Charizard · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Charizard card
Numbered 6 of 165 in Expedition Base Set, released in September 2002, Charizard is a Rare Holo, a Stage 2 Fire-type carrying 120 HP.
It evolves from Charmeleon, so Charizard is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Hiromichi Sugiyama.
About Charizard in the Pokémon world
The fire-flying final form of the Charmander line, and the unofficial mascot of the franchise outside of Pikachu. Massive dragon-shaped silhouette, wings, tail-flame. The single most-recognized trading card of the modern era. Its Base Set holo print drove the entire vintage Pokémon market and continues to set the comp price for every other Wizards-era holo.
What is Charizard worth?
Charizard is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Expedition Base Set'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, Expedition Base Set 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
Confirm the print and finish on Charizard before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Charizard is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on Wizards-era cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the fire foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
If you are collecting Charizard
When you go to buy Charizard, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Charizard, so price the specific copy in front of you.
