Alakazam · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Alakazam card
Numbered 1 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Alakazam is a Rare Holo, a Stage 2 Psychic-type carrying 80 HP.
It evolves from Kadabra, so Alakazam is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Ken Sugimori. Sugimori is the lead character designer of Pokémon itself, so his card art carries the tight, on-model look that defined how the creatures appear in the games.
Printed on the card, the Alakazam Pokédex entry reads: "Its brain can outperform a supercomputer. Its intelligence quotient is said to be 5000."
About Alakazam in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Abra line. Two silver spoons, large mustache. Base Set holo Alakazam (#1 in the set) is the first card in the run. Sells for a premium over other Base holos because of position significance.
What is Alakazam worth?
Alakazam is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Base Set 2's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Base Set 2 holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Alakazam, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Alakazam is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on Wizards-era cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the psychic foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
If you are collecting Alakazam
For Alakazam, variant comes before condition. A 1st Edition and an Unlimited Alakazam are different markets for the same art, so settle the print before you negotiate. Demand a clear photo of the Alakazam holo for any raw purchase.
