Friday, March 22, 2024

Base Set Pokemon Card List

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Alakazam Base Set Shadowless

*COMPLETED* Pokémon Card BASE SET from 1999!

Alakazam is a Psychic-type from the original first-generation, that not every kid was able to acquire due to it only evolving via trade. As a card, it was unique because the Base Set itself didn’t feature many outstanding Psychic-types outside of Mewtwo.

The Shadowless version of the Base Set drives up the value on every card in the set, and for Alakazam that means that it now sells for a whopping $200 raw.

What Are The Base Set Theme Decks Called

There are 5 theme decks in Base Set, they are called:

  • 2-Player Starter Set contains fire and fighting Pokemon. The holographic card is Machamp.
  • Overgrowth contains water and grass Pokemon. The holographic card is Gyarados.
  • Zap! contains lighting and psychic Pokemon. The holographic card is Mewtwo.
  • Brushfire contains fire and grass Pokemon. The holographic card is Ninetales.
  • Blackout contains water and fighting Pokemon. The holographic card is Hitmonchan.

Rayquaza Gold Star Holo Ex Deoxys

  • Release Date: 2005
  • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
  • Pokemon card value at auction: $45,100

An early favorite of Ruby & Sapphire, Rayquaza has seen an uptick in popularity over the last decade. So it makes sense then that its cards would also start to climb up in value over time. In 2005, The Pokemon Company released the Ex Deoxys TCG expansion featuring the Flying / Dragon-type.


As a gimmick to get Pokemon card collectors interested in the set, the Japanese company introduced Gold Star Pokemon cards into the hobby. As mentioned earlier, the incredibly rare Pokemon cards featured a special symbol next to the name of the mon. Of course, the king of these marked collectibles is the Hoenn Legendary itself.

In December 2020, a perfectly graded Gold Star Rayquaza sold at auction for $45,100. Given the Legendarys continued popularity in the franchise, and just how little of the gold Pokemon cards were actually produced, we expect this item to increase in value as time goes on.

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Base Set Booster Box Variations

1st Edition Base Set Booster Box

  • Estimated current value £300k £350k

The boxes are easy to spot as they have a 1st Edition Stamp on them and the text 1ST EDITION LIMITED PRINTING.

Important 1st Edition boxes do not have the Wizards of the Coast logo printed on the cellophane wrapping. Stay well clear if you spot a box being sold with this its fake.


Shadowless Base Set Booster Box

  • Estimated current value £50k £100k

Still very valuable and ultra rare, Shadowless booster boxes are harder to identify as there is no shadowless labeling or anything of that nature.

Instead characteristics of the box , and very carefully being able to identify the packs within is the way of identifying whether a box is shadowless or not.

FYI Green winged Charizard boxes dont necessarily mean its shadowless there are other factors too.

This guide goes into great detail on identifying a shadowless Base Set booster box.

Unlimited Base Set Booster Box

  • Estimated current value £15k £20k

Although this is the most commonly found Base Set booster box variant, its still no chump change!


As more and more boxes are opened on YouTube etc, Id expect the value to continue to creep up long term as supply dwindles.

Prices For Pokemon Base Set Pokemon Cards

The Pokemon TCG base set returns with " Evolutions"

Pokemon Base Set card list & price guide. Ungraded & graded values for all Pokemon TCG Base SetPokemon Cards., historic prices, and past sales.

Find out how to identify your pokemon card using card numbers, sets, foil, and editions.

Prices are updated daily based upon Pokemon Base Set listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Read our methodology.

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How Many Different Print Runs Of Pokemon Base Set Are There

It may surprise you to learn that there were actually 8 different print runs of Base Set!

Before we go into what they were, lets define a print run

In a nutshell, the cards in the set are the same, but theyve changed a characteristic on one or some of the cards. For example, they fixed a design error.

So, here are the eight

  • Shadowless
  • 1999-2000 Base Set
  • Wait, what?! Arent you missing 1st Edition Base Set?!

    Interestingly, the cards were stamped with the 1st Edition symbol after the print run fun fact!


    Okay, but what the heck are the 1999-2000 Base Set cards?!

    Often incorrectly labelled the UK Print , the final print run of Base Set had a new copyright date added to the bottom and the colour is slightly paler than before.

    Famously, they also corrected Vulpixs HP error which had somehow slipped through the previous seven print runs! All the way until 1999-2000 Base Set, Vulpixs Hit Points read HP 50 instead of 50 HP! Very subtle of course, but it makes the corrected card a bit more sought after.

    Summer Battle Road Mew Victory Orb Trophy

    • Release Date: 1999
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $60,000

    The second tournament Trophy Pokemon card on the list, the Mew Victory Orb Trophy was given out during the 1998 Summer Battle Road competition. Spanning nine regions across Japan, only the top three Trainers in each bracket scored the rare Pokemon card.

    According to PSA, only 16 of them have been given the coveted Gem Mint 10 score. One of these pristine collectibles popped up at a PWCC auction in December 2020 and ended with 51 bids for a final price of $60,000. It even came with the original plaque handed out at the finals.

    As we dive deeper into this list, prepare to see more of these trophy Pokemon cards dominating the top spot. Since they were awarded at tournaments, they are intricately more scarce population-wise, and thus more valuable.


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    Blastoise 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set

    • Release Date: 1999
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $45,100

    Not only is Blastoise one of the most beloved characters in the Game Freak RPG, but the Water-type starter has also become one of the most valuable Pokemon cards currently on the market.

    Those who grew up with the 1999 Base Set easily equated the turtle on the same level as the highly sought-after Charizard, so it makes sense that decades later, many are willing to bust out their wallets for the iconic mon.

    While its 1st Edition Shadowless Pokemon card from 1999 has always brought in good money, the popular item has seen a massive jump in value recently. In a PWCC auction held in November 2020, the rare Base Set Blastoise sold for $45,100.

    Zapdos Base Set Shadowless

    Top 10 Most Expensive Base Set Pokemon Cards!

    The first card on this list to be part of the Shadowless Base Set is the legendary Electric-type bird known as Zapdos. The shadowless version of the Base Set was the initial printing that had the cards produced without shadows under the text and a lack of darker spots on the card’s background.

    As the coolest and most popular of the trio of legendary birds, a Shadowless Base Set card of Zapdos will set collectors back about $140, and that’s the base price of what this dazzling card goes for in good condition.

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    Poliwrath No Rarity Symbol Base Set

    • Release Date: 1996
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $25,015

    Rounding out the top 21 of the most expensive Pokemon cards list is Poliwrath from the Japanese version of the Base Set. While the Water-type mon has traditionally been one of the weaker valued cards from the 1996 and 1999 releases, this item is actually special.

    Similar to the English version having a 1st Edition run, the very first print of the Japanese set featured no markings at all. Due to there being extremely limited amounts even printed, barely any of them survived three decades later.

    Consider this THE earliest version of the iconic card, and you can see why its value has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2020, one appeared in a PWCC auction selling for $25,015. If you think that is a lot, we are only getting started!

    Pokemon Base Set Theme Decks

    Now we cant talk about Base Set without talking through the theme decks!

    Back in the day they were called Preconstructed Theme Decks and specially designed for players of the TCG in mind.

    As the name suggests, each deck had a theme and players could use the decks with a specific strategy in mind for gameplay.

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    What Is A Heavy Booster Pack

    Basically, some smart Alec realised a long time ago that packs with a holographic card weigh more!

    Generally speaking, the pull rates of a holo are 1:3 packs, therefore you can simply weigh the packs, extract the valuable items and flog the rest.

    Not exactly fun or ethical right?!

    But, thats the game I guess when a lot of money is at stake.

    Its important to know this for two reasons:

  • When someone is selling a pack as unweighed be very cautious! The only time Id believe this is a live stream straight from a box break.
  • It means the value of booster packs can swing massively. A pack weighed light or heavy will differ in value considerably. This should hopefully explain the valuation ranges below!
  • Anyway, lets get into the different pack variants

    1st Edition Base Set Booster Packs

    • Estimated current value £5k £10k
    • Easily identifiable by the 1st Edition logo on the foil

    Shadowless Base Set Booster Packs

    • Estimated current value £1k £3k
    • Harder to identify. This helpful article explain the different Shadowless booster pack variants

    Black Triangle Error Base Set Booster Packs

    • Estimated current value £1k £5k

    Unlimited Base Set Booster Packs

    • Estimated current value £300 £600

    Chansey #3 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set

    Pokemon Base Set 2 Single Alakazam 1/130
    • Release Date: 1999
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $36,877

    For many Pokemon card collectors, it doesnt get any better than the Base Set which made its North American debut in 1999. Not only does it feature some of the TCG series most iconic artwork, but there is also a ton of nostalgia players have connected to the release.

    As a result, Pokemon cards from the release have seen the most explosion in value over the last decade. While not a heavy-hitter in the franchise itself, fans have been going wild for the adorable Chansey #3 Pokemon card. So much so that it surprised industry veterans when it started fetching jaw-dropping prices.

    While hovering around $20k since 2019, the collectibles value has only continued to grow. According to PWCC, a 1st Edition Shadowless version sold for $36,877 in a November 2020 auction.

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    How To Spot Fake Base Pokemon Set Booster Boxes

    Its a shame we have to even include a section like this, but the reality is there are people out there looking to scam the community and make a quick buck.

    If youre serious about investing in sealed vintage Pokemon products, I implore you to educate yourself on how they should look and feel.

    Do your research by looking at boxes sold by trusted auctioneers like Hertitage Auctions or PWCC.

    Study the colours, the wrapping, key identifiers on the box. Then cross-reference that with item your considering. If anything doesnt add up, err on the side of caution.

    Because of the different box variants its hard to provide specifics, but here are my general rules for spotting fake Pokemon booster boxes:

  • Colours that look off too pale, too dark etc.
  • Plastic wrapping these boxes are 22+ years old, does the cellophane wrapping show signs of this? If not, why not? Where has it been stored? Does it have the WOTC logo on the wrapping? Is it the right size? Does it look like it might have been resealed?
  • The Artwork is the artwork on the box correct? Pokemon dont reprint new box artworks. If something doesnt look right, its probably fake.
  • Study the typography Look carefully at the font, look for typos or wrong descriptions of the contents within.
  • The seller Are they trustworthy? Do they have lots of positive feedback? Do they have a track record of selling Pokemon products? Are they trusted by the community perhaps they have an Instagram following that can vouch for them?
  • Variations Between English And Japanese Editions

    • The Japanese variations of the cards did not have a numbering system till the release of Pokémon VS, and the number featured on the cards before that represents the Pokémons Pokédex number.
    • The English numbering is based on an alphabetical sorting, with descending rarity, a sorting that would stay the same till the release of Black & White. The Japanese order is based on type, and ascending rarity, and stayed this way until the release of e-Card 2.

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    Chansey Base Set Shadowless

    It’s a travesty that Chansey still has yet to be converted to Fairy-type despite its design being the poster child for the type. It isn’t the type of Pokemon fans rushed to catch and train, and certainly isn’t a powerhouse, but thanks to the anime fans fell in love with it as it was always by Nurse Joy’s side.

    The Base Set Shadowless card for the adorably rotund pink Pokemon is selling at $80 on the open market.

    No 1 Trainer Super Secret Battle

    Base Set — Pokemon Card Set Information
    • Release Date: 1999
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $90,000

    In 1999, The Pokemon Company hosted regional contests in Japan. Winners received a No. 1 Trainer Pokemon card which granted them access to the final that took place in a secret location.

    Named Super Secret Battle, the special TCG tournament had a lot of mystique surrounding it. The rare Pokemon card features a silhouette of Mewtwo which has made it all the more desirable to fans.

    In July 2020, the Japanese promo sold for an astonishing $90,000 making it one of the most valuable Pokemon cards to ever exist.

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    Playing The Base Set Format

    If you want to experience the games very first format, you can build decks from Base Sets 102 cards, leaving out all of the expansion sets. The format can feel a bit incomplete in that it doesnt offer players a chance to build many different deckssome Base Set Pokémon dont even have full evolution linesbut that doesnt mean it isnt fun to play.

    Base Set contains Caterpie and Metapod, but no Butterfree, just one of several examples of Base Set Pokémon that didnt see their final form until a later set

    If youre looking for a little more variety, you can skip ahead to the Base & Jungle or BaseFossil format. Both of these offer a few more decks, but still play similarly to the Base Set format. To get the full 1999 experience, though, which includes seeing the strength of the Haymaker deck at its peak, start with the Base Set format. Since the formats that follow use many of the same cards, you can easily convert your Base Set decks without needing to obtain too many additional cards. Once youve made your way to BaseFossil, I suggest going one set further into BaseRocket, the final chapter in the true classic age of the Pokémon TCG.

    What Makes Pokemon Cards Valuable

    Over the past two years, online personalities such as Logan Paul have propelled Pokemon card collecting back into mainstream popularity. With some cards being valued at over $300,000, its understandable why theres been an explosion in excitement around the hobby.

    But what makes Pokemon cards valuable? It all comes down to the rarity of the card and what condition the item is in. These two factors determine how much collectors are willing to pay and why some cards go for mind-boggling amounts of money. Below we will list the 24 most expensive TCG collectibles ever sold at auction.

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    Pokemon World Championship Masters Key

    • Release Date: 2010
    • Grading: BGS 9
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $26,900

    In 2010, the best pokemon cards players around the world were flown into Waikoloa Village, Hawaii for the World Championships. Upon arrival, contestants were given a Master Keys Pokemon card.

    Because the item was only printed for participants at the tournament, only 36 of these in total were ever created, making it technically one of the most rare Pokemon cards to ever exist in the hobbys nearly 25-year history.

    Despite only being intended for those at the event, one of these made there way out to the public and was sold for an astonishing $26,900 in August 2020. A pretty sweet reward to receive 11 years later.

    Is It Worth Buying Base Set Theme Decks

    Original Pokemon Base Set Page 2/12 by ilnamreh on DeviantArt

    This is a topic I like talking about!

    Although Theme Decks are pre-constructed, meaning you know what cards are inside, I love to buy sealed Base Set Theme decks.

    Why?

    I buy sealed, open and grade the best cards.

    Sure it doesnt have the lottery-style fun of opening a random base set booster , but its certainly a more sensible way to spend my Pokemon budget!

    My personal favourites are Zap! as it contains a holo Mewtwo and four Pikachus and Brushfire as it contains a holo Ninetales, x1 arcanine, x2 Charmeleons and x4 Charmanders!

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    How Much Are Pokemon Base Set Cards Worth

    Before we go further into the many intricacies of Base Set Pokemon Cards, lets discuss values!

    If youre one of the many people who rediscovered their old collection this past year, youre probably interested in how much its worth!

    A lot has changed in the world of Pokemon since the late 90s, in fact, since then there have been over 120 sets released! And that number keeps climbing every few months.

    So how on earth do we determine the value of your Base Set Pokemon cards?!

    Well, theres a few factors I want you to consider:

    • Condition is everything! The price swings between cards in played condition versus mint can be huge!
    • Youre not alone So many people rediscovered their old Pokemon cards recently. Unless you have some real stand out pieces, youre competing with everyone else.
    • Determining the value for one card is fairly straightforward for binders full of cards, its not so simple!

    I regularly get valuation requests with dozens of pictures, hundreds of cards, in various conditions and from various sets!

    As you can imagine, it is not easy slapping a valuation on it!

    So, my best advice for people looking to quickly covert it into cash put it on eBay and let the market decide.

    Apologies if youre looking for something a bit more detailed, but no collection is the same!

    Were not comparing apples with apples here, so take great pictures, show off your best cards and let collectors come to you and bid .

    Another approach is to hold long term

    That is my best advice.

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