Dragonair

Numbered 18 of 102 in Base Set, released in January 1999, Dragonair is a Rare, a Stage 1 Colorless-type carrying 80 HP.

It evolves from Dratini, so Dragonair is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.

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.

Printed on the card, the Dragonair Pokédex entry reads: "A mystical Pokémon that exudes a gentle aura. Has the ability to change climate conditions."

The middle Dratini stage. Long serpentine body with crystal orbs. Base Set Uncommon. Quietly beautiful art makes it a fan favorite.

Based on recent eBay sales, raw copies trade from $11 to $47 depending on the print and a PSA 10 runs from $350 to $4,950. The 1st Edition print is the most valuable, with a PSA 10 near $4,950. The table on this page breaks the price down by print and grade, updated 2026-05-24.

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 Dragonair, the price gap between these prints can run 10x or more, so confirm the variant before any purchase.

Dragonair grades on centering and edges more than surface. The card was played and traded more freely than the holos, so a clean, well-centered Dragonair is worth more than collectors assume.

For Dragonair, check centering by eye, edge whitening on all four sides, and surface under angled light. Non-holo Rares from this era are cheap enough that a PSA 10 submission on a clean Dragonair can make sense.