Raikou · Neo Revelation, what to know.
About the Raikou card
Raikou is card 13 of 66 in Neo Revelation, released in September 2001, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Lightning-type with 80 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Raikou 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.
The card's flavor text gives Raikou a line of lore: "The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning."
About Raikou in the Pokémon world
An Electric Legendary. One of the three Legendary Beasts of Johto. Neo Revelation holo Raikou is the electric Legendary Beast chase.
What is Raikou worth?
Raikou is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Neo Revelation'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, Neo Revelation 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
Neo Revelation produced 1st Edition, Unlimited, Shining prints. For Raikou, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Raikou. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the lightning foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Raikou
Buying Raikou well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. The 1st Edition Raikou trades above the Unlimited copy, so confirm the stamp before you agree a number. Always see the holo surface in good light first.
