Some of the newest Pokemon in thePokemon TCGonly boast small sets of cards to collect, expanding their rosters over time. Alternate form Pokemon, likeHisuian Arcanine, have a small handful of valuable cardsto enjoy, while Palafin gets its Pokemon TCG career off to a fast start with plenty of gorgeous cards to admire.
Palafin is one of the most unusual Pokemon to debut in Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea region, boasting two unique forms: Zero and Hero. In the VGC, this Pokemon enters its stronger Hero form after it switches out of battle, turning into the muscular, anime-hero-version of the once delicate dolphin it used to be.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGPlayerMarket Price,which represents what you might pay on average for a copy of the cards below.
5Palafin: Obsidian Flames (Illustration Rare) – $1.46
From Zero To Hero
Palafin starts strong witharguably the most stunning Palafin artavailable kicking things off with an incredible value considering the level of detail this card contains. While this card can’t rise into theupper echelon of valuable Obsidian Flames cards,it has plenty of upside withan incredibly affordable price that is likely to rise.
Whileits current price is modest,the following Palafin cards struggle to surpass this superb art that features multiple Palafin surrounding a Hero Form leader.
Sales of this card are erratic, ranging anywhere from $1.50 to $2.50 in 2024, with the most recent near-mint(NM)copy commanding $1.68. Some sales have jumped up to $1.99, indicating that there’s demand for this card if it boasts high-quality condition.
4Palafin EX: Twilight Masquerade (Ultra Rare) – $1.61
Standing Tall
Twilight Masquerade is packed with valuable cards,with so many solid cards availableupon release that it was possible to make money on your box,even without pulling the highest-valued cards.
While the set has cooled since release and it’s no longer as easy to recoup the money you spend on a booster box, there are plenty of gorgeous cards like this Palafin that are worth collecting at modest prices.
This Palafin holds a small lead over the gorgeous IR from Obsidian Flames, though its short TCG career has seen it continue to lose value following release. NM copies are beginning to settle around the $1.60 mark and upwards, creating support at this value for a future rally.
3Palafin: Paldean Fates (Shiny Rare) – $1.85
A Strong, Shining Sea Creature
Palafin is primed for a fight in this Paldean Fates baby shiny featuring different shades of purple and blue. The sparkling shiny stars in the background provide the perfect contrast to the darker color palette on Palafin. This Hero form is an excellent depiction of this Dolphin Pokemon.
Most copies sold are in NM condition, offering a wide range of optionsfrom one dollar to three dollars, depending on the specific copy. Given the popularity of shiny Pokemon andthe “Fates” series of sets,this card is likely to maintain solid demand and maintain its value over time.
2Palafin EX: Jumbo Cards (Promo) – $3.53
Larger Than Life
Jumbo Cards are much larger than the standard versions, with slightly larger price tags often coming along with them. However, they rarely exceed the four-dollar mark – a barrier Palafin stays within, though it seems keen on breaking through based on the fierce artwork.
This card began at the typical four-dollar standard, though it continues to fall toward the $3.50 mark, offering a slight discount when compared to more popular Pokemon. However, Palafin’s TCG career is still young, and it has time to appreciateonce the sets it features in are no longer in print.
1Palafin (Staff Prerelease): S&V Promo Cards (Promo) – $13.44
A Prestigious Promo
Prerelease promo cards are often sought out by collectors as rare curios that were only available as part of special prerelease events. This exclusive staff prerelease version adds an extra layer of desirability, as only staff members at the prerelease events could obtain this version.
Unsurprisingly, with scarcity comes value, as this card eclipses the next most valuable Palafin cards by about ten dollars, cementing a significant lead. However,this card’s price continues to fall ever since it debuted at $50,hovering briefly around the $30 mark before continuing to slide toward the single digits.
