Suicune

Suicune is card 14 of 66 in Neo Revelation, released in September 2001, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Water-type with 70 HP.

As a Basic Pokémon, Suicune 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 card's flavor text gives Suicune a line of lore: "Said to be the reincarnation of north winds, it can instantly purify filthy, murky water."

A Water Legendary. One of the three Legendary Beasts of Johto. Sleek aquatic feline silhouette. Neo Revelation holo Suicune leads the Legendary Beast trio in collector demand.

Suicune is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Neo Revelation'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 Revelation 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.

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

Grading Suicune comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Suicune can drop from a 10 to a 9 on a single hairline. Inspect the window at an angle and the corners against the frame.

Buying Suicune well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. The 1st Edition Suicune trades above the Unlimited copy, so confirm the stamp before you agree a number. Always see the holo surface in good light first.