The Pokémon Trading Card Game turns 30 this year, and it is probably the best example of a successful trading card game. Many kids who started collecting Pokémon cards in the late ’90s and 2000s are still collecting Pokémon cards, and those cards are more valuable now than ever.
New Pokémon cards are being released every few months, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed by trying to keep on top of them all. This list will cover 10 packs that are worth purchasing for the rare chase cards that hide inside. Every pack on this list will be a modern pack, meaning it was released in the 2020s, but getting ahold of some of these packs might cost an arm and a leg.
Chaos Rising Is the Newest Set on the Market
WeaknessLx2
Retreat Cost1
HP350
StageStage 2
[WW] Ninja Spinner (120+)
You may put a Water Energy attached to this Pokémon into your hand and have this attack do 80 more damage.
Chaos Rising is a Mega Evolution expansion released on May 22, 2026, making it the most recent release in the entire Pokémon TCG. Since Chaos Rising is so new, it’s not nearly as hard to get as other packs on this list, so collectors can expect to pay about $7 for a single Booster Pack.
Since Chaos Rising is such a new set, the value of its chase cards is volatile at the moment, but it does contain one major chase card that most collectors are going to want. That card goes to the Mega Greninja ex SIR, which currently has a market value of $338. This may not be the most valuable chase card in the world, but considering it just came out less than a month ago, it’s a pretty strong showing from Chaos Rising.
Lost Origin Contains One Really Valuable Chase Card
Retreat Cost2
HP220
StageBasic
[1] Abyss Seeking
Look at the top 4 cards of your deck and put 2 of them into your hand. Put the other cards in the Lost Zone.
[1GP] Shred (160)
This attack’s damage isn’t affected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
Lost Origin is a Sword & Shield expansion that was first released on September 9, 2022. This expansion has a few strong chase cards in the set, like the Pikachu VMAX Trainer Gallery card, which currently goes for around $121, and the Ultra Rare Aerodactyl V Alternate Secret Art, which has a market price of $166.
Most of the valuable cards in this set go for under $200, but there is one chase card that makes ripping Lost Origin worth it. That card is the Ultra Rare Giratina V Alternate Full Art. This Dragon-type Pokémon currently goes for $845. Unfortunately, Lost Origin is a pricy pack to rip, because a Sleeved Booster Pack will cost collectors around $19.
Twilight Masquerade is a More Affordable Pack, But Still Has Some Strong Hits
WeaknessPx2
Retreat Cost1
ResistanceNone
HP310
StageStage 2
[W] Shinobi Blade (170)
You may search your library for a card and put it into your hand. then, shuffle your deck.
[WCC] Mirage Barrage
Discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon. This attack does 120 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
Twilight Masquerade is a Scarlet & Violet expansion that was released on May 24, 2024, and it is a somewhat underrated Scarlet & Violet set. Since this set isn’t as sought-after as some other modern expansions, collectors can get a Sleeved Booster Pack for under $10. Twilight Masquerade has some really solid hits, like the Perrin Special Illustration Rare (SIR) that’s worth about $185, and the adorable Eevee Illustration Rare that features multiple Eevees worth around $100.
The most desirable card in this set is, by far, Greninja ex, an SIR currently worth $305. Interestingly enough, Greninja ex’s value has fluctuated quite a lot since Twilight Masquerade’s release, and the current market price is actually lower than all the available listings on TCGplayer.com, which range from $373 all the way up to $2,000.
151 is Pure Pokémon Nostalgia in a Special Pack
WeaknessWx2
Retreat Cost2
ResistanceNone
HP330
StageStage 2
[R] Brave Wing (60+)
if this Pokemon has any damage counters on it, this attack does 100 more damage.
[RRRR] Explosive Vortex (330)
Discard 3 Energy from this Pokemon.
151 is a Special Set and a Scarlet & Violet expansion that, as the name suggests, only includes the original 151 Pokémon from the very first Pokémon generation. Many Pokémon fans feel the original gen is the greatest gen, which might be nostalgia talking, but it’s certain to sell. Unfortunately, 151, which was released on September 22, 2023, is an expensive set to rip, because a single Booster Pack will run collectors nearly $30.
That said, there are a lot of great cards that feature absolutely beautiful artwork in this set. Collectors can probably find a stunning version of their favorite original Pokémon by ripping 151. The biggest chase card, unsurprisingly, goes to Charizard ex, an SIR that’s currently selling for $325. It’s surprising that more 151 cards haven’t gained more value since it’s such a sought-after set, but collectors won’t regret pulling some of these incredible cards.
Destined Rivals Celebrates Team Rocket
WeaknessDx2
Retreat Cost3
ResistanceF-30
HP280
StageBasic
[PPC] Erasure Ball (160+)
You may discard up to 2 Energy from your Benched Pokémon. This attack does 60 more damage for each card you discarded in this way.
Destined Rivals is a Scarlet & Violet expansion that was released on May 30, 2025, and it celebrates Team Rocket. Team Rocket is a popular crime syndicate that dates all the way back to the original Pokémon video games, and like 151, Destined Rivals plays on a lot of nostalgia for long-term fans. Fortunately, Destined Rivals is a bit more reasonably priced, as collectors can get Booster Packs for under $11.
There are a few really strong chase cards in this set, like Cynthia’s Garchomp ex SIR, which currently has a market price of nearly $300. The biggest chase card in this set has to go to Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, another SIR currently worth $569. Attaching Team Rocket to anything will always ensure its popularity, so adding these cards to any collection will only increase the value.
Phantasmal Flames is a Newer Set, But It Has Another Desirable Charizard Card
WeaknessWx2
Retreat Cost2
HP360
StageStage 2
[RR] Inferno X (90x)
Discard any amount of Fire Energy from among your Pokemon, and this attack does 90 damage for each card you discarded in this way.
Phantasmal Flames is a Mega Evolution expansion, and it was released on November 14, 2025. Mega Evolution is the newest Base Set in the TCG, so Phantasmal Flames is one of the newer packs that will appear in this list. Currently, a Sleeved Booster Pack goes for around $12, with a regular Booster Pack coming in at a couple of dollars cheaper.
This set has a few decent chase cards in the set, and all of them are variations of Mega Charizard. The Mega Charizard X ex SIR currently has a market price of almost $880. The second most valuable card in this set is the all-gold Mega Hyper Rare Mega Charizard X ex, which goes for around $325.
Fusion Strike Has Many Cards Worth More than $100
WeaknessFx2
Retreat Cost3
ResistanceNone
HP320
StageVMAX
[DD] Fear and Panic (60x)
This attack does 60 damage for each of your opponent’s Pokémon V and Pokémon-GX in play.
[DDD] G-Max Swallow up (250)
During your next turn, this Pokémon can’t attack.
Fusion Strike is a Sword & Shield expansion that was released on November 12, 2021, making it one of the oldest sets on this list. Its age and the value of some of the chase cards in this set have driven up the price of Booster Packs, so collectors can expect to pay $20 per pack for this set. The price might be steep, but the cards inside the foil are more than worth it.
Fusion Strike includes Espeon VMAX (Alternate Art Secret), which is worth nearly $260. It also features several valuable Mew cards, including Mew VMAX (Alternate Art Secret), also worth $260, and the Mew VMAX (Secret), worth $108. The biggest chase card in this set goes to Gengar VMAX, a Secret Rare currently worth around $675.
Ascended Heroes Is Newer, But Has Some Incredibly Strong Hits
WeaknessFx2
Retreat Cost2
HP350
StageStage 2
[DD] Void Gale (230)
Move an Energy from this Pokemon to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
Ascended Heroes is a Mega Evolution expansion that was released on January 30, 2026. Despite how new this set is, an Ascended Heroes Booster Pack is currently going for nearly $15, and that’s probably because the top three chase cards in this set are all worth more than $850, with the two most valuable cards crossing the $1,000 mark.
These three cards include the Mega Gengar ex SIR, the Pikachu ex SIR, and the Mega Dragonite ex SIR. Mega Dragonite ex is currently worth $880, but the Mega Gengar ex and Pikachu ex keep fighting for the top spot.
Most collectors consider Mega Gengar ex to be the top chase card of this set, and it’s currently worth $1,105, but its value has fluctuated a lot, and the cheapest listing on TCGplayer.com is almost $1,400. Pikachu ex currently has a market price of $1,352, and the current listing represents that more accurately.
Prismatic Evolutions Is a Fan-Favorite Expansion
WeaknessGx2
Retreat Cost2
HP280
StageStage 1
[DCC] Moon Mirage (160)
Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Confused.
[LPD] Onyx
Discard all Energy from this Pokemon, and take a Prize card.
Prismatic Evolutions is a Scarlet & Violet expansion and a Special Set released on January 17, 2025. Prismatic Evolutions focuses mainly on Eevee and Eevee’s many evolutions, often referred to as “Eeveelutions” by fans. Needless to say, a set that focuses on Eevee and its evolutions was going to be an instant fan-favorite, because everyone loves Eevee and has a favorite Eeveelution.
The best part about Prismatic Evolutions is that Eevee and every single Eeveelution have a beautiful SIR to chase. The set does include other Pokémon, but the main draw is the Eeveelutions, and all the SIRs are valuable, with Umbreon EX coming out on top.
Umbreon ex being the most desirable card in this set isn’t very surprising, because Umbreon is almost as popular a chase card as Charizard. The market price of this card currently sits at $834, but this severely underestimates what the card is worth, because the cheapest listing is asking $1,100.
Evolving Skies Has a Brutal Hit Rate, But the Most Desirable Umbreon Card Ever
WeaknessGx2
Retreat Cost2
ResistanceNone
HP310
StageVMAX
Evolving Skies is a Sword & Shield expansion, and it was released on August 27, 2021, making it the oldest pack on this list. Unfortunately, Evolving Skies is known for having brutal hit rates, which led to many collectors nicknaming it “Evolving Cries.” It’s also an extremely expensive set to rip, because a single Booster Pack will cost collectors around $44.
That said, it does have a lot of valuable cards in it that are worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Leafeon VMAX (Alternate Art Secret) is worth $312, Dragonite V (Alternate Full Art) is worth $365, and Rayquaza VMAX (Alternate Art Secret) is worth an eye-popping $1,055. The biggest chase card in this entire set has to go to Umbreon VMAX (Alternate Art Secret), nicknamed “Moonbreon,” which currently sells for at least $1,500.