What to target in Deoxys

The top 10 cards are 71% of the set’s $12,893.00 estimated singles cost — plan these first and the rest follows on a normal budget.

The value math here is stark: the overwhelming majority of the set's cost sits in a tiny cluster of cards. The Rayquaza Gold Star is the undisputed king — the single most desirable card in the set and one of the most sought-after cards of the entire EX era, commanding a premium that dwarfs almost everything else. The Latias and Latios Gold Stars trail it as the second tier of must-haves, and the Rocket's Raikou ex Secret Rare rounds out the elite group. These are cards collectors genuinely love, not just expensive checklist filler; the Gold Star artwork and mechanic gave them lasting emotional pull.

Below the Stars, the picture gets more interesting for value hunters. The Ludicolo holo punches well above its rarity slot — a fan-favorite that trades far above a typical Rare Holo. The Rayquaza ex and Deoxys ex carry solid EX-era demand, and the humble non-holo Rayquaza at number 22 is a genuine standout for how much attention a plain Rare draws. The Gyarados and Jirachi holos sit in a comfortable mid-band that rewards patient buyers. If you're not chasing Gold Stars, this second and third tier is where the enjoyable, attainable collecting lives.

#	Card	Number	Rarity	Market	PSA 10
1	Rayquaza ★	#107	Rare Holo Star	$2,500.99	$365,750.00
2	Latias ★	#105	Rare Holo Star	$2,300.00	—
3	Latios ★	#106	Rare Holo Star	$1,500.00	$32,800.00
4	Rayquaza ex	#102	Rare Holo EX	$999.00	$8,455.00
5	Rayquaza	#22	Rare	$581.92	$850.00
6	Rocket's Raikou ex	#108	Rare Secret	$349.87	$7,599.50
7	Gyarados	#8	Rare Holo	$300.00	$5,450.00
8	Jirachi	#9	Rare Holo	$253.33	$3,031.73
9	Deoxys ex	#97	Rare Holo EX	$225.49	$14,632.62
10	Deoxys	#16	Rare	$204.98	$5,100.00

How Deoxys is built

The smart way to complete Deoxys

Approach EX Deoxys as a two-speed project: the commons, uncommons and lesser holos are cheap and quick, while the top tier is a long, deliberate hunt that will define your budget and timeline. Build the base of the checklist early to feel progress, then treat the Gold Stars and the Secret Rare as separate acquisition targets you buy when the right copy and price align rather than rushing.

1. Knock out the commons and uncommons first — they're inexpensive and give you the bulk of the 107 printed cards quickly.
2. Pick up the mid-band holos next: Gyarados, Jirachi, Deoxys ex and the strong non-holo Rayquaza, which are attainable and satisfying to own.
3. Secure the Rayquaza ex and Ludicolo holo as your bridge into the high-value tier.
4. Target the Latias and Latios Gold Stars, comparing raw and graded copies carefully for centering and surface.
5. Hunt the Rayquaza Gold Star deliberately — it's the set's anchor purchase and worth waiting for the right condition.
6. Finish with the Rocket's Raikou ex Secret Rare (number 108) to complete the master set.

Collecting challenges

The difficulty here is entirely top-loaded. The base checklist is short and cheap, but the Gold Stars and Secret Rare are rare, expensive, and condition-sensitive — early-2005 holofoil is prone to swirl, edge wear and centering problems, so finding clean copies is its own challenge on top of the raw cost. Because there's no sealed product realistically in circulation, you can't rip your way toward these; every top card is a singles purchase. That makes EX Deoxys an Extreme-difficulty set not because of card count but because of the concentration and scarcity of its ceiling.

Singles or sealed?

For EX Deoxys, sealed product is effectively off the table — booster boxes and any surviving sealed configurations from 2005 are scarce, expensive and geared toward collectors of sealed goods rather than set builders. That makes singles the only sensible route for actually completing this set. The base cards are cheap enough to grab in bulk, and the chase tier is far more efficiently acquired by targeting specific graded or raw copies than by gambling on ancient packs. Let the live numbers on this page guide where a raw versus graded copy makes sense for each chase card.

Sealed product comparison

Which Deoxys cards are worth grading?

Grading pays off almost exclusively at the top of this set. The Gold Stars — particularly Latios — and the marquee EX cards like Rayquaza ex, Deoxys ex and Salamence ex carry enough value that a strong grade meaningfully separates a clean copy from a played one, and the premium justifies the fee. Sableye is a notable value pocket where grading can turn a modest card into an EV-positive submission. Because early EX-era holofoil so often shows swirl and edge chipping, high grades are genuinely scarce, which rewards the collectors who track down pristine raw copies before submitting.

Below that tier, grading generally isn't worth it — the commons, uncommons and lesser holos simply don't clear the fee, and you're better off enjoying them raw. The smart move is to reserve submissions for cards where the live EV numbers on this page show real headroom, and to be ruthless about centering and surface before you send anything, since a mediocre grade on an EX-era holo can erase the upside entirely.

Tier 1 — grade theseWorth grading

Positive expected value after ~$25 fees at live PSA prices and this set's real gem rates.

Rayquaza ★ #107raw $2,500.99 → PSA 10 $365,750.00 146.2×EV +$87,892.96Latios ★ #106raw $1,500.00 → PSA 10 $32,800.00 21.9×EV +$8,201.58Rayquaza ex #102raw $999.00 → PSA 10 $8,455.00 8.5×EV +$1,373.77Rocket's Raikou ex #108raw $349.87 → PSA 10 $7,599.50 21.7×EV +$590.00Gyarados #8raw $300.00 → PSA 10 $5,450.00 18.2×EV +$388.07Jirachi #9raw $253.33 → PSA 10 $3,031.73 12×EV +$192.39

Tier 2 — grade clean copiesClean copies only

Strong PSA 10 premium — the math works only on gem-worthy copies.

Slugma #75raw $38.60 → PSA 10 $238.58 6.2×EV +$9.94Tropius #27raw $35.09 → PSA 10 $115.62 3.3×EV −$12.03Phanpy #69raw $33.77 → PSA 10 $165.49 4.9×EV +$19.66Shroomish #72raw $30.07 → PSA 10 $178.83 5.9×EV +$19.96Nosepass #42raw $27.14 → PSA 10 $83.24 3.1×EV −$10.70Staryu #77raw $25.42 → PSA 10 $104.88 4.1×EV −$0.97

Tier 3 — personal collectionCollection only

Fees eat most of the margin. Grade to preserve a pristine pull, not for profit.

Donphan #30raw $52.97 → PSA 10 $157.48 3×EV +$20.38Swablu #79raw $47.45 → PSA 10 $135.01 2.8×EV −$18.41Shelgon #45raw $36.50 → PSA 10 $71.48 2×EV −$37.50Wingull #81raw $30.00 → PSA 10 $77.12 2.6×EV −$22.99Ludicolo #19raw $29.99 → PSA 10 $80.28 2.7×EV +$5.35Magcargo #37raw $29.99 → PSA 10 $89.70 3×EV −$21.38

Premiums and EV use tonight’s PSA prices and this set’s real gem rates — not projections.

What collectors say about Deoxys

Creators on Deoxys

▶Top 5 Deoxys Full Art Pokrmon CardsLegendary Frog▶Every Deoxys Pokemon Card #Deoxys #PokemonTCG #386Fluffy Mind▶This DEOXYS Pokemon Card is AMAZING 🤩powdr tcg▶Top 15 Deoxys Pokémon Cards #tcg#pokémon#deoxysMaxpageTC

Synthesized from widely-reported collector consensus — see a take that’s off? Use the report link on any card page.

Protect your Deoxys cards

This set has 17 cards worth $100+ — sleeve-and-toploader territory at minimum, and the chase cards deserve double-sleeving.

Affiliate links — purchases support CardPrice at no extra cost. Full guide: how to build & store a master set.

Where Deoxys goes from here

EX Deoxys has one of the cleanest long-term stories in the EX era: it's the home of the Rayquaza Gold Star, and that card alone anchors sustained demand for the whole set. Vintage EX product doesn't get reprinted in its original form, so supply only shrinks as copies get graded, damaged or locked into long-term collections. The Gold Stars and Secret Rare are the definition of scarce, iconic, and cross-generationally recognized — the traits that tend to hold value best over time. Interest in the set is structurally tied to Rayquaza's enduring popularity, which shows no sign of fading.

The honest caveat is concentration. Nearly all of the set's value lives in a few cards, so the base checklist offers little upside and the ceiling cards carry the same volatility as any high-end vintage centerpiece — condition sensitivity and thin sales volume mean prices move in steps, not smoothly. This is a set to buy because you want to own legendary EX-era cards, with any appreciation treated as a bonus rather than the plan. Collect what you love here, because the Rayquaza Gold Star is a card worth owning on its own terms.

Not financial advice — live prices and trends are above, collect what you love.

Related EX sets

Emerald2005 · 107 cardsTeam Rocket Returns2004 · 111 cardsFireRed & LeafGreen2004 · 116 cardsUnseen Forces2005 · 145 cards

Deoxys — frequently asked questions