Lugia
SWSH03: Darkness Ablaze · 140/189 · Rare
Current Prices
Number
140/189
Rarity
Rare
Variant
Reverse_Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Lugia: Rarity & Collectibility
Lugia 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 #140/189 of the SWSH03: Darkness Ablaze 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 Lugia?
In 2026, a Near Mint Lugia (Rare, SWSH03: Darkness Ablaze #140/189) changes hands at roughly $1.48, 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 $1.48, whereas a Damaged one slides to around $0.44. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $1.48, Lightly Played $0.95, Moderately Played $0.94, Heavily Played $0.55, Damaged $0.44 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Lugia is valued near $31.00 — about 21x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Lugia: 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) Lugia sits around $31.00 — roughly 21x 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 $13.50, CGC 10 $7.50, PSA 8 $6.50 — 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 | $2.69 | $2.69 | $2.69 | 2 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $1.82 | $1.82 | $1.82 | 29 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 | 1 |
| ebay | CGC 9 | $9.95 | $9.95 | $9.95 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $31.00 | $31.00 | $31.00 | 24 |
| ebay | PSA 7 | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.50 | 10 |
| ebay | PSA 8 | $6.50 | $6.50 | $6.50 | 7 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $13.50 | $13.50 | $13.50 | 22 |
| tcgplayer | DAMAGED | $0.44 | $0.44 | $0.44 | 0 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $0.55 | $0.55 | $0.55 | 0 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $0.95 | $0.94 | $0.94 | 151 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $0.94 | $0.94 | $0.94 | 81 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $1.48 | $1.00 | $2.75 | 1,570 |
Collector Outlook for Lugia
Lugia 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 Lugia on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
