Worst Pokémon Now Has The Most Expensive 30th Anniversary Merch

The one Pokémon that has annoyed fans more than any other in the Generation 9 era is the recipient of the most expensive piece of merchandise for the series' 30th anniversary, depending on how much it collects at auction.

When it comes to expensive Pokémon items, most fans look at the Trading Card Game, which has become fodder for scalpers, seeking to claim as many packs and box sets as possible, so they can be thrown on the second-hand market. The rest of the Pokémon merchandise empire shouldn't be underestimated, as the franchise regularly puts out premium items for a high-cost, such as freakishly large Gardevoir plushes.

While the gaze of the Pokémon scalpers is firmly set on the 30th anniversary packs for the TCG, there's another item that's set to become a huge seller, though there's only one of them. According to Famitsu, a golden statue of Gholdengo is going up for auction, with an expected sale price of 1.54 million yen.

Gholdengo Gold Statue Is Going Up For Auction

Sadly, the 30th anniversary golden statue is of Gholdengo, easily the most despised Pokémon of the Generation 9 era, as anyone who has tried to catch it can attest. The reason for this is that the only way to evolve Gimmighoul into Gholdengo is by having 999 Gimmighoul Coins in the inventory, which can be a maddeningly long task to complete, especially for people just looking to complete the Pokédex.

The golden Gholdengo is being put under the hammer as part of a special auction to mark the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The auction is the Yokohama Grand Gold Exhibition, which will be held on the 8th floor of Yokohama Takashimaya from September 30th to October 5th, 2026, for those who badly want a gaudy monstrosity on their shelf.

Sadly, the 30th anniversary golden statue is of Gholdengo, easily the most despised Pokémon of the Generation 9 era, as anyone who has tried to catch it can attest.

In terms of detail, the golden Gholdengo statue is 6cm tall and weighs 15g, being made of gold. The reason it was chosen to appear in the auction is due to its connection to gold, as it's made of precious metal, and the fact that it's #1000 in the National Pokédex, making it important by virtue of its number.

The small Gholdengo statue isn't the only attraction at the Yokohama Grand Gold Exhibition, as there's also a life-sized statue of the Pokémon on display, made of 730 sheets of gold leaf. There's also a hideous life-sized Pikachu statue there, also made of gold, for fans to marvel at. Neither of the life-sized attractions are available for purchase, so anyone who wants a golden Pikachu is going to have to take a regular plush and encase it in solid metal, like Goldfinger from the James Bond movies.

The hatred towards Gholdengo is aimed purely at its evolution method, as it's otherwise a fun Pokémon, with a wacky design, interesting type mix, and some powerful moves. Anyone who acquired one through trading might also wonder where the dislike comes from, but that's only because they didn't have to farm coins just to acquire a single Pokémon.

The Gimmighoul line had an awesome gimmick, referencing the Mimic monster from Dungeons & Dragons and countless RPGs. It's just a shame that it launched in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, some of the most reviled entries in the franchise. The Generation 9 games sold extremely well, so there has to be someone out there who loves Gholdengo, and is willing to pay the equivalent of a car for a tiny figure of it.