Research
How to spot undervalued Pokémon cards
By Rip & Hold · · 3 min read
Can you find a Pokémon card before its price takes off? Every collector would like to discover a card that the broader market has overlooked. While there’s no guaranteed way to predict future prices, certain characteristics can help identify potentially undervalued Pokémon cards.
The key is understanding the difference between a cheap card and a card that might actually be worth more than its current market price.
1. Look beyond the most popular Pokémon
Charizard, Pikachu, Umbreon, and Gengar attract enormous collector attention. Their popularity is often reflected in their prices.
Less prominent Pokémon may receive less attention, even when their cards feature exceptional artwork, limited releases, or interesting histories.
Collectors willing to explore overlooked Pokémon and older sets may discover cards that haven’t attracted widespread interest.
Of course, an unpopular card can remain unpopular indefinitely.
2. Compare cards from the same era
One way to evaluate a Pokémon card is to compare it with similar cards.
Consider release dates, rarity, artwork, condition, and graded populations. If two cards share similar characteristics but sell at dramatically different prices, the gap may be worth investigating. On Rip & Hold, the Sets page can sort every set by release date.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the cheaper card is undervalued. Differences in collector demand can justify substantial price differences.
3. Pay attention to graded populations
Professional grading services such as PSA publish population reports showing how many copies of a card have received particular grades.
A card with relatively few PSA 10 examples might command a premium, especially if collectors actively seek high-grade copies.
However, low graded populations can also indicate that few people consider the card worth grading.
Scarcity is only valuable when demand exists. With a free Rip & Hold account, card pages show graded population counts where they are available.
4. Watch for changes in collector interest
Pokémon card demand can shift as collectors rediscover older artwork, characters, and sets.
Anniversaries, new games, animated appearances, and social media attention can introduce previously overlooked cards to new audiences.
Identifying growing interest before it becomes widespread may offer opportunities, but short-term excitement can disappear just as quickly.
5. Study actual sales, not asking prices
A Pokémon card listed for $500 isn’t necessarily worth $500.
Collectors should examine completed sales, compare card conditions, and consider how frequently copies actually sell.
A card with very few transactions may appear valuable because of high listings, even when buyers aren’t willing to pay those prices.
Liquidity matters. A collectible is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. With a free account, Rip & Hold card pages list recent sales next to today’s price, so you can compare what buyers actually paid.
So, what makes a Pokémon card undervalued?
An undervalued card isn’t simply inexpensive. It’s a card whose current market price may not fully reflect its scarcity, condition, collector demand, or future appeal.
Finding one requires research, patience, and a willingness to disagree with the crowd.