Blastoise · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Blastoise card
Blastoise is card 2 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, a Rare Holo. It is a Stage 2 Water-type with 100 HP.
As a Stage 2, it evolves from Wartortle, which places Blastoise deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
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 Pokédex entry printed on Blastoise reads: "A brutal Pokémon with pressurized water jets on its shell. They are used for high-speed tackles."
About Blastoise in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved water starter. A heavy turtle with water cannons mounted on its shell. A defensive powerhouse in the games and a frequent tournament pick. The water Charizard equivalent. There is also a famous 1999 Galaxy Star Holo Blastoise presentation prototype which is a separate artifact from the standard print and trades for high six figures.
What is Blastoise worth?
Blastoise 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 Blastoise, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Blastoise lives and dies on its holo surface in grading. The water foil catches light at angles that hide hairlines in a flat photo, so tilt it under a lamp, then measure the borders, where Wizards-era centering is the second-most-common grade cap.
If you are collecting Blastoise
If you are buying Blastoise, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. For a raw Blastoise above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
