PokeClawPokémon TCG encyclopediaPokémon cards under $5: vintage, holos and ultra rares
A rare Pokémon card does not have to cost much. These are cards priced from $1 to under $5 at today's TCGplayer market for an ungraded Near Mint copy, the dearest of each group first, so the top of every list is the most wanted card you can still buy for less than $5. The catalog holds 1478 holo, ultra and secret rares in that range today. Prices move daily; a card near $5 can cross it in a week.
Buying cheap rares: check the set symbol and number against the card page, ask for a photo of the back, and compare the eBay ask with shipping to the market price; a holo far under its market is often damaged or a fake (the fake cards guide lists the tells).
Vintage cards under $5 (1999 to 2003)
Base Set to the e-Card era: rares and holos from the first four years of the English game.
| # | Card | No. | Set | Rarity | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victreebel | 32/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.88 |
| 2 | Pokémon Breeder | 102/110 | Legendary Collection (2002) | Rare | $4.87 |
| 3 | Golem | 24/110 | Legendary Collection (2002) | Rare | $4.76 |
| 4 | Pidgeotto | 28/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.73 |
| 5 | Venomoth | 31/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.73 |
| 6 | Kangaskhan | 26/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.70 |
| 7 | Pinsir | 29/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.68 |
| 8 | Dugtrio | 23/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.51 |
| 9 | Pokémon Trader | 103/110 | Legendary Collection (2002) | Rare | $4.51 |
| 10 | Pokémon Breeder | 105/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $4.45 |
| 11 | Ecogym | 84/111 | Neo Genesis (2000) | Rare | $4.40 |
| 12 | Exeggutor | 23/110 | Legendary Collection (2002) | Rare | $4.37 |
| 13 | Super Energy Removal | 79/102 | Base (1999) | Rare | $3.96 |
| 14 | Lass | 75/102 | Base (1999) | Rare | $3.74 |
| 15 | Electrode | 22/110 | Legendary Collection (2002) | Rare | $3.48 |
| 16 | Electabuzz | 24/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $3.38 |
| 17 | Pokémon Trader | 106/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $3.36 |
| 18 | Butterfree | 19/75 | Neo Discovery (2001) | Rare | $3.27 |
| 19 | Imposter Professor Oak | 102/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $3.18 |
| 20 | Magneton | 28/110 | Legendary Collection (2002) | Rare | $3.05 |
| 21 | Computer Search | 71/102 | Base (1999) | Rare | $2.96 |
| 22 | Super Energy Retrieval | 89/111 | Neo Genesis (2000) | Rare | $2.95 |
| 23 | Energy Charge | 85/111 | Neo Genesis (2000) | Rare | $2.85 |
| 24 | Beedrill | 21/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $2.82 |
| 25 | Super Energy Removal | 108/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $2.80 |
| 26 | Computer Search | 101/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $2.78 |
| 27 | Time Capsule | 90/111 | Neo Genesis (2000) | Rare | $2.76 |
| 28 | Lass | 104/130 | Base Set 2 (2000) | Rare | $2.71 |
| 29 | PokéGear | 88/111 | Neo Genesis (2000) | Rare | $2.70 |
Holos and ultra rares under $5 (2003 to 2019)
The EX, Diamond & Pearl, HeartGold SoulSilver, Black & White, XY and Sun & Moon years: holos, ultra rares and secret rares.
| # | Card | No. | Set | Rarity | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dangerous Drill | 192/181 | Team Up (2019) | Rare Secret | $4.97 |
| 2 | Rhyperior | 12/130 | Diamond & Pearl (2007) | Rare Holo | $4.96 |
| 3 | Type: Null | SV45/94 | Hidden Fates Shiny Vault (2019) | Rare Shiny | $4.96 |
| 4 | Heatran-GX | 216/236 | Unified Minds (2019) | Rare Ultra | $4.95 |
| 5 | Electrocharger | 193/181 | Team Up (2019) | Rare Secret | $4.95 |
| 6 | Vivillon | 17/146 | XY (2014) | Rare Holo | $4.95 |
| 7 | Hydreigon-EX | 62/108 | Roaring Skies (2015) | Rare Holo EX | $4.93 |
| 8 | Xurkitree | SV14/94 | Hidden Fates Shiny Vault (2019) | Rare Shiny | $4.90 |
| 9 | Great Catcher | 264/236 | Cosmic Eclipse (2019) | Rare Secret | $4.89 |
| 10 | Zapdos | 40/181 | Team Up (2019) | Rare Holo | $4.86 |
| 11 | Aerodactyl-GX | 106/236 | Unified Minds (2019) | Rare Holo GX | $4.85 |
| 12 | Nidoking | 45/108 | Evolutions (2016) | Rare Holo | $4.85 |
| 13 | Life Dew | 107/116 | Plasma Freeze (2013) | Rare ACE | $4.83 |
| 14 | Zekrom | 51/113 | Legendary Treasures (2013) | Rare Holo | $4.82 |
| 15 | Spiritomb | 10/102 | HS—Triumphant (2010) | Rare Holo | $4.82 |
| 16 | Giant Bomb | 251/236 | Unified Minds (2019) | Rare Secret | $4.82 |
| 17 | Black Kyurem-EX | 95/135 | Plasma Storm (2013) | Rare Holo EX | $4.81 |
| 18 | Shiftry | 13/111 | Rising Rivals (2009) | Rare Holo | $4.78 |
| 19 | Skarmory-EX | 80/146 | XY (2014) | Rare Holo EX | $4.76 |
| 20 | Warp Energy | 123/111 | Crimson Invasion (2017) | Rare Secret | $4.75 |
| 21 | Hydreigon | 97/124 | Dragons Exalted (2012) | Rare Holo | $4.73 |
| 22 | Wailord-EX | 38/160 | Primal Clash (2015) | Rare Holo EX | $4.71 |
| 23 | Lumineon | 4/100 | Stormfront (2008) | Rare Holo | $4.70 |
| 24 | Hiker | SV85/94 | Hidden Fates Shiny Vault (2019) | Rare Ultra | $4.69 |
| 25 | Aggron-EX | 93/160 | Primal Clash (2015) | Rare Holo EX | $4.69 |
| 26 | Toxapex-GX | 136/145 | Guardians Rising (2017) | Rare Ultra | $4.68 |
| 27 | Shaymin | 15/156 | Ultra Prism (2018) | Rare Holo | $4.68 |
| 28 | Drampa-GX | 142/145 | Guardians Rising (2017) | Rare Ultra | $4.67 |
| 29 | Golisopod-GX | 129/147 | Burning Shadows (2017) | Rare Ultra | $4.64 |
| 30 | Alolan Golem-GX | 102/111 | Crimson Invasion (2017) | Rare Ultra | $4.64 |
Modern hits under $5 (2020 and later)
Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet ultra, illustration and secret rares.
| # | Card | No. | Set | Rarity | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flygon | 101/94 | Phantasmal Flames (2025) | Illustration Rare | $4.99 |
| 2 | Gardevoir ex | 228/198 | Scarlet & Violet (2023) | Ultra Rare | $4.99 |
| 3 | Hydreigon ex | 223/191 | Surging Sparks (2024) | Ultra Rare | $4.98 |
| 4 | Furisode Girl | 190/195 | Silver Tempest (2022) | Rare Ultra | $4.98 |
| 5 | Scizor V | 183/189 | Darkness Ablaze (2020) | Rare Ultra | $4.98 |
| 6 | Giovanni's Charisma | 197/165 | 151 (2023) | Ultra Rare | $4.97 |
| 7 | Salvatore | 202/162 | Temporal Forces (2024) | Ultra Rare | $4.97 |
| 8 | Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX | TG30/30 | Astral Radiance Trainer Gallery (2022) | Rare Secret | $4.96 |
| 9 | Kamado | 205/189 | Astral Radiance (2022) | Rare Rainbow | $4.95 |
| 10 | Togekiss V | 178/185 | Vivid Voltage (2020) | Rare Ultra | $4.94 |
| 11 | Copycat | 222/203 | Evolving Skies (2021) | Rare Rainbow | $4.94 |
| 12 | Gengar | 66/196 | Lost Origin (2022) | Rare Holo | $4.93 |
| 13 | Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX | TG30/30 | Brilliant Stars Trainer Gallery (2022) | Rare Secret | $4.93 |
| 14 | Wattrel | 178/167 | Twilight Masquerade (2024) | Illustration Rare | $4.92 |
| 15 | Lance | 206/195 | Silver Tempest (2022) | Rare Rainbow | $4.92 |
| 16 | Temple of Sinnoh | 214/189 | Astral Radiance (2022) | Rare Secret | $4.91 |
| 17 | Secret Box | 163/167 | Twilight Masquerade (2024) | ACE SPEC Rare | $4.90 |
| 18 | Dewgong | 97/94 | Phantasmal Flames (2025) | Illustration Rare | $4.87 |
| 19 | Oinkologne | 208/91 | Paldean Fates (2024) | Shiny Rare | $4.87 |
| 20 | Probopass | 182/167 | Twilight Masquerade (2024) | Illustration Rare | $4.87 |
| 21 | Arezu | 204/196 | Lost Origin (2022) | Rare Rainbow | $4.87 |
| 22 | Zacian | 82/185 | Vivid Voltage (2020) | Amazing Rare | $4.87 |
| 23 | Peony | 220/198 | Chilling Reign (2021) | Rare Rainbow | $4.86 |
| 24 | Mightyena | TG09/30 | Astral Radiance Trainer Gallery (2022) | Trainer Gallery Rare Holo | $4.85 |
| 25 | Scizor VMAX | 119/189 | Darkness Ablaze (2020) | Rare Holo VMAX | $4.85 |
| 26 | Garbodor V | 190/203 | Evolving Skies (2021) | Rare Ultra | $4.85 |
| 27 | Cynthia's Garchomp ex | 215/182 | Destined Rivals (2025) | Ultra Rare | $4.84 |
| 28 | Inteleon | SV027/122 | Shining Fates Shiny Vault (2021) | Rare Shiny | $4.83 |
| 29 | Charizard | 10/78 | Pokémon GO (2022) | Rare Holo | $4.82 |
| 30 | Hydrapple | 188/182 | Destined Rivals (2025) | Illustration Rare | $4.82 |
Every card here links to its own page with the price history, every print of the same Pokémon and the live eBay asks. For the other end of the market, see the most valuable cards set by set.
More guides
- How much is my Pokémon card worth?
- The most valuable Pokémon cards, set by set
- Pokémon TCG sets in release order
- Pokémon card grading: PSA, BGS and CGC grades explained
- Fake Pokémon cards: the common fakes and how to spot them
- Kanto Pokémon cards: the original 151 on cards
- One of a kind: Pokémon cards with a move printed only once