Highlights
- Delta Species cards introduced type-shifted Pokémon, such as dual-type Eeveelutions, which made them interesting and popular with collectors.
- The Delta Species cards feature unique graphics and gameplay mechanics, with cards like Umbreon and Mewtwo featuring striking designs and abilities.
- Top Chase cards from the set, such as Kyogre Star, command high prices due to their rarity and impressive artwork, making them sought-after collector’s items.
The 2005 Pokémon Trading Card Game Delta Species set introduced the Delta Species card type of the same name, which featured type-changed Pokémon for the first time in the game’s history. These unique Pokémon were a huge success, and as a result, they frequently appeared in the following sets: Holon Phantoms, Crystal Guardians, and Dragon Frontiers.
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While these cards may not reach the monetary heights of cards from, say, 2003’s Skyridge or the iconic cards from 1999’s Base Set, they are still extremely intriguing due to the changes in typing and the fact that the Delta Species cards are also dual types – a feature that debuted in the 2004 Team Magma vs. Team Aqua set.
The card prices listed are all based on PriceCharting’s median retail value over the past calendar year and may fluctuate over time. Many of the cards included here do not have median values on TCGPlayer.com due to their immense rarity.
10 Aquana – Holofoil rare
Market price: 48.61 USD
Even though the Eeveelution cards from Delta Species are not among the most valuable Eeveelution cards of all time, they are definitely among the most valuable cards in their own set.
Eeveelutions are always extremely popular, and Eevee’s Water evolution is leading the way – this time as a dual-type Water/Metal Pokémon card. This Vaporeon’s second attack dealt an impressive (for the time) 50 damage for three Energy, and if your opponent’s Pokémon didn’t have enough Energy, this attack could keep them at bay indefinitely.
9 Espeon – Holofoil Rare
Market Price: $49.00
Eevee’s evolution from Water-type is followed by its Psychic-type Espeon. In its “Delta Species” form, this Espeon is of course both Psychic-type and Metal-type – an interesting combination that certainly affects the price of this card at nearly $50.
This card also features a fascinating piece of artwork by Ryo Ueda, featuring an unusual bird’s eye view of Espeon walking across what looks like a bridge over sickly green water. Unusual and a real eye-catcher.
8 Umbreon – Holofoil Rare
Market Price: $50.00
Although this card is not mentioned on the Pokémon TCG cards with their story, this Umbreon card features striking artwork by Ryo Ueda that appears to show Eevee evolving into a Dark-type as it strolls along the same bridge that Espeon is on.
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What are they planning? Fighting? Are they planning to overthrow their trainers? Whatever the case, this standard holofoil Umbreon will cost you 50 on the secondary market.
7 Mewtwo – Holofoil Rare
Market price: 50.81 USD
Mewtwo is always a popular subject when it comes to Pokémon TCG cards, but you’ve never seen one like this before. This Mewtwo is a Fire/Metal-type Pokémon and features impressive artwork (also by set all-star Ryo Ueda) that shows an energetic, fuchsia-colored Mewtwo ready to pummel an unsuspecting Pokémon or Trainer.
This card’s ability and attack also complement each other well, although the ratio of only dealing damage to the opponent ten times the amount of energy spent was pretty weak back then and is more or less laughable by today’s standards.
6 Dragonite – Holofoil Rare
Market price: 53.59 USD
Another card with great artwork from 3D specialist Ryo Ueda in Delta Species. Dratini’s final evolution is shown here in full flight and slightly shimmering – perhaps representing this Dragonite’s dual Lightning and Metal typing.
In terms of gameplay, Dragonite features the ever-popular (and powerful) Agility attack, which grants the monster immunity to all damage and effects from an opponent’s attack on the next turn if it wins the coin flip.
5 Flamara – Holofoil Rare
Market price: 61.09 USD
Another Eeveelution graces this list, and this time it’s Flareon, although Flareon’s “Delta Species” makes it a dual Fire/Metal type in this case. It’s not every day that you get to see Mewtwo and Flareon share the same combination!
Featuring striking, action-packed art by Kouki Saitou, this card costs $20 more than its counterpart Flareon ex, which is technically a higher rarity (Ultra Rare) than this card. Perhaps it’s the flat holofoil method that gives this card its $60+ price tag.
4 Umbreon – Reverse Holofoil Rare
Market price: 85.83 USD
Another reverse holofoil with a price tag in the triple digits, this Umbreon is almost identical in design to the standard holofoil that sells for $50 on the secondary market—but the Pokémon’s name and HP are both gold instead of black.
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While over $85 is nothing to sneeze at, the value of this card pales in comparison to the top three cards on this list.
3 Groudon Star – Holofoil Rare
Market price: 294.65 USD
The box art monster from Pokémon Ruby (and Omega Ruby) gets its first-ever shiny variant within the TCG with Delta Species, and due to the popularity of shiny forms—especially with legendary mons—the price of this card is stratospheric compared to the previous seven cards on this list.
With striking, frame-breaking artwork and a striking Cosmos holofoil style that fills the entire card, it’s no surprise that this card is still worth nearly $300 nearly 20 years after its release.
Market Price: $335.00
Another shiny variant thanks to its “star” treatment, this pseudo-legendary (also known as a “Powerhouse Pokemon,” which may be the official name for such Pokemon) Metal-type Pokemon features the amazingly shiny form of Metagross, which replaces its teal and silver colors with a glittery color scheme of silver and gold.
These Star Cards also feature impressive illustrations, an impressive foil method, and impressively powerful attacks (for the time) – notably, like previous Shining cards, this card is a Basic Pokémon and does not need to be evolved to be played.
1 Kyogre Star – Holofoil rare
Market price: 433.04 USD
By far the most valuable Delta Species card is Kyogre Star, which features a shiny version of the box art monster from Pokemon Sapphire (and Alpha Sapphire). This card is worth almost $100 more than the second most valuable, so you know this is a top-notch hunting card.
Featuring superb artwork by Masakazu Fukuda depicting a shiny Kyogre breaking through the ocean, this card showcases the truly superb design of Star TCG cards. Beautiful full foils combined with synergistic attacks and fantastic artwork make this card a true masterpiece of a Pokemon TCG card and it’s well worth its $400+ price tag.
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