Pikachu Illustrator: The Most Expensive Pokémon Card Ever
The full story of the Pikachu Illustrator — how it was awarded, how many exist, the auction records, and what a copy actually costs in 2026.
· 5 min read
The Cardemon Blog
Price guides, set guides, and grading advice for Pokémon and MTG collectors.
Paldean Fates Set Guide: The Shiny Chase Cards Ranked
Paldean Fates brought shiny Pokémon back after a two-year absence — 91 main-set cards hiding a 150+ card shiny chase. Full breakdown with current prices.
· 5 min read
Obsidian Flames Set Guide: Charizard ex and the Tera Chase
Obsidian Flames is the Charizard set of the SV era — dark tera Charizard ex in three escalating rarities. Full chase list, current values, and rip-or-buy advice.
· 4 min read
1999 Base Set Charizard Value: Every Version Priced
Unlimited, Shadowless, 1st Edition, Japanese: how to identify which 1999 Base Set Charizard you own and what each version is really worth today.
· 5 min read
The Most Valuable Pokémon Cards in 2026, Ranked
A ranked rundown of the most expensive Pokémon cards you can actually buy in 2026, from seven-figure trophy cards to modern alt-art chases.
· 5 min read
The Most Valuable MTG Cards: Power Nine and Beyond
From Alpha Black Lotus to Reserved List duals and modern serialized chases, here's what the most valuable Magic cards cost in 2026.
· 4 min read
Are McDonald's Pokémon Cards Worth Anything?
Most McDonald's Pokémon promos are dollar-bin cards, but a handful of sealed products and graded copies actually carry value. Here's the honest breakdown by year.
· 5 min read
Lost Origin Set Guide: Giratina VSTAR and the Alt-Art Vault
Lost Origin packed the Sword & Shield era's last great alt-art class — Giratina V, Aerodactyl V, and a stacked Trainer Gallery. Full chase list and why values keep holding.
· 5 min read
How Much Are My Pokémon Cards Worth? A Collector’s Guide
A practical guide to valuing Pokémon cards: what actually drives price, how to identify your exact printing, and how to value a whole box fast.
· 5 min read
Japanese vs English Pokémon Card Values: Why Prices Differ
The same artwork, the same card, sometimes a 5x price gap. Here's how language drives Pokémon card values and when Japanese is the smarter buy.
· 5 min read
How to Store Pokemon Cards the Right Way (and What Ruins Them)
The storage ladder from penny sleeve to slab, which binders and boxes are actually safe, and the humidity, sunlight, and pressure mistakes that quietly destroy card value.
· 5 min read
How to Spot Fake Pokemon Cards — 7 Tests That Catch Almost Every Fake
The light test, texture check, font tells, and back-color giveaways that expose almost every counterfeit — plus which chase cards are faked most and how to buy safely.
· 5 min read