Mew ex vs Pikachu 173/165: Which 151 Japanese Card to Chase?

Quick answer

Choose Mew ex 208/165 if you want the higher-rarity, gold-style Ultra Rare and can justify the price. Choose Pikachu 173/165 if you want an Art Rare of Pokémon's most recognizable mascot at a lower entry cost.

Rarity and card style set the two apart

Both cards come from SV2a: Pokémon Card 151, the Japanese expansion that celebrates the original 151 Pokémon. The difference is in the treatment: Mew ex 208/165 is an Ultra Rare with a gold-style finish, while Pikachu 173/165 is an Art Rare with a full illustration built around Pikachu's personality. That makes them different collectibles rather than two versions of the same chase.

If you are building a binder of Japanese 151 secret rares, the gold-style Mew ex is the flashier centerpiece; the Pikachu Art Rare is the more character-driven page. Neither is a substitute for the other, so decide which style you actually want on display before comparing prices.

The price gap changes the decision

At the supplied catalog prices, Mew ex 208/165 costs roughly twice as much as Pikachu 173/165. That gap is the main practical trade-off: the Mew ex is the pricier chase, and the Pikachu leaves more budget for other singles or sealed product from the same expansion.

A higher price does not automatically make a card the better purchase. If your goal is to add one memorable card from Japanese 151 without stretching your budget, Pikachu 173/165 does that at a lower cost. If you are specifically chasing the gold-style Ultra Rare, the Mew ex is the card that fills that slot, and the higher price is part of the decision.

Where the comparison has limits

The supplied catalog records do not include population reports, print-run data, or graded populations for either card, so this comparison cannot tell you which card is scarcer in absolute terms or which will hold value better. Treat any claim about future value with caution and base your choice on rarity tier, artwork, and budget rather than speculation.

Condition and centering also matter for single cards, and those details are card-specific rather than model-specific. Check the actual listing for the copy you are buying before you commit.

Trade-offs to weigh before you buy

• Rarity tier: Mew ex 208/165 is an Ultra Rare; Pikachu 173/165 is an Art Rare. Pick the tier that matches the rest of your Japanese 151 chase set.
• Budget: At catalog prices, Mew ex costs about twice as much as Pikachu. If the Mew ex would use up your whole card budget, the Pikachu leaves room for another single. Set a per-card budget before comparing, not after.
• Display intent: Choose the gold-style Mew ex if you want a flashy centerpiece; choose the Pikachu Art Rare if you want a character-driven illustration page.

The two chase cards at a glance

• Pikachu - 173/165 - SV2a: Pokémon Card 151 Japanese Pokémon Card: Pikachu 173/165 is an Art Rare from SV2a: Pokémon Card 151 with a playful Pikachu illustration. It gives you a character-focused Japanese 151 chase card at the lower catalog price of the pair.

  

• Mew ex - 208/165 - SV2a: Pokémon Card 151 Japanese Pokémon Card: Mew ex 208/165 is an Ultra Rare gold-style card from SV2a: Pokémon Card 151. It is the higher-rarity, higher-priced option if you want a gold-style centerpiece for your collection.

  

Which card fits your collection?

Best for

• Collectors who want the higher-rarity gold-style Ultra Rare from Japanese 151
• Mew fans building a centerpiece page around a single chase card

Not for

• Buyers who want the lowest-cost entry into Japanese 151 chase cards
• Collectors who prefer character artwork over gold-style treatments