Hitmonchan · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Hitmonchan card
Numbered 8 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Hitmonchan is a Rare Holo, a Basic Fighting-type carrying 70 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Hitmonchan 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.
Printed on the card, the Hitmonchan Pokédex entry reads: "While seeming to do nothing, it fires punches in lightning-fast volleys that are impossible to see."
About Hitmonchan in the Pokémon world
A fighting type with boxing gloves. The punch-fighting brother to Hitmonlee. Base Set holo Hitmonchan is one of the most affordable Base Set holos in PSA 10 1st Edition. A common entry point for new graded collectors.
What is Hitmonchan worth?
Hitmonchan is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Base Set 2'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, Base Set 2 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
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Hitmonchan, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Hitmonchan lives and dies on its holo surface in grading. The fighting foil catches light at angles that hide hairlines in a flat photo, so tilt it under a lamp, then measure the borders, where Wizards-era centering is the second-most-common grade cap.
If you are collecting Hitmonchan
For Hitmonchan, variant comes before condition. A 1st Edition and an Unlimited Hitmonchan are different markets for the same art, so settle the print before you negotiate. Demand a clear photo of the Hitmonchan holo for any raw purchase.
