How Much Is a Quilava Card Worth in 2026?
Quilava is the classic middle child. As the second stage of the Cyndaquil line, it sits between one of the most beloved starters Pokémon has ever made and the powerful Typhlosion it grows into, a final form that gained fresh attention with its Hisuian version in Legends Arceus. The little fire weasel in the middle rarely gets a look.
Its cards follow that pattern. Quilava has a small, mostly affordable catalog, and collectors chasing this Johto line almost always want a Cyndaquil or a Typhlosion instead. But the middle stage holds one quietly rewarding card of its own.
That card is the Neo Genesis 1st Edition, a cheap Johto rare that climbs to around $114 in a PSA 10. Here is the full Quilava lineup, why that old card is worth grading, and where the rest of the value lands.
Quilava card value 2026: the top variants ranked
The prices below come from 2026 PSA and eBay sales, cross-checked with Sports Card Investor and PriceCharting. Quilava's Neo Genesis card has a small graded population, so its top figure carries a wide range.
| Rank | Card | Set (Year) | Raw NM | PSA 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quilava #46 / #47 1st Edition | Neo Genesis (2000) | ~$4.50–$10 | ~$100–$114 |
| 2 | Quilava #46 Unlimited | Neo Genesis (2000) | $2–$4 | ~$40–$60 (est) |
| 3 | Quilava Holo | Japanese Neo Genesis (2000) | $5–$10 (est) | ~$60 (est) |
| 4 | Quilava holo and rare | Expedition, EX Sandstorm, Dragon Frontiers | $2–$6 | $30–$60 (est) |
| 5 | Quilava | Call of Legends, XY BREAKthrough | $1–$3 | $15–$30 (est) |
| 6 | Modern commons and reverse holos | Various | $0.20–$2 | $10–$20 |
Quilava's Neo Genesis 1st Edition value 2026
The centerpiece is the 2000 Neo Genesis 1st Edition Quilava, which comes in two numbered versions from the set. Raw copies are cheap, around $4.50 to $10, but a clean PSA 10 has reached roughly $100 to $114, a multiple of fifteen to twenty-five times.
What makes it interesting is the low graded population. Few collectors bother submitting a five-dollar rare, so gem-mint copies are scarce, and cards like this can appreciate as grading activity grows. The catch is that Neo non-holos need near-perfect centering and surface to gem.
Quilava's Unlimited, Japanese, and vintage value 2026
The Neo Genesis Unlimited Quilava is the budget version, a few dollars raw with a PSA 10 in the $40 to $60 range, and the Japanese Neo Genesis printing is a comparable Johto-era option for import collectors.
Later vintage prints from Expedition, EX Sandstorm, and Dragon Frontiers are inexpensive holos and rares, generally $2 to $6 raw with graded copies in the $30 to $60 range. Pleasant, affordable Johto and e-Card era pickups.
Quilava's modern prints value 2026
The modern catalog is bulk. Quilava's Call of Legends, XY BREAKthrough, and newer prints, along with their reverse holos, sell from twenty cents to a couple of dollars, with graded ceilings in the teens.
None of these carry a premium. They round out a Johto binder, useful for anyone building the Cyndaquil line but not for value.
Should you grade a Quilava card in 2026?
Quilava grading is essentially one card, and it is a genuine, if modest, opportunity.
Neo Genesis 1st Edition #46 and #47:
- About $4.50 to $10 raw, with PSA 10s near $100 to $114
- A strong multiple and a low graded population, so a flawless copy is worth grading, though Neo-era centering and surface make gems hard to hit
Neo Genesis Unlimited and vintage holos:
- Cheaper, with PSA 10s in the $40 to $60 range, worth submitting only genuinely clean copies
Modern prints: not worth the fee
Which Quilava card should you actually buy in 2026?
A dollar or two: a modern print or reverse holo, the plain way to own the fire weasel.
Around $5: a raw Neo Genesis 1st Edition, cheap Johto vintage with real graded upside.
Around $10: a vintage EX-era or Expedition holo, a step up for e-Card collectors.
Around $110: a graded Neo Genesis 1st Edition, the top of the Quilava market.
The takeaway
Quilava is the kind of card most people walk past on the way to Cyndaquil or Typhlosion, and that is exactly what makes its Neo Genesis 1st Edition quietly appealing: a five-dollar Johto rare that gems into triple digits, sitting on a small graded population that leaves room to run.
Buy a cheap modern print if you just like the middle stage, and grade or chase a clean Neo Genesis 1st Edition if you want the real value, ideally as part of a full Cyndaquil line. As an investment it is a small, condition-driven vintage bet, so let centering, not enthusiasm, decide what you submit.
FAQ
What is the most valuable Quilava card?
The 2000 Neo Genesis 1st Edition, worth about $4.50 to $10 raw and around $100 to $114 in a PSA 10. It comes in two numbered versions, both from the same Johto-era set.
Why is a cheap Neo Genesis Quilava worth so much graded?
Because almost nobody grades a five-dollar rare, gem-mint copies are scarce, which pushes the PSA 10 into triple digits. The low graded population is also why the card may have room to appreciate as more collectors submit.
Should I grade my Quilava?
Only the Neo Genesis 1st Edition, and only on a near-perfect copy, since Neo non-holos need excellent centering and surface to gem. Unlimited and vintage holos are borderline, and modern prints are not worth the fee.
What does Quilava evolve into?
Quilava evolves from Cyndaquil and into Typhlosion, the Johto Fire starter line. Typhlosion also has a Hisuian form from Legends Arceus, which renewed interest in the whole line.
Should I collect the Cyndaquil line?
Many collectors do, since Cyndaquil is a fan-favorite starter and Typhlosion a strong final form. Pairing both with a Neo Genesis Quilava makes an affordable, cohesive Johto line with one graded centerpiece.
