A 2016 Luigi Pikachu #BGS Black Label has officially rewritten the modern Pokémon card market, delivering one of the most shocking price jumps the hobby has seen in years. The ultra-rare Japanese promo—released exclusively in the Luigi Pikachu Special Box during the Pokémon × Super Mario collaboration—has always been considered one of the crown jewels of modern-era collectibles. But its latest sale has pushed it into an entirely new tier of prestige.
A Promo Already Known for Scarcity
The Luigi Pikachu Special Box was a limited Japan-only release, instantly making its contents difficult to obtain for collectors outside the region. Even loose cards from the set command high prices due to their crossover appeal—Pokémon fans, Mario fans, and sealed collectors all compete for the same supply.
But a BGS Black Label 10 is a different story.
Only two copies have ever earned the flawless Black Label designation, representing absolute perfection across centering, corners, surface, and edges. With such microscopic supply, the card already sat at the upper echelon of modern Pokémon grails.
A Historic Sales Spike
Just two months ago, a Black Label Luigi Pikachu sold for $12,000, a number that felt strong but reasonable given the card’s rarity. Most collectors assumed that price would stand as a benchmark for some time.
Then came this week’s sale on Fanatics Collect, which shocked the hobby:
Final Price: $216,000
The sale represents a 1,700% increase over the last recorded Black Label sale and obliterates the prior high of $30,000 set last year. For a modern promo card—and not a vintage WotC-era piece—to command this level of demand is almost unprecedented.
Why This Matters
This sale is more than an outlier. It signals:
Growing demand for crossover-era Pokémon promos, especially those tied to cultural icons like Super Mario.
An increasing premium on top-of-the-top grades, as collectors chase the rarest possible versions of popular cards.
A shift in the modern Pokémon market, where certain iconic promos are now rivaling vintage prices.
The Luigi Pikachu’s meteoric rise mirrors the broader trend of collectors flocking to character-based, nostalgia-heavy chase cards that represent unique moments in Pokémon history.
A New Modern Grail?
With only two Black Labels in existence—and the latest selling for six figures—the 2016 Luigi Pikachu now joins elite company alongside cards like the 2017 Ash’s Pikachu promos, the Mario Pikachu PSA 10s, and other high-profile modern releases.
Collectors are now watching to see whether this sale was a perfect storm of timing and demand… or if this card has officially entered long-term grail territory.
Either way, the Luigi Pikachu Black Label has made its mark:
modern Pokémon collecting may never look the same again.
