Lt. Surge's Voltorb

Numbered 86 of 132 in Gym Challenge, released in October 2000, Lt. Surge's Voltorb is a Common, a Basic Lightning-type carrying 50 HP.

As a Basic Pokémon, Voltorb needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.

Lt. Surge is the Electric-type Gym Leader of Vermilion City, a former soldier nicknamed the Lightning American. Lt. Surge's Voltorb is part of that themed lineup.

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.

A Poké Ball-shaped electric Pokémon. Famous for being mistaken for items in the games. Base Set Common. Cheap and sentimental.

Lt. Surge's Voltorb is a Common, so raw copies trade for very little and most of the print run survives. The only real value is in pristine, high-grade copies, where even a Common can reach low triple digits in 1st Edition PSA 10. See the live price above for the current figure by grade.

Gym Challenge shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The trainer-prefix naming runs across the set, and the 1st Edition Lt. Surge's Voltorb carries the Edition 1 stamp and a premium over Unlimited in matching grade.

Lt. Surge's Voltorb is the most forgiving tier to grade in the set. Centering on the framed border is the usual cap, and the soft Wizards-era cardstock picks up edge whitening easily, but high print runs keep clean copies affordable.

Raw copies of Lt. Surge's Voltorb are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Lt. Surge's Voltorb is the practical move.