Pikachu Star
Quick take
- The only Gold Star Pikachu printed in English
- From EX Holon Phantoms (2006)
- Shiny Pikachu with the gold star and frame-breaking art
- Wanted by both Pikachu collectors and Gold Star completists
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in EX Holon Phantoms
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 104/110 · $1899.99 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe mascot's only Gold Star
Pikachu has more cards than any other Pokemon, which usually works against value, there is always another Pikachu. The Gold Star breaks that rule. EX Holon Phantoms produced the only English Gold Star Pikachu, so for once there is no cheaper substitute.
“The only Gold Star Pikachu printed in English”
The card came out in 2006 during the back half of the Gold Star era. Like the rest of the run it shows Pikachu in shiny coloring with the illustration spilling past its frame. The gold star next to the name is the marker that separates it from the hundreds of ordinary Pikachu cards.
It carries a double demand, the people chasing every Gold Star and the much larger group who collect Pikachu specifically. That overlap keeps the card expensive and easy to sell.
By the numbersMarket analysis
A top-tier EX-era Gold Star, helped by Pikachu's enormous collector base. Raw copies trade in the four figures, with clean graded examples higher. The mascot premium keeps it among the more expensive cards in the Gold Star run.
Climbed through the vintage boom and held the gains. Pikachu demand is broad and steady, and the Gold Star supply is fixed at the 2006 print run, so the card tends to hold value through market dips.
Strong fundamentals, the most recognizable Pokemon in its rarest early form. The risks are the high entry price and condition scarcity. Graded copies are the safer hold and the easier resale.
Large. High grades trade well above raw and gem-mint copies are scarce for a textured holo from 2006. Surface scratches and centering are the usual obstacles to a top grade.
EX-era Gold Stars pulled at roughly 1 per two booster boxes, around 1 in 72 packs, and Holon Phantoms matched that. With only a few Gold Stars in the set, hitting the Pikachu specifically was unlikely.
Shares the standard EX Gold Star pull rate, but Pikachu demand lifts it above most of the run on price. It is more available than the league-only POP 5 Eeveelutions, yet the mascot appeal keeps its value high.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Fukuda drew most of the Gold Star line, and the Pikachu fits the style, one clean, energetic pose with the foil doing the heavy lifting. He has illustrated Pikachu many times across the years, which adds appeal for collectors who follow specific artists.
Shiny Pikachu crackling with energy, drawn in the alternate Gold Star coloring and breaking past its inner frame. The composition is upbeat and full of motion rather than a static portrait.
Rare Holo Gold Star printing with the gold star beside the name and the textured holofoil of the era. The shiny coloring sets it apart from the standard Pikachu cards in the set.
It is the only Gold Star version of the most famous Pokemon in the world. Scarcity plus mascot status is a hard combination to beat.
BackgroundAbout Pikachu Star
Pikachu debuted in Red and Green in 1996 and became the franchise mascot through the anime, where it is Ash's signature partner. It is the single most recognizable Pokemon and one of the most recognizable characters in any media.
- ›Franchise mascot with global name recognition
- ›Decades as the anime's lead Pokemon
- ›Appeal that reaches far beyond the core fan base
- ›A massive Pikachu-only collecting community
- ›Debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996)
- ›Ash's partner across the original anime
- ›Lead of the Detective Pikachu film (2019)
- ›The face of franchise marketing worldwide
The Holon Phantoms card is a collector and display piece. Its value is driven by Pikachu's popularity and the Gold Star rarity, not by play.
Own it wellCollector guide
Textured holo from 2006, so surface scratches are the main concern, plus the usual edge whitening and centering drift. Clean copies command a steep premium because they are hard to find.
Grade clean copies. The high-grade premium is substantial and a slab settles authentication on a card that gets faked. PSA has the deepest comp data for vintage Pikachu, with CGC and BGS as options. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and a rigid holder for raw copies, a graded slab for long-term holds. Keep it out of light and stable on humidity to protect the textured holo. See the storage guide →
Buy graded. The value, the faking, and the condition sensitivity all point to slabs over raw for most collectors. eBay has the deepest graded pool and sold comps are the best price reference. See the singles buying guide →
Pikachu Gold Stars are faked often given the value. Use the light test (genuine cards block light through a black core layer), check the textured holo and print quality, and compare the back's blue swirl gradient to a known card. For real money, buy a graded slab from PSA, CGC, or BGS.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Beloved. It pulls interest from the broad Pikachu crowd on top of the dedicated Gold Star collectors, which makes it one of the more talked-about cards in the run.
- ›Clean graded copies trade in the four-to-five-figure range
- ›Holds value through downturns thanks to steady Pikachu demand
A staple of 'rare Pikachu' and 'best Gold Star' content. Pikachu collection tours almost always feature it, and it is one of the cards people most want to pull from sealed Holon Phantoms product.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
Keep collectingRelated cards
Plan your Other EX Holon Phantoms master set
Track every card, see what you're missing, and lay out your binder page by page.
