The Raikou card from EX Unseen Forces exists primarily as a holographic Gold Star variant (#114), priced at $973.05 as of 2026 according to PriceCharting. A standard non-holographic version of this specific card does not appear to exist in the market—Unseen Forces (released in 2005) featured Raikou exclusively as a rare holographic Gold Star. If you’re searching for a non-holo Raikou variant, you may be looking at a reverse holographic print, a card from a different set entirely, or a misprint.
This distinction matters significantly because the Gold Star’s rarity and collectibility drive pricing into the four-figure range, while reverse holos from other sets trade for substantially less. The Raikou Gold Star commands attention in the EX-era market not because it’s the only Raikou ever printed, but because Gold Stars are notoriously scarce. EX Unseen Forces Raikou ranks among the most expensive cards in the entire set, sitting in a pricing tier between $500 and $2,000+ depending on condition and grading, according to ThePriceDex data from May 2026. Understanding this card’s actual rarity and availability is essential before searching for pricing or making a purchase decision.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Gold Star Raikou from EX Unseen Forces?
- Current Market Pricing and Availability Reality
- Condition Grading and Its Impact on Raikou Value
- Primary Pricing Sources and Where to Track Values
- The Non-Holographic Variant Question
- Comparing the Gold Star to Other Raikou Printings
- Practical Steps for Buying or Valuing Your Copy
What Is the Gold Star Raikou from EX Unseen Forces?
The Raikou Gold Star (#114) is a holographic pokémon card from the EX Unseen Forces expansion, a set released in December 2005 during the height of the EX era. Gold Star cards were special promotional variants featured in certain booster boxes and could not be pulled from regular packs, making them inherently scarce. The card depicts Raikou in its iconic legendary form with a star emblem below the name, signifying its status as a “Gold Star” variant. This is not a standard holographic card—it’s a premium, sought-after alternate art that collectors actively hunt.
Condition matters as dramatically for the Gold Star Raikou as it does for any expensive Pokémon card. A near-mint ungraded copy might fetch $500–$700, while a PSA 8 or 9 (considered excellent condition) can reach $1,000–$1,500. A PSA 10 gem mint example would push well beyond $1,500, potentially reaching the $2,000+ ceiling mentioned by pricing aggregators. Even slight creasing, edge wear, or corner damage can drop value by hundreds of dollars. Reverse holographic Raikou cards from other EX-era sets exist but are entirely different products with different price brackets—they typically sell for $20–$100 depending on the specific card and condition.
Current Market Pricing and Availability Reality
PriceCharting lists the Raikou Gold Star at $973.05, representing a middle-ground market value for ungraded or moderately played copies. TCGPlayer’s price guide and Pokeinvest.io show similar ranges, though actual listings vary based on seller grading standards and item condition. The spread between $500 and $2,000+ reflects the gap between played condition (lower end) and gem mint graded examples (upper end). When shopping for this card, you’ll encounter wild pricing variations because individual sellers may grade conservatively or aggressively, and graded PSA/BGS examples always command premiums over ungraded copies.
A real limitation exists in the available pricing data: high-value cards like the Gold Star Raikou have fewer active listings at any given time compared to bulk-market cards. You might search TCGPlayer on a Monday and find five sellers; check again Friday and see two. This thin market liquidity means that listed “average” prices can be misleading if only one or two premium examples are currently for sale. If you’re actively hunting this card to buy, expect to either pay above the stated average if you want it quickly, or wait weeks or months for a better deal to surface. The $973 figure is a useful reference point but not a guarantee of what you’ll actually pay.
Condition Grading and Its Impact on Raikou Value
Professional grading from PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) or BGS/Beckett significantly affects what the Gold Star Raikou commands. A PSA 7 (near mint-mint) example typically adds $100–$300 over an ungraded equivalent. PSA 8 (near mint) copies often sell for $200–$400 premiums. The jump from PSA 9 (mint) to PSA 10 (gem mint) is disproportionately large—a PSA 10 can be worth 50–100% more than a PSA 9 of the same card, sometimes doubling the price. This happens because gem mint examples are genuinely rare; PSA assigns 10s sparingly, and collectors pay heavily for that rarity.
The condition problem is especially acute for 20-year-old cards like Unseen Forces prints. Many copies have been played, stored improperly, or handled by casual collectors who didn’t sleeve them immediately. Finding an ungraded Gold Star Raikou in actual near-mint condition requires luck or persistence. If you find an “ungraded, mint” copy listed by a seller with no feedback history, treat it with skepticism—amateur sellers often overgrade condition. Conversely, copies graded PSA 6 or lower (considered light play or moderate play) will price closer to $300–$500, offering a more affordable entry point if you’re building a collection rather than seeking an investment-grade example.
Primary Pricing Sources and Where to Track Values
TCGPlayer serves as the primary real-time marketplace for Pokémon cards, including the Raikou Gold Star. The site aggregates multiple sellers and shows average, median, and highest/lowest asking prices, giving you a realistic sense of current demand and supply. Pokeinvest.io and ThePriceDex also track Unseen Forces pricing, though their data is often pulled from broader market snapshots rather than live inventory. PriceCharting, though originally known for video games, has expanded to Pokémon cards and provides another cross-reference. None of these sources is inherently more accurate than the others; they’re useful as complementary data points rather than gospel.
When comparing prices across sites, remember that some aggregators update daily while others refresh weekly. TCGPlayer’s listings are current as of when sellers post them, sometimes within hours. PriceCharting’s $973 figure may be a multi-week average that lags behind actual market moves. If the card is trending upward (more buyers than sellers), the real sale price will exceed the listed average. If interest is cooling, you’ll find discounted copies below the average. Graded examples with photos and seller ratings on TCGPlayer will always show you the truest market state because they’re live listings backed by seller reputation.
The Non-Holographic Variant Question
Here’s the hard truth: Extensive searching across TCGPlayer, PriceCharting, CardMarket, and other major platforms reveals no standard non-holographic Raikou card numbered #114 from EX Unseen Forces. The Unseen Forces set printed Raikou exclusively as a holographic Gold Star. If you encountered a reference to a “non-holo Raikou from Unseen Forces,” it may refer to a reverse holographic version from a different set, a misidentified card, or a regional variant (Japanese vs. English) that you’re not aware of. This is a common point of confusion because Pokémon sets sometimes feature multiple printings of the same Pokémon in different rarity tiers.
Before investing time or money hunting for a non-existent variant, verify the exact card by cross-referencing the Bulbapedia Unseen Forces card list or the TCG Collector database. Note the card’s number, edition (1st Edition vs. Unlimited), and set symbol. If you’re certain you’ve seen a non-holo Unseen Forces Raikou for sale, photograph or document the listing—it may be a genuine printline variant (extremely rare) or, more likely, a mislabeled card from a different set. Genuine printline errors or variations do exist in the EX era, but they’re unusual enough that they warrant expert verification before purchase.
Comparing the Gold Star to Other Raikou Printings
Raikou has appeared on dozens of Pokémon cards across different sets and eras. A reverse holographic Raikou from newer sets (like Crown Zenith or Scarlet & Violet expansions) typically costs $15–$40. A holographic Raikou from the 2003 EX Ruby & Sapphire set is rarer than modern holos but cheaper than the Gold Star, usually pricing $50–$200.
The Gold Star Raikou commands roughly 5–20 times the price of standard holographic Raikou from the same era, purely because Gold Stars are printed in dramatically lower volumes and were never reissued. This price multiplier is consistent across all Gold Star cards from Unseen Forces—they’re uniformly expensive compared to their non-Gold Star counterparts. If you’re deciding whether the Gold Star is worth the investment relative to owning a standard holo Raikou, that 5-20x multiplier is the entire difference.
Practical Steps for Buying or Valuing Your Copy
If you own a Gold Star Raikou or are considering purchasing one, start by photographing it under proper lighting to assess condition objectively. Look for creases, edge wear, corner whitening, and centering issues. Compare your photos to PSA grading guidelines published online; if you suspect it grades PSA 8 or higher, professional grading ($15–$30 per card) may be worthwhile.
For copies you believe grade PSA 7 or lower, ungraded sales on TCGPlayer typically offer better value—you avoid grading fees and the card moves faster because casual buyers accept ungraded copies. Keep a spreadsheet of three to five sold listings for Gold Star Raikou in your card’s estimated condition, then average the prices to establish your own baseline. Don’t rely on a single $973 quote; the more data points you gather, the better your negotiating position or pricing justification.
