With the Sword and Shield era of Pokemon TCG may be over, we can say definitively and for all that – without a doubt – Evolving Skies was its best expansion. If you are able to find this rare and valuable pack, it’s definitely worth the buy. Thanks to its large number of rare and valuable cards, it is easy one of the best packs to buy right now.

With its popularity comes a heavy price tag on collectors looking to collect all of the rarest cards. At the same time, for those of you inclined to invest in Pokemon Cards, Evolving Skies might also be a good bet, thanks to its status as a much loved and highly nostalgic Pokemon TCG set.

In this list, we have compiled the most valuable Evolving Skies Pokemon cards based on market value data from TCGPlayer. Market value is based on actual card sales, and therefore a more accurate metric of value than just looking at average listings (where people can just ask whatever they want, regardless of demand).

Updated June 13, 2024: Although our last update was not very long ago, prices for Evolving Skies cards have truly skyrocketed to astounding new heights, making cards like Umbreon VMAX Alt Art among the most valuable Pokemon cards of all. While this is exciting to see, it is also quite painful to me personally as I’ve sold a bunch of these a year ago. Oh well – safe to say Evolving Skies is one of the best bets for packs if you are looking for cards that will retain longterm value.

11. Sylveon V (Alternate Full Art)

Evolving Skies was virtually guaranteed to be a set that would deliver on nostalgia from the get-go. Delivering on that promise was a host of incredibly beautiful alternate art cards. Sylveon V is no exception. Apart from gorgeous artwork that finds this Pokemon working casually at a bakery, Sylveon V is noteworthy for its Dream Gift ability which played a significant role in the Pokemon TCG game at one point in time.

10. Espeon V Alt Art

In tenth place we have another Eevee evolution – Espeon V. In this stellar alternate art, Espeon can be seen psychically moving books around the library. Whether it is using its powers to study, or just to cause mischief, who knows? And with a price tag like that, who cares? What we do know is that this card is still worth plenty of cash on the Pokemon singles card market.

9. Glaceon V Alt Art

Market price: $101.46

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Of the many extraordinary Pokemon V Alt Arts in this expansion, Glaceon V is the most gorgeous. The beauty factor alone is enough to propel this card up so high on a list with plenty of other valuable cards. There’s something so serene about this artwork with Glaceon resting on a bench in a winter wonderland.

8. Rayquaza V Alt Art

Moving on briefly from the Eevee evolutions, we’re now at another nostalgic addition to this set – Rayquaza V. Rayquaza is one of Pokemon’s most bankable characters. And while this archetype never saw a lot of competitive play, the collectors don’t really care. They just love Raqyuaza. This is a pretty epic artwork, too, foreshadowing the trainer gallery cards that came out in later Sword and Shield era sets.

8. Umbreon V Alt Art

Of course, there is no Eevee evolution more popular than Umbreon. We’re not really sure exactly what makes Umbreon so well liked, but it is. And Umbreon V is the most valuable of all the Eevee evolution V cards. As expensive as it is, it’s nothing compared to just how pricy the rest of the cards in this legendary set are fetching. Hold onto your seats.

6. Dragonite V Alt Art

People love Dragons. And Dragons were a big part of this era’s set, marking their return to the Pokemon TCG game. Among dragon type Pokemon, few are as iconic as Dragonite. This card certainly does it justice with a sleepy Dragonite seeming to take a nap mid-flight above a crowd of Spearows. Perhaps they are drifting above Pallet Town where Ash famously ran afoul of those very same Pokemon? Regardless, Dragonite’s artwork here has the perfect combination of cuteness with artistry that the best Pokemon cards have.

5. Sylveon VMAX Alt Art

And we’re back to the Eevee evolutions with the legendarily rare VMAX Alt Art cards. Just to let you know, your odds of pulling any given VMAX alt art card are absurdly low, leading in part (along with the popularity of these characters) the high price tag associated with them. Sylveon is not the most beloved of all Eevee evolutions, so it fittingly fetches the lowest price among the VMAX Eevee evolutions on this list.

That being said, its market value is still pretty crazy.

4. Glaceon VMAX Alt Art

Whoever drew these Glaceon alt arts really must have loved Glaceon. As beautiful as Glaceon V’s art was, this card boasts similar beauty, and even broader appeal thanks to the host of characters you can see in its art (one of those being none other than Pikachu). I have this card in my collection (it’s one of the few I didn’t sell) so I especially keep track of its value and am happy to see that it’s almost doubled in value over the course of the last year. To me, this card is easily one of the most bankable of the set and certainly worth holding onto.

3. Leafeon VMAX Alt Art

Next up we have a Pokemon whose V form didn’t quite make the top 10 most valuable cards in Evolving Skies. In the VMAX form, however, Leafeon VMAX is the third most valuable card in Evolving Skies. In general, Leafeon seems to be a pretty popular Pokemon. Just what is the reason this card has such significant value? I can’t really tell you other than it is Leafeon. To me, however, I think Glaceon will hold up better overtime. Still, this card’s track record is hard to argue with. Maybe people just like the pastoral setting we find Leafeon in?

2. Rayquaza VMAX Alt Art

Rayquaza VMAX Alt Art – Evolving Skies — Market price: $527.18

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Rayquaza VMAX Alt Art has to be one of the coolest cards in all of Sword and Shield. This artwork seems especially fitting for this legendary Pokemon, recalling the remote, distant places that it was originally found in the games. Artwork aside, Rayquaza will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first Sword and Shield era deck I acquired, and if you can manage to get it set up, its attack is absolutely deadly.

1. Umbreon VMAX Alt Art

Umbreon VMAX – Evolving Skies — **Umbreon VMAX (Alternate Art Secret) - Evolving Skies**

Market price: $894.01

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Finally – the card you’ve all been waiting for. Umbreon VMAX Alt Art is the single defining card of the Pokemon TCG Sword and Shield era, and its incredible price tag shows it. Umbreon VMAX Alt Art is the chase card of all chase cards. If you or your kids pull it, get that card in a sleeve, lock it in a vault, and don’t look back (or sell it).

While its track record hasn’t always been a linear move upwards, it certainly has been gaining ground in recent months, reaching unprecedented heights. Although I once thought this card would dip in value, it seems quite obvious that it will retain its value very well overtime.

This card is so popular and iconic that it actually has its own moniker assigned to it: Moonbreon due to the way Umbreon is haphazardly booping the moon. Cause that’s just what mega Pokemon do on evenings off of training.

Read our Umbreon VMAX Alt Art market watch guide to get to know more about this iconic card.

11 Most Expensive Evolving Skies Pokemon Cards