Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres have been the same three Pokemon since Pocket Monster Red & Green in 1996. What changed, decades later, is that each of them now has a second identity on the shelf — Galarian Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno, introduced through the Crown Tundra expansion for Pokemon Sword & Shield in October 2020, with a completely different type and a completely different look for each. Pull a modern Japanese pack and you might get either version, and the two forms don’t sit at the same price level.
This guide covers all six legendary-bird cards — original Kanto and Galarian-form prints across five different Japanese sets — with the actual card numbers, sets, and current status for each. We ship every one of them from Tokyo with tracked delivery.
This guide’s six PSA 10 prints span five Japanese sets, covering both original Kanto and Galarian-form birds. The only one still listed as a physical single is Zapdos ex SAR (204/165, Pokemon Card 151), currently listed at ¥25,166 (~$163) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order). The other five are available as PSA 10 back orders, from ¥6,365 (~$41) up to ¥16,320 (~$106).
- Five of the six prints in this guide are available as PSA 10 back orders rather than graded listings on hand at the time of this update; Zapdos ex SAR (204/165) is the only one still listed as a physical PSA 10 single.
- SNKRDUNK lowest asking prices, September 24, 2026: Zapdos ex SAR raw ¥7,800 / PSA 10 ¥24,500; Articuno AR raw ¥1,000 / PSA 10 ¥6,400; Galarian Zapdos V raw ¥6,555 / PSA 10 ¥16,400; Galarian Articuno V raw ¥7,300 / PSA 10 ¥14,999.
- For the set behind our currently listed Zapdos ex SAR, see our Pokemon Card 151 (SV2a) card list.
Prices below are our own listed and back-order prices in Japanese yen, current as of September 24, 2026. USD figures convert at ¥154/USD, approximate.
The Six Legendary-Bird Prints in This Guide
Six graded PSA 10 singles, ranked by current listed or back-order price:
| Card | Set / Number | Year | Status (September 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapdos ex SAR (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) | Pokemon Card 151 (SV2a), 204/165 | 2023 | Currently listed at ¥25,166 (~$163) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Galarian Zapdos V SA | S5a, 076/070 | 2021 | Not currently priced as a graded single — back order ¥16,320 (~$106) |
| Galarian Articuno V SA | S5a, 074/070 | 2021 | Not currently priced as a graded single — back order ¥15,299 (~$99) |
| Galarian Moltres AR AR | VSTAR Universe (S12a), 190/172 | 2022 | Sold out — back order ¥11,200 (~$73) |
| Galarian Moltres V CSR | VMAX Climax (S8b), 242/184 | 2021 | Sold out — back order ¥6,479 (~$42) |
| Articuno AR | Battle Partners (SV9), 102/100 | 2025 | Available as a PSA 10 back order at ¥6,365 (~$41) |
Below, each bird gets its own section covering both identities where this guide includes both.
The 1996 Debut: Original Kanto Birds
Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres debuted in Pocket Monster Red & Green in 1996, and the Japanese Pokemon TCG got them early. Zapdos appeared as a Rare Holo in the original 1996 Expansion Pack (the Japanese counterpart to the English Base Set), while all three birds appeared together as Rare Holo cards in Mystery of the Fossils (the Japanese counterpart to the English Fossil set).
We weren’t able to confirm the individual 1996 card numbers or artwork for that first print run against a primary source, so this guide doesn’t state them. What follows instead is a full accounting of the six legendary-bird cards covered in this guide, starting with the most recent original-form printing and working through each bird’s Galarian counterpart.
Source: Zapdos (TCG) – Bulbapedia
Articuno: Kanto AR and the Galarian V
This guide covers both Articuno identities: the original Kanto bird in its newest Japanese printing (2025), and the Galarian form from four years earlier (2021).
Articuno (AR), card 102/100, comes from Battle Partners (SV9), released January 24, 2025 — a 132-card set where 102/100 sits in the AR slot outside the main 100-card run. HP 110, typed Water in TCG terms (Ice-type Pokemon use the Water energy type under the TCG’s own system), with the moves “つめたいはばたき” and “アイスブラスト,” illustrated by Kuroimori. It’s offered as a PSA 10 back order at ¥6,365 (~$41) — sourced to order; the product page shows the current terms. The lowest asking price on SNKRDUNK on September 24, 2026 was ¥1,000 raw / ¥6,400 PSA 10.
Galarian Articuno V, card 074/070, sits in an 84-card set known as S5a, released March 19, 2021. HP 210, typed Psychic — consistent with Galarian Articuno’s in-game Psychic/Flying typing. It’s not currently priced as a graded listing at the time of this update; it’s offered instead as a PSA 10 back order at ¥15,299 (~$99); the lowest SNKRDUNK ask on September 24, 2026 was ¥7,300 raw / ¥14,999 PSA 10.
You may see S5a’s English-derived set title rendered as “Peerless Fighters” in some listings and “Matchless Fighters” in card databases. We haven’t been able to confirm which is the accurate rendering of the original Japanese title, so this guide refers to it by its official set code, S5a, throughout.
Zapdos: The Pokemon Card 151 SAR and Its Galarian Counterpart
Zapdos ex, card 204/165, is the priciest legendary bird in this guide and the only one still listed as a physical graded single. It comes from Pokemon Card 151 (SV2a), released June 16, 2023 as a 210-card set. HP 200, Lightning type, with an ability (“ボルトフロート”) that drops its Retreat Cost to 0 whenever a Lightning Energy is attached, and an attack (“いなずまれんだん”) that deals 120 damage to the Active Pokemon plus 90 to one of the opponent’s Benched Pokemon.
Galarian Zapdos V, card 076/070, comes from the same S5a set as Galarian Articuno V above, released the same day (March 19, 2021). HP 200, typed Fighting — matching Galarian Zapdos’s in-game Fighting/Flying typing — with an ability that lowers its attack’s Colorless Energy cost by one for every V Pokemon your opponent has in play, and an attack dealing 170 damage. Illustrated by Akira Komayama. It’s not currently priced as a graded listing at the time of this update; it’s offered instead as a PSA 10 back order at ¥16,320 (~$106); the lowest SNKRDUNK ask on September 24, 2026 was ¥6,555 raw / ¥16,400 PSA 10.
Moltres: Two Galarian Prints, No Original Kanto Print Listed
Moltres is the one bird where the prints in this guide don’t include an original (non-Galarian) print — both Moltres cards covered here are the Dark-typed Galarian form, and both are sold out as graded listings at the time of this update.
Galarian Moltres V, card 242/184, comes from VMAX Climax (S8b), released December 3, 2021 as a 277-card set. HP 220, Dark type, illustrated by Jiro Sasumo, at the CSR (Character Super Rare) rarity tier. It’s offered as a PSA 10 back order at ¥6,479 (~$42).
Galarian Moltres, card 190/172, comes from VSTAR Universe (S12a), released December 2, 2022 as a 254-card set. HP 120, Dark type, illustrated by Shinji Kanda, with an ability that, when you play it from your hand onto the Bench, lets you attach up to two Darkness Energy from your hand to this Pokemon, and an attack dealing 20 damage plus 50 more for every Prize card the opponent has already taken. Per the card database we use, this Galarian Moltres artwork has multiple international reprints across Sword & Shield-era promos and Evolving Skies. It’s offered as a PSA 10 back order at ¥11,200 (~$73).
If a graded original Moltres joins our lineup, sealed VSTAR Universe or Pokemon Card 151 product remains the closest route to pulling one of the era-appropriate Kanto birds yourself in the meantime.
Galarian Moltres, Zapdos & Articuno: Why the Forms Look Nothing Like the Originals
The Galarian versions of Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres were introduced through the Crown Tundra expansion for Pokemon Sword & Shield, released in October 2020 — more than two decades after the originals. The games gave each bird a new typing on top of the redesign, and that typing carries straight through to the TCG cards above.
Bulbapedia confirms Galarian Zapdos as Fighting/Flying type in the games. Based on the TCG card typing shown in this guide — Psychic for Galarian Articuno V and Dark for both Galarian Moltres cards — the implied in-game typing is Psychic/Flying for Galarian Articuno and Dark/Flying for Galarian Moltres, though we haven’t independently confirmed those two against a primary source the way we did for Zapdos.
That retyping is exactly why Galarian Articuno V, Galarian Zapdos V and both Galarian Moltres cards above read as Psychic, Fighting and Dark on their card text, while the original Kanto Articuno AR and Zapdos ex SAR keep the more familiar Water and Lightning typing the TCG has used for these birds since the 1990s.
Which Bird Fits Your Budget
Working from the six prints above, here’s how a legendary-bird purchase breaks down by spend as of September 24, 2026:
- Under ¥7,000 — Articuno AR back order at ¥6,365 or Galarian Moltres V CSR back order at ¥6,479. The two most affordable of the six, both back-order prints rather than graded listings on hand.
- ¥11,000–¥16,500 — Galarian Moltres AR back order at ¥11,200, Galarian Articuno V back order at ¥15,299, or Galarian Zapdos V back order at ¥16,320.
- ¥25,000+ — Zapdos ex SAR at ¥25,166 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), the only legendary bird in this guide still listed as a physical PSA 10 single, and the only SAR-tier card among the six.
Confirm the exact card number and set against the listing or back-order page before ordering — several of these birds share very similar names across different sets and rarities.
Where to Buy Legendary Bird Cards from Japan
We ship graded Japanese singles out of Tokyo with tracked delivery worldwide. For the six cards covered in this guide:
- PSA 10 Zapdos ex SAR (204/165, Pokemon Card 151) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) — currently listed at ¥25,166 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order)
- PSA 10 Galarian Zapdos V (076/070, S5a) — back order at ¥16,320
- PSA 10 Galarian Articuno V (074/070, S5a) — back order at ¥15,299
- PSA 10 Galarian Moltres AR (190/172, VSTAR Universe) — back order at ¥11,200
- PSA 10 Galarian Moltres V CSR (242/184, VMAX Climax) — back order at ¥6,479
- PSA 10 Articuno AR (102/100, Battle Partners) — offered as a PSA 10 back order at ¥6,365 (~$41) — sourced to order; the product page shows the current terms
Browse the wider graded catalog on our PSA 10 collection, or use our Quick Order page for a mixed order or a printing not listed here.
If you’re building out a wider legendary-trio collection, our companion guide to the Legendary Beasts — Entei, Raikou & Suicune covers Kanto’s other classic three-Pokemon set the same way this one covers the birds. For pull-rate context on the set behind our Galarian Moltres AR print, see our VSTAR Universe pull rates guide, and for the set behind our currently listed Zapdos ex SAR, see our Pokemon Card 151 pull rates guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which legendary bird card do you currently sell for the most?
Zapdos ex SAR (204/165, Pokemon Card 151/SV2a) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), currently listed at ¥25,166 (~$163) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order). It’s the only SAR-tier card among the six legendary-bird prints in this guide, and the only one still listed as a physical graded single.
Do you currently carry an original (non-Galarian) Moltres card?
Not as a graded listing. Both Moltres cards in this guide — the VMAX Climax CSR and the VSTAR Universe AR — are the Galarian, Dark-typed form, and both are sold out as graded listings; each is offered as a PSA 10 back order (¥6,479 and ¥11,200 respectively).
What’s the difference between the Galarian birds and the original Kanto birds?
The Galarian forms were introduced through the Crown Tundra expansion for Pokemon Sword & Shield in October 2020, with new typing: Galarian Zapdos is confirmed Fighting/Flying, and the TCG card typing implies Psychic/Flying for Galarian Articuno and Dark/Flying for Galarian Moltres. The original Kanto birds use the TCG’s classic Water and Lightning-style typing instead.
What is the most affordable legendary-bird PSA 10 print in this guide?
Articuno AR (102/100, Battle Partners/SV9), offered as a PSA 10 back order at ¥6,365 (~$41).
Are the original 1996 Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres cards available from you?
Not currently. The birds’ earliest Japanese prints date to 1996–97: Zapdos in the original 1996 Expansion Pack, and all three together in Mystery of the Fossils, but we couldn’t confirm individual card numbers for those print runs, and they aren’t part of this guide’s current PSA 10 lineup. The earliest bird prints in this guide date to 2021 (the S5a Galarian V pair).
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