Base Set Card Values & Price Guide
Base Set is a vintage-era Base-series set from 1999 with 102 printed cards; this report tracks 32 of them with live market data.
By CardLedger Research · Market data updated · Prices from TCGplayer & Cardmarket
About the Base Set set
Released on 1999/01/09, Base Set anchors the Base series with 102 printed cards. The most valuable card is Charizard #4, worth $954.65 (Rare).
This report prices 32 of the 32 tracked cards from live TCGplayer (USD) and Cardmarket (EUR) data, with a median card value of $15.19 and an average of $64.92.
Base Set value distribution
How market value is spread across the set's tracked cards.
Set value index
5 days tracked · -0.9%The index sums the live market value of every priced card in the set, built from our own daily snapshots.
The set's value is concentrated at the top: Charizard alone is worth $954.65, and the five most valuable cards — Charizard #4 ($954.65), Blastoise #2 ($227.27), Venusaur #15 ($152.86), Mewtwo #10 ($84.59), Alakazam #1 ($72.46) — carry the bulk of the $2,077.47 tracked total.
The median card value is $15.19 versus an average of $64.92 — a right-skewed distribution where a few chase cards pull the average up.
For collectors, the 5 cards above $72.46 are the ones worth sleeving; the rest of the set is affordable to complete raw.
Rarity & price distribution
The tracked checklist breaks down by rarity as: 27 Rare, 3 Uncommon, 2 Common. Rarer tiers carry the highest values.
By price band, the set has 0 cards Under $1, 0 cards $1–$5, 18 cards $5–$20, 11 cards $20–$100, 3 cards $100+. 3 cards trade above $100.
Charizard is the standout chase at $954.65; the next tier down (Blastoise, Venusaur) forms the mid-set value layer.
Price bands
What it costs to complete Base Set
Cheapest-printing cost to gather every tracked Base Set card, broken down by rarity tier.
Affordable core vs tail
Most of a set is cheap to collect — the last few chase cards carry most of the cost. The priciest 10% alone are 67% of the total.
Most valuable Base Set cards
Ranked by live market value from TCGplayer (USD).
How complete is your Base Set set?
Track your progress and the live cost of the cards you're still missing — saved in your browser, no account.
Add any card from this set to start tracking your completion.
Biggest gaps
- Charizard #4$954.65
- Blastoise #2$227.27
- Venusaur #15$152.86
- Mewtwo #10$84.59
- Alakazam #1$72.46
- Raichu #14$62.71
Adding a card records it in your collection at today's market value as its cost basis — adjust it on the collection page to track profit.
Heating up in Base Set
Cards in this set trading furthest above their 30-day average (7-day momentum).
- Dragonair #18$19.42▲ 101.9%
- Clefairy #5$46.26▲ 93.8%
- Charizard #4$954.65▲ 71.6%
- Venusaur #15$152.86▲ 27.5%
- Pidgeotto #22$8.89▲ 17.3%
- Chansey #3$55.42▲ 14.5%
Cooling off in Base Set
Cards in this set trading furthest below their 30-day average — potential value windows.
- Scoop Up #78$9.51▼ 43.1%
- Pikachu #58$11.72▼ 34.2%
- Ivysaur #30$5.74▼ 32.5%
- Hitmonchan #7$18.66▼ 29.7%
- Nidoking #11$41.26▼ 28.7%
- Ninetales #12$40.09▼ 26.7%
Base Set questions
What is the most valuable card in Base Set?
Charizard #4 is the set's top card, valued at $954.65 (Rare). It ranks #1 of 32 priced Base Set cards.
How many cards are in Base Set?
Base Set contains 102 printed cards in the Base series, released 1999/01/09. This report tracks 32 of them, 32 with live prices.
What is the average Base Set card worth?
The median tracked value is $15.19 and the average is $64.92. The gap reflects the set's chase cards, which pull the average above the typical card.
Should I collect Base Set?
As a vintage-era Base-series set, Base Set has fixed, finite supply that supports long-term collector value. Completing it raw is affordable at a $15.19 median, while the top chase cards carry the investment case.
What are the top Base Set cards to buy?
The highest-value cards are Charizard #4 ($954.65), Blastoise #2 ($227.27), Venusaur #15 ($152.86), Mewtwo #10 ($84.59), Alakazam #1 ($72.46). These are the set's chase cards and the ones most worth grading or holding.
All Base Set cards
Showing 32 of 32 tracked cards with live market values, with the complete checklist below.
Charizard
$954.65Base Set
Blastoise
$227.27Base Set
Venusaur
$152.86Base Set
Mewtwo
$84.59Base Set
Alakazam
$72.46Base Set
Raichu
$62.71Base Set
Gyarados
$56.33Base Set
Chansey
$55.42Base Set
Zapdos
$50.27Base Set
Clefairy
$46.26Base Set
Nidoking
$41.26Base Set
Ninetales
$40.09Base Set
Poliwrath
$35.17Base Set
Magneton
$32.39Base Set
Dragonair
$19.42Base Set
Hitmonchan
$18.66Base Set
Pikachu
$11.72Base Set
Dugtrio
$11.09Base Set
Electabuzz
$10.37Base Set
Scoop Up
$9.51Base Set
Item Finder
$9.10Base Set
Pidgeotto
$8.89Base Set
Electrode
$8.78Base Set
Clefairy Doll
$8.19Base Set
Devolution Spray
$7.53Base Set
Double Colorless Energy
$7.30Base Set
Pokémon Breeder
$6.46Base Set
Beedrill
$6.19Base Set
Squirtle
$5.85Base Set
Ivysaur
$5.74Base Set
Wartortle
$5.64Base Set
Pokémon Trader
$5.30Base Set
Complete Base Set checklist (32)
- Charizard #4$954.65
- Blastoise #2$227.27
- Venusaur #15$152.86
- Mewtwo #10$84.59
- Alakazam #1$72.46
- Raichu #14$62.71
- Gyarados #6$56.33
- Chansey #3$55.42
- Zapdos #16$50.27
- Clefairy #5$46.26
- Nidoking #11$41.26
- Ninetales #12$40.09
- Poliwrath #13$35.17
- Magneton #9$32.39
- Dragonair #18$19.42
- Hitmonchan #7$18.66
- Pikachu #58$11.72
- Dugtrio #19$11.09
- Electabuzz #20$10.37
- Scoop Up #78$9.51
- Item Finder #74$9.10
- Pidgeotto #22$8.89
- Electrode #21$8.78
- Clefairy Doll #70$8.19
- Devolution Spray #72$7.53
- Double Colorless Energy #96$7.30
- Pokémon Breeder #76$6.46
- Beedrill #17$6.19
- Squirtle #63$5.85
- Ivysaur #30$5.74
- Wartortle #42$5.64
- Pokémon Trader #77$5.30