If you’ve spent any time scrolling through TCGPlayer or stalking eBay auctions lately, you already know. The market for high-end Pokémon cards is absolute chaos. But among the sea of Charizards and Pikachus, there is one card that consistently makes collectors sweat: Lillie's Determination 091/063.
This isn't just a piece of cardboard. It’s a Full Art Trainer card from the Japanese Enhanced Expansion Pack: Sun & Moon (SM1+). It’s iconic. Honestly, if you don’t have one in your binder yet, you’re looking at a very expensive hill to climb.
The Reality of the Sun & Moon Era Chase
Back in 2017, the TCG landscape looked way different than it does now. We weren't in the middle of a massive speculative bubble. People were actually playing the game, and Lillie was—and still is—one of the most beloved characters from the Alola region. Lillie's Determination 091/063 captures a pivotal moment for her. She’s got the ponytail. She’s got the fierce look. It’s the "Z-Powered" Lillie we see after her character development in the games.
Why does this specific card command such a premium? It's the art. Naoki Saito handled the illustration. If you know Pokémon cards, you know Saito is the GOAT of Trainer cards. He brings a level of expression and vibrancy that most other artists just can't replicate. When you hold a raw copy of this card, the texture—that fine, fingerprint-like etching across the surface—is incredibly intricate.
People often confuse this card with the English version found in Sun & Moon Base Set. Don't do that. The English version is a standard holographic or a non-holo rare. It doesn't have the Full Art treatment. The Japanese SM1+ version is the one that collectors lose their minds over. It’s the "SR" or Super Rare rarity.
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Grading Lillie's Determination 091/063: A Nightmare for Perfectionists
Let’s talk about PSA 10s. Getting a Gem Mint grade on a Japanese card from early 2017 is significantly harder than people think. While Japanese print quality is generally higher than English (the centering is usually better, and the card stock is sturdier), these cards were notoriously prone to "edge wear" right out of the pack.
The silver borders on Japanese cards are unforgiving. One tiny speck of white on a corner—what we call "whitening"—and your dreams of a PSA 10 are gone. You’re looking at a 9 or even an 8. For Lillie's Determination 091/063, the price gap between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10 is massive. We’re talking thousands of dollars in some market cycles.
Most of these cards were handled by kids or shoved into decks without sleeves because, again, it was 2017. Nobody knew the "Waifu" card craze would turn these into four-figure assets.
Why Japanese Sun & Moon Sets Are Different
In the Japanese TCG, sets are smaller. Sun & Moon (SM1+) was a "strength expansion." This means the pull rates were actually decent at the time, but the total print run was a fraction of what we see for modern sets like Scarlet & Violet.
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Once a set like SM1+ goes out of print in Japan, it stays out of print. There are no "reprints" two years later like we sometimes see with English sets. This artificial scarcity, combined with the explosive popularity of Lillie as a character, created a perfect storm for value appreciation.
Misconceptions About the Waifu Tax
You’ll hear the term "Waifu Tax" thrown around a lot in Discord servers. It refers to the phenomenon where female Trainer cards sell for way more than male ones. While that’s part of it, it’s a bit reductive for Lillie's Determination 091/063.
Lillie isn't just a "pretty character." She is the emotional core of the Sun & Moon storyline. Her journey from a timid, controlled girl to a brave trainer is what fans connect with. This card represents that bravery. That’s why the demand persists even when the market "cools down." It’s a piece of Pokémon history, not just a trend.
Compare this to the 119/114 Lillie from Ultra Prism (the English equivalent of the Japanese SM4+ GX Battle Boost). Both are expensive, but the SM1+ Lillie's Determination feels more raw. It’s her first real "serious" card.
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Spotting a Fake: Don't Get Scammed
Because of the high price point, the market is flooded with Chinese fakes. They’re getting better, but they haven't mastered the texture.
- The Texture Test: If the card is smooth like a normal playing card, it's fake. The real Lillie's Determination 091/063 has a spiraling, textured pattern that catches the light.
- The Font: Look at the "HP" and the attack descriptions. Fakes often use a font that is slightly too thin or has weird spacing.
- The Back of the Card: Japanese cards have a specific blue back design with the Pokéball in the center. Modern fakes often get the shade of blue slightly wrong—it’ll look too purple or too washed out.
Is It Still Worth Buying?
If you're asking if you should drop $2,000 on a raw copy today, that depends on your risk tolerance. The "Waifu" bubble popped slightly in late 2023 and early 2024, bringing prices down from their insane all-time highs. This actually makes it a better time to buy than two years ago.
However, you have to be careful. Buy the seller, not just the card. Look for high-resolution photos. Ask for videos of the card under a light to see the surface scratches.
The Naoki Saito Factor
Collectors follow artists. Just like people collect Van Gogh or Basquiat, Pokémon fans collect Saito. His cards, including the "Sightseer" and the "Full Art Erika," tend to hold value better than almost any other artist. Having a Lillie's Determination 091/063 is essentially owning a "Saito Grails."
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you are serious about adding this card to your collection, don't just jump on the first auction you see.
- Monitor Japanese Auction Sites: Use a proxy service like Buyee or ZenMarket to check Yahoo! Japan Auctions and Mercari Japan. The prices there are often lower than Western eBay, though you have to factor in international shipping and potential customs fees.
- Check the PSA Pop Report: Before buying a graded copy, look up the certification number on the PSA website. See how many 10s exist. If the "Pop" (population) is rising rapidly, the price might stabilize. If it's stagnant, expect to pay a premium.
- Inspect the "Sun" Symbol: On the bottom left of the card, you'll see the SM1+ set symbol. Ensure the printing is crisp. Bluriness in the set symbol is a dead giveaway for a high-quality scan-print fake.
- Prioritize Surface Quality: Unlike centering, which is obvious, surface scratches or "print lines" can hide in photos. Always ask for a video of the card being tilted in the light. A card with a clean surface and slightly off-centering is often a better long-term investment than a perfectly centered card with a deep scratch.
Lillie's Determination remains a cornerstone of modern Pokémon collecting. It bridges the gap between the old-school mentality and the new-age obsession with Full Art aesthetics. Whether the market goes up, down, or sideways, the historical significance of this specific card in the Sun & Moon era is already cemented. It's a trophy. Treat it like one.