The Most Valuable Energy Cards In The Pokemon TCG

Key Takeaways

• Darkness Energy (Secret Rare Holofoil) – Burning Shadows is valued at $28.82, featuring a shiny dark-type energy symbol.
• Rainbow Energy (Secret Rare Holofoil) – Celestial Storm has a market price of $31.30, providing various energy types.
• Psychic Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends is worth $61.24, showcasing a unique shoreline scene behind Espeon.

Energy cards are a valuable resource in the Pokemon TCG. While they’re never the most engaging card types around, the game would be simply unplayable without them as they’re equivalent to lands in Magic: The Gathering or ink in Disney Lorcana.

While it’s usually cards that actually feature Pokemon that accrue the most value in the Pokemon TCG, there are a number of supremely rare energy cards that are worth a hefty amount on the secondary market. Let’s power up our ‘mons and check out the most valuable energies of all time.

The card prices quoted all come from
TCGPlayer
‘s Market Price History over the past calendar year and may fluctuate over time. No Promo cards are included here.

10 Darkness Energy – HeartGold & SoulSilver

Market Price: $27.70

Most energies only have their respective energy symbol surrounded by some sort of swirling imagery on a single color to match the energy symbol itself. However, this card kicks off a theme that runs throughout: energy cards that actually feature a Pokemon on them.

In this case, it’s Eevee’s dark-type evolution, Umbreon, showcased in silhouette with a city’s skyline beside it. Seeing as Umbreon is one of the most popular (and valuable) subjects of Pokemon TCG cards – including in the most valuable Eeveelution cards of all time – it’s no surprise that this card from 2010 commands a near-$30 price point.

9 Fire Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends

Market Price: $28.00

The majority of energy cards featured here are from a reprint set called Call of Legends that released in 2011, and this is the first card from that set. The card features the box art ‘mon from Pokemon Gold and Pokemon HeartGold, Ho-Oh, next to its in-game home of Ecruteak City’s Bell Tower.

The style of this energy cards cannot be understated, as the subtle, shadowy presence of the Pokemon makes them a feast for the eyes. Crucially, the Call of Legends energies were also Holofoils, making them even more scarce and, by extension, far more valuable.

8 Darkness Energy (Secret Rare Holofoil) – Burning Shadows

Market Price: $28.82

One of two extremely rare Secret Rare energy cards from 2017’s Burning Shadows set found here, this Holo Secret Rare darkness energy has the darkness energy symbol wreathed in a shining light, with sparkling twinkles all around it – a truly striking work of art for an energy card.

Of course, when the original darkness energy debuted, it was certainly not one of the most valuable cards from Neo Genesis, but it was already a rare card and – surprisingly – it caused any darkness-type Pokemon to deal 10 more damage to the foe’s active Pokemon.

7 Rainbow Energy (Secret Rare Holofoil) – Celestial Storm

Market Price: $31.30

The Rainbow Energy card debuted all the way back in the Pokemon TCG’s fourth-ever set, Team Rocket, where it was not one of the most valuable cards – but it certainly was among the most influential, as it provided any energy type while it was in play.

This version, to this point, is the final printing of this iconic energy card and hails from 2018’s Celestial Storm set. The drawback of dealing 10 damage to any ‘mon that this card attaches to is notable, but the sweet design of this card coupled with its historical significance means this card surely deserves a new reprint soon.

6 Lightning Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends

Market Price: $31.71

Another entrant into the “silhouette” energies from Call of Legends, this Lightning energy features the shadowy presence of the final evolution of Mareep, Ampharos, next to an outline of the Olivine Lighthouse – where it featured heavily in the plot for Pokemon Gold & Silver.

Seeing as this author is a huge Ampharos fan, this card certainly looks to be the most desirable. Clearly, fans and collectors agree – as this card is sitting pretty with a median modern-day price point above $30.

5 Grass Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends

Market Price: $32.71

This gorgeous grass-type energy features the silhouette of legendary ‘mon Celebi nestled within its in-game home of Ilex Forest. Of course, Celebi was nearly impossible to actually obtain in-game save for trades or dubious hacking, but Celebi’s cards are far easier to find.

While this energy card kicks off the top five most valuable energies of all time, it pales in comparison to the tremendous value of the most valuable cards from Skyridge, which featured Celebi as a “crystal type” ‘mon.

4 Water Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends

Market Price: $45.40

Now we’re getting to the big guns. While the rest of this list hovered around the $40 mark, all the rest of the cards herein have median values above $45, with this striking water energy featured the box art ‘mon for Pokemon Silver and SoulSilver – Lugia – next to its in-game home of the Whirlpool Islands.

Lugia cards are often chase cards in Pokemon TCG sets, just check out the most valuable cards from Aquapolis for proof, and that truth extends to energy cards, as this striking Holo water energy is by far the most valuable of its type – likely thanks to the presence of that beloved legendary ‘mon.

3 Fairy Energy (Secret Rare Holofoil) – Burning Shadows

Market Price: $49.95

Fairy-type Pokemon in the TCG only existed for a short while, having been introduced in the XY era and phased out when the Sword & Shield era debuted in 2020.

As such, there are not a huge number of fairy-type energies in the wild, and only one elevated rarity fairy energy in the entire history of the TCG: this striking Secret Rare holo from Burning Shadows.

Normally, pulling an energy card in the rare slot of a pack is a bummer, but if you were one of the select few that pulled this when opening Burning Shadows packs, you’re sitting a near-$50 piece of cardboard.

2 Psychic Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends

Market Price: $61.24

Espeon cards are hot commodities on the secondary market – though not quite as much as its dark-type Eeveelution Umbreon – and this holo psychic energy from Call of Legends showcases that value perfectly.

An unusual – and somewhat odd for a psychic-type ‘mon – shoreline scene sits behind this silhouetted Espeon, making it a striking and beautiful energy card that’s worth a pretty penny on the secondary market nearly 15 years after it released.

1 Darkness Energy (Holofoil) – Call of Legends

Market Price: $62.10

Unsurprisingly, the two most valuable energy cards of all time feature two fan-favorite ‘mon in silhouette. In this case, the most valuable energy card ever is simply a reprint of the HeartGold & SoulSilver darkness energy, but critically, this version from Call of Legends is holofoil – meaning its value ratchets up considerably.

Eeveelutions are always popular and supremely valuable cards, and that certainly is true for this striking Darkness energy with a mysterious-looking Umbreon’s shadowy presence entrancing collectors and fans alike – and causing this card to be worth $60-plus.