Charmander · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Charmander card
Charmander is card 69 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, a Common. It is a Basic Fire-type with 50 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Charmander needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita painted the Base Set Charizard and much of the early holo run, and his work has a painterly weight that set the visual tone of the Wizards era.
The Pokédex entry printed on Charmander reads: "Obviously prefers hot places. If it gets caught in the rain, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail."
About Charmander in the Pokémon world
The fire starter. A small bipedal reptile with a tail-flame that signals its health. Famous for being the most-picked starter in the original generation. Base Set Charmander has outsized collector interest because of its connection to Charizard. PSA 10 examples are surprisingly difficult given the soft cardstock of the era.
What is Charmander worth?
Charmander is a Common, so raw copies trade for very little and most of the print run survives. The only real value is in pristine, high-grade copies, where even a Common can reach low triple digits in 1st Edition PSA 10. See the live price above for the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Charmander, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Charmander is the most forgiving tier to grade in the set. Centering on the framed border is the usual cap, and the soft Wizards-era cardstock picks up edge whitening easily, but high print runs keep clean copies affordable.
If you are collecting Charmander
Raw copies of Charmander are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Charmander is the practical move.
