Chinchou · Neo Genesis, what to know.
About the Chinchou card
Numbered 55 of 111 in Neo Genesis, released in December 2000, Chinchou is a Common, a Basic Lightning-type carrying 50 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Chinchou 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.
Chinchou carries this Pokédex flavor text: "It shoots positive and negative electricity between the tips of its two antennae and zaps its enemies."
What is Chinchou worth?
Chinchou 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
Neo Genesis produced 1st Edition, Unlimited prints. For Chinchou, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Chinchou 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 Chinchou
Raw copies of Chinchou are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Chinchou is the practical move.
