Collecting high-end cards is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the Pokémon TCG, and few cards are as impressive or shiny as those covered in gold!

The coveted Gold Rares (or Hyper Rares, as of Scarlet & Violet) have existed for quite some time in the Pokémon TCG as a way to give additional flair to cards that may see play or be popular, but weren't able to get the full-art, rainbow, or alternate-art treatment. Typically, this is the only way to get max-rarity items or non-rule box Pokémon, making them incredible additions to your collection over time. 

Today's article is focused on the ten most expensive gold cards you can add to your Pokémon vault.

#10 Solgaleo-GX (Ultra Prism #173)

Solgaleo has become one of the few popular Pokémon from the Sun & Moon generation.

In a generation commonly described as "meh," only a few Pokémon stand out among a lackluster sea of Alolan Pokémon. The legendary Pokémon that serve as the face of the games are some of the most popular, as opposed to "Rattata with a mustache" and "Lasagna-Persian." Solgaleo's evolution line is integral to the plot of the Sun & Moon games, and the majestic lion with the power of the sun is a saving grace of an otherwise disappointing generation.

#9 Fairy Energy (Burning Shadows #169)

Many Energy cards (both Basic and Special) have been printed as Gold Rares, but the Fairy Energy from Burning Shadows stands apart. Unlike every other Basic Energy type, Fairy Energy was only printed in gold this one time, and it may never be printed again: starting with Sword & Shield base set, The Pokémon Company discontinued the Fairy type in the TCG.

As a symbol for the type's last hurrah in the Pokémon TCG, Gold Rare Fairy Energy holds a unique place in the history of the game, which makes it a nice trophy for collectors.

#8 Rare Candy (Plasma Blast #105)

Rare Candy has been part of the Pokémon TCG since 2003. While its power waxes and wanes with the strength of Evolution Pokémon in general, when it's good, it's very good, allowing players to completely bypass Stage 1 Pokémon and get to their primary attackers faster and more consistently.

With the release of powerful Stage 2 Pokémon like Gardevoir ex in Scarlet & Violet, Rare Candy has become a fixture in competitive Standard decks again, which has kept high-rarity versions like this in high demand.

#7 Ultra Necrozma-GX (Dragon Majesty #78)

It would be unfair if a set called Dragon Majesty didn't have a high-rarity Dragon card to chase! As with most Pokémon generations, there is a final legendary Pokémon in Sun & Moon that serves as the most powerful member of the legendary trio, and Ultra Necrozma is the most powerful form of Necrozma that comes from absorbing the other members of the Light Trio and serves as the end boss of the Sun & Moon generation. As a dragon made of solid light, there are few Pokémon as terrifyingly awesome as Ultra Necrozma, especially when you consider that it has a signature move called "Light that Burns the Sky"!

In a similar show of terrifying might, the Ultra Necrozma-GX card has a GX attack that could potentially knock out all of your opponent's Pokémon in a single shot! While many GX attacks are game breaking, few are able to completely end the game in a single shot quite like Ultra Necrozma. For fans of the generation or those that collect all Dragon-type Pokémon, Ultra Necrozma is an incredible addition to their collections. Few cards look as cool as this Gold Rare.

#6 Escape Rope (Burning Shadows #163)

Escape Rope combines two effects into a card that's often more than the sum of its parts. Switching out your own Pokémon without paying a Retreat cost has been good ever since Base Set, and Escape Rope forces your opponent to pull back their current attacker, who was probably beating your face in if you're trying to Retreat anyway. It also lets you choose your new Active Pokémon based on which Pokémon your opponent moves forward.

The Gold Rare Escape Rope from Burning Shadows is the fanciest version we've ever seen of this endlessly useful Item card, so it's a must-have for players who want to max-rarity their deck.

#5 Snorlax (Chilling Reign #224)

The non-Rule Box Pokémon that receive Gold Rare treatments are sometimes those that saw some competitive play when they were originally printed and need an additional reprint to have more copies in circulation. Snorlax is one such card that players tried to find a place for in various decks, as the draw power was that good, but it otherwise never made a splash.

Chilling Reign was a set that received fairly muted receptions. Some cards found competitive play while collectors passed it over, making the more valuable cards in the set harder to find. Today, few cards from this set hit over the $50 mark, and Snorlax's generation 1 appeal helps keep it over that price limit. Currently you can still find Chilling Reign packs in your local game store, but once the set is completely out of print, Snorlax could easily climb up to $100.

#4 Energy Recycler (Forbidden Light #143)

High-powered Pokémon decks play as few Energy cards as they can get away with, which means they can run out of Energy quickly if their main attacker gets Knocked Out. Energy Recycler puts discarded Energy cards back in the deck, where they can be drawn or searched up with cards like Professor's Research and Mirage Gate.

Like Burning Shadows Escape Rope, the Forbidden Light version of Energy Recycler is the #1 version for Trainers who enjoy making their opponents sweat as they casually lay down a card worth more than a copy of Elden Ring.

#3 & #2: Zekrom (Legendary Treasures #115) & Reshiram (Legendary Treasures #114)

Gold Rares have changed over the years, but there is something special about the Zekrom and Reshiram that come from Legendary Treasures.

Despite the magnificence of these versions of the cards, both of these cards are non-rule box Pokémon and are, in many ways, parallel versions of each other. Each Pokémon has the same HP and the retreat cost, they both have the move Outrage, and both have a move that costs one colorless and two of their primary energy type to use. This makes sense in that they are both members of the Tao Trio of legendary Pokémon that also served as parallel legends in Black & White.

For fans of the Black & White generation, having both Gold Rares of the Vast White and Deep Black Pokémon is the perfect way to show off your love of the games.

#1 Ultra Ball (Plasma Freeze #122)

The value of Gold Rare cards in the Pokémon TCG is almost completely dependent on how difficult they are to obtain out of a booster pack plus how valuable the card is to the player market. The Ultra Ball from Plasma Freeze is the most expensive Gold Rare Pokémon card because it's able to check these boxes by being a card from a set released in 2014 which, as of Brilliant Stars, is still Standard-playable.  Since having Gold Rare cards in your deck is all about being able to flex your luck, veteran status, or disposable income, finding the oldest, rarest version of a card to play in your deck now is what collecting is all about.

Plasma Freeze Booster Packs are currently sitting at $74.96, which means that opening a Gold Rare Ultra Ball is nearly impossible. For players and collectors that were opening packs during this era, there can be quite a payout if you managed to open some of the chase rares from the Plasma series of sets and sat on them. If you're looking to complete old sets or find the most expensive cards in the Pokémon TCG, obtaining the most expensive Gold Rare will cost you at least $200 if you want one in decent condition.

Although not as shiny or desirable as alternate-art Pokémon cards, Gold Rares exist in a great spot by giving cards that would otherwise never see high-rarity versions a chance in the spotlight. While there are a lot of Gold Rare Pokémon, some of the coolest cards in this rarity are the items that are synonymous with every Pokémon game, but don't get the same popularity as a rainbow Charizard.

While other collectors are looking for those alternate-art cards that are worth hundreds of dollars, my favorite cards to pull are the gold energy cards and Poké Balls that I'll be able to play in any deck I make for years to come.