It's ability to become a creature does help offset that last part, though
Here's the top five with links to TCGplayer to buy right now alongside up to date values: Umbreon ex - 161/131 Near Mint Holofoil: $1,000 Market price: $1,119.08 Most recent sale: $449.95 Sylveon ex - 156/131 Near Mint Holofoil: $290 Market price: $334.99 Most recent sale: $295 Leafeon ex - 144/131 Near Mint Holofoil: $254.95 Market price: $262.21 Most recent sale: $254.90 Glaceon ex - 150/131 Near Mint Holofoil: $194.48 Market price: $206.93 Most recent sale: $190 Vaporeon ex - 149/131 Near Mint Holofoil: $179.99 Market price: $204.96 Most recent sale: $188.59 Topics Black Friday Pokemon Christian Wait is a freelance contributor to Mashable
However, condition grading is loose: their "A" cards can have whitening you wouldn't expect from a near-mint grade
For Magic: The Gathering, the advent of serialized cards, a concept long perfected in the sports card industry, created an ultra-premium tier of collecting
Of note, because the set has not officially released yet, its difficult to predict how certain card treatments will affect the price of some reprints compared to their previous printings