{
  "url": "https://www.moonstonehq.com/articles/the-commons-that-are-not-bulk",
  "slug": "the-commons-that-are-not-bulk",
  "title": "The Commons That Are Not Bulk: 315 Set Commons Are Worth $5 or More, and Every Skyridge Common Is One of Them",
  "summary": "We priced 5,153 English commons from regular sets. The median is 24 cents and half sit under a quarter, which is what bulk means. But 315 of them are worth $5 or more, 77 are worth $25 or more, and six clear $100, led by an Aquapolis Psyduck at $204 and a Skyridge Pikachu at $176. Three e-Reader sets supply half of the list: all 73 Skyridge commons are $5 cards, with a median of $25. The rest of the money is holo basic energy, a run of Delta Species Dittos, and the starters. Since 2014 exactly five commons from the main-line sets have reached $5, and one 2016 side set adds twelve more. Here is the top of the bulk pile, sorted.",
  "section": "Buyer's Guide",
  "published": "2026-09-14",
  "readMinutes": 8,
  "publisher": "moonstone",
  "findings": [
    {
      "value": "$0.24",
      "measures": "median English set common",
      "basis": "5,153 priced; half under $0.25, 73% under $0.50"
    },
    {
      "value": "315",
      "measures": "set commons worth $5 or more",
      "basis": "6.1%; 182 at $10+, 77 at $25+, 6 at $100+"
    },
    {
      "value": "73 of 73",
      "measures": "Skyridge commons at $5 or more",
      "basis": "median $25.31, the deepest common set by far"
    },
    {
      "value": "5",
      "measures": "main-line commons printed since 2014 worth $5 or more",
      "basis": "out of 3,116 XY, Sun & Moon, Sword & Shield, Scarlet & Violet and Mega commons; the 2016 Generations side set adds 12 of its 41"
    }
  ],
  "tables": [
    {
      "title": "The 20 most valuable English set commons by recorded market price (2026-09-14)",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "Number",
        "Market",
        "Illustrator"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Psyduck](/card/ecard2-104)",
          "Set": "[Aquapolis](/set/aquapolis)",
          "Number": "104/147",
          "Market": "$204.13",
          "Illustrator": "Keiko Fukuyama"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Pikachu](/card/ecard3-84)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "84/144",
          "Market": "$175.89",
          "Illustrator": "Yuka Morii"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Darkness Energy](/card/col1-94)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Number": "94/95",
          "Market": "$149.98",
          "Illustrator": ""
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Snorlax](/card/ecard3-100)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "100/144",
          "Market": "$149.21",
          "Illustrator": "Naoyo Kimura"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Water Energy](/card/col1-90)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Number": "90/95",
          "Market": "$145.79",
          "Illustrator": ""
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Lightning Energy](/card/col1-91)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Number": "91/95",
          "Market": "$114.59",
          "Illustrator": ""
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Magikarp](/card/ecard3-75)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "75/144",
          "Market": "$94.73",
          "Illustrator": "Keiko Fukuyama"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Swinub](/card/ecard3-107)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "107/144",
          "Market": "$88.74",
          "Illustrator": "Yuka Morii"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Meowth](/card/ecard3-78)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "78/144",
          "Market": "$84.99",
          "Illustrator": "Keiko Fukuyama"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Ditto](/card/ecard3-51)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "51/144",
          "Market": "$82.84",
          "Illustrator": "Tomokazu Komiya"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Grass Energy](/card/col1-88)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Number": "88/95",
          "Market": "$78.70",
          "Illustrator": ""
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Ditto](/card/ex11-63)",
          "Set": "Delta Species",
          "Number": "63/113",
          "Market": "$78.66",
          "Illustrator": "Yuka Morii"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Golbat](/card/ecard3-60)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "60/144",
          "Market": "$77.66",
          "Illustrator": "Tomokazu Komiya"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Psychic Energy](/card/col1-92)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Number": "92/95",
          "Market": "$77.46",
          "Illustrator": ""
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Bulbasaur](/card/ecard1-95)",
          "Set": "[Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)",
          "Number": "95/165",
          "Market": "$66.99",
          "Illustrator": "Tomokazu Komiya"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Cubone](/card/ecard1-103)",
          "Set": "[Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)",
          "Number": "103/165",
          "Market": "$64.53",
          "Illustrator": "Tomokazu Komiya"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Fire Energy](/card/col1-89)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Number": "89/95",
          "Market": "$61.96",
          "Illustrator": ""
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Ditto](/card/ex11-64)",
          "Set": "Delta Species",
          "Number": "64/113",
          "Market": "$61.52",
          "Illustrator": "Yuka Morii"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Haunter](/card/ecard3-63)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Number": "63/144",
          "Market": "$58.69",
          "Illustrator": "Kyoko Umemoto"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Darkness Energy](/card/hgss1-121)",
          "Set": "[HeartGold SoulSilver](/set/heartgold%20soulsilver)",
          "Number": "121/123",
          "Market": "$56.21",
          "Illustrator": ""
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Sets whose commons are worth the most, English regular sets with 10 or more priced commons, by median common price: the top ten, with Base Set added for comparison from 14th",
      "columns": [
        "Set",
        "Era",
        "Priced commons",
        "Median common",
        "Commons at $5+",
        "All commons summed"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "73",
          "Median common": "$25.31",
          "Commons at $5+": "73",
          "All commons summed": "$2,378"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Aquapolis](/set/aquapolis)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "54",
          "Median common": "$9.36",
          "Commons at $5+": "48",
          "All commons summed": "$880"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "55",
          "Median common": "$6.34",
          "Commons at $5+": "31",
          "All commons summed": "$722"
        },
        {
          "Set": "Team Rocket Returns",
          "Era": "EX",
          "Priced commons": "32",
          "Median common": "$2.55",
          "Commons at $5+": "8",
          "All commons summed": "$131"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[HeartGold SoulSilver](/set/heartgold%20soulsilver)",
          "Era": "HGSS",
          "Priced commons": "40",
          "Median common": "$2.23",
          "Commons at $5+": "11",
          "All commons summed": "$309"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Gym Challenge](/set/gym%20challenge)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "49",
          "Median common": "$1.58",
          "Commons at $5+": "4",
          "All commons summed": "$117"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Neo Destiny](/set/neo%20destiny)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "33",
          "Median common": "$1.41",
          "Commons at $5+": "5",
          "All commons summed": "$123"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Gym Heroes](/set/gym%20heroes)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "48",
          "Median common": "$1.38",
          "Commons at $5+": "1",
          "All commons summed": "$80"
        },
        {
          "Set": "Delta Species",
          "Era": "EX",
          "Priced commons": "34",
          "Median common": "$1.36",
          "Commons at $5+": "8",
          "All commons summed": "$284"
        },
        {
          "Set": "Sandstorm",
          "Era": "EX",
          "Priced commons": "33",
          "Median common": "$1.34",
          "Commons at $5+": "4",
          "All commons summed": "$87"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Base Set](/set/base%20set)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Priced commons": "38",
          "Median common": "$0.97",
          "Commons at $5+": "2",
          "All commons summed": "$63"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "The eleven basic energy cards worth the most, English regular sets",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "Market",
        "PSA 9 sold median"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Darkness Energy](/card/col1-94)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$149.98",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$250 (3 sales)"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Water Energy](/card/col1-90)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$145.79",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Lightning Energy](/card/col1-91)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$114.59",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Fairy Energy](/card/sm3-169)",
          "Set": "[Burning Shadows](/set/burning%20shadows)",
          "Market": "$88.91",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$160 (9 sales)"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Grass Energy](/card/col1-88)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$78.70",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$250 (5 sales)"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Psychic Energy](/card/col1-92)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$77.46",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Fire Energy](/card/col1-89)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$61.96",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$166.50 (3 sales)"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Basic Darkness Energy](/card/sv06.5-098)",
          "Set": "[Shrouded Fable](/set/shrouded%20fable)",
          "Market": "$60.09",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$41 (5 sales)"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Darkness Energy](/card/hgss1-121)",
          "Set": "[HeartGold SoulSilver](/set/heartgold%20soulsilver)",
          "Market": "$56.21",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$128.80 (6 sales)"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Darkness Energy](/card/sm3-168)",
          "Set": "[Burning Shadows](/set/burning%20shadows)",
          "Market": "$54.33",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Metal Energy](/card/col1-95)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Market": "$51.32",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Species whose set commons are worth the most, 8 or more priced English set commons",
      "columns": [
        "Species",
        "Commons",
        "Median",
        "Commons at $5+",
        "Most valuable"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Species": "Bulbasaur",
          "Commons": "15",
          "Median": "$4.78",
          "Commons at $5+": "7",
          "Most valuable": "$66.99, [Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Squirtle",
          "Commons": "20",
          "Median": "$3.94",
          "Commons at $5+": "8",
          "Most valuable": "$53.68, [Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Pikachu",
          "Commons": "44",
          "Median": "$3.54",
          "Commons at $5+": "20",
          "Most valuable": "$175.89, [Skyridge](/set/skyridge)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Mudkip",
          "Commons": "12",
          "Median": "$3.11",
          "Commons at $5+": "4",
          "Most valuable": "$11.12, [Great Encounters](/set/great%20encounters)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Wooper",
          "Commons": "12",
          "Median": "$2.94",
          "Commons at $5+": "2",
          "Most valuable": "$50.87, [Aquapolis](/set/aquapolis)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Psyduck",
          "Commons": "20",
          "Median": "$2.53",
          "Commons at $5+": "9",
          "Most valuable": "$204.13, [Aquapolis](/set/aquapolis)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Charmander",
          "Commons": "27",
          "Median": "$2.15",
          "Commons at $5+": "8",
          "Most valuable": "$52.84, [Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Cyndaquil",
          "Commons": "15",
          "Median": "$2.07",
          "Commons at $5+": "2",
          "Most valuable": "$21.22, [Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Piplup",
          "Commons": "13",
          "Median": "$1.87",
          "Commons at $5+": "2",
          "Most valuable": "$6.87, [Majestic Dawn](/set/majestic%20dawn)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Slowpoke",
          "Commons": "25",
          "Median": "$1.70",
          "Commons at $5+": "7",
          "Most valuable": "$30.79, [Aquapolis](/set/aquapolis)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Chikorita",
          "Commons": "15",
          "Median": "$1.46",
          "Commons at $5+": "3",
          "Most valuable": "$14.59, [Generations](/set/generations)"
        },
        {
          "Species": "Eevee",
          "Commons": "39",
          "Median": "$1.37",
          "Commons at $5+": "6",
          "Most valuable": "$51.04, [Skyridge](/set/skyridge)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "PSA sold medians for the commons and uncommons named in this piece (English regular sets; latest snapshot with 3+ verified sales; 787 cards in the universe carry such a snapshot)",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Raw market",
        "PSA 10 sold median",
        "PSA 9 sold median",
        "PSA slabs on the registry"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Psyduck (Aquapolis)](/card/ecard2-104)",
          "Raw market": "$204.13",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$1,232.50 (12)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$754.80 (37)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "550"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Snorlax (Skyridge)](/card/ecard3-100)",
          "Raw market": "$149.21",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$2,119.36 (11)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$437.50 (25)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "758"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Squirtle (Expedition)](/card/ecard1-131)",
          "Raw market": "$53.68",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$829.97 (13)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$202.75 (19)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "487"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Ditto (Delta Species, uncommon)](/card/ex11-36)",
          "Raw market": "$127.17",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$2,875 (5)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$377.60 (16)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "345"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Light Jolteon (Neo Destiny, uncommon)](/card/neo4-48)",
          "Raw market": "$85.08",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$770 (6)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$180 (6)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "776"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Eevee (Skyridge)](/card/ecard3-54)",
          "Raw market": "$51.04",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$485 (3)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "458"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Swinub (Skyridge)](/card/ecard3-107)",
          "Raw market": "$88.74",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$331.25 (3)",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "n/a",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "113"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Pikachu (Skyridge)](/card/ecard3-84)",
          "Raw market": "$175.89",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "n/a",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$351 (15)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "677"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Pikachu (Furious Fists)](/card/xy3-27)",
          "Raw market": "$5.46",
          "PSA 10 sold median": "n/a",
          "PSA 9 sold median": "$188.49 (18)",
          "PSA slabs on the registry": "183"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "charts": [
    {
      "title": "Share of set commons worth $5 or more, by era",
      "unit": "%",
      "note": "English regular sets; the count of commons at $5+ over the priced commons in each era. Generations is a 2016 side set outside the era prefixes and is shown on its own",
      "points": [
        {
          "label": "WotC (1999 to 2003)",
          "value": 31.8,
          "basis": "170 of 535"
        },
        {
          "label": "EX (2003 to 2007)",
          "value": 11.8,
          "basis": "57 of 484"
        },
        {
          "label": "HeartGold SoulSilver",
          "value": 14.6,
          "basis": "23 of 158"
        },
        {
          "label": "Diamond & Pearl",
          "value": 8.8,
          "basis": "38 of 433"
        },
        {
          "label": "Black & White",
          "value": 2.6,
          "basis": "10 of 386"
        },
        {
          "label": "Generations (2016 side set)",
          "value": 29.3,
          "basis": "12 of 41"
        },
        {
          "label": "XY",
          "value": 0.2,
          "basis": "1 of 406"
        },
        {
          "label": "Sun & Moon",
          "value": 0.6,
          "basis": "4 of 634"
        },
        {
          "label": "Sword & Shield",
          "value": 0,
          "basis": "0 of 709"
        },
        {
          "label": "Scarlet & Violet",
          "value": 0,
          "basis": "0 of 1,092"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mega Evolution",
          "value": 0,
          "basis": "0 of 275"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sections": [
    "Bulk is real, and it has a thin gold rim",
    "Three e-Reader sets, one set of energy, one Ditto",
    "Skyridge commons are worth 26 Base Set commons",
    "Since 2014, five main-line commons have reached $5",
    "The most valuable common in HeartGold SoulSilver is a basic Darkness Energy",
    "A common Bulbasaur is worth twenty commons",
    "A $204 common is a $1,233 slab"
  ],
  "method": [
    "Universe: English cards in our catalog whose catalog rarity is Common (or Uncommon where stated), from regular sets with a printed total of 60 or more, excluding sets whose names mark them as promos, kits, decks, collections, box sets or event products (that name filter also removed Legendary Collection and Team Magma vs Team Aqua, about 68 commons between them); 5,153 commons and 4,686 uncommons with a recorded market price. The 1,024 English promo and kit cards labelled Common were measured separately and excluded (see the callout). Market price is the median of our recorded daily TCGplayer market price for the flagship printing over the eleven daily buckets to 2026-09-14; reverse holo and first edition printings are not separate rows here. Era follows the set prefix. One English set falls outside those prefixes and is excluded from the universe: the 2026 anniversary set 30th Celebration, whose three priced commons in this window all read the pre-release $49.99 placeholder that collapsed to about 40 cents when the set opened on September 16; they sit in the 1,024 excluded rows below rather than in the 5,153. Including them would put the $5-and-over count at 318 and the $25-and-over count at 80. Medians are the mean of the two middle values on even samples. Per-set and per-species rows require the stated minimum count; species groups match on the card name with any parenthetical suffix removed. The set comparison takes each set's most valuable common against the median price of every card in the set above uncommon, rare through secret, over 121 sets with at least 10 priced commons and 5 such cards. PSA sold medians are the latest snapshot in our graded tape with three or more verified eBay sales; registry counts are the latest PSA population snapshot per card, and a PSA 10 count of zero is treated as unrecorded. Illustrator names come from the catalog and are blank for energy cards. Recorded prices for thin cards can rest on very few sales and move on one relisting. Not financial advice."
  ],
  "terms": "Figures are moonstone's own recorded measurements, dated as published. Quote them with the population stated beside them. The article at `url` is the human form of this file."
}