Gyarados · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Gyarados card
Numbered 7 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Gyarados is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Water-type carrying 100 HP.
It evolves from Magikarp, so Gyarados is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
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.
Gyarados carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage."
About Gyarados in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Magikarp. A massive serpentine water-flying dragon. Famous for the disproportionate evolution arc. Base Set holo Gyarados is one of the most aesthetically beloved holos in the set. Steady graded demand and appreciation.
What is Gyarados worth?
Gyarados 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 Gyarados, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Grading Gyarados comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Gyarados can drop from a 10 to a 9 on a single hairline. Inspect the window at an angle and the corners against the frame.
If you are collecting Gyarados
When you go to buy Gyarados, 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 Gyarados, so price the specific copy in front of you.
