Golem · Skyridge, what to know.
About the Golem card
Golem is card 148 of 182 in Skyridge, released in May 2003, a Rare Secret. It is a Stage 2 Colorless-type with 100 HP.
As a Stage 2, it evolves from Graveler, which places Golem deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
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.
About Golem in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Geodude line via trade. Heavy boulder silhouette. Fossil Rare Golem with steady set-completion demand.
What is Golem worth?
Golem is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Skyridge'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, Skyridge holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; 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
Confirm the print and finish on Golem before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Golem. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the colorless foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Golem
If you are buying Golem, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. For a raw Golem above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
