Skarmory · Neo Genesis, what to know.
About the Skarmory card
Skarmory is card 13 of 111 in Neo Genesis, released in December 2000, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Metal-type with 60 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Skarmory 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 Skarmory reads: "Its sturdy wings look heavy, but they are actually hollow and light, allowing it to fly freely in the sky."
What is Skarmory worth?
Skarmory 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.
Print variants and how to spot them
Neo Genesis produced 1st Edition, Unlimited prints. For Skarmory, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Skarmory lives and dies on its holo surface in grading. The metal foil catches light at angles that hide hairlines in a flat photo, so tilt it under a lamp, then measure the borders, where Wizards-era centering is the second-most-common grade cap.
If you are collecting Skarmory
If you are buying Skarmory, 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 Skarmory above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
