Introduced in Generation III, Rayquaza has proven to be one of the more popular Pokémon cards with collectors.
The Dragon/Flying type has been featured on 37 cards at the current time of writing since making its debut in the 2003 EX Dragon expansion.
Here’s a roundup with five of the best Rayquaza Pokémon cards to collect, including lots of information about their values and overall rarity.
The Best Rayquaza Pokémon Cards
We’ve listed some of the best Rayquaza Pokémon cards to collect, featuring rare sets and vintage options.
5. 2021 Pokemon Evolving Skies Rayquaza VMAX #218 (eBay)
We’ll begin with a more recent release found in 2021 Evolving Skies sets.
The Rayquaza VMAX Alternate Art features the supersized Pokémon as it towers over everything in the full art image.
It’s the undisputed chase card from the set, and it’s still reasonably valuable, even with the latest influx of reprints.
It’s a great place to start if you’re looking for the best modern Rayquaza card. Expect to pay roughly $200 for an ungraded copy.
Check prices of 2021 Pokemon Evolving Skies Rayquaza VMAX card on eBay
4. 2015 Pokemon Roaring Skies Rayquaza EX #104 (eBay)
Heading back to 2015, XY Roaring Skies is where you’ll find this full art Rayquaza EX. A reasonably unique release at the time, the Pokémon company noted;
‘130 damage from a Basic Pokémon is not something you should overlook.’
With a large number of copies printed, you should be able to find this card for less than $50. Expect to pay a little more for PSA graded versions, especially if they’re Gem Mint.
Full Art EX cards from the XY era are slowly gaining in popularity, even if values have yet to follow.
Check prices of 2015 Pokemon Roaring Skies Rayquaza EX card on eBay
3. 2008 Pokemon Pop Series 1 Rayquaza #3 (eBay)
2006 Pokémon Pop Series 1 is a special set of cards released through Pokémon Organized Play events or affiliated products.
The cards were available in 2-card booster packs, with the odds of finding a rare card being as low as you’d expect.
This means the 2008 Rayquaza release is valuable if you’re looking at graded copies. The Holo version also comes with a significant premium.
Check prices of 2008 Pokemon Pop Series 1 Rayquaza #3 card on eBay
2. 2005 Pokemon Ex Deoxys Rayquaza Gold Star #107 (eBay)
Gold Star Pokémon trading cards are undoubtedly some of the rarest and most interesting copies found within the hobby.
They have a unique look thanks to the monsters spilling out of the card border, and they were the first to introduce the design to collectors back in the mid 2000’s.
With the final batch of EX cards released over 15 years ago, they’re now seen as premium options that sel for significant sums of money.
Pokémon TCG: EX Deoxys is where you’ll find the Gold Star Rayquaza that takes the top spot on our list.
Unlike the others seen above, the card is based on the Shiny version of Rayquaza, with a colorless background making it especially tough to locate at higher grades.
A gem mint copy sold for $34,440 late in 2021, giving some indication of its rarity and popularity with collectors and investors alike.
Check prices of 2005 Pokemon Ex Deoxys Rayquaza Gold Star card on eBay
1. 2004 Pokemon Japanese Rayquaza Gold Star #67 (eBay)
The Japanese version of the Gold Star Pokémon card discussed above, it’s another which is exceptionally valuable as of 2022.
Released back in 2014, the design is similar to the English edition in most respects.
In terms of values, it’s going to be one of the more expensive Rayquaza Pokémon cards on the market.
It’s still cheaper than the English version, albeit with a smaller aftermarket of potential buyers.
Check prices of 2005 Pokemon Ex Deoxys Rayquaza Gold Star card (Japanese) on eBay
Rayquaza Pokémon Cards: Buyers Guide
What do we think of the current state of the market for the best Rayquaza cards? Are they worth adding to your PC? Here are our thoughts on the topic.
Ungraded versions are always going to be more affordable, so they’re probably the best place to start. We’ve listed a number of cheaper Rayquaza cards at the beginning, such as the VMAX from 2021 Evolving Skies.
We’d stick with the Gold Star Rayquaza if you’re looking for the best card from an investment perspective. It holds the most value, even if prices are down ever so slightly compared to their 2021 highs.
It also has a large aftermarket in terms of potential buyers, although I’d expect the English version to be more popular in the long run.
The Best Rayquaza Pokémon Cards: Final Thoughts
Rayquaza has proven to be one of the more popular Pokémon included inside sets over the past two decades. In fact, it’ll take a five-figure amount to add one of the rarest Gold Star cards to your personal collection.
It’s no real surprise, as the Gen III legendary Pokémon has a strong following, and it was the focus of the 2021 Evolving Skies set.