Arguably the most famous Pokémon ever, Charizard has probably sold more boxes and packs than any other. Here’s everything you need to know about the best Charizard Pokémon cards to collect in our extensive guide. 

Added as the chase card for multiple sets through the years, Charizard has been responsible for as many pack sales as the biggest sports stars. (In many ways, ‘Zard is the Michael Jordan of Pokémon cards.)

The fire/flying type has featured on lots of cards, with the rarest releases sometimes selling for six figures. 

Consider the news that a 1999 Charizard Pokémon card recently sold for a record-breaking $420,000, the most a Charizard has ever sold for, and the third-highest for any Pokémon card of all time.

With that in mind, here’s a roundup with 10 of the best Charizard Pokémon cards, released across a range of popular sets over the past 25 years. 

The Best Charizard Pokémon Cards

We’ve looked at everything from vintage sets to the latest sales data to bring you this list with 10 of the best Charizard Pokémon cards in existence. 

There’s a couple of surprise additions, including rare holos and tournament prizes. 

10. 2021 Pokemon Celebrations 25th Anniversary Charizard #4 (eBay)

We’ll begin with something a bit more affordable before getting to the heavy hitters listed below. 

The most coveted card from the original set by a wide margin, Charizard is back in all of his glory for this 2021 re-release, breathing a familiar plume of orange and yellow fire. 

As a like-for-like reprint of one of the most popular cards in existence, even ungraded versions will attract a lot of interest. After all, the majority of collectors can’t afford a Shadowless original holo version, never mind a graded copy of the card. 

It’s far cheaper than the 1999 version, but still goes for a significantly higher fee than any of the other cards from the base Celebrations collection. 

That’s doubly true if the Charizard Celebrations card has been graded by the likes of PSA or BGS. 

Check prices of 2021 Pokémon Celebrations Charizard on eBay 

9. 2007 Pokemon EX Power Keepers Charizard #6 (eBay)

The next Charizard to make the list comes from the 2007 EX Power Keepers collection. The final main expansion from the EX Series, there were only 108 cards in the set. In the artwork, Charizard is surrounded by stars and the moon in a wonderful holo image. 

PSA 10 versions will sell for at least four figures, making it a worthy addition to almost any Pokémon card collection. (Prices have gone up tenfold compared to the midway point in 2019, when you could find copies for less than $150. 

Check prices of 2007 Pokemon EX Power Keepers Charizard on eBay 

8. 1995 Pokemon Japanese Topsun Charizard #6 (eBay)

In terms of the earliest Pokémon cards, the 1999 set tends to be seen as the original by most fans. 

However, Topsun cards are slabbed as a 1995 set. It was originally given away with gum, having been produced by Top-Seika in Japan. All 150 original Pokémon can be found in the Topsun collection, excluding Mew. 

Blue Back Topsun cards hold significant value over their Green Back siblings that were printed after. 

Even rarer is the illusive No Number variant of the cards that are missing the card number in the upper left-hand corner. 

Value is dependent on the overall condition, as well as the color of the reverse, and whether there’s a card number found on the front. 

All text on the card is Japanese, while there’s a red fire motif on the front. As with the more famous 1999 collection, the Charizard is the key to the set.

Check prices of 1995 Pokemon Japanese Topsun Charizard on eBay 

7. 2003 Pokemon EX National Championships Charizard #100 (eBay) 

On the topic of lesser-known vintage options, the 2003 EX National Championships Charizard is another interesting card to make the list. It comes from the Battle Road Spring 2004 tournament, and was given out as a participation prize. 

Easily identifiable thanks to a large stamp found on the bottom right of the artwork, it can be tough to locate in pristine condition. The stamped National Championships version is also rarer, with far fewer graded options on the market. 

Check prices of 2003 Pokemon EX National Championships Charizard on eBay 

6. 2021 Pokemon Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection Gold Metal Charizard #4 (eBay)

Next up is the 2021 Pokémon Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection, and the Gold Metal Charizard contained within the expensive hobby box. 

One of two commemorative metal cards featuring Base Set Pikachu and Base Set Charizard, PSA have stopped grading the card due to problems with the surface when slabbing the card, if rumors are to be believed. 

This means that there’s an added premium when looking at graded PSA versions, and it’s already a high-end item given the rarity. 

Check prices of 2021 Pokemon Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection Gold Metal Charizard on eBay 

5. 2002 Pokemon Starter Triple Red Green Course Charizard #014/P (eBay)

One of the rarer options, this 2002 Pokémon Starter Triple Red Green Course Charizard was originally given away as a lottery prize in Japan. Players needed to collect three tokens from e-series Starter Decks and mail them attached to a postcard for entry. 

5,000 winners received the “Red/Green Course” prize containing Venusaur, Blastoise, and Charizard. (Another 5,000 were Gold Silver Course sets, containing Meganium, Feraligatr, and Typhlosion.)

Sometimes sold as a trio, the ‘Zard is always going to be the most popular card from this promo set.  

Check prices of 2002 Pokemon Starter Triple Red Green Course Charizard on eBay 

4. 2002 Pokemon Neo Destiny 1st Edition Shining Charizard #107 (eBay)

Shining Charizard is one of the more popular Pokémon cards from the 2002 Neo Destiny set. It features the Shiny version of the monster, which helps it to stand out when compared to the others on this list.

For the first time, Shining Pokémon had a non-Holofoil background, while the Pokémon were given a glossy metallic look. 

As it was released in 2002 Neo Destiny sets, there aren’t as many as you might have expected. (There were fewer boxes printed, as the Pokemon card collecting craze began to die down.)

1st Edition versions sell for a premium, and can be identified thanks to a small stamp beneath the artwork on the left hand side. 

Check prices of 2002 Pokemon Neo Destiny 1st Edition Shining Charizard on eBay 

3. 2003 Pokemon Skyridge Charizard #146 (eBay)

2003 Skyridge is another great set if you’re looking for rare Charizard cards. 

The last Pokémon TCG set produced by Wizards of the Coast, 2003 Skyridge was the combination of two Japanese collections known as Split Earth and Mysterious Mountains. 

This Skyridge Charizard would probably be more expensive than the most recent price of $15,000 for a PSA 10 copy, but there are over 200 pristine versions, and a further 231 PSA 9 grades. 

(By 2003, collectors had got wise to the fact that Charizard was special. It seems like many of them took especially good care of their collections.)

Check prices of 2003 Pokemon Skyridge Charizard on eBay 

2. 1999 Pokemon Base Charizard #4 (eBay) 

If you don’t care about 1st Edition stamps, or shadowless patches of the outer edges, the normal 1999 Base Set Charizard card is definitely the one to collect. It’s arguably the most famous TCG image of all-time, recognised by collectors around the world. 

Non-first edition copies are always going to be more affordable, even if it’s not the most exclusive version in existence. 

Check prices of 1999 Pokemon Base Charizard on eBay 

1. 1999 Pokemon Base 1st Edition Charizard #4 (eBay)

The king of modern Pokémon cards, the 1999 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard is legendary. It features a classic image of the Pokémon surrounded by a fiery plume. 

The ‘Zard is always going to be the most collectible card from the set, but it comes with a serious premium. The most recent sale price for a Gem Mint copy is $270,600. 

Of course, that’s enough to buy a pristine collection containing every other card from the set. 

It’s not the rarest 1999 1st Edition Pokémon card by any means, with a total of 121 PSA 10 graded copies altogether. Regardless, demand continues to exceed supply. 

(This is also the version that broke the sales record when it went for a flat $420,000 in March 2022.)

Check prices of 1999 First Edition Shadowless Base set Charizard on eBay

The Best Charizard Cards: Buyers Guide 

We’ve put together a buyer’s guide if you’re tempted by any of the Charizard Pokémon cards to make the list. As we’ve mentioned, the majority will easily sell for four to five figures if it’s wrapped in a grading slab. 

We’d look to more recent sets if you’re hoping for cheaper graded options, as there seems to be a Charizard or two to chase every year. For example, 2021 Celebrations cards are still relatively affordable compared to some of the heavy hitters seen above.  

Of course, the majority of Charizard cards to make the list are out of reach on a smaller budget. 

There’s nothing we’d recommend more highly than the original Shadowless Charizard if you’re looking for the best investment option to make the list. It’s one of the most recognisable cards of the modern era, and even the 2021 reprints are extremely popular. 

We’d be especially wary of the many fakes and forgeries that have made their way into the market over the past 20 years. It’s another reason why we’d advise to stick with graded options if possible. 

The Best Charizard Cards: Final Thoughts 

For the majority of collectors, there’s no better card than Charizard. It has the greatest nostalgic value, and top options could be worth even more in the long run. 

The 1999 Base Set Charizard helped to start the hobby before the turn of the millennium. I can still remember how popular it was when it first came out. 

Local shops had taken to ripping packs themselves, selling the cards as singles. A 1st Edition Charizard could be had for $150. I used to look at it in the display cabinet every day. As it turns out, it would have been a steal at that price. 

After losing our original set of holos, we’ve slowly started building up our collection of Charizard’s once again. It’s one of the safer cards to pick up in terms of long-term values. There’s always going to be a market for one of the most recognizable cards of all-time.