Base

Series: Base
Release date: January 9, 1999
Cards in set: 102
Printed total: 102

Set overview

Base Set is where the modern hobby begins. Released in English in January 1999, it introduced the first 102 Pokémon cards to a Western audience and set the visual language — the yellow border, the holofoil sheen, the classic energy symbols — that collectors still chase today. Because print quality control was inconsistent and nobody was preserving cards in 1999, high-grade survivors are genuinely scarce, which is the engine behind Base Set values.

Top chase cards

Our picks — with full write-ups.

Holo Rare

Charizard

Base Set · 4/102

$250 – $600Score 99

Holo Rare

Blastoise

Base Set · 2/102

$120 – $300Score 88

Holo Rare

Venusaur

Base Set · 15/102

$90 – $220Score 85

Most valuable cards

By current market price (updates daily).

#	Card	Rarity	Market
4	Charizard	Rare Holo	$720.34
2	Blastoise	Rare Holo	$231.65
15	Venusaur	Rare Holo	$154.04
1	Alakazam	Rare Holo	$84.13
10	Mewtwo	Rare Holo	$74.58
14	Raichu	Rare Holo	$71.92
3	Chansey	Rare Holo	$65.49
16	Zapdos	Rare Holo	$53.20
6	Gyarados	Rare Holo	$50.71
5	Clefairy	Rare Holo	$40.81

Master Set checklist

The full Base checklist. Tap any card to mark it owned — your progress is saved privately in your browser.

Master Set progress

0 / 102 (0%)

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Alakazam

#1$84.13

Rare Holo

Blastoise

#2$231.65

Rare Holo

Read our take →

Chansey

#3$65.49

Rare Holo

Charizard

#4$720.34

Rare Holo

Read our take →

Clefairy

#5$40.81

Rare Holo

Gyarados

#6$50.71

Rare Holo

Hitmonchan

#7$24.10

Rare Holo

Machamp

#8—

Rare Holo

Magneton

#9$35.96

Rare Holo

Mewtwo

#10$74.58

Rare Holo

Nidoking

#11$38.02

Rare Holo

Ninetales

#12$36.25

Rare Holo

Poliwrath

#13$36.78

Rare Holo

Raichu

#14$71.92

Rare Holo

Venusaur

#15$154.04

Rare Holo

Read our take →

Zapdos

#16$53.20

Rare Holo

Beedrill

#17$5.34

Rare

Dragonair

#18$17.77

Rare

Dugtrio

#19$10.74

Rare

Electabuzz

#20$12.01

Rare

Electrode

#21$8.03

Rare

Pidgeotto

#22$11.41

Rare

Arcanine

#23$4.22

Uncommon

Charmeleon

#24$2.09

Uncommon

Dewgong

#25$2.63

Uncommon

Dratini

#26$3.21

Uncommon

Farfetch'd

#27$1.92

Uncommon

Growlithe

#28$1.16

Uncommon

Haunter

#29$2.27

Uncommon

Ivysaur

#30$4.99

Uncommon

Jynx

#31$1.30

Uncommon

Kadabra

#32$1.67

Uncommon

Kakuna

#33$1.10

Uncommon

Machoke

#34$1.29

Uncommon

Magikarp

#35$3.56

Uncommon

Magmar

#36$3.41

Uncommon

Nidorino

#37$2.68

Uncommon

Poliwhirl

#38$1.45

Uncommon

Porygon

#39$2.55

Uncommon

Raticate

#40$2.61

Uncommon

Seel

#41$1.15

Uncommon

Wartortle

#42$4.33

Uncommon

Abra

#43$1.57

Common

Bulbasaur

#44$2.80

Common

Caterpie

#45$1.40

Common

Charmander

#46$2.16

Common

Diglett

#47$0.96

Common

Doduo

#48$0.89

Common

Drowzee

#49$0.83

Common

Gastly

#50$0.84

Common

Koffing

#51$0.68

Common

Machop

#52$0.60

Common

Magnemite

#53$0.67

Common

Metapod

#54$0.95

Common

Nidoran ♂

#55$1.27

Common

Onix

#56$0.75

Common

Pidgey

#57$1.40

Common

Pikachu

#58$7.94

Common

Poliwag

#59$0.70

Common

Ponyta

#60$0.65

Common

Rattata

#61$0.94

Common

Sandshrew

#62$1.12

Common

Squirtle

#63$7.83

Common

Starmie

#64$0.88

Common

Staryu

#65$0.62

Common

Tangela

#66$1.15

Common

Voltorb

#67$5.07

Common

Vulpix

#68$0.82

Common

Weedle

#69$0.58

Common

Clefairy Doll

#70$9.45

Rare

Computer Search

#71$3.00

Rare

Devolution Spray

#72$8.49

Rare

Impostor Professor Oak

#73$8.37

Rare

Item Finder

#74$8.14

Rare

Lass

#75$4.95

Rare

Pokémon Breeder

#76$6.97

Rare

Pokémon Trader

#77$5.45

Rare

Scoop Up

#78$9.10

Rare

Super Energy Removal

#79$3.96

Rare

Defender

#80$1.40

Uncommon

Energy Retrieval

#81$0.54

Uncommon

Full Heal

#82$1.57

Uncommon

Maintenance

#83$2.69

Uncommon

PlusPower

#84$0.73

Uncommon

Pokémon Center

#85$1.97

Uncommon

Pokémon Flute

#86$3.05

Uncommon

Pokédex

#87$0.56

Uncommon

Professor Oak

#88$1.39

Uncommon

Revive

#89$2.46

Uncommon

Super Potion

#90$0.37

Uncommon

Bill

#91$0.45

Common

Energy Removal

#92$0.46

Common

Gust of Wind

#93$0.39

Common

Potion

#94$0.31

Common

Switch

#95$0.37

Common

Double Colorless Energy

#96$5.11

Uncommon

Fighting Energy

#97$0.34

Fire Energy

#98$0.35

Grass Energy

#99$0.38

Lightning Energy

#100$0.45

Psychic Energy

#101$0.44

Water Energy

#102$0.40

Collector opinion

If you only ever own one vintage set, we think Base Set is the one. It is the most historically important English release, the artwork is iconic, and demand is broad rather than dependent on a single hype cycle. That said, the price of admission for a shadowless Charizard has moved it out of reach for most collectors — which is exactly why we tell beginners to start with well-loved (played-condition) commons and uncommons from this set. You get the history without the five-figure entry fee.

Sealed product guide

Sealed Base Set product is a minefield. Unlimited booster boxes still surface but are heavily counterfeited and frequently resealed — never buy sealed vintage without a trusted authentication service or a reputable, well-reviewed seller. First-edition and shadowless sealed product trades at collector-grade premiums and should be treated as authentication-first purchases. For most collectors, a graded single is a safer store of value than sealed vintage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Shadowless and Unlimited Base Set?+

Shadowless cards lack the drop shadow to the right of the artwork box and have thinner, lighter fonts. They were printed earlier and in smaller quantities than the later Unlimited run, so they command a premium. First Edition cards add a stamp and are rarer still.

Is Base Set a good first vintage set to collect?+

Yes, provided you set realistic goals. Building a played-condition non-holo set is achievable and affordable. Chasing high-grade holos is a serious financial commitment and should be approached slowly.