Blaine's Charizard · Gym Challenge, what to know.
About the Blaine's Charizard card
Numbered 2 of 132 in Gym Challenge, released in October 2000, Blaine's Charizard is a Rare Holo, a Stage 2 Fire-type carrying 100 HP.
It evolves from Blaine's Charmeleon, so Blaine's Charizard is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Blaine is the Fire-type Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island, the quiz-loving scientist behind the island's lab. Blaine's Charizard is part of that themed lineup.
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.
About Charizard in the Pokémon world
The fire-flying final form of the Charmander line, and the unofficial mascot of the franchise outside of Pikachu. Massive dragon-shaped silhouette, wings, tail-flame. The single most-recognized trading card of the modern era. Its Base Set holo print drove the entire vintage Pokémon market and continues to set the comp price for every other Wizards-era holo.
What is Blaine's Charizard worth?
Blaine's Charizard is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Gym Challenge'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, Gym Challenge holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to Blaine's Charizard at the top; 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
Gym Challenge shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The trainer-prefix naming runs across the set, and the 1st Edition Blaine's Charizard carries the Edition 1 stamp and a premium over Unlimited in matching grade.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Blaine's Charizard, surface is the grade cap. The fire foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Blaine's Charizard
For Blaine's Charizard, variant comes before condition. A 1st Edition and an Unlimited Blaine's Charizard are different markets for the same art, so settle the print before you negotiate. Demand a clear photo of the Blaine's Charizard holo for any raw purchase.
Three prints, three markets.
Edition 1 stamp under the artwork. Trades above Unlimited in matching grade.
No stamp. The standard, more affordable print.
