Malamar
SM - Forbidden Light · 51/131 · Rare
Current Prices
Number
51/131
Rarity
Rare
Variant
Reverse_Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Malamar: Rarity & Collectibility
Malamar in its sought-after Reverse_Holofoil variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #51/131 of the SM - Forbidden Light 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 Malamar?
In 2026, a Near Mint Malamar (Rare, SM - Forbidden Light #51/131) changes hands at roughly $1.06, 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 $1.06, whereas a Damaged one slides to around $0.20. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $1.06, Lightly Played $0.91, Moderately Played $0.89, Heavily Played $0.75, Damaged $0.20 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Malamar is valued near $21.50 — about 20x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Malamar: 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) Malamar sits around $21.50 — roughly 20x 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. 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 | $1.59 | $1.59 | $1.59 | 1 |
| ebay | MODERATELY PLAYED | $1.10 | $1.10 | $1.10 | 1 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $2.99 | $2.99 | $2.99 | 17 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $21.50 | $21.50 | $21.50 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | DAMAGED | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.20 | 11 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $0.75 | $0.75 | $0.75 | 3 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $0.91 | $0.91 | $0.91 | 86 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $0.89 | $0.84 | $0.84 | 22 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $1.06 | $1.00 | $1.00 | 143 |
Collector Outlook for Malamar
Malamar holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Collect it for completeness and the joy of the hunt; its appeal is the set, not the ceiling. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Malamar on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
