Zorua Design Contest card fetches $156,000 at auction

At a glance

What is the Zorua Design Contest card?

The card was created as part of a design contest held in 2010 to celebrate the film Zoroark: Master of Illusions. The winning artwork, drawn by a six-year-old, depicts Zorua and Pikachu riding together on a bus. This Kindergarten Winner version was printed in a very limited quantity, with only about 100 copies made.

Unlike most Pokémon cards that are sold in booster packs, this card was awarded exclusively through the design contest, making it exceptionally rare. Its scarcity and unique origin contribute to its high value among collectors.

Details of the recent auction sale

The auction closed on 27 September 2026 through Fanatics Collect after 38 bids, and the $156,000 includes the buyer’s premium. The card that sold is graded BGS 10 Pristine by Beckett, the top grade, with a 9.5 for centering and 10s for corners, edges and surface.

This sale highlights the strong market for rare and unique Pokémon cards, especially those with special provenance like contest winners. Cards like the Pikachu Illustrator share a similar status, being awarded through contests rather than standard retail channels.

What does this mean for UK collectors?

This card was never sold in shops, in the UK or anywhere else: it was a prize for the 2010 contest winners. Copies only change hands between collectors, usually at auction, and this price shows how rare it is.

UK collectors interested in rare Pokémon cards should keep an eye on auction sites and specialist sales. For timely restock alerts and news on Pokémon TCG products, Galar Alerts’ free Discord community is a useful resource.

Is it official?

Yes. It’s been officially confirmed.

Reported by Galar Alerts.