The Electrode ex from the EX FireRed & LeafGreen set (#107/112) currently trades at approximately $119.99 as of July 2026, making it one of the pricier holos from this early-2000s set. This represents a significant appreciation in market value—the card has seen an all-time price increase of 148.3% since it first entered circulation. However, the market isn’t stable: raw Near Mint copies have dropped $30.06 in the last 30 days alone, reflecting broader weakness across the entire EX FireRed & LeafGreen set, which is down 25.5% year-to-date. For collectors evaluating this particular card, understanding both its historical trajectory and current market dynamics is essential before making a purchase.
The spread between different pricing sources underscores how fragmented the Pokemon card market truly is. MAVIN’s data shows an average value of $37.72, while TCG Collector lists $122, and major platforms like TCGPlayer track the $119.99 reference price. On eBay, depending on condition and whether a card is graded, you’ll find sold listings ranging anywhere from $9.50 for heavily played copies to $379.99 for premium graded specimens. This wide variance means that price “discovery” for this card isn’t straightforward—what you pay depends heavily on which market you’re using and what condition you’re willing to accept.
Table of Contents
- Why EX FireRed & LeafGreen Electrode ex Commands Premium Pricing
- Understanding the Recent 25.5% Market Decline
- The Condition Premium and Raw vs. Graded Pricing
- Where to Buy and Platform Comparison
- Volatility Risk and Market Manipulation Concerns
- Grading Services and Authentication
- Historical Context and Collectibility Factors
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why EX FireRed & LeafGreen Electrode ex Commands Premium Pricing
The Electrode ex is a Stage 1 Holo rare with 90 HP, pulled from a set that has aged into genuine collectibility status. EX firered & LeafGreen debuted in 2004, making it now over 20 years old, and cards from that era command respect in the modern market partly because sealed product is increasingly difficult to find at reasonable prices. The set itself is recognized as having attractive artwork and solid playable cards from its era, which drives interest from both collectors and casual players looking for nostalgic purchases.
What separates this particular Electrode from common bulk holos of the same era is its role as an electric-type Stage 1 with decent HP for the time. Stage 1 evolutions with solid stats tend to hold value better than Stage 2s or single-prize cards that saw heavy play and wear. The “ex” designation also carries weight in the market—cards with the ex mechanic from early sets carry a premium compared to their non-ex counterparts, even when the non-ex version has similar or better playability. For example, a non-ex Electrode from the same set or era will typically sell for 10–30% of the ex version’s price, if it moves at all.
Understanding the Recent 25.5% Market Decline
The 30-day price decline of $30.06 on raw Near Mint copies isn’t unique to Electrode ex—it reflects systemic weakness across the entire EX FireRed & LeafGreen set. Over the same period, the broader set is down 3.7% in a longer 30-day trend, but year-to-date losses of 25.5% show that the weakness is sustained, not a momentary blip. This pattern typically emerges when a set has experienced speculative buying or when major platforms adjust their price benchmarks after analyzing actual eBay transaction data. A critical limitation to understand: past performance is not an indicator of future value.
The 148.3% all-time increase that got buyers excited also created a ceiling above which casual collectors became reluctant to buy. Once enough copy sales occur below the asking price on TCGPlayer, the platform’s algorithms adjust downward, triggering a cascade of downward revisions. During this correction phase, patient sellers who can wait out the volatility often fare better than those panic-selling into a soft market. If you bought this card at $150+ during a peak and now see it listed at $119.99, you’re experiencing a real loss in the short term, even if the long-term trend remains positive.
The Condition Premium and Raw vs. Graded Pricing
Condition is the primary driver of price variance for this card across different listings. Raw Near Mint copies have last sold for $87.64 according to recent data, which is already a significant discount to the $119.99 asking price on retail platforms—that gap often represents “asking price” inflation compared to actual transaction data. Move down to Lightly Played or Moderately Played, and you’re looking at $25–$60 depending on the exact surface quality, centering, and corner wear.
Graded copies command a premium, but the multiplier varies by grade. A PSA 9 or CGC 8.5 (the new competitive grading standard) can easily reach $200–$350, pushing into the upper end of those eBay sold listings, while a PSA 7 or 8 might command $120–$180. The grading cost—typically $10–$25 per card depending on turnaround time—plus the return time means grading makes sense only if you’re already looking at a copy that’s clearly gem quality or if you’re planning to hold long-term for appreciation. For a $87–$120 raw card, paying to grade it can eat into profits if you need to liquidate soon.
Where to Buy and Platform Comparison
TCGPlayer remains the largest consolidated marketplace for Pokemon singles in North America and shows $119.99 as the consensus listing price, pulling from multiple dealer inventory feeds. The advantage is price discovery: you can see dozens of listings at once and spot sellers offering slightly lower prices ($110–$115 range). CardMarket dominates Europe and sometimes shows lower prices because of regional supply differences and lower dealer markups, though international shipping adds complexity and cost.
eBay presents a different dynamic—you’re bidding against other collectors and speculators, and condition transparency depends entirely on the seller’s photos and honesty. The plus side is that auction formats sometimes result in better-than-market prices when competition is light, particularly for raw copies where buyers are hunting for deals rather than trophy graded specimens. Cardmarket also integrates with CardTrader and local European dealers, so if you’re in or willing to ship internationally, you might find cheaper copies there. A concrete tradeoff: eBay often means 5–10 business days to US shipping, CardMarket’s European sellers might mean 10–20 days to US, while TCGPlayer dealers ship same-day or next-business-day from domestic warehouses.
Volatility Risk and Market Manipulation Concerns
Pokemon card markets are prone to coordinated buying pushes and dumps by collectors with large capital. A single well-connected buyer purchasing 20+ raw copies of a specific card can artificially suppress the ask price, signaling to other holders that the card is “cooling off” and encouraging panic sales. Conversely, a large grader submission (100+ copies sent to PSA or CGC at once) can tighten raw supply and spike prices temporarily.
The Electrode ex, being an older Holo Rare from a 22-year-old set, is susceptible to both patterns because supply is finite and not all copies grade well. A critical warning: Do not treat the $119.99 listing price as the true market value for purchasing decisions. If you’re buying to hold, the question isn’t “what’s it worth today” but “what will it be worth in 2–3 years.” The 25.5% year-to-date decline suggests the market is pricing in either oversupply (too many copies being graded and released) or reduced collector demand. Without insight into supply-chain dynamics—how many raw copies are still out there, how many are already graded and sitting in collections—you can’t confidently predict whether the decline has bottomed or will continue.
Grading Services and Authentication
PSA and CGC are the two services that meaningfully impact Electrode ex values. PSA 10 (Gem Mint) copies are exceptionally rare because cards from 2004 were played or stored in varying conditions; a PSA 10 would easily command $400+, but finding one to grade from raw stock is unlikely. Most copies grade in the 6–8 range (Good to Near Mint), where a PSA 8 might achieve $150–$200 in the current market.
CGC’s newer entrance into the hobby has created some pricing uncertainty—buyers are still learning whether CGC 8.5 equals PSA 8 or PSA 9 in actual trading value, which adds risk if you’re sending a copy to grade and hoping for a specific return. The practical consideration is timing: turnaround times range from 20–90 days depending on service level and current backlogs, and during that window, market prices can shift significantly. If you submit a copy at $130 grading cost expecting a PSA 8 ($150–$180 market value), but the market drops 15% while you’re waiting, you may end up underwater on the investment.
Historical Context and Collectibility Factors
EX FireRed & LeafGreen remains a landmark set in Pokemon TCG history—it was one of the first sets to introduce the EX mechanic and saw substantial print runs, but sealed product has dried up significantly in the last 10 years. This creates a natural tailwind for individual chase cards: Electrode ex was never a format-defining competitive card, so its value is purely collectibility-driven. Players aren’t buying it for tournament use; collectors are buying it for set completion or nostalgia.
The card’s continued presence across TCGPlayer, MAVIN, CardMarket, and other platforms confirms it’s actively traded, not stalled or illiquid. When a card becomes truly dead—difficult to sell even at 50% discount—platforms will delist it or show zero ask prices. Electrode ex hasn’t reached that point, which means there’s still genuine collector demand, even as the market corrects downward from recent highs. Raw Near Mint copies at $87.64 represent a realistic recent transaction, not a theoretical value, so if you’re shopping in that range, you’re buying at a price confirmed by actual sellers meeting actual buyers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Electrode ex #107/112 a rare card?
It’s a Holo Rare, which means it was less common than non-holo versions in booster packs, but it’s not an ultra-rare or secret rare. Supply is moderate, not scarce.
Should I grade my Electrode ex if it looks Near Mint?
Only if grading costs less than 15% of the expected graded value. A raw Near Mint at $87.64 becoming a PSA 8 at $150 might justify the $15–25 grading fee, but the risk is high if the card grades 7 instead of 8.
Why did the price drop $30 in 30 days?
The entire EX FireRed & LeafGreen set is down 25.5% year-to-date, likely due to market correction after speculative buying or oversupply of graded copies entering the market.
Where’s the cheapest place to buy this card?
eBay often has auctions ending below TCGPlayer’s asking price, but CardMarket or European dealers sometimes undercut North American retail. Always compare after accounting for shipping time.
Is this card a good investment?
It’s a vintage collectible with a 148.3% all-time gain, but recent declines show volatility. Buy only if you’d be happy holding it 3+ years or keeping it for set completion, not for short-term flips.
What’s the difference between raw and graded pricing?
Raw Near Mint copies trade around $87–$120; graded PSA 8 copies reach $150–$200, and higher grades command significantly more, but grading costs and turnaround time must be factored in.
