Magneton · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Magneton card
Magneton is card 9 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, a Rare Holo. It is a Stage 1 Lightning-type with 60 HP.
As a Stage 1, it evolves from Magnemite, which places Magneton deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Keiji Kinebuchi. Kinebuchi contributed a smaller body of Wizards-era cards but is responsible for several memorable holos, with a warm, heavily textured style.
The Pokédex entry printed on Magneton reads: "Formed by several Magnemites linked together. It frequently appears when sunspots flare up."
About Magneton in the Pokémon world
Three Magnemites linked together. Base Set holo Magneton is one of the original 16 holos. Steady graded demand.
What is Magneton worth?
Magneton 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 Magneton, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Magneton lives and dies on its holo surface in grading. The lightning 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 Magneton
If you are buying Magneton, 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 Magneton above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
