Pikachu ★ vs Pikachu
Pikachu ★ (Holon Phantoms) and Pikachu (POP Series 5) are frequently compared because they share the same Pokémon identity across different printings. This page breaks down which one is the better buy right now.
Current TCGPlayer market prices put the two at $3,200.00 for Pikachu ★ and $187.49 for Pikachu — a gap of $3,012.51 (1607%). Prices update daily, and the two charts below show how each has moved.
Stat comparison
| Market price | $3,200.00 | $187.49 |
| Set | Holon Phantoms | POP Series 5 |
| Number | #104 | #12 |
| HP | 60 | 50 |
| Type | Lightning | Lightning |
| Subtypes | Basic, Star | Basic |
| Retreat cost | 1 | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare Holo Star | Common |
Price history
Price History
Price History
Which should you buy?
When comparing Pikachu ★ (Holon Phantoms #104) against Pikachu (POP Series 5 #12), the most immediate difference is price. Pikachu ★ currently trades at roughly $3200.00 while Pikachu sits near $187.49 — a gap of about $3012.51 (1607%). That spread alone is often the deciding factor for buyers weighing the two. On raw HP, Pikachu ★ edges the comparison at 60 to the other card's 50 — a meaningful margin for trading hits and surviving chip damage. Both are Lightning-type Pokémon, which means they compete for the same energy slots and archetype shells. Running both in the same deck is usually overkill unless the strategy specifically wants redundancy. Both are printings of the same character. One comes from Holon Phantoms (2006/05/01) and the other from POP Series 5 (2007/03/01). Competitive players usually pick whichever printing is currently legal in the format they play, while collectors often want both for visual variety. Rarity is another dividing line: Pikachu ★ is Rare Holo Star while Pikachu is Common, which typically explains most of the price gap and signals different print volumes. For buyers, the practical question is usually about use-case. If you are chasing value or planning to flip, the cheaper card carries less downside risk. If you are building a deck, the shared-deck or evolution relationship matters more than the sticker price. And for collectors, the two printings or variants together tend to form a more complete set than either alone. Always check the live TCGPlayer and Amazon listings before buying, since prices move.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more expensive, Pikachu ★ or Pikachu?
Pikachu ★ (Holon Phantoms) is more expensive at $3,200.00, versus $187.49 for Pikachu (POP Series 5) — a difference of $3,012.51 (1607%). Prices refresh daily from TCGPlayer market data.
Are Pikachu ★ and Pikachu used in the same decks?
Not in the archetypes tracked on this site. They may still see play in rogue or tournament-specific builds that aren't listed here.
Which is more recent?
Pikachu ★ comes from Holon Phantoms (2006), while Pikachu is from POP Series 5 (2007). Newer printings are typically more likely to be legal in current rotation formats.
Where should I buy Pikachu ★ or Pikachu?
Both cards are typically available on TCGPlayer (the largest individual-card marketplace) and Amazon (where sealed product and bundles dominate). Use the buy links above to see live listings by condition and seller.