Stellar Crown: Top 5 Chase Cards
Stellar Crown brings the Terastal phenomenon to its climax and features a pair of surprise Kanto starter Illustration Rares that have become collector favourites. Here are the five top chase cards.
Stellar Crown: Top 5 Chase Cards
Released in September 2024, Stellar Crown marks the narrative climax of the Scarlet & Violet storyline — the appearance of Terapagos, the Pokemon at the heart of the Stellar Terastal phenomenon. The set brings the era's central mystery to a head and features some unexpected collector highlights alongside its headlining legendary Pokemon.
Here are the five most valuable chase cards in Stellar Crown, ranked by current secondary market value.
1. Terapagos ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$78)
As the mascot of both Stellar Crown and the Terastal storyline, Terapagos ex was always going to be the headline card of this set. The SIR captures Terapagos in its Stellar Form — an enormous, radiant version of the normally turtle-like Pokemon — rendered with the luminous visual treatment that the Stellar theme demands. For collectors following the SV storyline, this is the centrepiece card of the set.
2. Bulbasaur — Illustration Rare (~$41)
The Stellar Crown Bulbasaur IR is one of the more surprising collector hits of the 2024 release calendar. The artwork depicts the original Grass starter in an idyllic countryside setting — gentle, pastoral, and full of warmth. The nostalgia factor for original Kanto starters is always significant, and Bulbasaur's IR artwork here is one of the most charming treatments the Pokemon has received in the modern era.
3. Squirtle — Illustration Rare (~$39)
Squirtle completes the pair with Bulbasaur — the two Kanto starters that didn't appear in Obsidian Flames (where Charmander got its IR) both received IRs in Stellar Crown, creating an unplanned collector set. The Squirtle IR places the Water starter in a sunny beach setting that suits it perfectly. Collectors who want all three original starters in Illustration Rare form will want both of these cards.
4. Hydrapple ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$35)
Hydrapple is a new Gen 9 Pokemon — the evolved form of Dipplin — and its SIR in Stellar Crown features a bejewelled, golden backdrop that gives the card a regal, jewel-box quality. New Pokemon with visually striking SIR treatments regularly outperform expectations in their debut sets, and Hydrapple delivers on that front.
5. Dachsbun ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$26)
Dachsbun is the evolved form of Fidough — a bread-themed Pokemon that became a fan favourite upon the release of Scarlet & Violet. Its SIR in Stellar Crown leans into the baked-goods aesthetic with a warm, golden-toned artwork, and the card has developed surprisingly strong collector demand for what many dismissed as a novelty Pokemon. Don't underestimate Dachsbun.
The Kanto Starter Sleepers
The most interesting collector story in Stellar Crown isn't the legendary — it's the Kanto starters. Bulbasaur and Squirtle's IRs were not anticipated as major hits at release, but both developed strong sustained demand from collectors building Kanto starter collections and from long-time fans drawn to the warm, nostalgic artwork.
For context: Charmander got its IR treatment in Obsidian Flames, Bulbasaur and Squirtle here in Stellar Crown. If you're building a complete Kanto starter IR collection, you'll need to cross three different sets. Tracking your collection helps you see exactly where you stand.
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