Raikou · Skyridge, what to know.
About the Raikou card
Raikou is card H26 of 182 in Skyridge, released in May 2003, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Lightning-type with 70 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 Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita painted the Base Set Charizard and much of the early holo run, and his work has a painterly weight that set the visual tone of the Wizards era.
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 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 Raikou before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Raikou is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on Wizards-era cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the lightning foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
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.
