Moltres (Japanese)
Mysterious Mountains · 018/088 · Rare
Current Prices
Number
018/088
Rarity
Rare
Variant
Unlimited
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Moltres (Japanese): Rarity & Collectibility
Moltres (Japanese) in its sought-after Unlimited variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #018/088 of the Mysterious Mountains set, it is the kind of card RarePokemonCard tracks for scarcity and collector demand rather than raw price alone. The harder a card is to pull in top condition, the more weight serious collectors place on it.
How Rare & Valuable Is Moltres (Japanese)?
In 2026, a Near Mint Moltres (Japanese) (Rare, Mysterious Mountains #018/088) changes hands at roughly $22.47, and desirability among set-builders keeps that number firm. Because demand concentrates on clean copies, surface wear is punished hard: a Near Mint example commands about $22.47, whereas a Damaged one slides to around $5.75. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $22.47, Lightly Played $17.80, Moderately Played $11.99, Damaged $5.75 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Moltres (Japanese) is valued near $146.51 — about 6.5x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Moltres (Japanese): Gem Mint & Population
Even for a card at this rarity, the top of the market belongs to certified gem-mint copies. A PSA 10 (or CGC 10 / BGS Black Label equivalent) Moltres (Japanese) sits around $146.51 — roughly 6.5x a raw copy. That gap exists because relatively few examples ever earn a perfect grade, so gem-mint population is the real scarcity collectors chase. Step down a notch and demand spreads across PSA 9 $69.99, PSA 8 $50.00 — each tier a smaller, scarcer pool than the one below it. The rule of thumb for collectors: the rarer the card, the more a certified high grade matters to its standing.
Detailed Price Breakdown
| Source | Condition / Grade | Average | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $17.80 | $17.80 | $17.80 | 1 |
| ebay | MODERATELY PLAYED | $11.99 | $11.99 | $11.99 | 1 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $22.47 | $22.47 | $22.47 | 19 |
| ebay | CGC 8 | $21.00 | $21.00 | $21.00 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $146.51 | $146.51 | $146.51 | 7 |
| ebay | PSA 7 | $21.50 | $21.50 | $21.50 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 8 | $50.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $69.99 | $69.99 | $69.99 | 6 |
| tcgplayer | DAMAGED | $5.75 | $5.75 | $5.75 | 1 |
Collector Outlook for Moltres (Japanese)
Moltres (Japanese) holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Cards in this band from beloved sets tend to keep a loyal collector base over time. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Moltres (Japanese) on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
