destiny, this Tyranitar features legendary artwork from Pokemon mastermind Ken Sugimori showcasing a shiny Tyranitar with its head reared back, bellowing at the sky as it prepares a toweringly powerful attack.

The “Shining” cards from Neo Destiny are among the most famous – and hardest-to-find – Pokemon TCG cards of all time, so it’s no surprise that Shining Tyranitar ranks as the most valuable Tyranitar card. While this card’s close to $450 price point is nothing to sneeze at, if you’re looking to purchase a graded copy of this card, it will likely set you back $700 to $1000 or more – depending on the card’s condition.

This is truly a masterpiece of a card, and it remains one of the most popular and rarest Tyranitar cards ever – and is truly deserving of its status as the most valuable Tyranitar card ever.

The post Pokemon TCG: 10 Most Valuable Tyranitar Cards appeared first on Destructoid.