Base Set Mewtwo from the original Pokémon Trading Card Game keeps commanding sky-high prices years after its 1999 release. Collectors pay thousands for top-condition copies, with some sales hitting $15,000 or more even in 2025.
This iconic card features Mewtwo, the powerful psychic Pokémon cloned in the first Pokémon movie. As card number 10 in the Base Set, it was a chase card right from the start for players building strong decks. Its holographic art shows Mewtwo floating with glowing energy, making it a standout in any collection. Fans love it for nostalgia, tying back to the early days of Pokémon fever when kids traded cards at school.
Rarity plays a huge role. Base Set cards came in unlimited, shadowless, and first edition versions, but pristine unopened packs are scarce today. High-grade examples from graders like PSA or Beckett are especially valuable. For instance, a PSA GEM MT 10 Base Set First Edition Holo Mewtwo sold for $15,000 on April 16, 2023, through Fanatics Collect (formerly PWCC).https://www.wargamer.com/pokemon-trading-card-game/rare-pokemon-cards Prices have climbed steadily: one fetched nearly $8,000 in 2019, $12,655 in 2020, and $29,520 in 2021 despite a lower EX 5 grade.https://www.wargamer.com/pokemon-trading-card-game/rare-pokemon-cards
Demand stays hot due to the Pokémon TCG boom. The game exploded again with Scarlet & Violet sets and events like Pokémon GO tie-ins, drawing new collectors who want vintage pieces. Base Set Mewtwo benefits from Mewtwo’s lasting fame in games, anime, and movies. Graded copies from earlier years often sell between $1,200 and $1,800, and experts predict 2025 versions could hit four figures too.https://www.tcgplayer.com/content/article/The-10-Most-Expensive-Pok%C3%A9mon-Cards-of-2025/7f39e243-6210-44e0-9fe2-0e62d6ca83fb/
Limited supply fuels the fire. Time has damaged many cards through play, storage, or poor handling. Top grades like PSA 10 represent under one percent of submissions, creating a bottleneck. Auctions on sites like eBay and Goldin keep pushing records, with one Beckett Pristine 10 Base Set card selling for $32,520 in March 2023.https://www.wargamer.com/pokemon-trading-card-game/rare-pokemon-cards
Investors see it as a safe bet. Unlike modern cards, Base Set Mewtwo has proven appreciation over decades. Its cultural status as a “holy grail” for a generation ensures steady buyers. Even as new Mewtwo cards appear in sets like Celebrations, the original holds premium value for its history and condition rarity.
Sources
https://www.tcgplayer.com/content/article/The-10-Most-Expensive-Pok%C3%A9mon-Cards-of-2025/7f39e243-6210-44e0-9fe2-0e62d6ca83fb/
https://www.wargamer.com/pokemon-trading-card-game/rare-pokemon-cards
