Legendary duos and trios command plenty of attention (and money) in thePokemon TCG,with popular options typically commanding hundreds of dollars. Articuno and the other legendary birds from Kanto each boast valuable rosters of cards from similar sets. For example, you’ll notice that some ofZapdos' most valuable cardsshare several common sets with Articuno.
Vintage cards continue to feel the effects of heavy competition with modern releases, but classic cards from some ofthe best Pokemon sets everare hard to surpass. Articuno boasts some extremely recognizable cards, with other expensive entries hailing from underappreciated sets.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGPlayerMarket Price,which you might pay on average for a copy of the(first edition, where applicable)cards below.
Given the age and rarity of these cards,onlythose with anestablished market price on TCGplayerare included.
However,sale prices differ depending on the card’s condition,so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
6Articuno EX (Team Plasma): Plasma Storm (Full Art) – $66.03
Rising From Darkness
Articuno EX starts a trend of darker artwork among Articuno’s most valuable cards, with some of the top choices featuring dark blue and shadows. However, despite the dark blue coloring, this scene is incredibly vibrant, with stunning art and deep colors that set this card apart.
you may find this Articuno for far less than the market price if you’re willing to compromise on the condition.
Articuno EX sells for about $19 in heavily played(HP)condition, and closer to $27 for copies in moderately played(MP)condition. If you want an even better card, then you can expect to shell out over $50 for a lightly played(LP)Articuno, with a near-mint(NM)sitting at the top of the pile, commanding about the market price.
5Articuno: Supreme Victors (Secret Rare) – $119.64
A Uniquely Cute Card
Supreme Victors is one of the most easily distinguishable and well-designed Articuno cards ever, as this Pokemon pops from the star-dotted blue background with its lighter color palette. If you want a cute version of Articuno, then this is the best card you’ll find to suit your needs.
Unfortunately, with a beautiful design comes a high price tag, as even copies of this card in LP condition can fetch about $75 on TCGplayer, with NM cards soaring to highs of about$149 – doubling the cost of a cardonly in slightly worse condition.
4Articuno: First Edition Fossil (Holo Rare) – $121.80
Don’t Mess With A Classic
Fossil is one of the most popular Pokemon sets of all time, as one of the original batch of releases in the early 2000s. This first edition Articuno is so iconic that it wasreprinted as part of the Legendary Collectionand included alongside some of the most recognizable vintage Pokemon cards.
Expect first edition copies to carry a significant premium over their unlimited counterparts, as first edition cards in MP condition fetch close to $48, with NM copies selling above $120 in most instances.
3Articuno Ex: FireRed & LeafGreen (Secret Rare) – $194.58
Baby Blue Brilliance
It’s no surprise that this spectacular Articuno ex fromFireRed & LeafGreen sits among the set’s most valuable cards,joined by its fellow legendary birds. This iteration competes with the Supreme Victors Articuno as the two brightest copies, but Articuno’s design doesn’t stand out from the background as clearly in this image.
Appearance aside, Articuno’s price is heavily influenced by condition, as the market price is only as high as it is when the card is in NM condition. SuperbNMcopies can command over$200,but drop to LP and the price will drop to about half, with recent LP sales below $100.
2Articuno: Skyridge (Holo Rare) – $209.95
One Of The GOATs
Skyridge is legendary among Pokemon sets thanks to itslarge roster of incredibly valuable cards.The list of top-tier cards in this set goes on and on, with Articuno standing out as one of the best Pokemon from the set. However, much like the previous Articuno, thecondition means a huge difference in potential value.
This card is so rare, there are not any recent sales at the time of writing, though there are listings that range from as low as $115 for a damaged copy and as high as $625 for an NM copy, leaving plenty of room for this card to eventually find a spot to settle.
1Rocket’s Articuno Ex (Ultra Rare) – $265.00
Red And Blue Harmony
Rocket’s Articuno ex stands alone as the best Articuno card ever, soaring above its competition with a sky-high market price. Asone of the best Rocket’s cards,this Articuno has plenty of accolades to flaunt, though the art style is much dimmer than the Supreme Victors version.
While this card isn’t as difficult to find as the Articuno from Skyridge, it’s still incredibly expensive, with evenLPcopies selling for$250, as NM jumps up to $265.With such a small difference at the top end of the range, the gap will likely widen as time passes and vintage cards in good condition become harder to find.
