Koga's Tangela · Gym Challenge, what to know.
About the Koga's Tangela card
Numbered 81 of 132 in Gym Challenge, released in October 2000, Koga's Tangela is a Common, a Basic Grass-type carrying 50 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Tangela needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Koga is the Poison-type Gym Leader of Fuchsia City, a ninja who later rises to the Elite Four. Koga's Tangela is part of that themed lineup.
Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and many Gen 1 Pokémon, and her card work has a soft, rounded warmth that suits the friendlier creatures.
About Tangela in the Pokémon world
A mass of blue vines with red shoes. Bizarre design even by Gen 1 standards. Jungle Common. Sentimental.
What is Koga's Tangela worth?
Koga's Tangela 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
Gym Challenge shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The trainer-prefix naming runs across the set, and the 1st Edition Koga's Tangela carries the Edition 1 stamp and a premium over Unlimited in matching grade.
Grading and condition
Koga's Tangela 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 Koga's Tangela
Raw copies of Koga's Tangela are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Koga's Tangela is the practical move.
Three prints, three markets.
Edition 1 stamp under the artwork. Trades above Unlimited in matching grade.
No stamp. The standard, more affordable print.
