Pikachu Illustrator vs Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind: which is the better Pokémon TCG investment?

Comparing Pikachu Illustrator (Vintage Promos & Trophies, 1998) and Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind (Vintage Promos & Trophies, 1999) as Pokémon TCG investments. PSA 10 bands, risk, and upside compared.

Pikachu IllustratorTropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind
SetVintage Promos & Trophies (1998)Vintage Promos & Trophies (1999)
RarityTrophy PromoTrophy Promo
PSA 10 band$1,000,000-$6,000,000$25,000-$80,000
Raw band$300,000-$1,000,000$5,000-$15,000
Risk levelLowLow
Investment score5/55/5

Pikachu Illustrator

The single most valuable Pokémon card ever made. Awarded to winners of a 1998 CoroCoro Comic illustration contest in Japan. Estimated 39 copies known to exist; ~7 confirmed PSA 10. Logan Paul famously paid $5.275M for a PSA 10 in 2022.

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Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind

Awarded to top finishers at the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle in Hawaii. Print run estimated under 50 copies. One of the rarest playable Pokémon cards in existence.

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Detailed comparison coming soon.