Rattata · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Rattata card
Rattata is card 89 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, a Common. It is a Basic Colorless-type with 30 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Rattata 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.
The Pokédex entry printed on Rattata reads: "Bites anything when it attacks. Small and very quick, it is a common sight in many places."
About Rattata in the Pokémon world
A small purple rodent. Common as the very first wild Pokémon you encounter in many routes. Common card across multiple early sets. Low collector demand; useful for learning to spot Shadowless distinctions.
What is Rattata worth?
Rattata 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.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Rattata, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Rattata 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.
If you are collecting Rattata
Raw copies of Rattata are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Rattata is the practical move.
