Dragon Ball Z Trading Cards: Market Analysis
Richard WeissKey Takeaways
- Dragon Ball cards come from several different games. The main ones are Score's Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game (first released in 2000) and Bandai's Dragon Ball Super Card Game (July 2017).
- The cards to check first are the top rarities: Ultra Rares from the Score game, and Secret Rares (SCR) and God Rares (GDR) from the Dragon Ball Super Card Game.
- The God Rare was introduced in Realm of the Gods, released March 11, 2022. That set has one God Rare.
- Bandai launched Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World on February 16, 2024 as a separate game. The original game continues as Masters.
- This guide does not quote prices. Check recently sold listings for the exact card, set and condition.
Table of Contents
The Dragon Ball Z cards most worth checking are the highest rarities from two games: Ultra Rares from Score's Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game, first released in 2000, and Secret Rares and God Rares from Bandai's Dragon Ball Super Card Game, released in July 2017. Rarity, condition and which game the card belongs to decide the rest.
This analysis covers which cards are scarce and how to price one yourself. It does not quote values, because we only publish sale prices we can confirm as dated records.
Dragon Ball Card Games by Year
"Dragon Ball Z cards" can mean cards from any of these games, and they are not interchangeable. Start by working out which game your card is from.
| Game | Publisher | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game | Score Entertainment | First released in 2000. Score closed in 2009 |
| Dragon Ball Z Trading Card Game (remake) | Panini America | October 18, 2014 until Panini announced its end on January 6, 2017 |
| Dragon Ball Super Card Game (now Masters) | Bandai | July 2017 to present |
| Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World | Bandai | February 16, 2024 to present |
Dragon Ball also appeared on Carddass, the cards sold from Bandai's card vending machines in Japan since 1988.
Which Dragon Ball Z Cards Are Worth Money?
Scarcity is the part we can verify. These are the top rarity tiers in each game, with one confirmed example of each:
| Game | Rarity to look for | Example card |
|---|---|---|
| Score Dragon Ball Z CCG | Ultra Rare (6-star, always foil) | Goku, Super Saiyan 3, Level 5 (Buu Saga) |
| Dragon Ball Super Card Game | Secret Rare (SCR) | Son Goku, The Awakened Power, TB1-097 (The Tournament of Power) |
| Dragon Ball Super Card Game | God Rare (GDR) | SSB Vegeta, Unbridled Power, BT16-147 (Realm of the Gods) |
Commons and uncommons from any of these games are much easier to find. A chase card is defined by how hard it is to pull, so the rarity printed on the card is the first thing to check.
Vintage Score Dragon Ball Z Cards (2000s)
Score Entertainment's first card game was the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game in 2000, starting with Saiyan Saga starter decks and booster packs. The Dragon Ball Z game had 11 expansions, each named after a saga of the anime, ending with Kid Buu Saga. Score then moved on to Dragon Ball GT sets.
What to look for on a Score card:
- Ultra Rares: the 6-star rarity. Ultra Rares are always foil, and several booster boxes could be opened before one appeared. Buu Saga's four Ultra Rares include Goku, Super Saiyan 3, Level 5. Cell Saga's include Goku, Level 5 and Vegeta, Level 5.
- Limited print run: Score printed Limited and Unlimited runs. Limited cards carry a dragon symbol that Unlimited cards do not.
- Foils: one of every two or three booster packs contained a foil card.
- Tournament and promo cards: some were only given to players at official Score tournaments.
Score Entertainment closed in 2009 after Panini America bought Donruss Playoff, the company group Score belonged to. Panini released a remake of the game on October 18, 2014 and ended it in 2017, when Bandai was preparing its own Dragon Ball Super game.
Dragon Ball Super Card Game (2017 to Present)
Bandai's Dragon Ball Super Card Game launched in July 2017. Its first set, Galactic Battle, was released on July 28, 2017. The rarity ladder runs from Common up to Secret Rare, with the God Rare added later.
- The Tournament of Power (2018): the first themed booster, with one Secret Rare in the set: Son Goku, The Awakened Power (TB1-097).
- Universal Onslaught (February 14, 2020): three Secret Rares, including Son Goku & Vegeta, Apex of Power (BT9-136).
- Realm of the Gods (March 11, 2022): introduced the God Rare, the highest rarity in the game. The set has three Secret Rares and one God Rare: SSB Vegeta, Unbridled Power.
- Dawn of the Z-Legends: its God Rare is Bardock, Origin of the Legend (BT18-148).
Fusion World (2024)
On August 4, 2023, Bandai announced a new game called Fusion World for 2024 and renamed the existing game Masters. The first four Fusion World starter decks were released on February 16, 2024, followed by the first booster pack, Awakened Pulse, on February 23, 2024 and Blazing Aura on May 10, 2024. A digital version for PC uses the same rules and card pool as the physical game.
Masters and Fusion World cards are not interchangeable, so check the set code before you compare a card to a sold listing. Fusion World sets use codes such as FB01 and FS01, while Masters sets use codes such as BT16 and TB1.
Condition and Grading
Two copies of the same card can sell for very different amounts based on condition. A graded card is sealed in a slab with a numeric grade, and gem mint is a 10. A pop report shows how many copies of a card a grading company has graded at each level.
Grading costs money, so it makes the most sense for top-rarity cards with clean centering, corners, edges and surface. Until then, keep raw cards in sleeves and toploaders. A penny sleeve goes on first.
How to Check What a Dragon Ball Card Is Worth
- Identify the game and publisher: Score, Panini or Bandai.
- Find the set and card number. Dragon Ball Super cards print a code such as BT16-147.
- Check the rarity: Ultra Rare on Score cards, SCR or GDR on Dragon Ball Super cards.
- Note the version: Limited or Unlimited on Score cards, and reissues of the same card on Bandai cards.
- Look up recently sold listings for that exact card and condition. Asking prices are not sales.
Risks to Know Before You Buy
- Reprints: Bandai has reissued chase cards. SSB Vegeta, Unbridled Power is also listed in Premium Anniversary Box 2023 (BT16-147_PR in Bandai's card list).
- Games end: Score Entertainment closed in 2009, and Panini's remake lasted about two years. A card game that is no longer played depends on collectors alone.
- Two Bandai games: Masters and Fusion World run side by side with separate card pools.
- No guarantees: trading cards are collectibles, not a financial product. Nothing here is financial advice.
New to card games? Read what TCG stands for, browse our trading cards, or pick up a TCG playmat for your next game.
Sources
- Bandai: Dragon Ball Super Card Game Masters card list, The Tournament of Power
- Bandai: card list, Realm of the Gods
- Bandai: card list, Universal Onslaught
- Bandai: card list, Dawn of the Z-Legends
- Bandai: Realm of the Gods product page
- Bandai: The Tournament of Power product page
- Bandai: Fusion World products
- Dragon Ball Official Site: Dragon Ball Super Card Game Is Moving to the Next Level, August 4, 2023
- Dragon Ball Official Site: Digital Version of Fusion World Released, February 29, 2024
- Panini Games: DBZ TCG Announcement, January 6, 2017
- Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game (Wikipedia)
- Dragon Ball Super Card Game (Wikipedia)
- Score Entertainment (Wikipedia)
- hobbyDB: Score Entertainment
- Carddass (Wikipedia)
- CBR: Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World, What You Need to Know
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