Scarlet & Violet 151 Chase Cards: The Most Expensive Cards (and What They Mean for Collectors)

Scarlet & Violet 151 has turned into the modern nostalgia Pokemon set. It brings back the original 151 Pokémon with fresh artwork, modern card design, and a stack of chase cards that collectors can’t stop talking about.

If you’re wondering which 151 cards are worth the most, how to identify them by card number, and whether they’re worth chasing or buying as singles, this guide is for you.

Why Scarlet & Violet 151 Matters So Much

For collectors, 151 hits a perfect storm:

1. Nostalgia: Every card is one of the original Pokémon, echoing Base Set but with 2023 era art. 
   
2. Alternative art & Illustration Rares: Many fan favourites (starters, Pikachu, Dragonair, etc.) get full-art story cards that feel more like mini prints than TCG pieces.
   
3. It’s a special shorter print set (165 cards + 42 secret rares), so collectors naturally worry about FOMO and long-term scarcity.

That combination means some cards have quickly climbed into the £30–£200+ range, especially in top condition.

How to Read Scarlet & Violet 151 Card Numbers

Every card in 151 has a card number / total format:

• Example: Charizard ex – 199/165
  
• 199 = the card’s index within the set
  
• 165 = the regular set size; anything above 165 is a Secret Rare
  

So if you see 166/165, 170/165, 199/165, 200/165, etc., you’re looking at Illustration Rares or Special Illustration Rares which are often the most expensive cards in the set.

The Key Chase Cards in Scarlet & Violet 151

(Card numbers + current price ranges)

Here's some rough guides towards prices of the top cards.

Why These 151 Cards Are So Expensive

Charizard ex 199/165 – The headline chase

Charizard is still Charizard. The 199/165 Special Illustration Rare shows Charizard flying over a city, and it has become the chase card of the set. Market guides put ungraded copies around the mid-$200s, with PSA 10s reaching four figures.

Why it’s so valuable:

1. Iconic Pokémon with cross-generation appeal
   
2. Special Illustration Rare (harder to pull than regular Double Rares)
   
3. Strong demand from both Charizard collectors and 151 set builders

Venusaur & Blastoise ex 198/165 and 200/165

The SIR Venusaur and Blastoise complete the starter trio. They don’t hit Charizard’s heights, but they still sit in a premium tier because collectors love finishing the trio in matching art style.

Both also benefit from:

1. Beautiful, environment-based artwork
   
2. Secret–rare numbering (>165)
   
3. Strong grading upside thanks to full-art presentation

Illustration Rare story cards – Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Wartortle, Charmander, Charmeleon, Pikachu, Dragonair

These cards show your favourite Pokémon in little slice-of-life scenes: Squirtle at the beach, Bulbasaur in a lush forest, Wartortle mid-splash, Dragonair gliding through a glowing sky, and so on. Retailers and marketplaces consistently list these Illustration Rares above many normal ex cards.

Why they hold value:

1. Low print-rate Illustration Rare slot
   
2. Artwork that feels like mini art prints
   
3. Easy display pieces (they look amazing graded or framed)

What Collectors Want to Know About 151

If you landed on a blog like this, your questions are probably something like:

1. What are the most expensive Scarlet & Violet 151 cards right now?
   
2. Which card numbers should I look for in my pulls?
   
3. Should I buy singles or keep ripping sealed product?
   
4. Are 151 chase cards a good long-term hold?
   

We've answered 1 & 2 above, but let's continue the rest.

Should You Chase Sealed or Buy Singles?

Chasing sealed product

Pros:

• The fun of opening packs (which is a huge part of the hobby).
  
• Chance of pulling a high-gradeable Charizard ex, Venusaur ex, or Blastoise ex SIR.
  

Cons:

• Pull rates are rough; individually, most packs contain bulk-value cards.
  
• You can easily rip through the value of a Charizard ex without ever seeing one.
  

Buying singles

For most collectors who specifically want the top cards:

• You’ll usually spend less overall buying the exact singles you want than gambling on packs.
  
• You can be picky about condition (centering, edges, surface) and upgrade over time.
  

Sealed product still has its place, especially for long-term sealed collectors, but if your goal is own the 151 chase cards, singles are the efficient route.

Are Scarlet & Violet 151 Chase Cards Good Long-Term Holds?

No one can guarantee future prices, but there are a few positive signals:

• Evergreen characters: Charizard, Pikachu, Mew, the Kanto starters, and Dragonair all have deep, multi-generation fan bases.
  
• Special set status: 151 is a limited special expansion, not an endlessly reprinted main set.
• Art-driven appeal: Many of these cards will still look stunning 10+ years from now, even if the meta game changes.

On the flip side, Pokémon prints more Charizards and Pikachus all the time so future sets could steal attention of collectors and money whilst market hype from release years can dip once supply hits the market, then stabilise.

If you’re collecting primarily for enjoyment + nostalgic value, 151 is a fantastic set. If you’re treating it strictly as an investment, diversify and avoid over-stretching on a single card.

How to Protect and Display Your 151 Grails

Once you own these cards, condition is everything for both value and enjoyment.

Penny sleeve them immediately. This, plus a toploader or card saver can stop any sudden knocks whilst your full with adrenaline. You should also consider grading for the big hitters, like Charizard ex 199/165, Venusaur/Blastoise ex SIR, and clean Illustration Rares. If you can get any mint grade 10's it will multiply their value versus raw.

Finally, display them without damage. If you like seeing your cards on the wall or desk, use UV-protective, acid-free storage or display solutions so the card doesn’t fade or warp over time. And if you’re running a collection-focused setup, this is where premium frames or display cases for graded slabs and singles really shine.

Final Thoughts

Scarlet & Violet 151 has quickly become one of the defining modern sets for Pokemon fans. Whether you’re hunting that 199/165 Charizard ex, building the full Illustration Rare starter line, or just grabbing your one favourite card to cherish, understanding card numbers, rarity, and current price ranges helps you make smarter choices.

Here at Cheevo we offer a range of Pokemon, and wider TCG, card frames for both raw and graded slabs. Have a browse of our store.