Look, if you’ve got a Charizard ex tucked away in a binder or a top loader, you’re basically sitting on the stock market of the Pokémon world. It’s chaotic. One day you’re looking at a piece of cardboard worth a nice dinner, and the next, you realize that specific version in a PSA 10 slab could actually cover a down payment on a car.
But honestly, the question of how much is the charizard ex worth is a bit of a trick. There isn't just "one" Charizard ex. We’ve had these cards popping up since the early 2000s, and the price gap between a beat-up modern promo and a pristine vintage classic is wider than a Snorlax.
If you're trying to figure out if you've struck gold or just found a cool souvenir, you have to look at the set symbol and the condition first. Everything else is just noise.
The Heavy Hitters: Vintage vs. Modern Chase Cards
The original era of "ex" cards—back when the "ex" was lowercase—is where the real money lives. If you have the Charizard ex from the 2004 FireRed & LeafGreen set (card #105/112), you’re looking at the king of the mountain. As of January 2026, a raw, Near Mint copy of this card is easily hovering around $830.
But here’s where it gets wild. If that card is graded a PSA 10 Gem Mint, the market value has been known to spike as high as $11,200. Even a PSA 9 usually clears $2,700. It’s the rarity of the older holofoil patterns and the fact that most kids in 2004 absolutely thrashed their cards that makes a clean copy so expensive.
Recent Hits from the Scarlet & Violet Era
Most people asking about value these days are actually looking at the newer stuff. Pokémon has been leaning hard into "Special Illustration Rares" (SIR), and they are gorgeous. Here is the current state of the most popular modern versions:
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- Scarlet & Violet 151 (SIR #199/165): This is the one with Charizard flying over a volcanic canyon. It’s the "it" card of the last few years. Right now, a raw copy is sitting around $215, while a PSA 10 will run you roughly $980. It’s actually dipped a bit from its all-time highs as more supply hit the market.
- Paldean Fates (Shiny SIR #234/091): The "Black Charizard." This card is a fan favorite for obvious reasons. It’s currently trading for about $200 raw. Prices for this one have been a bit of a roller coaster, dropping nearly $100 in the last month alone as the hype for newer sets like Phantasmal Flames takes over.
- Obsidian Flames (SIR #223/197): This is the "Tera" version where he’s wearing a crystal crown. It’s the most affordable of the big chase cards, usually found for around $60 to $75. If you just want a cool Charizard for the collection without breaking the bank, this is the one.
The Brand New Contender: Mega Charizard X ex
If you’ve been keeping up with the January 2026 releases, you know everyone is talking about Phantasmal Flames. The Mega Charizard X ex (Special Illustration Rare #125) is the newest heavyweight.
When it first dropped, it was hitting $900. It’s settled down now to a market price of about **$555**. It’s still very volatile, though. Collectors are watching this one closely because it’s the first "Mega" style card we've seen in the modern ex format, and the art is top-tier.
Why Condition Changes Everything
You might see a listing on eBay for $50 and another for $500 for the exact same card. Why? Because "Near Mint" (NM) isn't just a suggestion.
A single white speck on the back corner (whitening) or a tiny scratch on the foil can tank the value of a modern card by 50%. For older cards, "Damaged" or "Heavily Played" (HP) versions of that 2004 FireRed & LeafGreen Zard still sell for $280, simply because the card is so rare. But for a modern card from Paldean Fates, a damaged copy might only be worth $80. Nobody wants a beat-up modern card when there are thousands of perfect ones available.
How to Check Your Specific Card Value
If you're holding a card and want to know how much is the charizard ex worth right this second, don't just look at the highest "Buy It Now" price on eBay. People can ask for whatever they want; it doesn't mean they're getting it.
Instead, go to eBay and filter by "Sold Items." This shows you what people actually paid in the last 24 to 48 hours. Sites like TCGplayer are also great for seeing the "Market Price," which is an average of recent verified sales.
- Find the Card Number: Look at the bottom right or left corner (e.g., 199/165).
- Check the Set Symbol: This tells you which expansion it’s from.
- Assess the Surface: Shine a phone light on it. Are there scratches?
- Look at the Edges: Is there silver/white showing on the back edges?
Is It a Good Investment?
Honestly, Charizard is the safest bet in the hobby, but it's not a "get rich quick" scheme. Prices for cards like the 151 Charizard ex have actually slumped recently. The market goes through cycles. When a new set comes out, people sell their older cards to fund new pack openings, which can cause prices to dip.
If you're buying to hold, the vintage "ex" cards from the mid-2000s are generally more stable because the supply is fixed. Modern cards have huge print runs, so while they are expensive now, there are thousands of them sitting in PSA 10 slabs.
To get the most value out of your card, you should consider getting it graded if it looks absolutely perfect. A "Raw" card (ungraded) is always going to sell for the base market price. But if you have a card that could score a 10, you're essentially doubling or tripling your money. Just remember that grading costs money and takes time, so it's only worth it for the high-end Illustration Rares.
The best move right now? Watch the market for Paldean Fates. Since it's seeing a bit of a price drop this month, it might be the perfect time to pick up a Shiny Charizard ex before it stabilizes and starts climbing again. Keep your cards sleeved, keep them out of the sun, and always check those "Sold" listings before you agree to a trade at your local card shop.