Pokémon

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Basic Pokémon cards — how many are there and what are they worth?

There are 9,991 Basic cards on file, 9,658 of them with a price, and the typical one costs $2.43.

Evolution stage · 9,991 cards · 9,658 with a price · $0.02 to $4,500.00 · read August 14, 2026

How much is a Basic Pokémon card worth?

The typical Basic card costs $2.43. Across the 9,658 of them that carry a price, the cheapest is $0.02 and the dearest is $4,500.00 — Lugia 149, at $4,500.00. That spread is why the group price is a starting point and not a valuation of any one card.

Card facts are read from openly published card files; prices are read once a day from public marketplace listings into this site's own archive. Figures on this page were read on August 14, 2026.

All stages Rarity Print variant Pokédex number Regulation mark Energy type Set Artist Card mechanic Attack cost Attack damage Retreat cost

Basic 9,991 cardsEvolution stage

9,658 with a price · $0.02 to $4,500.00 · No. 4 of 5 stages by typical price · +67.6% in 11 months · 93 HP on average · weak to Fighting

Typical price, last 11 months$2.43+67.6% from $1.45

Card price ladder$4,500.00$559.16 to $4,500.00

Place among stagesNo. 4CheapestMiddleDearestTypical price $2.43 · No. 4 of 5
1 stages cost less than this one

Cards on file9,9919,658 carry a price Most expensive card$4,500.00Lugia 149 Cheapest on record$0.02across all 9,658 priced cards Price rose+67.6%over the last 11 months Place by priceNo. 4of 5 stages

What stands out about Basic cards

Scale 9,991 cards carry this stage — 48.9% of the 20,444 English cards on file.
Price Half of the priced cards cost under $2.43, but the dearest reaches $4,500.00 — a gap of 1,852×.
Place By typical price this is No. 4 of 5 stages; 1 of them cost less.
Record 9,658 of the 9,991 cards have a price on file. The rest are counted but left out of every price figure rather than guessed at.

How 20,444 English cards narrow down to these 9,991

Full bar = that step's denominator · filled = what carries over

English cards on file 20,44416,955 cardsonly cards that record a evolution stage remain · 82.9% of 20,444
Cards with a evolution stage 16,9559,991 cardsonly Basic remain · 58.9% of 16,955
The 9,991 cards on this page9,991 cards48.9% of every English card on file

The middle step counts every card that records a evolution stage, including stages too small to have a page of their own. That is why its figure is larger than the totals on the evolution stage list, which only counts the groups it can open.

Basic Pokémon cards at a glance

What this group is. 9,991 cards share the evolution stage Basic. The stage is where a card stands in an evolution line, recorded with each card in the card files this site reads. Trainer and energy cards carry no stage, so this axis covers only the Pokémon part of the archive.
What they cost. The typical card is $2.43. Across the 9,658 priced cards the range runs $0.02 to $4,500.00.
Where it stands. No. 4 of 5 stages by typical price, with 1 of them cheaper.
What the cards are like. They average 93 HP and 51 maximum damage, and are most often weak to Fighting.
What is listed below. The 50 most expensive of the 9,658 cards that carry a price, each with its own price page. Cards without a price are counted in the total but are not listed.
When it was read. Every figure on this page comes from the archive as it stood on August 14, 2026.

Source: Counted from 9,991 cards on file, 9,658 of them with a price

Every Basic Pokémon card with a price on file

These are the 50 dearest Basic cards in the archive, most expensive first. The strip shows them as cards; the list under it carries the same 50 with their set and exact price as text.

The 50 dearest Basic cards, most expensive first

Prices are the latest reading held in this site's own archive. A card with no picture on file is drawn as a small stand-in that still carries its name, set and number.

The same 50 cards as a listRank is by price inside this group.

CardNameSetPriceRarity

LugiaAquapolis$4,500.00Rare Secret Pikachu ★Holon Phantoms$3,216.67Rare Holo Star Latias & Latios-GXTeam Up$3,157.93Rare Ultra Flareon ★Power Keepers$1,999.95Rare Holo Star Gengar & Mimikyu-GXTeam Up$1,610.07Rare Ultra Raikou ★Unseen Forces$1,600.00Rare Holo Star Alakazam ★Crystal Guardians$1,500.00Rare Holo Star Shining CharizardNeo Destiny$1,495.00Rare Shining Vaporeon ★Power Keepers$1,399.95Rare Holo Star LugiaNeo Genesis$1,299.96Rare Holo

Show the rest of the list40 more cards, still in price order+40

Gyarados ★ δHolon Phantoms$1,200.00Rare Holo Star Suicune ★Unseen Forces$1,100.00Rare Holo Star Pikachu with Grey Felt HatScarlet & Violet Black Star Promos$1,098.71Promo Pikachu exAscended Heroes$1,074.26Special Illustration Rare Entei ★Unseen Forces$1,067.00Rare Holo Star Mew exPaldean Fates$1,013.78Special Illustration Rare Groudon ★Delta Species$1,010.00Rare Holo Star Rayquaza exDeoxys$999.00Rare Holo EX Charizard ★ δDragon Frontiers$990.00Rare Holo Star Dialga-EXPhantom Forces$986.98Rare Secret Metagross ★Delta Species$951.99Rare Holo Star Shining MewtwoNeo Destiny$940.00Rare Shining Rocket's Zapdos exTeam Rocket Returns$899.99Rare Holo EX Magikarp & Wailord-GXTeam Up$861.78Rare Ultra Giratina VLost Origin$824.39Rare Ultra Ho-ohSkyridge$800.00Rare Secret Darkrai-EXDark Explorers$789.99Rare Ultra Mewtwo-GXShining Legends$773.30Rare Secret Celebi ★Crystal Guardians$750.00Rare Holo Star Chimecho δPOP Series 4$750.00Rare ArticunoLegendary Collection$749.99Rare Holo Regirock ★Legend Maker$747.00Rare Holo Star Gengar-EXPhantom Forces$745.40Rare Ultra Lugia-EXPlasma Storm$725.00Rare Ultra Shining GyaradosNeo Revelation$718.66Rare Shining MagikarpLegendary Collection$699.99Uncommon MewtwoExpedition Base Set$699.97Rare Holo Black Kyurem-EXBoundaries Crossed$699.64Rare Ultra RayquazaDragons Exalted$659.95Rare Secret RayquazaCall of Legends$646.59Rare Holo Gardevoir & Sylveon-GXUnbroken Bonds$624.99Rare Ultra CharmanderLegendary Collection$616.33Common Deoxys-EXPlasma Freeze$611.57Rare Ultra Zekrom exBlack Bolt$605.75Black White Rare VictiniBlack Bolt$603.80Rare ZapdosBase$600.00Rare Holo RayquazaCall of Legends$599.46Rare Holo Rocket's Snorlax exTeam Rocket Returns$594.99Rare Holo EX VictiniWhite Flare$560.28Rare Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GXCosmic Eclipse$559.16Rare Ultra

9,658 cards on file carry a price; the archive holds the 50 dearest of them in full.

Back to summary

Which Basic cards share a name across several printings?

7 of the 50 cards listed above are reprints of just 3 names. Buying by name alone is how people end up with the wrong printing, because these share a name but not a set, a rarity or a price.

Rayquaza3 printings · 2 sets

Lugia2 printings · 2 sets

Victini2 printings · 2 sets

Back to summary

Are Basic Pokémon cards going up in value?

This is the middle price of the whole group on each reading day, so it answers the question for Basic cards as a group rather than for one card.

Typical Basic card price, September 12, 2025 to August 14, 2026

Each point is the middle price of the 9,658 priced Basic cards on that day, read from this site's own archive. The 13 readings drawn above are also listed as text below.

Typical price of a Basic Pokémon card from September 12, 2025 to August 14, 2026 — rose from $1.45 to $2.43
Reading date	Typical price	Where it started
12 Sep 25	1.45
10 Oct 25	1.48
7 Nov 25	1.48
5 Dec 25	1.51
2 Jan 26	1.53
30 Jan 26	1.63
27 Feb 26	1.7
27 Mar 26	1.79
24 Apr 26	1.9
22 May 26	2.05
19 Jun 26	2.25
17 Jul 26	2.35
14 Aug 26	2.43

Typical priceWhere it started · $1.45Now $2.43381 days on file

Basic Pokémon cards — price change by window
Window	Typical then	Typical now	Change
Last month	$2.35	$2.43	+3.4%
Last 3 months	$2.05	$2.43	+18.5%
Last 6 months	$1.70	$2.43	+42.9%
Since September 12, 2025	$1.45	$2.43	+67.6%

Each row compares the middle price of the whole group on two days. It is not the change of any single card — a card can fall while the group rises, which is what the movers list below shows.

The typical Basic card rose from $1.45 to $2.43 over the 11 months on file — +67.6%. A rising middle means the ordinary card of this group got dearer, not just the headline one at the top of the list.

Back to summary

How Basic Pokémon card prices are spread

One group price cannot describe 9,658 cards. These figures show how far apart they actually sit.

$0.02$4,500.00$2.43Where the price splits in half — $0.02 to $4,500.00 laid out on a ten-fold scale

$0.02$4,500.00$13.96Where the dearer quarter begins — one card in four costs more than this

0%100%20.1%Cards costing more than $20 — 1,946 of the 9,658 that carry a price

Each half circle is the whole price range of the 9,658 priced Basic cards, from $0.02 to $4,500.00, with the tenfold steps evenly spaced. The last one is read differently — it counts cards rather than dollars, and says so in its own label.

All 9,658 priced Basic cards, by price band

Under $139.3%3,794 cards

$1 to $521.1%2,035 cards

$5 to $2019.5%1,883 cards

$20 to $5010.6%1,022 cards

$50 to $1004.6%446 cards

$100 to $5004.3%411 cards

$500 and up0.7%67 cards

How every Basic card with a price falls into price bands — 9,658 cards counted, not just the ones drawn above. Each track is the whole group, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits outside that band.

The longest bar is where an ordinary Basic card actually sits. Bands read the market price of each card on August 14, 2026.

All 9,658 priced Basic cards, by price band
Group	Share	Value
Under $1	39.3%	3,794 cards
$1 to $5	21.1%	2,035 cards
$5 to $20	19.5%	1,883 cards
$20 to $50	10.6%	1,022 cards
$50 to $100	4.6%	446 cards
$100 to $500	4.3%	411 cards
$500 and up	0.7%	67 cards

Dearest tenth startsone in ten costs more than this$48.15
Dearer quarter startsone in four costs more than this$13.96
Typical cardhalf cost less, half cost more$2.43
Cheaper quarter endsone in four costs less than this$0.41
Cheapest on filenothing in the group costs less$0.02

The five points that describe every Basic card price. Bar length is that price against the highest point on this ladder, and the highlighted row is the typical card.

Basic Pokémon cards — two ways of counting the same group
Figure	All priced cards	The 50 listed above
Cards counted	9,658	50
Cheapest	$0.02	$559.16
Cheaper quarter, up to	$0.41	—
Typical (median)	$2.43	—
Dearer quarter, from	$13.96	—
Dearest tenth, from	$48.15	—
Average	$24.75	—
Dearest	$4,500.00	$4,500.00

The two columns are different groups of cards, not two readings of the same one — the right column is the dearest end of the left one. "Typical" is the middle price, which half the cards sit below; "average" is pulled upward by the few very expensive cards, which is why the two differ.

The average price of a Basic card is $24.75 while the typical one is $2.43. The gap between those two numbers is the shape of this group: a small number of very expensive cards is dragging the average far above what most cards actually cost.

What three quarters of the 9,658 priced Basic cards cost

One in four Basic cards costs $0.41 or less, half cost $2.43 or less, and three in four cost $13.96 or less. Only the top quarter runs past $13.96, and the dearest tenth starts at $48.15.

See the dearest Lugia — $4,500.00

Back to summary

When were Basic Pokémon cards printed, and are the old ones worth more?

The run starts in 1999 with 135 cards and reaches 2026 with 270. Age and price are drawn separately below, because the year with the most cards is rarely the year with the dearest ones.

How many Basic cards were printed each year

19991.4%135 cards

20002.6%259 cards

20010.9%85 cards

20021.6%163 cards

20033.1%312 cards

20042.3%231 cards

20052.6%256 cards

20062.2%217 cards

20072.8%277 cards

20082.4%241 cards

20093.0%303 cards

20102.0%200 cards

20113.0%301 cards

20122.7%272 cards

20134.3%426 cards

20142.4%241 cards

20152.6%261 cards

20163.0%302 cards

20175.1%508 cards

20184.2%415 cards

20197.7%766 cards

20204.4%435 cards

20216.0%595 cards

20225.0%496 cards

20238.4%836 cards

20246.0%601 cards

20255.9%587 cards

20262.7%270 cards

Bar length is that year against the busiest year for Basic cards, and the figure beside each year is its share of all 9,991 of them.

Years are left in printing order rather than sorted by size, because the shape of the run over time is what this chart is for.

How many Basic cards were printed each year
Group	Share	Value
1999	1.4%	135 cards
2000	2.6%	259 cards
2001	0.9%	85 cards
2002	1.6%	163 cards
2003	3.1%	312 cards
2004	2.3%	231 cards
2005	2.6%	256 cards
2006	2.2%	217 cards
2007	2.8%	277 cards
2008	2.4%	241 cards
2009	3.0%	303 cards
2010	2.0%	200 cards
2011	3.0%	301 cards
2012	2.7%	272 cards
2013	4.3%	426 cards
2014	2.4%	241 cards
2015	2.6%	261 cards
2016	3.0%	302 cards
2017	5.1%	508 cards
2018	4.2%	415 cards
2019	7.7%	766 cards
2020	4.4%	435 cards
2021	6.0%	595 cards
2022	5.0%	496 cards
2023	8.4%	836 cards
2024	6.0%	601 cards
2025	5.9%	587 cards
2026	2.7%	270 cards

1999135 cards printed$27.64
2000259 cards printed$3.53
200185 cards printed$13.00
2002163 cards printed$19.37
2003312 cards printed$25.37
2004231 cards printed$20.87
2005256 cards printed$29.99
2006217 cards printed$27.67
2007277 cards printed$7.40
2008241 cards printed$6.01
2009303 cards printed$7.53
2010200 cards printed$8.13
2011301 cards printed$4.51
2012272 cards printed$2.86
2013426 cards printed$5.68
2014241 cards printed$0.90
2015261 cards printed$1.18
2016302 cards printed$1.52
2017508 cards printed$1.79
2018415 cards printed$1.17
2019766 cards printed$2.48
2020435 cards printed$0.39
2021595 cards printed$0.53
2022496 cards printed$0.45
2023836 cards printed$0.32
2024601 cards printed$0.29
2025587 cards printed$1.00
2026270 cards printed$0.28

The middle price of the Basic cards printed in each year, oldest first. Bar length is that year against the dearest year. Years where fewer than three cards carry a price are not drawn.

Are older Basic cards worth more?
Year	Cards	Share	Typical price
1999	135	1.4%	$27.64
2000	259	2.6%	$3.53
2001	85	0.9%	$13.00
2002	163	1.6%	$19.37
2003	312	3.1%	$25.37
2004	231	2.3%	$20.87
2005	256	2.6%	$29.99
2006	217	2.2%	$27.67
2007	277	2.8%	$7.40
2008	241	2.4%	$6.01
2009	303	3.0%	$7.53
2010	200	2.0%	$8.13
2011	301	3.0%	$4.51
2012	272	2.7%	$2.86
2013	426	4.3%	$5.68
2014	241	2.4%	$0.90
2015	261	2.6%	$1.18
2016	302	3.0%	$1.52
2017	508	5.1%	$1.79
2018	415	4.2%	$1.17
2019	766	7.7%	$2.48
2020	435	4.4%	$0.39
2021	595	6.0%	$0.53
2022	496	5.0%	$0.45
2023	836	8.4%	$0.32
2024	601	6.0%	$0.29
2025	587	5.9%	$1.00
2026	270	2.7%	$0.28

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that year, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price.

Back to summary

What Basic Pokémon cards are made of, and which of them hold the value

The group price says what an ordinary Basic card costs. These tables break the group down by rarity, printing and set, each row beside its own typical price, so you can tell a $1 card from a $100 one before you look it up.

Which Basic cards are rare, and does rarity show up in the price?

Common48.1%4,807 cards

Uncommon8.8%877 cards

Promo7.5%751 cards

Rare7.4%735 cards

Rare Holo4.9%491 cards

Rare Ultra4.6%458 cards

Rare Holo V2.8%281 cards

Illustration Rare2.6%262 cards

Rare Holo EX2.0%197 cards

Double Rare1.3%129 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Which Basic cards are rare, and does rarity show up in the price?
Group	Share	Value
Common	48.1%	4,807 cards
Uncommon	8.8%	877 cards
Promo	7.5%	751 cards
Rare	7.4%	735 cards
Rare Holo	4.9%	491 cards
Rare Ultra	4.6%	458 cards
Rare Holo V	2.8%	281 cards
Illustration Rare	2.6%	262 cards
Rare Holo EX	2.0%	197 cards
Double Rare	1.3%	129 cards

Which Basic cards are rare, and does rarity show up in the price?
Rarity	Cards	Share	Typical price
Common	4,807	48.1%	$0.62
Uncommon	877	8.8%	$1.58
Promo	751	7.5%	$14.45
Rare	735	7.4%	$3.96
Rare Holo	491	4.9%	$7.68
Rare Ultra	458	4.6%	$21.58
Rare Holo V	281	2.8%	$1.02
Illustration Rare	262	2.6%	$14.30
Rare Holo EX	197	2.0%	$15.61
Double Rare	129	1.3%	$0.71

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Holo, reverse holo or plain — which printing of a Basic card is worth more?

Normal56.3%5,625 cards

Holofoil35.0%3,492 cards

1st Edition3.7%369 cards

Reverse Holofoil1.2%121 cards

1st Edition Holofoil0.5%47 cards

Unlimited Holofoil0.0%4 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Holo, reverse holo or plain — which printing of a Basic card is worth more?
Group	Share	Value
Normal	56.3%	5,625 cards
Holofoil	35.0%	3,492 cards
1st Edition	3.7%	369 cards
Reverse Holofoil	1.2%	121 cards
1st Edition Holofoil	0.5%	47 cards
Unlimited Holofoil	0.0%	4 cards

Holo, reverse holo or plain — which printing of a Basic card is worth more?
Printing	Cards	Share	Typical price
Normal	5,625	56.3%	$0.67
Holofoil	3,492	35.0%	$8.43
1st Edition	369	3.7%	$5.61
Reverse Holofoil	121	1.2%	$0.33
1st Edition Holofoil	47	0.5%	$192.61
Unlimited Holofoil	4	0.0%	$581.83

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Which sets hold the Basic cards?

SWSH Black Star Promos1.7%174 cards

SM Black Star Promos1.7%166 cards

Fusion Strike1.5%147 cards

Unified Minds1.4%139 cards

XY Black Star Promos1.4%138 cards

Paldea Evolved1.4%137 cards

Cosmic Eclipse1.4%136 cards

Paradox Rift1.4%135 cards

Scarlet & Violet1.3%131 cards

Ascended Heroes1.3%130 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Which sets hold the Basic cards?
Group	Share	Value
SWSH Black Star Promos	1.7%	174 cards
SM Black Star Promos	1.7%	166 cards
Fusion Strike	1.5%	147 cards
Unified Minds	1.4%	139 cards
XY Black Star Promos	1.4%	138 cards
Paldea Evolved	1.4%	137 cards
Cosmic Eclipse	1.4%	136 cards
Paradox Rift	1.4%	135 cards
Scarlet & Violet	1.3%	131 cards
Ascended Heroes	1.3%	130 cards

Which sets hold the Basic cards?
Set	Cards	Share	Typical price
SWSH Black Star Promos	174	1.7%	$3.21
SM Black Star Promos	166	1.7%	$20.69
Fusion Strike	147	1.5%	$0.31
Unified Minds	139	1.4%	$0.76
XY Black Star Promos	138	1.4%	$19.34
Paldea Evolved	137	1.4%	$0.23
Cosmic Eclipse	136	1.4%	$1.31
Paradox Rift	135	1.4%	$0.24
Scarlet & Violet	131	1.3%	$0.23
Ascended Heroes	130	1.3%	$0.35

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Which kinds of Basic card carry the value?

V6.0%601 cards

ex4.2%416 cards

EX3.5%346 cards

GX3.5%346 cards

TAG TEAM1.2%119 cards

Ultra Beast1.0%96 cards

SP0.9%85 cards

Rapid Strike0.8%76 cards

Single Strike0.7%70 cards

Ancient0.6%60 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Which kinds of Basic card carry the value?
Group	Share	Value
V	6.0%	601 cards
ex	4.2%	416 cards
EX	3.5%	346 cards
GX	3.5%	346 cards
TAG TEAM	1.2%	119 cards
Ultra Beast	1.0%	96 cards
SP	0.9%	85 cards
Rapid Strike	0.8%	76 cards
Single Strike	0.7%	70 cards
Ancient	0.6%	60 cards

Which kinds of Basic card carry the value?
Card kind	Cards	Share	Typical price
V	601	6.0%	$2.40
ex	416	4.2%	$4.67
EX	346	3.5%	$21.78
GX	346	3.5%	$27.59
TAG TEAM	119	1.2%	$90.80
Ultra Beast	96	1.0%	$9.66
SP	85	0.9%	$10.67
Rapid Strike	76	0.8%	$0.82
Single Strike	70	0.7%	$0.72
Ancient	60	0.6%	$1.73

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Who drew the Basic cards?

5ban Graphics6.8%675 cards

Ken Sugimori5.2%520 cards

Kouki Saitou3.5%348 cards

Mitsuhiro Arita3.4%340 cards

Kagemaru Himeno3.2%320 cards

Masakazu Fukuda2.5%253 cards

Atsuko Nishida2.5%246 cards

Midori Harada2.0%195 cards

Tomokazu Komiya1.6%158 cards

Yuka Morii1.5%154 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Who drew the Basic cards?
Group	Share	Value
5ban Graphics	6.8%	675 cards
Ken Sugimori	5.2%	520 cards
Kouki Saitou	3.5%	348 cards
Mitsuhiro Arita	3.4%	340 cards
Kagemaru Himeno	3.2%	320 cards
Masakazu Fukuda	2.5%	253 cards
Atsuko Nishida	2.5%	246 cards
Midori Harada	2.0%	195 cards
Tomokazu Komiya	1.6%	158 cards
Yuka Morii	1.5%	154 cards

Who drew the Basic cards?
Illustrator	Cards	Share	Typical price
5ban Graphics	675	6.8%	$6.09
Ken Sugimori	520	5.2%	$4.98
Kouki Saitou	348	3.5%	$2.24
Mitsuhiro Arita	340	3.4%	$11.33
Kagemaru Himeno	320	3.2%	$3.41
Masakazu Fukuda	253	2.5%	$4.75
Atsuko Nishida	246	2.5%	$5.67
Midori Harada	195	2.0%	$3.46
Tomokazu Komiya	158	1.6%	$4.36
Yuka Morii	154	1.5%	$7.62

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Which energy types do Basic cards use?

Psychic14.1%1,408 cards

Colorless13.8%1,378 cards

Water13.4%1,336 cards

Grass12.6%1,255 cards

Fighting10.6%1,059 cards

Lightning9.1%914 cards

Fire8.7%873 cards

Darkness6.7%666 cards

Metal4.9%493 cards

Dragon2.9%289 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Which energy types do Basic cards use?
Group	Share	Value
Psychic	14.1%	1,408 cards
Colorless	13.8%	1,378 cards
Water	13.4%	1,336 cards
Grass	12.6%	1,255 cards
Fighting	10.6%	1,059 cards
Lightning	9.1%	914 cards
Fire	8.7%	873 cards
Darkness	6.7%	666 cards
Metal	4.9%	493 cards
Dragon	2.9%	289 cards

Which energy types do Basic cards use?
Energy type	Cards	Share	Typical price
Psychic	1,408	14.1%	$3.30
Colorless	1,378	13.8%	$2.99
Water	1,336	13.4%	$2.61
Grass	1,255	12.6%	$1.73
Fighting	1,059	10.6%	$1.30
Lightning	914	9.1%	$4.22
Fire	873	8.7%	$2.89
Darkness	666	6.7%	$1.17
Metal	493	4.9%	$1.70
Dragon	289	2.9%	$3.74

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Which eras of the game do Basic cards come from?

Sword & Shield17.8%1,781 cards

Scarlet & Violet17.6%1,760 cards

Sun & Moon14.8%1,481 cards

XY9.3%930 cards

EX8.6%861 cards

Black & White7.5%753 cards

Diamond & Pearl4.3%433 cards

Mega Evolution4.1%411 cards

Platinum2.8%283 cards

HeartGold & SoulSilver2.6%264 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Which eras of the game do Basic cards come from?
Group	Share	Value
Sword & Shield	17.8%	1,781 cards
Scarlet & Violet	17.6%	1,760 cards
Sun & Moon	14.8%	1,481 cards
XY	9.3%	930 cards
EX	8.6%	861 cards
Black & White	7.5%	753 cards
Diamond & Pearl	4.3%	433 cards
Mega Evolution	4.1%	411 cards
Platinum	2.8%	283 cards
HeartGold & SoulSilver	2.6%	264 cards

Which eras of the game do Basic cards come from?
Series	Cards	Share	Typical price
Sword & Shield	1,781	17.8%	$0.51
Scarlet & Violet	1,760	17.6%	$0.33
Sun & Moon	1,481	14.8%	$1.37
XY	930	9.3%	$1.50
EX	861	8.6%	$23.40
Black & White	753	7.5%	$2.94
Diamond & Pearl	433	4.3%	$6.00
Mega Evolution	411	4.1%	$0.26
Platinum	283	2.8%	$7.49
HeartGold & SoulSilver	264	2.6%	$10.00

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Which Basic cards are still tournament legal?

G7.9%792 cards

H6.3%633 cards

D6.1%609 cards

E5.9%587 cards

F5.8%575 cards

I5.5%546 cards

J1.8%177 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share that sits in the other rows.

Only the ten largest rows are drawn. The table below carries the same counts as text, together with what each row typically costs.

Which Basic cards are still tournament legal?
Regulation mark	Cards	Share	Typical price
G	792	7.9%	$0.28
H	633	6.3%	$0.30
D	609	6.1%	$0.60
E	587	5.9%	$0.41
F	575	5.8%	$0.49
I	546	5.5%	$0.51
J	177	1.8%	$0.24

Counted across all 9,991 Basic cards on file. "Typical price" is the middle price inside that row, left as a dash where fewer than three of its cards carry a price — a median of one or two cards is not a typical price.

Back to summary

How much HP and damage Basic Pokémon cards print

An average hides the shape of a group: it reads the same whether every Basic card prints the same number or they run from one end of the scale to the other. These five points show which of the two is happening.

Basic Pokémon cards — how far apart the numbers on the cards sit
Measure	Lowest	Lower quarter	Typical	Upper quarter	Highest	Cards counted
HP	30	60	70	110	310	9,808
Biggest attack	10	20	30	70	300	9,025

Trainer and energy cards carry no HP or attack, so they are left out of these counts rather than entered as zero. "Biggest attack" is the largest printed damage number on the card, before any condition the attack text adds.

The five points that describe Basic card HP

Lowest9.7% of the highest30 HP

Lower quarter19.4% of the highest60 HP

Typical22.6% of the highest70 HP

Upper quarter35.5% of the highest110 HP

Highest100.0% of the highest310 HP

HP printed on the 9,808 Basic cards that carry one. The typical card is 70 HP. Bar length is that HP against the highest in the group.

Half of these cards sit between 60 and 110 HP. The distance between the two ends is what a single average would have hidden.

The five points that describe Basic card HP
Group	Share	Value
Lowest	9.7% of the highest	30 HP
Lower quarter	19.4% of the highest	60 HP
Typical	22.6% of the highest	70 HP
Upper quarter	35.5% of the highest	110 HP
Highest	100.0% of the highest	310 HP

The five points that describe the biggest attack on a Basic card

Lowest3.3% of the highest10 damage

Lower quarter6.7% of the highest20 damage

Typical10.0% of the highest30 damage

Upper quarter23.3% of the highest70 damage

Highest100.0% of the highest300 damage

The largest printed damage number on each of the 9,025 Basic cards that print one. The typical card hits for 30. Bar length is that number against the hardest hitter in the group.

Half of these cards hit between 20 and 70. Attack text that adds a condition is not counted here — only the printed number.

The five points that describe the biggest attack on a Basic card
Group	Share	Value
Lowest	3.3% of the highest	10 damage
Lower quarter	6.7% of the highest	20 damage
Typical	10.0% of the highest	30 damage
Upper quarter	23.3% of the highest	70 damage
Highest	100.0% of the highest	300 damage

Back to summary

What are Basic Pokémon cards weak to?

Weakness is the one printed number that doubles incoming damage, so it decides more matches than HP does. Across the 9,306 Basic cards that print one, the most common is Fighting on 2,118 of them.

What Basic Pokémon cards are weak to

Fighting22.8%2,118 cards

Fire17.5%1,627 cards

Lightning14.7%1,364 cards

Psychic12.1%1,124 cards

Grass11.0%1,021 cards

Water10.2%952 cards

Metal6.2%576 cards

Darkness5.6%524 cards

What Basic Pokémon cards are weak to — 9,306 cards counted. Each track is the whole of that count, so a short bar means most of the group sits elsewhere.

An attack of this type does double damage to the card. Counted across the 9,306 Basic cards that print a weakness.

What Basic Pokémon cards are weak to
Group	Share	Value
Fighting	22.8%	2,118 cards
Fire	17.5%	1,627 cards
Lightning	14.7%	1,364 cards
Psychic	12.1%	1,124 cards
Grass	11.0%	1,021 cards
Water	10.2%	952 cards
Metal	6.2%	576 cards
Darkness	5.6%	524 cards

Back to summary

Which Basic Pokémon cards print a resistance?

Resistance is the rarer of the two printed match-ups: only 2,563 of the 9,991 Basic cards on file carry one at all, and the rest simply leave the box empty.

What Basic Pokémon cards resist

Fighting47.8%1,226 cards

Psychic19.5%499 cards

Metal11.7%299 cards

Grass10.5%268 cards

Water5.4%138 cards

Darkness5.2%133 cards

What Basic Pokémon cards resist — 2,563 cards counted. Each track is the whole of that count, so a short bar means most of the group sits elsewhere.

Resistance cuts incoming damage from that type. Only some Basic cards print one, which is why this count is smaller than the card total.

Back to summary

Can you still play Basic Pokémon cards, and what do they cost to retreat?

Price is only half of what separates this group from the one next to it. These are the conditions you meet when you actually put a Basic card on the table, across all 9,991 of them.

Standard

2,816 cards you can play today

2,816 of the 9,991 Basic cards are legal in Standard, the format most tournaments run. That is 28.2% of the group.

Expanded only

4,512 more that need the older format

These 4,512 have rotated out of Standard but are still legal in Expanded, which reaches back much further.

Neither

2,663 that no current format accepts

2,663 of the group — 26.7% — are collector cards now rather than deck cards.

What it costs to retreat a Basic Pokémon card

161.0%5,979 cards

225.1%2,457 cards

38.5%830 cards

02.9%retreats free280 cards

42.7%262 cards

9,808 cards counted.

The number of energy cards you discard to move this Pokémon back to the bench. Zero means it retreats for free.

Can you still play Basic Pokémon cards in a tournament?
Question	Cards	Share of the group
Legal in Standard today	2,816	28.2%
Legal in Expanded today	7,328	73.3%
Cards with an Ability	1,644	16.5%
Cards with a special rule	1,853	18.5%

Standard and Expanded are the two tournament formats. A card leaves Standard when its set rotates out, so this share moves each year while the card itself does not change.

How much of the group each answer covers, out of 9,991 cards

Legal in Standard today28.2%2,816 cards

Legal in Expanded today73.3%7,328 cards

Cards with an Ability16.5%1,644 cards

Cards with a special rule18.5%1,853 cards

Each track is the whole of the 9,991 Basic cards on file, so the empty part of a bar is the share the answer does not cover.

The rows are not slices of one whole — a card can be legal in Standard and carry an Ability at the same time, so the bars are read one at a time against the group.

How much of the group each answer covers, out of 9,991 cards
Group	Share	Value
Legal in Standard today	28.2%	2,816 cards
Legal in Expanded today	73.3%	7,328 cards
Cards with an Ability	16.5%	1,644 cards
Cards with a special rule	18.5%	1,853 cards

Back to summary

Which Basic Pokémon cards moved most this year

The group moved +67.6%. These are the Basic cards inside it that moved furthest in each direction over the same window.

Change between August 14, 2025 and August 14, 2026, for the 4,919 Basic cards that carried a price on both days. Bar length is the size of the move, not its direction.

4,919 Basic cards tracked across the yearSee the group line

A group line and a card line are not the same thing. The Basic group rose over this window, yet the cards above ran from -75.9% to +1,809.6% — which is why a figure taken from the group tells you what to expect, and only the card page tells you what happened.

Back to summary

The cheapest Basic Pokémon cards you can buy

A group price hides its own floor. These are the 6 least expensive Basic cards carrying a price, which is what the group costs to start rather than what its best card costs.

Read from the same daily price archive as the rest of this page. A low price usually means the card is common rather than that it is a bargain.

The same 6 cards with their set and number

BombirdierPitch Black#71$0.02Common VolcanionPerfect Order#25$0.03Uncommon LitleoChaos Rising#14$0.04Common FerroseedChaos Rising#62$0.04Common SandilePhantasmal Flames#64$0.05Common SmearglePhantasmal Flames#80$0.05Common

Set and number are what you match against a listing; two cards with the same name are different cards if either of those differs.

Back to summary

How Basic compares with the other stages

Every stage in this list is ranked by its typical price. The bar is that price against the dearest group, and the highlighted row is where Basic sits.

Level-Up 78 cardsNo. 1 · $3.42 to $566.33$94.61
1 more stages between
Stage 2 1,749 cardsNo. 3 · $0.05 to $2,199.99$5.21
Basic 9,991 cardsNo. 4 · $0.02 to $4,500.00$2.43
Stage 1 5,102 cardsNo. 5 · $0.03 to $1,499.24$1.90

Bar length is the typical price against Level-Up, the dearest stage at $94.61. The row without a link is this group.

5 stages in totalSee them all

Basic is No. 4 of 5 stages by typical price, with 1 of them cheaper and 3 dearer. Rank is not the same as scarcity: a group can rank high because a handful of its cards are chased, while most of it stays affordable — the price ladder above shows which of those two is happening here.

Back to summary

The printed rules behind Basic Pokémon cards

Every figure on this page counts something printed on a card, and it is the rulebook that gives that number its meaning. These are the lines that decide what a card's evolution stage does, quoted word for word rather than summarised.

“You can attach Energy just once each turn!”Official Pokémon Trading Card Game rulebook · 17,180 cards in this archive fall under this line

“Retreat your Active Pokemon (only once per turn).”Official Pokémon Trading Card Game rulebook · 17,244 cards in this archive fall under this line

“Neither player can evolve a Pokemon on its first turn in play.”Official Pokémon Trading Card Game rulebook · 7,397 cards in this archive fall under this line

Back to summary

How much energy do Basic Pokémon cards need to attack?

A card does nothing on the table until it has been paid for in energy. Across the 9,790 Basic cards that print an attack at all, this is what the cheapest attack on each of them asks for.

No energynothing to attach217 cards · 2.2% of the 9,790 counted

1 energy6,271 cards · 64.1% of the 9,790 counted

2 energy2,118 cards · 21.6% of the 9,790 counted

3 energy1,045 cards · 10.7% of the 9,790 counted

4 energy115 cards · 1.2% of the 9,790 counted

5 energy24 cards · 0.2% of the 9,790 counted

Basic Pokémon cards — energy asked for by the cheapest printed attack, 9,790 cards counted

Each symbol is one Energy card of any type, which is how the cost is recorded: as a number of cards rather than a list of types. Cards that print no attack are left out of this count rather than entered as zero.

Back to summary

How the stages compare on HP, damage and how hard they hit for their size

Price is one ladder, and the numbers printed on the cards are another. These are the 5 stages side by side, each on its own averages, with Basic among them.

Stages compared on what their cards actually print
Evolution stage	Cards	Average HP	Average biggest attack	Damage per HP
Stage 2	1,749	162	102	0.63
Basic	9,991	93	51	0.55
Stage 1	5,102	109	67	0.61
Level-Up	78	121	84	0.69
BREAK	35	150	98	0.65

Damage per HP is that group's average biggest attack divided by its average HP: a larger number means the group hits harder for the size it prints. Both averages are counted only across the cards that carry the number at all, and Trainer and Energy cards carry neither. Only groups large enough to have their own page are listed.

Back to summary

The dearest and the cheapest Basic Pokémon card, side by side

Both of these are Basic cards, and one costs 225,000 times what the other does. That gap is why a single group price is a starting point and not a valuation of any one card.

Dearest in the groupLugiaAquapolis 149$4,500.00

225,000× apartBoth are Basic cards
$0.02 VS $4,500.00

Cheapest in the groupBombirdierPitch Black 71$0.02

Back to summary

The other stages, and what each one is made of

The price ladder above ranks these same groups by what they cost. This one shows how big each of them is and what a card from it actually looks like, which is the part a ladder cannot carry.

Gengar — SWSH Black Star Promos SWSH241

Stage 21,749 cards · 162 HP on average · 102 damageFor example: GengarTypical card $5.21

Umbreon ex — Prismatic Evolutions 161

Stage 15,102 cards · 109 HP on average · 67 damageFor example: Umbreon exTypical card $1.90

Snorlax LV.X — Rising Rivals 111

Level-Up78 cards · 121 HP on average · 84 damageFor example: Snorlax LV.XTypical card $94.61

Greninja BREAK — BREAKpoint 41

BREAK35 cards · 150 HP on average · 98 damageFor example: Greninja BREAKTypical card $5.39

Bar length is that group's size against the largest of them, which is 5,102 cards. The card shown on each panel is the dearest one in that group, not a typical one.

Every group listed here is large enough to have a page of its own; smaller ones stay as rows on the page above.

Back to summary

The 7 things that tell Basic cards apart

Each panel already carries the answer its section arrives at, so you can read the whole of Basic here and open only the part you came for.

Are they going up in value?+67.6%$1.45 to $2.43See the trend What are they made of?CommonCommon4,807Uncommon877Promo751Rare73553.5% of the groupSee the breakdown What beats them?Fighting2,118 of the 9,306 that print a weaknessSee every weakness Can you still play them?28.2%2,816 of 9,991 are legal in StandardSee both formats What do they cost to attack?1 energy6,271 cards, the most common answerSee the energy ladder How hard do they hit for their size?0.5593 HP and 51 damage on averageCompare every group What is the cheapest one?$0.02Bombirdier — Pitch BlackSee the cheapest six

Back to summary

The numbers every figure on this page is read from

These are the readings for Basic that the rest of the page works from. Each of the lines on the right opens the section that shows how it was arrived at.

Cards on file

9,991cards

9,658 of them carry a price

Typical price

$2.43

The middle price of the priced cards

Cheapest on file

$0.02

One card, not the group

Dearest on file

$4,500.00

One card, not the group

Where the middle half sits$0.41 to $13.96Top tenth starts at$48.15Average HP93 Average biggest attack51 Most common weaknessFighting

Where Basic sits, at a glance

Tournament legal28.2%28.2%2,816 of 9,991 cards are legal in Standard today Price rank4of 5 stagesTypical card $2.43; the dearest group is $94.61Where it sits on the ladder25% cheaper below it1 of the 4 stages cost less than this one Most common rarityCommon4,807 of the 8,988 cards on file

Each panel is a different way of cutting the same cards; the section it links to shows the full count.

Back to summary

Which Basic Pokémon cards carry a special rule

Cards such as ex and V hit harder but hand your opponent an extra prize card when they fall. This is how much of Basic sits on each side of that trade.

Of the 9,991 Basic cards, those with a special rule1,853cards18.5% of the group. A special rule is the line of text a card carries beyond its attacks.Of those, the ones marked V601cards32.4% of the 1,853 that carry a special rule.Of those, the ones marked ex416cards22.5% of the 1,853 that carry a special rule.Of the 9,991, those with no special rule8,138cards81.5% of the group. These give your opponent no extra prize when they are knocked out.

Back to summary

Which Basic Pokémon cards hit hardest, type by type

Counting cards tells you which type is common. Counting damage tells you which one is dangerous, and the two answers are not the same: Colorless leads on cards while Dragon leads on damage.

Counted by power rather than by card, the order changes

Bar length is that type against Dragon, the hardest hitter here at 158 damage

Dragon — hits hardestagainst the group average of 871.82× the average · 5 of the 46 counted158
Darknessagainst the group average of 871.04× the average · 4 of the 46 counted90
Lightningagainst the group average of 871.01× the average · 5 of the 46 counted88
Fireagainst the group average of 870.89× the average · 7 of the 46 counted77
Metalagainst the group average of 870.88× the average · 3 of the 46 counted77
Colorless — most cardsagainst the group average of 870.86× the average · 7 of the 46 counted74

Counted across the 46 Pokémon cards among this group's 50 dearest that print both a type and a damage number. Trainer and Energy cards print neither and are left out rather than entered as zero. A type with only one such card is not averaged.

Back to summary

The three hardest-hitting Basic Pokémon cards

A group price says nothing about what its cards do on the table. These three print the biggest attacks of any Basic card in the archive, and the middle one's numbers are set out under them.

The three biggest attacks among Basic cards — hover to fan them outpress and hold to fan them out

Middle card · Latias & Latios-GX DragonHP 250Biggest attack 240Weak to FairyRetreat 1

Back to summary

Basic Pokémon cards — frequently asked questions

How many Basic Pokémon cards are there?

There are 9,991 Basic cards in this archive, and 9,658 of them carry a price. The stage is where a card stands in an evolution line, recorded with each card in the card files this site reads. Trainer and energy cards carry no stage, so this axis covers only the Pokémon part of the archive.

How much is a Basic Pokémon card worth?

The typical one costs $2.43. Across the 9,658 priced cards the range runs from $0.02 to $4,500.00, so the group price is a starting point rather than a valuation of any one card.

What is the most expensive Basic Pokémon card?

Lugia 149 from Aquapolis, at $4,500.00. It is 1,852× the typical price of the group.

Are Basic Pokémon cards rare?

By price they rank No. 4 of 5 stages, with 1 cheaper than this one. By size the group holds 9,991 of the 20,444 English cards on file, or 48.9%. Those two together are what "rare" usually means in practice — few of them, and dear because of it.

Do all Basic Pokémon cards have a price?

No. 9,658 of the 9,991 carry a price on file. The rest have never been listed at a price this archive could read, so they are counted in the card total but left out of every price figure rather than guessed at.

Where can I see every Basic Pokémon card?

The list on this page holds the 50 most expensive of them, dearest first, and each card opens its own price page. The remaining 9,941 carry no published price, which is why they are not drawn.

How often are Basic Pokémon card prices updated?

Prices are read once a day from public marketplace listings. The figures on this page were read on August 14, 2026. Which cards belong to this group comes from openly published card files and changes only when a new set is added.

Are Basic Pokémon cards going up in value?

Over the last 11 months the typical Basic card rose from $1.45 to $2.43, a change of +67.6%. That is the middle of the whole group, so it describes an ordinary card of this kind rather than the headline one at the top.

How much does a cheap Basic Pokémon card cost?

One in four Basic cards costs $0.41 or less and the cheapest on file is $0.02. Three in four cost $13.96 or less, so the cards past that point are the exception rather than the rule for this group.

Which Basic Pokémon cards are worth the most?

Sorted by rarity, Rare Ultra is the dearest kind of Basic card: 458 of them are on file and the middle one costs $21.58. The table on this page lists every rarity in the group beside its own typical price.

What is the highest HP on a Basic Pokémon card?

The highest printed HP among Basic cards is 310, and the lowest is 30. The typical one is 70 HP, with half of them between 60 and 110 — figures counted from the 9,808 cards in this group that print an HP value.

Are Basic Pokémon cards legal in tournaments?

2,816 of the 9,991 Basic cards are legal in Standard today and 7,328 in Expanded — 28.2% and 73.3% of the group. A card leaves Standard when its set rotates out, so this share moves each year even though the cards do not change.

What are Basic Pokémon cards weak to?

Most often Fighting — 2,118 of the 9,306 Basic cards that print a weakness take double damage from it, with Fire next at 1,627 cards. Weakness is printed per card, so the group tendency is a guide and the card itself is the answer.

Are old Basic Pokémon cards worth more than new ones?

Not simply by age. Among Basic cards the 1999 printings sit at a typical $27.64 and the 2026 ones at $0.28, while the dearest year of all is 2005 at $29.99. Print run and demand decide it, not the date on its own.

Which Basic Pokémon card rose the most this year?

Tauros 41 from HS—Unleashed, which went from $1.36 to $25.97 — a change of +1,809.6% between August 14, 2025 and August 14, 2026. It is one of 4,919 Basic cards that carried a price on both days.

Which sets have Basic Pokémon cards?

Basic cards appear across 10 sets on file. The largest are SWSH Black Star Promos (174 cards, typically $3.21), SM Black Star Promos (166 cards, typically $20.69), Fusion Strike (147 cards, typically $0.31). The full list on this page gives every set beside its card count and typical price.

How these Basic figures are collected, and where you can check them

Every figure on this page is counted from the 9,991 Basic cards this site holds on file — 9,658 of them with a price read once a day from public marketplace listings into this site's own archive. Nothing here is estimated: a card with no price is left out of the price columns rather than filled in. The places below are where the same card information can be checked.

Primary official source

First-party official sources — the body that issues the data itself, such as a government agency, a statutory register or a rights holder publishing its own records.

1

The Pokémon Company International — official tournament format and rotation announcements www.pokemon.com

Industry source

Second-party sources — marketplaces, trade associations, research institutes and companies that compile data about the market.

1

Pokémon TCG Data — openly published card files (card text, rarity, types, regulation mark, illustrator credits) github.com

2

TCGdex card database — openly licensed card files (set listings and printed names) github.com

Before you rely on these figures

Note: Prices on this page are asking and market prices for ungraded English Basic cards, taken from a daily snapshot of public marketplace listings read on August 14, 2026. They are not offers, they exclude shipping, duty and marketplace fees, and they move. Counts cover only the English cards this site holds on file. Graded prices, population counts, sealed product values and pack odds are not published on this site because no free commercial source provides them.

Last updated: 2026-08-14