Arceus rules over the Pokemon world as the god of all Pokemon, but how does its value hold up in thePokemon TCG? The honest answer is it depends on your expectations, but Arceus' most expensive card reaches the triple digits, so it’s certainly no slouch.
While you may be surprised by how Arceus compares to some ofPalkia’s most valuable cards,these two Pokemon share the same most valuable card, along with the third member of the Creation Trio, Dialga. Arceus' best cards feature a blend of complex modern illustrations and the nostalgia of simple vintage scenes.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGPlayerMarket Price,which you might pay on average for a copy of the cards below.
Given the age and rarity of certain cards,onlythose with anestablished market price on TCGplayerare included.
However,sale prices differ depending on the card’s condition,so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
5Arceus V: Brilliant Stars (Alternate Full Art) – $26.58
A Shining Star
Brilliant Stars stands out as one of thebest sets from the Sword and Shield era,with Arceus V being as one of the most iconic chase cards from the expansion. The bright background is perfectly suited to Arceus' regal pose, as the elegant landscape enhances this Pokemon’s simple design.
As one ofthe most valuable cards from Brilliant Stars,this card has experienced a tumultuous life thus far, once hovering around $20 before the alt-art explosion in early to mid-2024, whichdrove the price up to nearly $60.However, time has not been kind to Arceus since that massive jump in value, with this card experiencing a sharp decline to send it back toabout $30, where it continued falling to its current market price.
4Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX: Cosmic Eclipse (Secret Rare) – $37.50
Foreshadowing At Its Finest
The Creation Triomakes an early appearance among the best Arceus cards ever, as this card features a somewhat unequal division of art space, with Arceus getting the bulk of it. This won’t be the last we see of Dialga and Palkia, as Arceus is forever linked to fellow Legendary Pokemon on valuable cards like this one.
Unfortunately, this card once commanded around $40 but experienced a massive dip in price as Rainbow Secret Rare cards continued to fall out of favor.Arceus and its friends rebounded slightly after hitting the $34 mark,but haven’t been able to regain a foothold at its former high just yet.
3Arceus LV. X (95): Arceus (Ultra Rare) – $40.15
Into The Cosmos
What better place to find one of Arceus' best cards than in a set of the same name? Platinum: Arceus is an oft-forgotten set, but it boasts several different depictions of this Pokemon god, withnumber 95 standing out as the most expensive.While the vintage design is much simpler than Arceus' modern scenes, it doesn’t lack any color or magnificence.
As the oldest Arceus card on this list, you’ll need to pay close attention to the condition of the card you’re buying, as this set’s age contributes to highly variable values. For example, heavily played(HP)cards only sell for $7.43, while you will need to pay about $17 for lightly played(LP)cards. However, near-mint(NM)copies command the highest premium,usually selling for $36 or more, up to about $38.
2Arceus VSTAR: Crown Zenith (Secret Rare) – $61.87
The Cream Rises To The Top
It’s not hard to see why Arceus VSTAR claimed a spot amongthe best cards in Crown Zenith,with this dramatic depiction of Arceus serving as one of the most grandiose portrayals of a Pokemon.
Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina share similar designs to this card, though Arceus places second among the four, with Giratina ahead.
Unfortunately,Arceus VSTAR suffers from the same success that the Arceus Vversion did, with this card catapulting from about $50 to almost $100 before it crashed back down to its current value. While massive surges like that often don’t last, this Arceus card continues to climb back up, though it should remain below $100 for the immediate future.
1Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX: Cosmic Eclipse (Alternate Full Art) – $160.20
A Fitting Crown Jewel
The Creation Trio strikes again, as these Legendary Pokemon return with one ofthe most expensive cards from Cosmic Eclipse,topping the charts for Arceus, as well as Dialga and Palkia,as their most valuable cards. This card stands out due to the unique statue interpretation of the Creation Trio, elevating their legend to even greater heights.
Few Pokemon are important enough to be immortalized in stone, but as the creators of everything in the Pokemon world and some of its most powerful creatures,Arceus, Dialga, and Palkia deserve this depiction.
Sadly, this card has seen better days, as it once commanded in the neighborhood of $220, but hasn’t been anywhere near the $200 mark since 2023. Without much support indicating that this card could trend back up, it’ll likelyremain stagnant until hype creates more demand.
