Tangela · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Tangela card
Numbered 96 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Tangela is a Common, a Basic Grass-type carrying 50 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Tangela 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.
Tangela carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Its whole body is swathed with wide vines that are similar to seaweed. These vines shake as it walks."
About Tangela in the Pokémon world
A mass of blue vines with red shoes. Bizarre design even by Gen 1 standards. Jungle Common. Sentimental.
What is Tangela worth?
Tangela 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 Tangela, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Tangela 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 Tangela
Raw copies of Tangela are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Tangela is the practical move.
