Gyarados

Gyarados is card 12 of 110 in Legendary Collection, released in May 2002, a Rare Holo. It is a Stage 1 Water-type with 100 HP.

As a Stage 1, it evolves from Magikarp, which places Gyarados 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.

The Pokédex entry printed on Gyarados reads: "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.

Gyarados is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Legendary Collection'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, Legendary Collection 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.

Confirm the print and finish on Gyarados before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.

Expect the holo window to set the grade on Gyarados. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the water 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 buying Gyarados, 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 Gyarados above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.