Surging Sparks: Top 5 Chase Cards

Released in November 2024, Surging Sparks brought the Scarlet & Violet era toward its conclusion with a celebration of Pokemon from across the franchise's history. The set features a wide spread of beloved Pokemon in Special Illustration Rare form, and its headline card has established itself as one of the most valuable single pulls of the entire modern era.

Here are the five cards — ranked by current secondary market value — collectors are targeting most in Surging Sparks.

1. Pikachu ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$283)

Pikachu cards always carry a collector premium that no other Pokemon can match — and the Surging Sparks Pikachu ex SIR delivers something special. The artwork depicts Pikachu beneath an ethereal Tera crown in electric blue-white tones, with a composition that feels simultaneously intimate and cosmic. It's a card that works for dedicated Pikachu collectors, SIR completionists, and anyone who appreciates exceptional artwork.

At ~$283, it's one of the five most valuable cards in the entire SV era — a remarkable achievement for a mid-cycle mainline set that might otherwise have been overlooked.

2. Latias ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$185)

Latias is one of the most beloved Hoenn legendary Pokemon — the red and white counterpart to Latios — and her SIR in Surging Sparks is one of the best-executed legendary Pokemon cards in the SV era. The artwork captures Latias's characteristic speed and grace in a swirling, atmospheric composition. Hoenn fans and legendary Pokemon collectors have made this the second most valuable card in the set.

3. Milotic ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$105)

Milotic has a longstanding reputation as one of the most beautiful Pokemon in the franchise, and its Surging Sparks SIR fully earns that reputation. The artwork is elegant, fluid, and rich with colour — exactly what you'd expect from a Pokemon nicknamed the "Tender Pokemon." Milotic also saw competitive play during its Standard-legal window, which added player demand to the inherent collector appeal.

4. Pikachu ex — Hyper Rare (~$63)

The gold treatment of the set's mascot card is, naturally, also in high demand. Pikachu collectors who want the complete Surging Sparks Pikachu ex suite will want both the SIR and the Hyper Rare — and that complementary demand keeps the gold version well above average for Hyper Rare prices. If you pull this, you've got a significant hit.

5. Hydreigon ex — Special Illustration Rare (~$51)

Hydreigon is the pseudo-legendary of Unova — a fearsome three-headed dragon with one of the most striking designs in the franchise. Its Surging Sparks SIR leans into that intensity with bold, dark artwork that suits Hydreigon's character perfectly. Fan-favourite pseudo-legendary Pokemon consistently sustain collector demand, and Hydreigon is no exception.

A Late-Era Surprise

Surging Sparks came late in the Scarlet & Violet cycle, a point where collector enthusiasm for a winding-down era often dips. The set defied that trend significantly — largely on the strength of the Pikachu ex SIR, which generated substantial secondary market attention from its reveal through release and beyond.

The Hoenn and Unova legendary coverage (Latias, and others throughout the set including Latios, Kyogre, and Reshiram) gave long-time fans strong reasons to engage with Surging Sparks even at the end of an era. It's one of the more complete sets of the late SV run.

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