Nidoking · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Nidoking card
Numbered 11 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Nidoking is a Rare Holo, a Stage 2 Grass-type carrying 90 HP.
It evolves from Nidorino, so Nidoking is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
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.
Nidoking carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Uses its powerful tail in battle to smash, constrict, then break its prey's bones."
About Nidoking in the Pokémon world
The Ground-Poison final form of the Nidoran♂ line. Tall bipedal silhouette with a long horn. Considered one of the strongest Ground types in Gen 1. Base Set holo Nidoking is a steady five-figure card in PSA 10 1st Edition. Quieter than the marquee starters but consistently in demand.
What is Nidoking worth?
Nidoking 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 Nidoking, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Grading Nidoking comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Nidoking 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 Nidoking
When you go to buy Nidoking, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Nidoking, so price the specific copy in front of you.
