XY - Evolutions Master Set: 196 Cards, Checklist & Prices
By Cardrake Research Team · Updated
Released 2016
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XY - Evolutions chase cards & key targets
M Charizard EX Full Art leads XY - Evolutions at $125.23, with Charizard ($102.52) and M Blastoise EX Full Art ($69.75) behind it. The top three alone are 28% of the estimated master-set cost — plan these purchases first and the rest of the set follows on a normal budget.
| Rank | Card | Number | Rarity | Variant | Market Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  M Charizard EX Full Art | 101/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $125.23 |
| #2 |  Charizard | 11/108 | Holo Rare | Holofoil | $102.52 |
| #3 |  M Blastoise EX Full Art | 102/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $69.75 |
| #4 |  Dragonite EX Full Art | 106/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $48.73 |
| #5 |  Mewtwo EX Full Art | 103/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $44.82 |
| #6 |  M Charizard EX | 13/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $39.85 |
| #7 |  M Venusaur EX Full Art | 100/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $37.54 |
| #8 |  Mistys Determination Full Art | 108/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $36.18 |
| #9 |  Mew | 53/108 | Holo Rare | Holofoil | $32.30 |
| #10 |  M Blastoise EX | 22/108 | Ultra Rare | Holofoil | $20.24 |
Acquisition Strategy
- • Monitor price trends - chase cards often fluctuate based on tournament results and influencer coverage
- • Consider condition flexibility - a LP/MP copy can save 30-50% on vintage cards
- • Check multiple marketplaces - prices vary significantly between TCGPlayer, eBay, and local stores
- • Buy during market dips - major releases and reprints often cause temporary price drops
What's in the XY - Evolutions master set
The XY - Evolutions master set is 196 cards: 108 base + 83 reverse holos + 5 secret rares. That covers every printed variant — reverse holofoils, secret rares, and the special-art chase cards numbered past 108/108.
About this set
No other modern English Pokemon TCG set does what Evolutions does: it takes the 1999 Base Set artwork and puts it on contemporary card stock. Released November 2, 2016 for Pokemon's 20th anniversary, the set exists specifically to give collectors the iconic Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur artwork in a condition that is actually gradable. The original 1999 Base Set produced cards that are now 27 years old, susceptible to edge whitening, miscuts, and vintage paper degradation. Evolutions reprints that same artwork on modern card stock, making PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 copies of Base Set designs achievable for collectors who cannot or will not pay vintage prices. The set also includes a few cards that are genuinely rare in their own right: the bilingual Exeggutor making its worldwide English debut from the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle, and Imakuni?'s Doduo getting its first global English printing. The EX mechanic adds M Charizard-EX in two versions alongside M Blastoise-EX and M Venusaur-EX, while BREAK cards layer XY-era mechanics onto an otherwise retro-looking product. A booster box bought at launch MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. now sells for a multiple of that price. That price history says something about how collectors have voted on this set over nine years.
Where XY - Evolutions fits in the era
Pokemon's 20th anniversary in 2016 produced multiple celebrations across games, merchandise, and the TCG. For the TCG, that anniversary set was Evolutions. Released November 2, 2016 as the twelfth and final main expansion of the XY series, it returned to the beginning: nearly every card uses artwork from the 1999 Base Set (and a small number from Jungle and other early sets), updated for modern TCG rules. HP values increased to reflect power creep (Charizard goes from 120 HP to 150 HP), type weaknesses follow contemporary standards, and modern energy symbols replace the original hand-drawn versions. Otherwise the cards look like 1999. The set introduced EX and Mega Evolution versions of the original starter Pokemon (Charizard-EX, Blastoise-EX, Venusaur-EX and their Mega forms) alongside BREAK evolution variants and reprints of iconic trainer cards including Potion, Switch, and Here Comes Team Rocket!. Two unusual inclusions: the bilingual Exeggutor, originally distributed only at the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle tournament in Honolulu, makes its first worldwide English appearance here; and Imakuni?'s Doduo, a novelty card from Japanese releases, gets its global English printing. The Japanese counterpart, Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary, released September 16, 2016. The English set is the version with secondary market depth; Japanese singles are cheaper but demand is primarily domestic. Nine years on, sealed Evolutions product has turned out to be one of the better-performing sealed investments from the XY era.
Collecting challenges
Evolutions has no retail channel. Everything comes from secondary market at a substantial premium over the 2016 MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more.. The set (108 base plus 5 secret rares) looks manageable on paper, but the distribution of value is extreme. Three Charizard cards (Charizard-EX #12, M Charizard-EX #13, M Charizard-EX #101/108) account for the majority of high-value acquisition spending, while the rest of the set is relatively accessible. Full singles-only completion cost depends mostly on condition targets and Charizard card values at time of purchase. The grading question adds complexity: EX cards are genuinely worth grading here due to PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 premiums on nostalgic designs, but submission costs require careful centering pre-screening. Authentication is a persistent concern. Unlike most modern sets where low card values make counterfeiting uneconomical, Evolutions has enough value in individual singles that fakes circulate. Flying Pikachu, Surfing Pikachu, Imakuni?'s Doduo, and Here Comes Team Rocket! as secret rares are required for true master completion but easy to overlook when chasing Charizard cards. At current secondary market prices, opening packs never makes financial sense. Buy singles.
Rarity breakdown
| Rarity | Cards | Share of printed set |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 33 | 31% |
| Uncommon | 28 | 26% |
| Ultra Rare | 21 | 19% |
| Holo Rare | 13 | 12% |
| Rare | 9 | 8% |
| Secret Rare | 5 | 5% |
| Rare BREAK | 4 | 4% |
Price distribution
How card values spread across the set. Most cards are bulk under a dollar; a few chase cards hold most of the value.
Artist spotlight
The illustrators behind the most cards in this set, with their standout artwork. Tap a card for details.
Ken Sugimori
34 cards in this set
Keiji Kinebuchi
21 cards in this set
5ban Graphics
18 cards in this set
Mitsuhiro Arita
14 cards in this set
Eske Yoshinob
4 cards in this set
Ryo Ueda
3 cards in this set
XY - Evolutions master set buying guide
Where to buy XY - Evolutions, which sealed product is worth the money, and when to pull the trigger.
Packs or singles?
Singles purchasing recommended over sealed product
Sealed product comparison
Singles (TCGPlayer/eBay)
MSRP N/A · Market Varies by card
The correct path for master set completion. M Charizard-EX #13 ($50-70), M Charizard-EX #101/108 ($40-60), Charizard-EX #12 ($30-50), Flying Pikachu ($25-45), Surfing Pikachu ($25-40). Non-Charizard EX cards $5-15 each. Full singles completion runs $300-500 total, a fraction of what any sealed product strategy costs.
Shop XY - Evolutions Singles (TCGPlayer/eBay) on TCGPlayer →
Booster Box (36 packs)
36 packs · MSRP $100-110 · Market $2585.75 · $71.83/pack
Do not open. At $500-800 secondary market, pack EV · Expected valueThe average value of the cards you would pull from a pack or box. Useful for comparing products, not a promise. cannot justify opening. A sealed box is the investment play, not the contents. Original MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. was $100-110 (2016); no retail availability exists today. Specialty retailers asking $1,200-2,300 for premium-condition sealed boxes.
Shop XY - Evolutions Booster Box (36 packs) on TCGPlayer →
Elite Trainer Box (Charizard/Blastoise/Venusaur)
8 packs · MSRP $40-45 · Market $656.57 · $82.07/pack
Sealed ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. are display and investment items, not products to open. Original MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. $40-45; current secondary market $150-300 per variant. Charizard ETB commands a slight premium. All three art variants hold collector value. Buy singles for card acquisition instead of opening ETBs at current prices.
Shop XY - Evolutions Elite Trainer Box (Charizard/Blastoise/Venusaur) on TCGPlayer →All XY - Evolutions sealed products
| Product | Market | |
|---|---|---|
| XY Evolutions Booster Box Case | $15444.44 | Shop → |
| XY Evolutions Prerelease Kit | $925.00 | Shop → |
| XY Evolutions Elite Trainer Box [Mega Charizard Y] | $870.98 | Shop → |
| Mythical Collection [Magearna] | $799.99 | Shop → |
| Kanto Power Collection [Dragonite EX/Pidgeot EX] | $579.16 | Shop → |
| Kanto Power Collection [Mewtwo EX/Slowbro EX] | $571.66 | Shop → |
| Gengar EX Box | $472.50 | Shop → |
| BREAK Evolution Box [Arcanine] | $449.99 | Shop → |
| Mega Beedrill EX Premium Collection | $405.96 | Shop → |
| Alola Collection [Solgaleo] | $401.99 | Shop → |
| Mythical Collection [Volcanion] | $357.58 | Shop → |
| Kangaskhan EX Box | $349.90 | Shop → |
| Charizard EX Box | $334.98 | Shop → |
| Evolutions Booster Pack Art Bundle [Set of 4] | $257.91 | Shop → |
| XY - Evolutions Sleeved Booster Pack | $109.94 | Shop → |
| XY Evolutions Single Pack Blister [Weezing] | $94.89 | Shop → |
| Evolutions Booster Pack | $70.07 | Shop → |
| Evolutions Theme Deck - "Mewtwo Mayhem" [Mewtwo] | $51.58 | Shop → |
| Evolutions Theme Deck - "Pikachu Power" [Pikachu] | $41.04 | Shop → |
| Evolutions Mini Pack | $30.00 | Shop → |
| Alola Collection [Lunala] | — | Shop → |
| Autumn 2016 Collector Chest | — | Shop → |
| Dragonite EX Box | — | Shop → |
| Evolutions Elite Trainer Box Case | — | Shop → |
| Evolutions Sleeved Booster Pack Art Bundle [Set of 4] | — | Shop → |
| Mega Garchomp EX Premium Collection | — | Shop → |
| Mega Salamence EX Premium Collection | — | Shop → |
| Mewtwo EX Box | — | Shop → |
| Snorlax GX Box | — | Shop → |
| XY - Evolutions 3 Pack Blister [Black Kyurem] | — | Shop → |
| XY - Evolutions 3 Pack Blister [Braixen] | — | Shop → |
| XY - Evolutions Pin Collection [Mega Blastoise] | — | Shop → |
| XY - Evolutions Pin Collection [Mega Venusaur] | — | Shop → |
| XY Evolutions Single Pack Blister [Greninja] | — | Shop → |
Where to buy
TCGPlayer
singlesPricing: Market · Reliability: high
Best for: All singles from commons through EX cards with transparent pricing
Use Direct sellers for fastest shipping. Filter by NM condition for grading candidates. Watch for 10-15% coupon events on older sets since Evolutions comes up occasionally. Verify seller feedback on high-value EX cards because counterfeit risk exists for this set.
Shop XY - Evolutions singles on TCGPlayer →eBay
bothPricing: Market · Reliability: varies
Best for: Graded cards (PSA/CGC slabs) and high-value singles with photo verification
Filter Top Rated Sellers for sealed product. Always verify PSA cert numbers at psacard.com before completing graded card purchases since fake slabs have been documented. Sold listings search gives real secondary market price floor. Auctions can yield 10-20% below BIN for less popular cards.
eBay Sealed
sealedPricing: Market · Reliability: varies
Best for: Booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes when multi-photo authentication is provided
Require listings showing all four sides plus set symbol close-up (interlocking Poke Balls) before bidding on sealed boxes. Only buy from sellers with 98%+ feedback on Pokemon sealed product. Never buy sealed Evolutions product priced significantly below current market since it is likely resealed or damaged.
r/pkmntcgtrades
singlesPricing: Below Market · Reliability: varies
Best for: Non-Charizard EX cards and bulk commons 10-20% below TCGPlayer
Check flair and trade history before high-value transactions. PayPal G&S only, no F&F for Evolutions cards given authentication risks. Start with smaller trades to establish trust. Great source for bulk base set commons at pennies over market.
Local Game Stores
singlesPricing: Market · Reliability: high
Best for: In-person authentication and immediate inspection of EX cards before purchase
Many LGS carry Evolutions singles at TCGPlayer market rates. In-person inspection matters here given counterfeit concerns since handling the card directly lets you check holo pattern, card thickness, and texture before paying. Trade-in credit may offer 10-20% value advantage over cash purchases.
COMC (Check Out My Cards)
singlesPricing: Market · Reliability: high
Best for: Bulk singles consolidation from multiple sellers into one shipment
COMC physically holds cards and ships on demand. Useful for consolidating Evolutions singles from multiple sellers into one shipment, avoiding per-card shipping costs. Pricing generally aligns with TCGPlayer.
When to buy
Singles panic-priced. Sealed carries 30–50% premium. Wait if you can.
Best window for singles. Chase cards find their floor.
Bulk dips 15–20% on reprint news. Chase cards stay steady.
Sealed and top chase cards begin appreciation cycle.
Collecting strategy
Most cards in this set are worth around $1.63 as singles. Opening packs is the fun way to build your base of commons and uncommons with a chance at lucky pulls — but chase cards are statistically unlikely from sealed product. For most master set collectors, the smart approach is packs for bulk, singles for the rest.
Mix of singles and strategic pack opening
Complete the full singles set plus grade 2-3 top cards. Submit M Charizard-EX #13 and Flying Pikachu if you acquire pristine copies. PSA 10 premiums justify grading costs for these specific cards. Add reverse holos for key holos (Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur) to strengthen display binder. Consider one sealed ETB for display if acquired at a fair price.
Community insights
From collector discussions, forums, and social media.
What collectors are saying
- Released November 2, 2016 for Pokemon's 20th anniversary. Every card intentionally echoes the 1999 Base Set, including the original artwork, hand-drawn energy symbols, and that distinctive yellow card border. No other modern set looks like this.
- The two M Charizard-EX cards dominate the community conversation: #13 (Full Art) and #101/108 (the holo variant) are the cards every Evolutions collector wants, and they're what drives grading submissions for this set.
- Community debate on master set scope: does it include the base set only, or all 113 with the five secret rares (Flying Pikachu, Surfing Pikachu, Imakuni?'s Doduo, Here Comes Team Rocket!, and Bilingual Exeggutor)? Most serious collectors go for all 113. The secrets are too iconic to skip.
- Flying Pikachu and Surfing Pikachu (secret rares #110/108 and #111/108) consistently generate discussion as unexpected fan favorites. Both cards have their own grading communities and dedicated collectors pursuing PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 copies.
- The BREAK cards (Ninetales BREAK, Starmie BREAK, Nidoking BREAK, Machamp BREAK) divide collectors. Purists feel they break the Base Set aesthetic, but they're part of the set and required for master completion.
- Counterfeit concerns run high. Because EX cards and sealed product are genuinely valuable, fakes circulate more aggressively for this set than most modern releases. The nostalgic card style makes subtle authentication differences harder to spot.
- Sealed product discussion focuses almost entirely on investment trajectory rather than pack opening value. A box bought at retail in 2016 now trading at a large multiple of that price has validated the buy-and-hold Evolutions thesis held by early collectors.
- Community consensus: buy Charizard-EX and M Charizard-EX singles immediately if you're collecting this set. Hunting them via pack opening is an expensive gamble with a set this old and this pricey.
- The bilingual Exeggutor (#112/108), originally from the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle tournament, gets its worldwide English debut here and is considered a hidden gem among set historians.
- Compared to 1999 Base Set originals, Evolutions cards grade significantly better. Modern card stock and tighter print registration mean PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10s are achievable at far higher rates than shadowless Base Set, which is why grading Evolutions makes financial sense.
- Here Comes Team Rocket! (#113/108), reprinting the original Team Rocket expansion trainer card, has built a small dedicated collector following. Often overlooked in favor of Pikachus and Charizards, it trades for less than its rarity suggests.
Tips from the community
- Buy M Charizard-EX (#13 and #101/108) and Charizard-EX (#12) as singles immediately. These are the most recognized cards in the set and pack-hunting them from today's expensive booster boxes makes no financial sense.
- Decide upfront whether you're chasing the full set including secrets, or just the base numbering. The five secret rares add real money to your total cost but are required for a legitimate master set. Most collectors regret skipping them.
- Grade pristine copies of M Charizard-EX #13 and Flying Pikachu #110. PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 premiums are meaningful: a clean raw M Charizard-EX roughly triples in value once graded. The Base Set artwork drives demand that makes grading economics work here.
- Elite Trainer Boxes (three variants: Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur art) now trade at several times MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. sealed. Opening ETBs for cards is not the right move at current secondary prices. If you have them, keep them sealed.
- For singles sourcing, TCGPlayer is your primary tool. eBay is essential for graded cards. Verify seller feedback carefully on EX cards because this is one of the few modern sets where fakes are a genuine concern.
- The reverse holo master set scope is debated. Many collectors choose to complete only the base cards without reverse holofoil variants, since Evolutions is primarily driven by nostalgia and specific chase cards rather than set completeness the way modern sets work.
- Pre-screen all cards for grading at 60/40+ centering minimum before submission. Modern print quality means PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 is achievable, but centering remains the primary failure point for this era.
- Imakuni?'s Doduo (#112/108) and Here Comes Team Rocket! (#113/108) can be sourced from singles sellers for pocket change. Grab these early as low-cost checkboxes rather than hunting them in packs.
- Check the set symbol carefully when buying sealed product. Authentic Evolutions boxes have the distinctive interlocking Poke Balls symbol. This is an easy visual authentication checkpoint before purchasing any sealed product.
- If you want sealed product for display or investment, ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. are more manageable than booster boxes both in price point and display footprint. All three ETB art variants (Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur) hold collector value well.
- Blastoise-EX, Venusaur-EX, and their M variants are significantly cheaper singles than the Charizard cards despite being equally part of the set. Complete the non-Charizard EX cards first as budget-friendly checkboxes.
- Time your Charizard-EX single purchases around major TCG news cycles. News about new Charizard cards in upcoming sets often briefly depresses Evolutions Charizard prices as collector attention shifts, creating 10-15% buying windows.
Market insights
- M Charizard-EX #13 (Full Art) leads the set, with M Charizard-EX #101/108 (holo) and Charizard-EX #12 close behind, and PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 copies of each run roughly triple raw. These three cards represent 60-70% of the set's collector value.
- Flying Pikachu #110 and Surfing Pikachu #111 roughly triple in value from raw to PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10. Demand exceeds typical secret rare levels due to iconic designs. Both cards have active grading communities.
- Sealed booster boxes have multiplied several times over from their 2016 MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more., with specialty retailers asking well above typical eBay sale prices. Nine years on, that makes Evolutions one of the better-performing sealed products from the XY era.
- Sealed Elite Trainer Boxes (all three art variants) trade at several times original MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more., varying with artwork. Charizard ETB commands a slight premium over Blastoise and Venusaur.
- Booster pack singles: individual sealed packs trade far above original MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. on the secondary market. Opening packs is economically irrational at current pricing. You are destroying sealed product value with every pack opened.
- PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 rates for Evolutions are meaningfully higher than 1999 Base Set. Community data suggests PSA 10 rates of 25-35% on EX cards versus under 10% for 1st Edition Base Set holos. Modern card stock benefits graders.
- Non-Charizard EX singles are cheap: Mewtwo-EX, Blastoise-EX, Venusaur-EX, Dragonite-EX, and Pidgeot-EX all trade at pocket-money prices. You can knock out most of the EX tier cheaply, then spend your remaining budget on the Charizard cards.
- BREAK cards (Ninetales, Starmie, Nidoking, Machamp) are cheap, easily acquired singles with minimal price pressure. PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. grading these is not economically justified.
- Sealed Evolutions has performed: no reprints since 2016, Base Set nostalgia that does not go away, and a print run that ended nine years ago. Launch-price boxes now sell for a large multiple of what they cost. That is the whole story.
- Singles EV · Expected valueThe average value of the cards you would pull from a pack or box. Useful for comparing products, not a promise. analysis for pack opening: at current secondary market pack cost, pack EV is deeply negative. At original MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. it was likely positive. This is now purely a secondary market singles acquisition scenario.
- Price stability on Evolutions cards has been strong since 2021. Unlike many modern sets that cycle through hype and correction, Evolutions benefits from nostalgia as a permanent demand driver. The collector base does not age out of wanting Base Set Charizard.
- Sealed cases (6 booster boxes) trade at a level where institutional-grade storage and authentication documentation is required to complete a sale.
Watch out for
- Counterfeit risk is HIGH for EX cards and sealed product in this set. Values are substantial enough to justify sophisticated fakes. Always buy EX cards from sellers with established feedback (98%+ on eBay, verified on TCGPlayer). Examine holo patterns carefully because fakes typically show uniform shimmer without organic variation.
- Never buy a sealed booster box or ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. without verifying the set symbol (interlocking Poke Balls). Authentication issues exist for sealed product at this value level. At minimum, verify the factory seal, plastic wrap texture, and box weight before purchasing sight-unseen.
- Fake PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. grading labels have been documented in the market as of 2025-2026. When buying graded Evolutions cards, verify the cert number directly on PSA's website before completing the transaction. A PSA 10 M Charizard is worthless with a fraudulent slab.
- Pack opening from secondary market packs is a guaranteed money-losing strategy. A full booster box opened at today's prices will not return its cost in card value. The singles market has priced in that logic already.
- The reverse holo master set adds significant complexity without proportional collector recognition. Many veteran collectors specifically exclude reverses from their Evolutions master set definition. Clarify your personal scope before committing to the reverse holo route.
- Grading submission costs per card eat a meaningful share of M Charizard-EX raw value depending on service tier. Only submit copies with documented 60/40+ centering and no whitening on edges. Otherwise the math does not work.
- Do not conflate Evolutions with 1999 Base Set when sharing your collection. Evolutions has a modern card back, the interlocking Poke Balls set symbol, and updated energy symbols. Experienced collectors will immediately identify the difference. Accurate representation matters for resale.
- Secondary market sealed pricing is volatile with no current MSRP · Suggested retail priceThe official US retail price set by The Pokemon Company. Stores and resellers often charge more. baseline to anchor it. An economic downturn or Pokemon bubble correction could move Evolutions box prices down 30-50% before recovering. This is speculative product, not guaranteed-appreciation product.
- Theme decks (Mewtwo Mayhem and Pikachu Power) have minimal secondary market value despite being sealed. These are not investment-grade sealed product because they contain predetermined decks, not booster packs.
XY - Evolutions grading guide
Which XY - Evolutions cards are worth the $20+/card grading fee? PSA 10 premiums vary significantly by rarity tier. See our complete grading guide for how grading works, costs, and international submission options.
Tier 1 - Strong Grading Case
Worth gradingBest grading economics in the set. PSA 10 rates 25-35% on modern card stock. Original Base Set artwork drives grading demand beyond what raw values alone would justify. Pre-screen for 60/40+ centering and clean edges before submission. Only submit copies without edge whitening or surface scratches.
Tier 2 - Selective Grading
Worth gradingIconic designs with dedicated grading communities. Flying and Surfing Pikachu PSA 10s hold steady demand. Grade only pristine copies as centering on these frequently fails the 60/40 threshold, so strict pre-screening is required. Mewtwo-EX Full Art has modest but consistent PSA premium.
Tier 3 - Not Recommended
Skip gradingMultipliers look attractive but raw values are too low to justify $20-50 grading costs. Even a 5x multiplier on a $10 card produces a $50 PSA 10, which is break-even at best before factoring in rejection risk. Keep raw unless you have near-perfect copies and a specific buyer in mind.
Tier 4 - Never Grade
Skip gradingNo economic justification regardless of multiplier. Grading costs exceed card values for everything in this tier. Imakuni?'s Doduo and Here Comes Team Rocket! have novelty appeal but not enough secondary demand to support grading economics.
Before you submit — PSA checklist, fees, and tips▾
PSA 10 requirements
- Centering
- 55/45 minimum front and back. Modern SIRs frequently fail here — pre-screen every candidate.
- Corners
- Sharp, no whitening under magnification. Sleeve the moment you pull the card.
- Surface
- No scratches, print lines, or holo damage. SIR foils are especially vulnerable from the factory.
- Edges
- No chipping or fraying. Inspect under bright light.
PSA service tiers
- Value
- $20/card, 4–6 month turnaround. Right for raw values $75–500.
- Regular
- $50/card, 6–8 week turnaround. Right for raw values $500+.
- Express
- $75–150/card, 2–3 week turnaround. Only worth it above $1,000 raw.
Budget for a 5-card submission: $135–170 once you add shipping, insurance, and supplies.
Tips from experienced submitters
- • Pre-screen with a loupe — 70%+ of modern cards fail centering.
- • PSA Collectors Club ($99/year) pays for itself with 2–3 value-tier submissions.
- • Ship in batches of 10+ to amortize shipping and insurance.
- • PSA 9 typically sells at 40–60% of PSA 10 — still a premium over raw.
Storage & protection
Protect your 196-card XY - Evolutions master set with archival binders, perfect-fit sleeves, and top loaders for the chase cards. Plan on $150–250 for complete coverage.
Premium binders
Dragon Shield Codex · $30–50
Archival pages, side-loading pockets, acid-free. For 196 cards, plan on 11 double-sided 9-pocket pages.
Perfect-fit sleeves
Every card · $30–50 total
Prevent micro-scratches from sliding cards in and out of binder pockets. You'll need roughly 2 packs for full coverage.
Top loaders
Chase cards · $15–25/pack
Rigid protection for SIRs and grading candidates. Essential for anything over $31 raw.
XY - Evolutions card list
Every card in the XY - Evolutions master set. Search, filter by rarity or price, and mark off what you own as you go. Tap any card for prices and variants.
Track your collection. Mark cards owned or wanted, add condition & notes, and watch your master set progress.
| Card | Price | Collection |
|---|---|---|
Venusaur EX1/108 · Ultra Rare | $5.13 | Holo |
M Venusaur EX2/108 · Ultra Rare | $12.30 | Holo |
Caterpie3/108 · Common | $0.20 | N RH |
Metapod4/108 · Uncommon | $0.24 | N RH |
Weedle5/108 · Common | $0.24 | N RH |
Kakuna6/108 · Uncommon | $0.08 | N RH |
Beedrill7/108 · Rare | $0.28 | N RH |
Tangela8/108 · Common | $0.22 | N RH |
Charmander9/108 · Common | $0.31 | N RH |
Charmeleon10/108 · Uncommon | $0.32 | N RH |
Charizard11/108 · Holo Rare | $101.58 | Holo RH |
Charizard EX12/108 · Ultra Rare | $15.79 | Holo |
M Charizard EX13/108 · Ultra Rare | $39.66 | Holo |
Vulpix14/108 · Common | $0.25 | N RH |
Ninetales15/108 · Holo Rare | $5.48 | Holo RH |
Ninetales BREAK16/108 · Rare BREAK | $4.57 | Holo |
Growlithe17/108 · Common | $0.29 | N RH |
Arcanine18/108 · Rare | $0.48 | N RH |
Ponyta19/108 · Common | $0.13 | N RH |
Magmar20/108 · Uncommon | $0.16 | N RH |
Blastoise EX21/108 · Ultra Rare | $6.55 | Holo |
M Blastoise EX22/108 · Ultra Rare | $19.41 | Holo |
Poliwag23/108 · Common | $0.24 | N RH |
Poliwhirl24/108 · Uncommon | $0.27 | N RH |
Poliwrath25/108 · Holo Rare | $4.19 | Holo RH |
Slowbro EX26/108 · Ultra Rare | $3.17 | Holo |
M Slowbro EX27/108 · Ultra Rare | $9.31 | Holo |
Seel28/108 · Common | $0.19 | N RH |
Dewgong29/108 · Rare | $0.22 | N RH |
Staryu30/108 · Common | $0.15 | N RH |
Starmie31/108 · Rare | $0.27 | N RH |
Starmie BREAK32/108 · Rare BREAK | $2.25 | Holo |
Magikarp33/108 · Common | $0.27 | N RH |
Gyarados34/108 · Holo Rare | $8.15 | Holo RH |
Pikachu35/108 · Common | $0.86 | N RH |
Raichu36/108 · Holo Rare | $8.47 | Holo RH |
Magnemite37/108 · Common | $0.07 | N RH |
Magneton38/108 · Holo Rare | $2.11 | Holo RH |
Voltorb39/108 · Common | $0.16 | N RH |
Electrode40/108 · Rare | $0.32 | N RH |
Electabuzz41/108 · Common | $0.25 | N RH |
Zapdos42/108 · Holo Rare | $6.05 | Holo RH |
Nidoran M43/108 · Common | $0.23 | N RH |
Nidorino44/108 · Uncommon | $0.26 | N RH |
Nidoking45/108 · Holo Rare | $4.61 | Holo RH |
Nidoking BREAK46/108 · Rare BREAK | $3.71 | Holo |
Gastly47/108 · Common | $0.23 | N RH |
Haunter48/108 · Uncommon | $0.31 | N RH |
Drowzee49/108 · Common | $0.20 | N RH |
Koffing50/108 · Uncommon | $0.21 | N RH |
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are in the XY - Evolutions master set?▾
The XY - Evolutions master set is 196 cards: 108 base cards, 83 reverse holofoils, and 5 secret rares and special-art cards. The base set alone is 113 unique cards, numbered 001/108 through the secret rares. Track all 196 with the free interactive checklist on Cardrake.
See also: Binder layout planner
What are the chase cards in XY - Evolutions?▾
The top chase card in XY - Evolutions is M Charizard EX Full Art (Ultra Rare) at $125.23. Other high-value cards include Charizard ($102.52) and M Blastoise EX Full Art ($69.75). See the full chase card rankings above for current prices.
See also: Chase card rankings, Binder layout planner
How much does a XY - Evolutions master set cost?▾
A complete XY - Evolutions master set is estimated at $1,075 based on current TCGPlayer market prices. Budget collectors can start with the base set for significantly less, while premium completionists targeting graded copies should expect higher costs.
See also: Master set budgeting guide, Binder layout planner
What is the complete XY - Evolutions master set card list?▾
The XY - Evolutions set contains 108 base cards across 7 rarity tiers plus 5 secret rares. View the complete card list with images, prices, and rarity information on the XY - Evolutions binder layout page on Cardrake.
See also: Binder layout planner
How should I organize XY - Evolutions in a binder?▾
For 196 cards (including reverse holos), a 9-pocket binder needs 11 double-sided pages and a 12-pocket binder needs 9 pages. Use Cardrake's visual binder planner to preview exactly how your cards will be laid out before you start sleeving.
See also: Binder layout planner, Binder organization guide
Is there a XY - Evolutions master set checklist?▾
Yes — Cardrake provides a visual master set checklist for XY - Evolutions with all 113 cards. You can track owned and missing cards, view your completion percentage, and plan your binder layout. Sign up for the Collector plan to save your progress.
See also: Binder layout planner
Is XY - Evolutions worth collecting as a master set?▾
XY - Evolutions has 113 unique cards with an estimated completion cost of $1,075. The manageable set size makes it a good choice for newer master set collectors. With 17 cards over $10, most of the value is concentrated in a few key cards.
See also: Master set guide, Binder layout planner
Is XY Evolutions just a reprint of the 1999 Base Set?▾
It is a Base Set tribute, not an exact reprint. Evolutions uses nearly all of the original 1999 Base Set artwork but updates the cards for modern TCG rules: HP values are higher (Charizard goes from 120 to 150 HP), type weaknesses follow contemporary standards, and the set adds mechanics that did not exist in 1999, including EX and Mega Evolution cards (M Charizard-EX, M Blastoise-EX, M Venusaur-EX) and BREAK evolution cards. The card back is modern, the set symbol is new (interlocking Poke Balls), and energy symbols are updated. It looks like Base Set. It plays like XY.
What are the five secret rare cards in Evolutions?▾
The five secret rares (numbered above 108) are: Flying Pikachu #110/108, Surfing Pikachu #111/108, Imakuni?'s Doduo (a novelty card originally from Japanese releases making its global English debut), Here Comes Team Rocket! (reprinting the classic Team Rocket expansion trainer), and the bilingual Exeggutor that debuted at the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle. All five are required for a complete master set.
How does Evolutions compare to buying 1999 Base Set cards for the same artwork?▾
Evolutions is the accessible alternative to vintage Base Set. A 1999 Base Set 1st Edition Charizard in PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. 10 condition costs four to five figures. An Evolutions M Charizard-EX PSA 10 costs a small fraction of that. You get the iconic Base Set Charizard artwork on gradable modern card stock for roughly 1-2% of the vintage price. The trade-off: Evolutions cards do not have the historical provenance or investment ceiling of the originals, and experienced collectors know the difference immediately. For most people building a display collection around Base Set nostalgia, Evolutions is the realistic path.
Should I open my sealed Evolutions booster box or keep it sealed?▾
Keep it sealed. At current secondary market value, opening destroys far more value than you will recover in singles. A full box opened yields back only a modest share of its sealed value in singles, meaning the opening experience eats most of what you paid. If you want the cards, buy singles. A sealed box at this point is a display piece and investment asset, not a product to rip open.
Are there different versions of the Elite Trainer Box?▾
Yes. Three ETB · Elite Trainer BoxA retail box with booster packs (usually nine), a promo card, sleeves, dice and Energy cards. art variants were released: Charizard (most valuable), Blastoise, and Venusaur. Each contains 8 booster packs, 65 card sleeves featuring the respective Pokemon artwork, a player's guide, damage counters, status markers, and a coin. All three are sealed collector items at current secondary market prices. The Charizard ETB commands a slight premium but all three hold collector value.
Does the Evolutions master set include reverse holofoils?▾
This is genuinely debated in the community with no clear consensus. Many serious Evolutions collectors define their master set as the 113 unique cards without reverses. Reasons: the set is primarily driven by nostalgia for specific iconic cards rather than completeness for its own sake, and reverse holo demand for Evolutions is modest outside the Charizard cards. Including reverses roughly doubles your acquisition scope without proportional collector recognition. Define your goal upfront before committing.
How can I tell if an Evolutions card is authentic?▾
Key authentication checkpoints: set symbol (should be two interlocking Poke Balls in the lower right of the card face), card texture (authentic cards have a specific tactile feel; fakes often feel slightly smoother or stiffer), holo pattern on EX cards (should shift organically when tilted, not show uniform shimmer or grid-pattern repetition), card thickness (should match other Pokemon cards exactly; fakes are sometimes slightly thinner), and the light test (authentic cards show a distinct dark center layer between white outer layers when held to strong light at a slight bend). Buy from reputable TCGPlayer sellers and verify PSA · Professional Sports AuthenticatorThe largest card grading company. A PSA 10 is its top grade and carries the biggest price premium. cert numbers online for any graded cards.
What sealed products were released for XY Evolutions?▾
The main product lineup: Booster Box (36 packs), three Elite Trainer Boxes (Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur art), two Theme Decks (Mewtwo Mayhem and Pikachu Power), and individual Blister packs. Theme decks contain predetermined cards rather than random packs and have negligible secondary market value. Booster boxes and ETBs are the relevant sealed products for collectors. Individual booster packs also sold at retail and now trade at several times their original retail price on the secondary market.