# The Most Valuable and Sought-After Pokémon Cards from the Sun & Moon Era
The Sun & Moon era of Pokémon Trading Card Game represents one of the most exciting periods in modern card collecting. This generation, which began in 2016 and continued through 2019, introduced revolutionary mechanics, stunning artwork, and some of the most valuable cards that collectors pursue today. Understanding what makes these cards special requires diving deep into the mechanics, rarity factors, and market dynamics that have shaped this era.
## What Defines the Sun & Moon Era
The Sun & Moon era kicked off with the base set released in February 2017 in Japan and April 2017 in English-speaking markets. This generation brought with it the introduction of GX Pokémon, which were significantly more powerful than their predecessors and featured eye-catching full-art designs. The era continued through multiple sets including Guardians Rising, Burning Shadows, Crimson Invasion, Ultra Prism, Forbidden Light, Celestial Storm, Hidden Fates, and many others. Each set brought new mechanics, new Pokémon, and new opportunities for collectors to find rare and valuable cards.
The Sun & Moon era is particularly notable because it represents the transition period where Pokémon cards began to attract serious investment attention. While vintage cards from the 1990s had always been valuable, the Sun & Moon era showed that modern cards could also command significant prices if they possessed the right combination of rarity, condition, and desirability.
## The Role of Full-Art and Secret Rare Cards
One of the defining characteristics of the Sun & Moon era was the introduction and proliferation of full-art cards. These cards featured artwork that extended across the entire card face, creating a more immersive and visually striking experience compared to traditional card designs. Full-art cards became instant favorites among collectors, and certain full-art cards from this era have become some of the most expensive modern Pokémon cards ever sold.
Secret rare cards also emerged as a major factor in card values during this period. Secret rares are cards that appear beyond the standard set number, meaning they’re numbered higher than the official set size. For example, if a set contains 150 cards, a secret rare might be numbered 151 or higher. These cards are significantly harder to pull from booster packs, making them substantially rarer than regular cards. The combination of being a secret rare and featuring a popular Pokémon like Charizard or Mew created perfect conditions for astronomical price increases.
## Charizard-GX and Its Variants
Charizard has always been one of the most popular and valuable Pokémon in the trading card game, and the Sun & Moon era was no exception. Multiple Charizard-GX cards were released during this generation, and several of them have become extremely valuable. The Burning Shadows set, which was released in August 2017, featured a particularly sought-after Charizard-GX card that has commanded high prices on the secondary market.
What makes Charizard-GX cards from this era so valuable is the combination of several factors. First, Charizard is simply one of the most popular Pokémon of all time, which means demand is consistently high. Second, the full-art versions of these cards are visually stunning, featuring dynamic artwork that appeals to both competitive players and casual collectors. Third, the pull rates for full-art cards are significantly lower than for regular cards, making them genuinely rare. Finally, the condition of these cards matters enormously. A Charizard-GX in mint condition can be worth thousands of dollars, while the same card in poor condition might only be worth a few hundred.
## Mew and Mewtwo Cards
Mew and Mewtwo have always held special significance in the Pokémon universe, and this carried over into the Sun & Moon era. Several Mew and Mewtwo cards from this generation have become highly valuable. The Mewtwo-GX cards, in particular, have attracted serious collector attention. These cards often feature stunning artwork and represent some of the most iconic Pokémon in the franchise.
The value of Mew and Mewtwo cards is driven by several factors beyond just their rarity. These Pokémon have a special place in the hearts of long-time fans, dating back to the original games and the first movie. Collectors who grew up with these Pokémon are often willing to pay premium prices to own cards featuring them. Additionally, these cards often have competitive viability in the trading card game, which means players also seek them out, further driving up demand and prices.
## Hidden Fates and the Shiny Vault
The Hidden Fates set, released in August 2019, represented a turning point in the Sun & Moon era. This set introduced the Shiny Vault, a special collection of cards featuring shiny Pokémon with alternate colorations. The Shiny Vault cards were significantly rarer than regular cards, with pull rates that made them genuinely difficult to obtain. This scarcity, combined with the visual appeal of shiny Pokémon, created enormous demand.
Certain Shiny Vault cards from Hidden Fates have become some of the most expensive modern Pokémon cards ever sold. The Shiny Charizard V from this set, in particular, has commanded prices in the thousands of dollars for high-grade copies. The combination of being a shiny Pokémon, featuring one of the most popular creatures in the franchise, and having extremely low pull rates created a perfect storm for value appreciation.
## Error Cards and Variants
The Sun & Moon era also produced various error cards and variants that have become highly sought after by collectors. Error cards are cards that were printed with mistakes, whether in the artwork, text, or physical production. While some error cards are relatively common, others are extraordinarily rare. The Burning Shadows set, for instance, contained some notable error cards that have become valuable to collectors who specifically hunt for these variants.
One particularly interesting aspect of error cards is that they often weren’t recognized as errors immediately. It took time for the collecting community to identify and catalog these variants. Once identified, collectors began actively seeking them out, which drove up their value. Some error cards have become more valuable than their non-error counterparts, simply because they’re rarer and more interesting to collectors who appreciate the quirks and oddities of card production.
## Grading and Condition’s Impact on Value
The value of Sun & Moon era cards is heavily influenced by their condition and professional grading. Professional grading companies like PSA, Beckett, and CGC examine cards and assign them grades on a scale, typically from 1 to 10, with 10 being a perfect card. A Charizard-GX that grades as a PSA 10
