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In our Gen 1-4 investment piece, we made the case that the vintage scarcity argument is the most durable long-term investment concept in the TCG hobby, and of course that it applies best to the first four generations, where the beautiful combination of print run scarcity and nostalgia has driven Base Set Charizard to half a million USD prices! But when it comes to generations 5 through to 9, this is a different kettle of Magikarp. The cards are more recent, and the vintage scarcity argument and the investment logic shift toward more of a mix of character-driven demand and modern card aesthetics.
So… which Pokemon from the modern eras actually have the goods (with the cash)? We are gonna do this with the same framework we used previously. One character per generation where we think the evidence for investment is the strongest. We have kept in mind that this is a younger and less settled investment market compared to what we covered in the Gen 1-4 piece.
Generation 5 – Zoroark: The Trickster With a Loyal Fan Base
Black and White gave us what many consider the most narrative-driven Pokémon era, and the Pokémon that best captured the spirit of that era was Zoroark. Plenty of people think Hydreigon and Volcarona take the cake for this generation, and yes, we see the argument for both (each has a banger design), but when it comes to the money, we think Zoroark has the strongest overall investment case.
Zoroark has built a true collector and fan following. Not only is it a key part of the games, but it also headlined its own theatrical Pokémon film, Zoroark: Master of Illusions (2010), back when those films still carried real cultural weight. Its design, dark, sleek and slightly edgy, appeals to an older demographic, which matters for continued collector spending. And in our experience, its cards across multiple generations have tended to command a premium over similar cards from the same sets.
The investment case for Gen 5 Zoroark isn’t about where the cards are priced right now, but where they could be in the future. Many of the collectors who fell in love with Black and White as teenagers are now in their late 20s to early 30s. Why does that matter? It’s the same nostalgia we saw drive WOTC-era prices upward, just roughly a decade behind. Buying premium Zoroark cards before it becomes a true “vintage Pokémon” is, in our opinion, the move. Not a buy-and-flip, but a long-term play.
Generation 6 – Greninja: This One Is Not Even Close
If you asked us (or pretty much anyone) to name the Gen 6 character with the strongest long-term investment case without looking at a single piece of data, we would say Greninja. EVERY SINGLE TIME! And the data backs it up. The blue frog is, in some ways, Generation 6’s Charizard.
Let’s start with the popularity polls. In 2016, Japan held the Pokémon General Election 720, a vote across all 720 Pokémon in which more than 560,000 trainers took part. Greninja finished first with 36,235 votes, ahead of Arceus, Mew and Pikachu. Charizard came ninth and Mewtwo eleventh. Greninja later topped a Pokémon of the Year fan vote too, ahead of Lucario and Mimikyu. (Those were Japan-run fan votes rather than global polls, but they’re a strong signal of just how loved this frog is.)
But how is this even possible? Well, Greninja was featured in the mainline anime alongside Ash with its own full story arc, which gives it a depth that most Pokémon never get close to. It’s also a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Combine that with a genuinely cool design (it’s a damn ninja frog, that’s just cool) and quality card art, and it becomes a no-brainer.
The Greninja ex Special Illustration Rare from Twilight Masquerade currently sells for roughly $280-350 raw. That price reflects real demand rather than just a hunch. As we said at the beginning, this is the Charizard case for Generation 6: in our view, a Pokémon whose demand floor is far stronger than any of its era peers. If you are building a modern portfolio and you don’t have Greninja in it… you’re probably not building a great modern portfolio.
Generation 7 – Mimikyu: The Cult Character Whose Time Is Coming
Just like its backstory, Mimikyu’s investment case is pretty unusual compared to the others on this list. Its appeal is driven mainly by emotional resonance rather than competitive relevance. It resonates with older collectors in a way that most of Sun & Moon’s “cute Pokémon” never did. There is something about the tragic little backstory that sticks with people, and it’s so unique (and weird) that you can’t forget the little guy. The fans agree: Mimikyu placed third in that Pokémon of the Year fan vote, ahead of Charizard.
The signature Mimikyu card of the era is the Gengar & Mimikyu-GX Alternate Full Art from Team Up (released in February 2019), which in our opinion is the best pairing ever put on a Tag Team card. It’s currently priced at roughly $1,500-1,650 in near mint and has been trending up recently, making it one of the most expensive Tag Team cards around. That is demand coming from collectors, not from competitive play.
That alt art is serious money, but outside of it, we think Mimikyu is probably the most accessible character pick across Gen 5-9. It isn’t at Greninja’s level (but what other modern Pokémon is?), though it is showing strong signs of long-term growth and has a solid fan base looking to pick up its cards.
Generation 8 – Charizard (Yes, Again)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you might not like hearing about the big red boy so much, but this is about the money, not personal preference! You were probably hoping the Gen 8 section would be Zacian, Dragapult or Calyrex, and to be fair, they are all good shouts with real collector and investment potential. But the honest investment answer for Gen 8 is still Charizard, specifically the Charizard V Alternate Art from Brilliant Stars.
It’s the same dynamic as the Moonbreon we covered in our Moonbreon Paradox piece: a Pokémon whose demand is so deep that it keeps outperforming its counterparts, no matter how much was printed. The Charizard V Alternate Art currently sells for roughly $320-360 raw, and recent PSA 10 sales have mostly landed between $700 and $950. If that is out of budget, the Shiny Charizard VMAX from Shining Fates (a Shiny Vault card, not an alt art) is a cheaper way in at roughly $105-160 raw and about $215-305 as a PSA 10.
That’s a Sword & Shield era card commanding prices that put it in the same conversation as much older cards. Is it boring to say Charizard again? Yeah, probably. But is it the right investment call for Gen 8? Most definitely.
Generation 9 – Koraidon: The Early Frontier
Generation 9 is the more speculative section of this piece because the Paldea era is still pretty new, so the pricing history and data are not as solid as for past generations. The honest truth is that no Gen 9 Pokémon has had the time to build a track record that gives us real confidence in a long-term call. But if we had to pick one, we are keeping our eyes on Koraidon.
Koraidon is the box legendary of Scarlet, with a distinctive design that leans into the ancient/paradox concept that Gen 9 introduced. A unique look tends to age well as a collector’s piece. Combine that with solid card art and it should hold up better over time than generic designs, as we covered in our Four Pillars piece.
The Koraidon ex Special Illustration Rare from the Scarlet & Violet base set currently sits at roughly $23, so this is about getting in cheap early rather than chasing a card that has already moved. We expect the character’s profile to keep growing, as Scarlet and Violet is the generation a new wave of younger collectors is growing up with.
One key difference for this pick: it’s a 5-10 year hold, not a quick flip. Please manage your expectations. It is the most forward-looking pick in all the generations, and the one with far less data behind it. But for the patient investor building out a generational character portfolio, this is our Gen 9 pick.
The Pattern That Connects All Five
What Zoroark, Greninja, Mimikyu, Charizard and Koraidon share across five completely different generations is the same foundation. If you are up to date with us, you know what we are going to say: nostalgia, character depth, aesthetic appeal, and demand that outlasts competitive relevance. These Pokémon are not always the flashiest picks, or even the most expensive, but they clear multiple pillars and give the strongest case for a long-term investment.
Disclaimer: The TCG Times is a news and educational platform. All content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Trading cards are high-risk, volatile assets. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always perform your own due diligence before making financial decisions.
