Moltres · Skyridge, what to know.
About the Moltres card
Numbered H20 of 182 in Skyridge, released in May 2003, Moltres is a Rare Holo, a Basic Fire-type carrying 80 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Moltres needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Illustrated by Kouki Saitou.
About Moltres in the Pokémon world
A Legendary Fire-Flying bird. The Fire of the three Legendary birds. Fossil holo Moltres completes the Legendary bird trio. Steady collector demand.
What is Moltres worth?
Moltres is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Skyridge's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Skyridge holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Moltres before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Moltres. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the fire foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Moltres
When you go to buy Moltres, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Moltres, so price the specific copy in front of you.
