Gyarados

Numbered 6 of 102 in Base Set, released in January 1999, Gyarados is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Water-type carrying 100 HP.

It evolves from Magikarp, so Gyarados 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.

Gyarados carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage."

The fully evolved Magikarp. A massive serpentine water-flying dragon. Famous for the disproportionate evolution arc. Base Set holo Gyarados is one of the most aesthetically beloved holos in the set. Steady graded demand and appreciation.

Based on recent eBay sales, raw copies trade from $27 to $1,600 depending on the print and a PSA 10 runs from $2,070 to $26,200. The 1st Edition print is the most valuable, with a PSA 10 near $26,200. The table on this page breaks the price down by print and grade, updated 2026-05-23.

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

Grading Gyarados comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Gyarados can drop from a 10 to a 9 on a single hairline. Inspect the window at an angle and the corners against the frame.

When you go to buy Gyarados, 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 Gyarados, so price the specific copy in front of you.