A Classic 'Pokémon' Card Is About To Break An Incredible Sales Record Against All Odds

Published Sep 2, 2026, 3:34 PM EDT An unlikely Pokémon starter is at the center of an expensive and controversial TCG auction Image: The Pokemon Company What constitutes a "pristine" trading card? Average Pokémon TCG fans might overlook a scuff or two for a card that's in good condition, but high-end collectors who are willing to pay millions of dollars for a card might be more discerning. At least, you think they would be. A controversial auction for a 22-year-old Pokémon card shows just how subjective determining the condition of a card truly is. According to the lead grading service, PSA, a Gem Mint 10 card should be virtually perfect. The card should have sharp corners and crisp printing, it should have intact gloss, and should be free of stains. The card should be as evenly centered as possible as well. PSA does make an exception for a "slight printing imperfection," but overall, expectations are high for anything labeled PSA 10. With that context in mind, we turn to an auction for a 2004 Torchic Star card, hailing from the EX Team Rocket Returns set. The card is a rare one with a low pull rate, and it was originally sold for a set with a small print run. There are only 30 ungraded copies for sale at the moment; none are PSA 10, and existing graded copies sell for an exorbitant amount. An ungraded copy goes for at least a few thousand dollars. A Torchic Star card owned by Steve Aoki became one of the most expensive sales ever recorded in February 2026. That CGC-rated 10 (one of the alternative grading services) card, from just a few months ago, went for $117,800. The PSA 10 Torchic card that is currently up for auction has reached a bidding price of $1.3 million. There are still eight days left in the auction, and there's always the chance that the winning bidder reneges on their payment. If it goes through, the Torchic card would immediately become the second-highest Pokémon TCG sale ever made (right behind Logan Paul's $16.4 million Pikachu Illustrator card.) The card looks fine from the front: Image: Zoruas Flip it around, and you'll see what's causing a ruckus. The issues are most prominent on the right side, where there are white spots visible on the top, center, and bottom of the card. Much of the left side's edges are frayed. Small nitpicks like these could cause spats between vendors and customers over the meaning of "lightly played" and "near mint," sure. Many Pokémon fans would probably say this card is in great condition given its rarity and age. The real question has become, is the card in good enough shape to command a record-breaking $1.3 million — or more? How Pokémon TCG fans are reacting "Insane," one Pokémon fan wrote on Facebook. "Regraded it's a PSA 7," another wrote. "It makes zero logical sense," another TCG aficionado wrote on Reddit. "I see stuff like this and wonder the fuck am I even doing with my life? Going to work?" If the card is graded so highly, it's likely because it certified by PSA well before the current Pokémon pandemonium. With more money in the hobby than ever before, and a backlog of cards needing grading, the standards for what is considered PSA 10 have risen considerably. These days, unless the grader at PSA is sleeping at the wheel, it's much more difficult to get anything with visible defects to score a PSA 10. While some TCG fans are aghast, others see no issue with Torchic's price tag. There are an estimated 19 PSA 10 cards in existence, and almost all of them are out of reach. "This was always going to be the most expensive gold star when one becomes available publicly for sale," one Pokémon fan wrote.