Caterpie · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Caterpie card
Numbered 68 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Caterpie is a Common, a Basic Grass-type carrying 40 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Caterpie 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.
Caterpie carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls."
About Caterpie in the Pokémon world
The most basic bug Pokémon in the original Pokédex. Used as a tutorial-level catch in the games. A Common card with no special variants. Pack-fresh raw copies are easy to find; centered PSA 10s are not.
What is Caterpie worth?
Caterpie 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 Caterpie, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Caterpie 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 Caterpie
Raw copies of Caterpie are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Caterpie is the practical move.
