Mewtwo wasn't just a boss at the end of a cave in 1998. It was a cultural shift. Honestly, if you grew up during the Red and Blue era, that purple-tailed, genetically engineered monster represented the absolute peak of power. That aura followed it right into the TCG. For decades, pokemon cards of mewtwo have acted as a sort of gold standard for collectors. When a new set drops, you look for the Charizard, sure, but you check for the Mewtwo. It’s the card that feels "adult" even when it's meant for kids. It’s sleek, it’s a bit creepy, and it’s consistently some of the most expensive cardboard on the secondary market.
The Base Set Holo: Where the Obsession Started
Let's look at the 1999 Base Set. Everyone talks about the Shadowless Charizard, but the Base Set Mewtwo holo—card 10/102—is the one that actually feels attainable while still being legendary. It’s got that classic Sugimori art. It’s simple. Mewtwo is just standing there, looking like it’s about to ruin your day with a Psychic blast.
Back then, we didn't care about "PSA 10" or "surface scratches." We threw these in our pockets. Finding a clean copy today is a nightmare. If you look at the "Shadowless" or "1st Edition" versions of this specific card, you're looking at thousands of dollars for high grades. But even a beat-up, unlimited version has that nostalgic weight. It was the first "Big Bad" of the card game.
It’s weird how the art style has evolved. Early pokemon cards of mewtwo focused on its isolation. It was a creature alone in a lab or a dark void. As the years went on, the art became more kinetic, but that original Base Set vibe? It’s unmatched.
The Shining Mewtwo and the Neo Destiny Era
If you want to talk about "holy grail" status, you have to talk about Neo Destiny. This was the set that introduced "Shining" Pokemon. Unlike regular holos, the actual character was printed with a metallic, reflective film.
Shining Mewtwo is a masterpiece.
It’s card number 109/105 (the "secret rare" numbering was a huge deal back then). The card shows Mewtwo emitting these green and blue energy waves. It’s one of the few times we saw Mewtwo look truly volatile. Because the pull rates for Neo Destiny were so low—and because the hobby was actually "dying" a bit in the early 2000s before the massive resurgence—there just aren't many of these left in good condition.
I’ve seen collectors trade entire binders for a single Shining Mewtwo. It’s the kind of card that anchors a collection. It represents a specific moment in TCG history where Wizards of the Coast was experimenting with what a "premium" card could even look like.
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Why Mewtwo GX and Mewtwo VSTAR Keep Carrying the Torch
Fast forward a couple of decades. The game changed. We got EX, then GX, then V, then VSTAR. Through all of it, Mewtwo remained the protagonist of the high-end chase.
Take the Shining Legends Mewtwo GX (the "Mewtube").
This card is basically a piece of storytelling. It shows Mewtwo inside a laboratory tank, surrounded by bubbles and machinery. It’s a direct reference to the first movie. It’s not just a game piece; it’s a lore dump. Collectors went feral for it. Even though it's a "modern" card, it commands a massive premium because it connects the 30-year-old fan to the current game.
Then you’ve got the Crown Zenith Mewtwo VSTAR.
This one is wild. It’s a "Galarian Gallery" card that forms a diptych with a Charizard VSTAR. They’re literally fighting each other across two different cards. The perspective is from the air, looking down at a scorched battlefield. It’s chaotic. It’s beautiful. It’s exactly what pokemon cards of mewtwo should be: powerful and cinematic.
Modern sets often rely on "waifu" cards (the high-value female trainers) to sell boxes, but Mewtwo is one of the few actual Pokemon that can still carry a set's value on its own.
The Weird Side: Mewtwo Gold Star and Delta Species
You can't ignore the mid-2000s. This was the "EX era," and it was funky. We had Delta Species Pokemon, which were Pokemon with the "wrong" typing. There’s a Mewtwo from EX Holon Phantoms that is a Fire-type.
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Fire-type Mewtwo.
Think about that. It shouldn't work, but the artwork—showing it amidst red flames—is incredible. Then there’s the Mewtwo Gold Star. Gold Star cards are famous because you were lucky to find one in every two or three boxes of cards. The pull rate was abysmal.
The Mewtwo Gold Star has the Pokemon "breaking the frame." Its tail literally swings out of the art box. It’s a Dark-type card, and the color palette is moody and muted. If you find one of these in a drawer, don't touch it with your bare hands. Get a sleeve. Get a top-loader. It's a down payment on a car in some markets.
Sorting Through the Japanese Exclusives
If you’re only looking at English cards, you’re missing half the story. Japan gets some of the coolest promotional pokemon cards of mewtwo ever printed.
Remember the CoroCoro magazine promos? Or the ancient Mew card? (Technically Mew, but always linked to the Mewtwo movie).
There are Japanese "Vending Machine" promos and "T-Promos" that never saw the light of day in the States. One of the most sought-after is the "Rocket’s Mewtwo" from the Gym Challenge era, but the Japanese version often has better holofoil patterns. The Japanese market values "centering" and "surface" much higher than Western collectors do, which has led to a massive cross-border trade.
Honestly, some of the best art is on the cheap Japanese cards. You don't always have to spend $500 to get a great Mewtwo. Some of the common cards from the VSTAR Universe set are stunning and cost less than a sandwich.
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How to Actually Value Your Mewtwo Collection
Pricing is a moving target. If you’re looking at your old cards and wondering if you're sitting on a gold mine, you need to be honest about condition.
- The "Corner" Test: Look at the back of the card. See any white fuzz on the blue edges? That’s "whitening." It kills the value.
- Surface Scratches: Hold the card under a bright desk lamp and tilt it. If the holo looks like it was cleaned with steel wool, it’s a "Lightly Played" or "Moderately Played" card at best.
- Centering: Is the yellow border thicker on the left than the right? PSA and Beckett (the grading companies) hate that.
Most people think their 1999 Mewtwo is worth $1,000. Usually, it’s worth about $20 because it’s been sitting in a shoebox for 25 years. But, if it’s pristine? That’s a different conversation.
The Future: Will Mewtwo Ever Drop in Value?
Probably not.
Pokemon is the highest-grossing media franchise on the planet. Mewtwo is its most "serious" mascot. Unlike Pikachu, which appeals to literally everyone, Mewtwo appeals to the "cool" factor. It’s the Darth Vader of Pokemon.
As the kids who grew up with Pokemon Go and the Detective Pikachu movie enter their prime spending years, the demand for high-end pokemon cards of mewtwo is only going to climb. We saw a massive spike in 2020-2021, and while the market has cooled off, the "floor" price for these cards is significantly higher than it was five years ago.
It’s a blue-chip asset in the nerd world.
Your Next Steps for Collecting Mewtwo
If you want to start or grow a collection without getting ripped off, here is the move. Stop looking at "unsearched" packs on eBay. They aren't unsearched. Someone weighed them or used a high-res light to see what’s inside.
- Buy Singles: Go to TCGPlayer or Cardmarket. Look for "Near Mint" listings from sellers with 10,000+ sales.
- Focus on the "Exclusives": Look for the Mewtwo cards that came from specific boxes, like the Mewtwo V-Union collection. They are affordable and have unique art.
- Grade the Gems: If you find a card that looks absolutely perfect—no white spots, perfect centering—send it to PSA. A PSA 10 Mewtwo is worth significantly more than a raw one.
- Follow the Japan Market: Use a proxy service to check Mercari Japan. You can often find rare Mewtwo promos for 30% less than they cost on US eBay.
Don't just buy for the "investment." Buy the art you like. Whether it's the sleek, 3D-rendered Mewtwo from the newer sets or the chunky, hand-drawn psychic beast from the 90s, these cards are a piece of gaming history. Keep them sleeved, keep them out of the sun, and enjoy the fact that you own a piece of the world's most powerful clone.