Despite being widely considered one of the weakest Pokémon,the Magikarp card from the 2023 Paldea Evolved set is experiencing a significant surge in value. Magikarp 203/193 has seen its market price jump over $100 in the last two weeks, currently valued at $405 as of October 3, 2025.
According to data from TCGplayer, the card was valued at $296 on September 19, 2025. This represents a $109 increase in just fourteen days.
The artwork for this particular Magikarp card is by Shinji Kanda, an artist whose work has previously seen rapid increases in collector value. Demand for cards illustrated by Kanda is driven by the expectation that their signature style will continue to appreciate over time.
In-game, this Magikarp boasts only 30HP and an attack, Expert Splasher, that deals a base 10 damage (potentially 30 with two consecutive coin flips). Its limited combat capabilities underscore the fact that its value lies entirely with collectors.
The rising price highlights a common trend in the Pokémon TCG: a card’s aesthetic appeal, rarity, and artistic merit frequently enough outweigh its competitive playability.
While valuable, this Magikarp is not the most expensive of its kind. Several other Magikarp cards currently command higher prices, as detailed in a list of the most expensive rare Pokémon cards.
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