Chansey · Base Set, what to know.
About the Chansey card
Numbered 3 of 102 in Base Set, released in January 1999, Chansey is a Rare Holo, a Basic Colorless-type carrying 120 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Chansey needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
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.
Chansey carries this Pokédex flavor text: "A rare and elusive Pokémon that is said to bring happiness to those who manage to catch it."
About Chansey in the Pokémon world
A pink egg-carrying Pokémon. Notably the trainer in the Pokémon Centers in the games. High HP, low offensive stats. Base Set holo Chansey is one of the original 16 holos. Considered one of the harder Base holos to find well-centered. PSA 10 1st Edition Chansey commands a meaningful premium per population reports.
What is Chansey worth?
Based on recent eBay sales, raw copies trade from $18 to $570 depending on the print and a PSA 10 runs from $4,050 to $40,000. The 1st Edition print is the most valuable, with a PSA 10 near $40,000. The table on this page breaks the price down by print and grade, updated 2026-05-25.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set produced three print waves that collectors track separately: 1st Edition (the launch print, with an Edition 1 stamp under the artwork), Shadowless (no stamp and no drop shadow on the right of the frame), and Unlimited (the long-running print with the drop shadow restored). On Chansey, the price gap between these prints can run 10x or more, so confirm the variant before any purchase.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Chansey, surface is the grade cap. The colorless 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 Chansey
When you go to buy Chansey, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Chansey, so price the specific copy in front of you.
Three prints, three markets.
Edition 1 stamp under the artwork. The scarcest and most valuable Chansey print.
No stamp and no drop shadow on the right of the frame. A short transitional print.
Drop shadow restored. The long-running print and the most affordable copy.
