Golem · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Golem card
Golem is card 14 of 165 in Expedition Base Set, released in September 2002, a Rare Holo. It is a Stage 2 Fighting-type with 100 HP.
As a Stage 2, it evolves from Graveler, which places Golem deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Aya Kusube.
About Golem in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Geodude line via trade. Heavy boulder silhouette. Fossil Rare Golem with steady set-completion demand.
What is Golem worth?
Golem 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 Golem before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Golem, surface is the grade cap. The fighting foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Golem
Buying Golem well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. The 1st Edition Golem trades above the Unlimited copy, so confirm the stamp before you agree a number. Always see the holo surface in good light first.
