Kabutops · Skyridge, what to know.
About the Kabutops card
Kabutops is card 150 of 182 in Skyridge, released in May 2003, a Rare Secret. It is a Stage 2 Colorless-type with 90 HP.
As a Stage 2, it evolves from Kabuto, which places Kabutops deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and many Gen 1 Pokémon, and her card work has a soft, rounded warmth that suits the friendlier creatures.
About Kabutops in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Kabuto. Scythes for arms, prehistoric predator silhouette. Fossil holo Kabutops is a striking design and a steady holo in Fossil. PSA 10 examples have appreciated quietly.
What is Kabutops worth?
Kabutops 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 Kabutops before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Grading Kabutops comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Kabutops can drop from a 10 to a 9 on a single hairline. Inspect the window at an angle and the corners against the frame.
If you are collecting Kabutops
If you are buying Kabutops, 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 Kabutops above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
