English prints of Pokemon TCG cards are usually the most desirable and have higher prices than Japanese prints. But the best Abyss Eye tracking cards reverse this trend. Because the Japanese version of Mega Darkrai is selling for a lot more money than the version you can find in Mega Evolution: Pitch Black.
Japanese cards are often preferred among collectors who enjoy the art primarily due to the cards being generally cheaper but boasting an overall higher print quality. Could this be the start of a new trend where some of Japan's rarest cards are favored for their quality? Or is it just a blip on the radar?
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Gladion's Showdown (Special Art Rare) – $20.44
Gladion's Showdown is a strong contender that will remain one of the most valuable cards in Abyss Eye for the foreseeable future thanks to its outstanding popularity among trainers on the Japanese side of the Pokemon TCG. Furthermore, Gladion is rarely depicted in the TCG, and this card represents his first major work in several years.
The $20 price tag is already a strong foundation to build on, but the Gladion could fall precariously, leaving room for its value to rise or suddenly fall depending on market demand.
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Mega Chandelure ex (Special Art Rare) – $27.35
Even more surprising than Gladion's strong start is Mega Chandelure's relatively weak ranking among the best Abyss Eye tracking cards, considering the English version's position among the best cards in Pitch Black.
To play Devil's Advocate, Chandelure isn't a very popular Pokemon and Mega Evolution isn't the most memorable thing about Pokemon Legends: ZA, so its relatively mediocre price tag is reasonable.
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Soul of Misty (Super Rare) – $35.83
Misty's Spirit is a perfect example of how certain trainer cards can soar to impressive heights in Japanese thanks to the focus on collecting cute characters among collectors. Misty's Spirit is roughly the same price as Misty's Vitality (the English version of Pitch Black) at the time of writing.
Parity between English and Japanese pricing is something we rarely see, especially for new releases, so it could be explained, but it's rare. Misty's popularity will almost certainly help stabilize the value of this card over the long term, so it's a safe investment if you can't wait any longer.
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Mega Zeraora ex (Special Art Rare) – $37.04
If you're a fan of Mega Zeraora, this card is a must-have. This card features the first TCG depiction of this Pokémon's Mega Evolution, and based on its electric artwork, it may also earn the title of being the most eye-catching card in the set. You won't find many nicer depictions of Pokémon, as this SAR stands out for its wealth of detail to enjoy.
The sub-$40 price tag may already seem like a pretty bargain, but the value of these cards may continue to drop, giving collectors an opportunity to purchase them. If you're on a tight budget and like this card, wait a little longer. You may even get a discounted price.
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Gwynn (Special Art Rare) – $46.13
Gwynn continues the trainer trend, emphasizing that there is a distinct audience for Japanese cards that don't follow the same rules as their English TCG counterparts. This Gwynn card surpasses its British counterpart in value and popularity, establishing itself as one of the best cards in Abyss Eye.
Although Gwynn is a new character, he already appears to have established a strong following based on the relatively high price of the coveted SAR.
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Morpeko ex (Special Art Rare) – $52.86
If you're a Morpeko fan, this SAR is one of your holy grail must-haves. Abyss Eye's Japanese cards are very affordable compared to their English counterparts, so if you're looking to collect art, you can pick these up very cheaply.
Both the English and Japanese cards will likely lose value, but these cards are already worth purchasing if you can get them for under $50. One day, if the price drops to $30, I might come back to this article with a smug grin on my face if I'm patient enough to wait for a better deal.
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Mega Darkrai ex (Special Art Rare) – $309.31
One card you don't want to pay for is Mega Darkrai ex SAR. This card is one of the most expensive Darkrai cards of all time, thanks to its whopping price tag of over $300.
These cards exceed their English price tags by a significant margin, thanks to a combination of high print quality and Pokémon's exceptional popularity among Japanese collectors. While this card bucks the general trend of English costing more, it's more of an exception to the rule than representing a major change.
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Mega Darkrai ex (Mega Ultra Rare) – $479.75
The gold cards are finally here, as Mega Darkrai ex Mega Ultra Rare stands as the most valuable chase card in the Japanese Abyss Eye set. This incredible MUR claims the crown as Darkrai's most expensive modern card, beating the English version by over $100.
If you love collecting the most valuable Darkrai cards, this MUR will be your new holy grail as it looks set to command a high price tag in the near future.
