Scyther · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Scyther card
Scyther is card 17 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Grass-type with 70 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Scyther 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 Scyther a line of lore: "With ninja-like agility and speed, it can create the illusion that there is more than one of it."
About Scyther in the Pokémon world
A Bug-Flying mantis Pokémon with sharp arm blades. Jungle holo Scyther was tournament-strong at release. Its 70 HP basic stats with a low-cost Slash attack made it dominant in early competitive play, which means high-grade survivors are scarce.
What is Scyther worth?
Scyther 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 Scyther, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Grading Scyther comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Scyther 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 Scyther
Buying Scyther well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. The 1st Edition Scyther trades above the Unlimited copy, so confirm the stamp before you agree a number. Always see the holo surface in good light first.
