Pichu

Pichu is card 12 of 111 in Neo Genesis, released in December 2000, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Lightning-type with 30 HP.

As a Basic Pokémon, Pichu 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.

The Pokédex entry printed on Pichu reads: "Despite its small size, it can zap even adult humans. However, if it does so, it also surprises itself."

A baby Pokémon that pre-evolves into Pikachu. Generation 2 introduced baby Pokémon as a mechanic. Neo Discovery Pichu is the first TCG appearance. Sentimental demand from Pikachu collectors who want the line origin.

Pichu is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Neo Genesis'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, Neo Genesis holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to Lugia at the top; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.

Neo Genesis produced 1st Edition, Unlimited prints. For Pichu, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.

Expect the holo window to set the grade on Pichu. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the lightning foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.

If you are buying Pichu, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. For a raw Pichu above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.