Best Vintage Pokémon Toys: Tomy and Hasbro (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 19, 2026 · 7 min read
The best vintage Pokémon toys from Tomy and Hasbro right now are the Monster Collection figures from Tomy and the Battle Figure sets from Hasbro, ranging from around $13 for a loose Togepi to $108 for a sealed Skarmory, with most common characters landing between $15 and $30, observed October 2026 across independent sellers on DexHaul.
Tomy and Hasbro held the two dominant official toy licenses for Pokémon in the late 1990s. Tomy produced the Monster Collection, a numbered series of 2-inch PVC figures launched in Japan in 1996 and sold in the US from 1998.
Hasbro followed with its own Battle Figure sets from 1999, packaged with a Poké Ball and battle discs. Both lines are now squarely in collector territory.
How to choose the right vintage figure
Tomy or Hasbro?
These are complementary, not competing lines. Tomy Monster Collection figures are pure display pieces: highly detailed 2-inch sculpts in single-figure or two-figure numbered sets, sold loose or in blister packaging.
Hasbro Battle Figures were built around a play mechanic, with each figure paired with a hollow Poké Ball and spinning battle discs. Tomy figures are more common in collector circles; Hasbro sets with intact battle discs are harder to find complete.
Condition matters more than character
A loose, paint-rubbed Zapdos can trade for under $10. The same character in original Tomy numbered blister packaging can reach $40 or more.
Sealed Hasbro sets with undamaged Poké Ball and all original discs present command the biggest premium over loose equivalents. Decide up front whether you want display pieces or shelf-ready collector items, and shop accordingly.
Character demand varies sharply
Charizard, Zapdos and Lapras attract consistent demand. Lesser-known Gen 1 and Gen 2 characters in the same formats often sit at lower prices, making them the better entry point for a new collection. Skarmory, Vaporeon and Meditite in vintage Tomy packaging all cross $90 in the current market; Togepi and Hitmonchan sit under $20.
Age appropriateness and display
Vintage figures are not suitable for young children: small parts, fragile paint, and collector value make them shelf-only pieces for older teens and adults. The 2-inch scale fits naturally in a display cabinet alongside modern Moncolle figures.
On this page 7 sections
Picks by budget
| Budget | What you get | Best pick | Observed price (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $25 | Loose authentic Tomy figures; single-character loose Hasbro | Togepi TOMY CGTSJ 1999 (Thorns Warehouse) | $13.46 |
| $25–$60 | Tomy numbered blister sets; single-figure Hasbro loose complete | TOMY Monster Collection #40 Butterfree & Metapod (Shumi Toys) | $24.99 |
| $60–$120 | Sealed Hasbro two-figure sets; rare Tomy characters; Vaporeon boxed | Hasbro Vintage 1999 Battle Figures Tangela & Weezing, sealed (Steel Collectibles) | $54.99 |
| $120+ | Scarce characters in sealed or near-mint condition | Skarmory TOMY CGTSJ 1999 Nintendo 2" (MGComics) | $108.28 |
Licensed or not: how to tell
The single fastest check on a vintage Tomy figure is the copyright stamp on the underside of the base. Authentic figures from 1996 through the early 2000s carry the marking CGTSJ, representing the five rights holders: Creatures Inc., Game Freak, TV Tokyo, ShoPro (Shogakukan Production Co.), and JR Kikaku.
Every licensed Tomy piece from this era has it.
A figure without it is either a bootleg or a post-2006 reissue.
Look for the TOMY logo embossed on the base alongside CGTSJ, and a small "N" or Nintendo copyright line. The paint quality on originals is notably finer than on unlicensed copies: clean edges, no bleeding between colors, and consistent matte finish. Bootleg figures often feel lighter and have slightly rubbery plastic rather than the firm, slightly glossy PVC of the originals.
For Hasbro figures, look for the full Pokémon Company International copyright line and the Hasbro trademark embossed on the figure or on the battle disc hub. Authentic Hasbro Battle Disc sets include a hollow ball that splits at the equator and two spinning discs; sets described as "complete" with intact battle accessories are genuinely rarer than loose figures. Read the full Pokémon product authentication guide for a broader checklist covering cards and modern merchandise.
The Hasbro Battle Figure sets
Hasbro's North American Pokémon toy license produced two main figure formats in 1999. The Battle Figure sets paired two Pokémon with a hinged Poké Ball that opened to reveal a spinning battle disc inside; the disc mechanic let two players "battle" by flicking discs at each other. The Poké Ball Blaster was a separate launcher product, not part of the core Battle Figure line.
Finding a Battle Figure set with both figures, the intact Poké Ball and all original discs in good condition is the challenge. The discs were small and easily lost; most sets in circulation today have at least one disc missing. A sealed or near-sealed set in original blister packaging, like the 1999 Tangela and Weezing sealed set available from independent sellers, commands a meaningful premium over the same characters loose.
Hasbro also produced a "V Trainer" line around 2002 into the Generation 3 era, featuring characters like Blaziken, Misdreavus and Sentret. These are less sought-after than the original Gen 1 and Gen 2 sets but remain official licensed product and trade at lower prices.
What drives rarity at the top end
Skarmory and Meditite both clear $100 in the current vintage Tomy market, while Charizard sits at $19.99. The price gap is not about fame: it is about production distribution.
Tomy released figures in numbered blister packs tied to Pokédex order. Packs covering common starter lines and early Kanto Pokémon were produced in far greater quantities than packs covering Steel-types and less-popular Gen 2 entries added later. Skarmory, introduced in Gold and Silver (1999 in Japan, 2000 in the US), appears in a shorter print run of the numbered line.
The Monster Collection numbering system also tells you something about authenticity: genuine numbered Monster Collection sets follow Pokédex order, so #1 is always the Charizard set and #9 is always Zapdos. A "numbered" listing where the number doesn't match the expected Pokémon is a red flag. The official Takara Tomy Pokémon product page provides reference on licensed product lines.
Vintage figures as holiday gifts
Vintage Tomy and Hasbro figures work well as gifts for collectors who already own the obvious new releases. A sealed Monster Collection blister for a favorite Gen 1 character is a specific, personal pick that current retail does not offer. The 2026 Pokémon holiday gift guide covers all categories from TCG to plush for broader gift ideas.
Condition photographs matter for gifting. Prioritize sellers who show clear close-up photography and describe condition explicitly.
FAQ
What does CGTSJ mean on a Tomy figure?
CGTSJ stands for the five Pokémon rights holders stamped on licensed Tomy figures: Creatures Inc., Game Freak, TV Tokyo, ShoPro (Shogakukan Production Co.), and JR Kikaku. Authentic vintage Tomy figures from 1996 onward carry this marking; its absence on a supposedly original figure is a strong sign of a bootleg.
Are Hasbro Battle Figures considered vintage?
Yes. Hasbro's original Pokémon Battle Figure sets and Poké Ball accessories date from 1999–2001 and are now treated as vintage collectibles. Complete sets with intact Poké Ball and battle discs are harder to find than loose figures and command higher prices.
What is the Monster Collection numbering system?
Tomy's Monster Collection blister packs were numbered in Pokédex order, pairing related Pokémon within each set. Set #1 contains Charizard, #9 contains Zapdos, #40 is Butterfree and Metapod, #49 is Seadra and Horsea, and so on. The number appears on the blister card and should match the expected characters.
How do vintage Tomy figures compare to modern Moncolle?
Modern Moncolle figures (also by Takara Tomy) are the current licensed equivalent of the Monster Collection, sold at similar scale and price. Vintage CGTSJ-era figures tend to have slightly chunkier sculpts and more matte paint; modern Moncolle uses finer detail and more consistent paint application. Many collectors display both side by side.
Are vintage Pokémon figures worth buying for investment?
DexHaul does not offer investment or price-direction advice. Buy vintage figures because you want to own and display them. Sealed blister or boxed examples have historically held condition premium over loose figures, but past performance does not predict future prices.
Browse the full Pokémon vintage collectibles collection on DexHaul to see current in-stock vintage Tomy and Hasbro figures from independent sellers, alongside sealed vintage TCG and other official retro merchandise. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company.
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