How Many Pikachu Illustrator Cards Exist Compared to Black Lotus?
If you collect rare Pokemon cards, you have probably heard about the Pikachu Illustrator. This card tops the list as one of the rarest and most valuable in the Pokemon TCG world. People often compare it to the Black Lotus from Magic: The Gathering, another holy grail of trading cards. But how do their print runs stack up? Let’s break it down with the facts.
First, the Pikachu Illustrator. Back in 1998, The Pokemon Company in Japan held an illustration contest for kids. Winners got this special promo card as a prize. Only 39 people won the top prizes, so just 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards were ever printed. Experts believe 13 to 39 still exist today in any condition, with only a handful graded high by PSA. Logan Paul bought one in PSA 10 condition for over 5 million dollars in 2022, making it the priciest Pokemon card sale ever.[2][3][4]
Now, Black Lotus. This card comes from the early days of Magic: The Gathering in 1993. Wizards of the Coast printed it as part of the Alpha set, with exactly 1,100 copies made. Unlike the Pikachu Illustrator, which was a one-time contest prize with no extras, Black Lotus had a larger print run for a limited first edition. Most of those 1,100 still circulate among collectors, though top graded ones sell for millions too. A PSA 10 Black Lotus went for around 500,000 dollars in recent years, but it does not hit the same hype as Pikachu’s ultra-low numbers.
Put them side by side, and the difference is clear. Pikachu Illustrator has 39 total printed, or maybe just 13 to 39 left. Black Lotus has 1,100 printed, over 28 times more. That scarcity drives Pikachu’s insane value per card. If you see one pop up for sale, it is usually a lower grade fetching thousands, while Black Lotus copies trade more often.
For everyday collectors on PokemonPricing.com, this means Pikachu Illustrator stays a dream chase. Stick to promos like the recent Pikachu 214 from the 2024 Illustration Contest, which sells for 15 to 20 dollars near mint and moves weekly.[1] Rarer does not always mean better for your wallet, but knowing these numbers helps spot real gems.
