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English set

Base Set

In 30 secondsThe set that started it all in English. Its 102 cards include the three original starters as holos, Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur, and Charizard became the most famous card in the hobby. Base Set was printed several times, and the print a card comes from matters far more than the card itself.

First English release	9 January 1999 (North America; UK shops usually a little later)
Cards in the set	102
Holo cards	16
Pokemon / Trainer / Energy	69 / 26 / 7
1st Edition	Yes, every card
Copies printed	Never published (Wizards of the Coast kept print runs private)
Copies graded (whole set)	PSA 1,043,135 · CGC 324,649 · TAG 16,202

Where to look on a Base Set card

Charizard, labelled — Charizard, labelled.
1 1st Edition stamp (only on the first print). Base Set has no set symbol. Full print-by-print guide on our Base Set prints page.
2 1st Edition stamp. Only the first print run has it. No stamp means Unlimited (the later, larger print).
3 Card number and rarity: the number out of 102, then the rarity symbol (circle common, diamond uncommon, star rare).
4 Copyright line: the years and company names show when the card was printed.

The cards collectors look for

Under each card: how many were printed (never published) and how many each grading company has graded, by version. The number in brackets is how many got a perfect 10. Graded counts are not the number that exist: most copies were never graded.

Charizard, Base Set 4

Charizard No. 4

Printed: never published. Wizards of the Coast did not release print runs, so any exact figure is a guess.

Graded so far: 131,655 copies across PSA, CGC and TAG.

Version	PSA	CGC	TAG
1st Edition	5,302 (125 × 10)	664 (38 × 10)	58 (3 × 10)
Shadowless	13,072 (58 × 10)	1,928 (38 × 10)	176 (1 × 10)
Unlimited	92,856 (489 × 10)	14,853 (297 × 10)	1,434 (2 × 10)
1999-2000 print	750 (6 × 10)	60 (2 × 10)	9
Other versions	365	125	3

Blastoise, Base Set 2

Blastoise No. 2

Printed: never published. Wizards of the Coast did not release print runs, so any exact figure is a guess.

Graded so far: 70,244 copies across PSA, CGC and TAG.

Version	PSA	CGC	TAG
1st Edition	3,813 (102 × 10)	567 (25 × 10)	45 (1 × 10)
Shadowless	6,939 (44 × 10)	1,203 (17 × 10)	83
Unlimited	46,290 (382 × 10)	8,913 (151 × 10)	701
1999-2000 print	367 (1 × 10)	41 (2 × 10)	5 (1 × 10)
Other versions	965 (32 × 10)	310 (12 × 10)	2

Venusaur, Base Set 15

Venusaur No. 15

Printed: never published. Wizards of the Coast did not release print runs, so any exact figure is a guess.

Graded so far: 63,693 copies across PSA, CGC and TAG.

Version	PSA	CGC	TAG
1st Edition	3,553 (144 × 10)	524 (28 × 10)	35
Shadowless	6,841 (101 × 10)	1,211 (16 × 10)	88
Unlimited	41,972 (585 × 10)	8,535 (166 × 10)	604 (3 × 10)
1999-2000 print	294 (7 × 10)	23 (1 × 10)	1
Other versions	12	–	–

Mewtwo, Base Set 10

Mewtwo No. 10

Printed: never published. Wizards of the Coast did not release print runs, so any exact figure is a guess.

Graded so far: 46,527 copies across PSA, CGC and TAG.

Version	PSA	CGC	TAG
1st Edition	2,570 (82 × 10)	405 (21 × 10)	32 (2 × 10)
Shadowless	6,520 (75 × 10)	1,381 (16 × 10)	89 (2 × 10)
Unlimited	27,341 (595 × 10)	7,270 (167 × 10)	464 (3 × 10)
1999-2000 print	379 (7 × 10)	70	3
Other versions	3	–	–

Machamp, Base Set 8

Machamp No. 8

Printed: never published. Wizards of the Coast did not release print runs, so any exact figure is a guess.

Graded so far: 50,419 copies across PSA, CGC and TAG.

Version	PSA	CGC	TAG
1st Edition	32,776 (429 × 10)	9,064 (234 × 10)	617 (7 × 10)
Shadowless	7,002 (16 × 10)	–	–
Unlimited	–	–	18
1999-2000 print	255 (5 × 10)	–	–
Other versions	67 (9 × 10)	620 (42 × 10)	–

The packs and the box

Base Set booster packs came in 5 different designs. The design is just the artwork on the wrapper: every design holds cards from the same set. Booster boxes held 36 packs. Use these to recognise genuine packaging, then check the seals with our sealed packs and boxes guide.

Base Set booster pack, Charizard (Unlimited) — Charizard (Unlimited)

Base Set booster pack, Blastoise (Unlimited) — Blastoise (Unlimited)

Base Set booster pack, Venusaur (Unlimited) — Venusaur (Unlimited)

Base Set booster pack, Charizard, printed — Charizard, printed "11 Tradable Game Cards"

Base Set booster pack, Charizard, printed — Charizard, printed "11 Additional Game Cards"

Base Set booster box — Booster box

Pack and box images © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK / Wizards of the Coast, via Bulbapedia, shown for identification only.

Go deeper: the print runs

Base Set exists as 1st Edition (stamp, no shadow), Shadowless (no stamp, no shadow), Unlimited (drop shadow beside the picture box) and a later print with 1999-2000 in the copyright line, often called the "UK print" because so many of those copies were sold here. Our labelled Charizard shows exactly where to look.

Go deeper: the Machamp oddity

Machamp (8/102) is the one 1st Edition holo almost everyone owned. It came in the two-player starter set rather than in booster packs, so it was printed in far larger numbers than the other 1st Edition holos. A 1st Edition Machamp is a lovely card, but it is not the rarity a 1st Edition stamp usually suggests.

Go deeper: what is in the set

16 holo rares (1 to 16), then the non-holo rares, then uncommons, commons, 26 Trainer cards and 6 basic Energy cards plus Double Colorless Energy. Trainers such as Professor Oak, Bill and Computer Search were in almost every deck of the time.

Go deeper: known errors

Base Set has the most famous mistakes of the era: Red Cheeks Pikachu, No Damage Ninetales, and the Wartortle evolution-box picture and the Blastoise missing-ink "Illus." error. See them labelled on the error cards page.

Every card in Base Set

All 102 cards, in order. Under each: number, version and how many have been graded (PSA + CGC + TAG, all versions). Card images via TCGdex and pokemontcg.io.

Alakazam, Base Set 1 — Alakazam1/102 · Holo rareGraded: 31,325

Blastoise, Base Set 2 — Blastoise2/102 · Holo rareGraded: 70,244

Chansey, Base Set 3 — Chansey3/102 · Holo rareGraded: 26,867

Charizard, Base Set 4 — Charizard4/102 · Holo rareGraded: 131,655

Clefairy, Base Set 5 — Clefairy5/102 · Holo rareGraded: 22,737

Gyarados, Base Set 6 — Gyarados6/102 · Holo rareGraded: 40,503

Hitmonchan, Base Set 7 — Hitmonchan7/102 · Holo rareGraded: 29,731

Machamp, Base Set 8 — Machamp8/102 · Holo rareGraded: 50,419

Magneton, Base Set 9 — Magneton9/102 · Holo rareGraded: 22,754

Mewtwo, Base Set 10 — Mewtwo10/102 · Holo rareGraded: 46,527

Nidoking, Base Set 11 — Nidoking11/102 · Holo rareGraded: 26,592

Ninetales, Base Set 12 — Ninetales12/102 · Holo rareGraded: 35,334

Poliwrath, Base Set 13 — Poliwrath13/102 · Holo rareGraded: 25,028

Raichu, Base Set 14 — Raichu14/102 · Holo rareGraded: 27,533

Venusaur, Base Set 15 — Venusaur15/102 · Holo rareGraded: 63,693

Zapdos, Base Set 16 — Zapdos16/102 · Holo rareGraded: 29,914

Beedrill, Base Set 17 — Beedrill17/102 · RareGraded: 5,583

Dragonair, Base Set 18 — Dragonair18/102 · RareGraded: 6,779

Dugtrio, Base Set 19 — Dugtrio19/102 · RareGraded: 4,260

Electabuzz, Base Set 20 — Electabuzz20/102 · RareGraded: 5,153

Electrode, Base Set 21 — Electrode21/102 · RareGraded: 4,636

Pidgeotto, Base Set 22 — Pidgeotto22/102 · RareGraded: 4,732

Arcanine, Base Set 23 — Arcanine23/102 · UncommonGraded: 8,240

Charmeleon, Base Set 24 — Charmeleon24/102 · UncommonGraded: 23,011

Dewgong, Base Set 25 — Dewgong25/102 · UncommonGraded: 5,951

Dratini, Base Set 26 — Dratini26/102 · UncommonGraded: 7,449

Farfetch'd, Base Set 27 — Farfetch'd27/102 · UncommonGraded: 5,801

Growlithe, Base Set 28 — Growlithe28/102 · UncommonGraded: 7,900

Haunter, Base Set 29 — Haunter29/102 · UncommonGraded: 6,878

Ivysaur, Base Set 30 — Ivysaur30/102 · UncommonGraded: 14,287

Jynx, Base Set 31 — Jynx31/102 · UncommonGraded: 6,355

Kadabra, Base Set 32 — Kadabra32/102 · UncommonGraded: 7,814

Kakuna, Base Set 33 — Kakuna33/102 · UncommonGraded: 6,726

Machoke, Base Set 34 — Machoke34/102 · UncommonGraded: 8,646

Magikarp, Base Set 35 — Magikarp35/102 · UncommonGraded: 7,488

Magmar, Base Set 36 — Magmar36/102 · UncommonGraded: 6,297

Nidorino, Base Set 37 — Nidorino37/102 · UncommonGraded: 5,994

Poliwhirl, Base Set 38 — Poliwhirl38/102 · UncommonGraded: 7,089

Porygon, Base Set 39 — Porygon39/102 · UncommonGraded: 6,087

Raticate, Base Set 40 — Raticate40/102 · UncommonGraded: 5,472

Seel, Base Set 41 — Seel41/102 · UncommonGraded: 5,719

Wartortle, Base Set 42 — Wartortle42/102 · UncommonGraded: 15,068

Abra, Base Set 43 — Abra43/102 · CommonGraded: 11,048

Bulbasaur, Base Set 44 — Bulbasaur44/102 · CommonGraded: 29,522

Caterpie, Base Set 45 — Caterpie45/102 · CommonGraded: 5,879

Charmander, Base Set 46 — Charmander46/102 · CommonGraded: 49,725

Diglett, Base Set 47 — Diglett47/102 · CommonGraded: 10,511

Doduo, Base Set 48 — Doduo48/102 · CommonGraded: 6,980

Drowzee, Base Set 49 — Drowzee49/102 · CommonGraded: 8,196

Gastly, Base Set 50 — Gastly50/102 · CommonGraded: 9,396

Koffing, Base Set 51 — Koffing51/102 · CommonGraded: 8,095

Machop, Base Set 52 — Machop52/102 · CommonGraded: 13,220

Magnemite, Base Set 53 — Magnemite53/102 · CommonGraded: 8,191

Metapod, Base Set 54 — Metapod54/102 · CommonGraded: 7,095

Nidoran♂, Base Set 55 — Nidoran♂55/102 · CommonGraded: 8,720

Onix, Base Set 56 — Onix56/102 · CommonGraded: 9,166

Pidgey, Base Set 57 — Pidgey57/102 · CommonGraded: 7,401

Pikachu, Base Set 58 — Pikachu58/102 · CommonGraded: 56,983

Poliwag, Base Set 59 — Poliwag59/102 · CommonGraded: 8,539

Ponyta, Base Set 60 — Ponyta60/102 · CommonGraded: 12,006

Rattata, Base Set 61 — Rattata61/102 · CommonGraded: 8,758

Sandshrew, Base Set 62 — Sandshrew62/102 · CommonGraded: 8,458

Squirtle, Base Set 63 — Squirtle63/102 · CommonGraded: 32,924

Starmie, Base Set 64 — Starmie64/102 · CommonGraded: 7,047

Staryu, Base Set 65 — Staryu65/102 · CommonGraded: 9,752

Tangela, Base Set 66 — Tangela66/102 · CommonGraded: 7,858

Voltorb, Base Set 67 — Voltorb67/102 · CommonGraded: 6,201

Vulpix, Base Set 68 — Vulpix68/102 · CommonGraded: 10,362

Weedle, Base Set 69 — Weedle69/102 · CommonGraded: 7,306

Clefairy Doll, Base Set 70 — Clefairy Doll70/102 · RareGraded: 3,170

Computer Search, Base Set 71 — Computer Search71/102 · RareGraded: 3,160

Devolution Spray, Base Set 72 — Devolution Spray72/102 · RareGraded: 2,977

Impostor Professor Oak, Base Set 73 — Impostor Professor Oak73/102 · RareGraded: 3,074

Item Finder, Base Set 74 — Item Finder74/102 · RareGraded: 2,975

Lass, Base Set 75 — Lass75/102 · RareGraded: 3,885

Pokémon Breeder, Base Set 76 — Pokémon Breeder76/102 · RareGraded: 2,954

Pokémon Trader, Base Set 77 — Pokémon Trader77/102 · RareGraded: 3,255

Scoop Up, Base Set 78 — Scoop Up78/102 · RareGraded: 2,617

Super Energy Removal, Base Set 79 — Super Energy Removal79/102 · RareGraded: 2,924

Defender, Base Set 80 — Defender80/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,058

Energy Retrieval, Base Set 81 — Energy Retrieval81/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,742

Full Heal, Base Set 82 — Full Heal82/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,626

Maintenance, Base Set 83 — Maintenance83/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,604

PlusPower, Base Set 84 — PlusPower84/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,365

Pokémon Center, Base Set 85 — Pokémon Center85/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,825

Pokémon Flute, Base Set 86 — Pokémon Flute86/102 · UncommonGraded: 2,801

Pokédex, Base Set 87 — Pokédex87/102 · UncommonGraded: 4,178

Professor Oak, Base Set 88 — Professor Oak88/102 · UncommonGraded: 4,061

Revive, Base Set 89 — Revive89/102 · UncommonGraded: 2,695

Super Potion, Base Set 90 — Super Potion90/102 · UncommonGraded: 4,001

Bill, Base Set 91 — Bill91/102 · CommonGraded: 5,063

Energy Removal, Base Set 92 — Energy Removal92/102 · CommonGraded: 4,135

Gust of Wind, Base Set 93 — Gust of Wind93/102 · CommonGraded: 4,745

Potion, Base Set 94 — Potion94/102 · CommonGraded: 5,557

Switch, Base Set 95 — Switch95/102 · CommonGraded: 5,226

Double Colorless Energy, Base Set 96 — Double Colorless Energy96/102 · UncommonGraded: 3,727

Fighting Energy, Base Set 97 — Fighting Energy97/102 · CommonGraded: 7,079

Fire Energy, Base Set 98 — Fire Energy98/102 · CommonGraded: 6,739

Grass Energy, Base Set 99 — Grass Energy99/102 · CommonGraded: 5,229

Lightning Energy, Base Set 100 — Lightning Energy100/102 · CommonGraded: 5,557

Psychic Energy, Base Set 101 — Psychic Energy101/102 · CommonGraded: 5,671

Water Energy, Base Set 102 — Water Energy102/102 · CommonGraded: 5,701

Go deeper: the printable checklist (102 cards)

Tick them off as you collect. "Holo rare" means the picture shines. Names as printed on English cards.

No.	Card	Type	Version	Graded PSA+CGC+TAG
1/102	Alakazam	Pokemon	Holo rare	31,325
2/102	Blastoise	Pokemon	Holo rare	70,244
3/102	Chansey	Pokemon	Holo rare	26,867
4/102	Charizard	Pokemon	Holo rare	131,655
5/102	Clefairy	Pokemon	Holo rare	22,737
6/102	Gyarados	Pokemon	Holo rare	40,503
7/102	Hitmonchan	Pokemon	Holo rare	29,731
8/102	Machamp	Pokemon	Holo rare	50,419
9/102	Magneton	Pokemon	Holo rare	22,754
10/102	Mewtwo	Pokemon	Holo rare	46,527
11/102	Nidoking	Pokemon	Holo rare	26,592
12/102	Ninetales	Pokemon	Holo rare	35,334
13/102	Poliwrath	Pokemon	Holo rare	25,028
14/102	Raichu	Pokemon	Holo rare	27,533
15/102	Venusaur	Pokemon	Holo rare	63,693
16/102	Zapdos	Pokemon	Holo rare	29,914
17/102	Beedrill	Pokemon	Rare	5,583
18/102	Dragonair	Pokemon	Rare	6,779
19/102	Dugtrio	Pokemon	Rare	4,260
20/102	Electabuzz	Pokemon	Rare	5,153
21/102	Electrode	Pokemon	Rare	4,636
22/102	Pidgeotto	Pokemon	Rare	4,732
23/102	Arcanine	Pokemon	Uncommon	8,240
24/102	Charmeleon	Pokemon	Uncommon	23,011
25/102	Dewgong	Pokemon	Uncommon	5,951
26/102	Dratini	Pokemon	Uncommon	7,449
27/102	Farfetch'd	Pokemon	Uncommon	5,801
28/102	Growlithe	Pokemon	Uncommon	7,900
29/102	Haunter	Pokemon	Uncommon	6,878
30/102	Ivysaur	Pokemon	Uncommon	14,287
31/102	Jynx	Pokemon	Uncommon	6,355
32/102	Kadabra	Pokemon	Uncommon	7,814
33/102	Kakuna	Pokemon	Uncommon	6,726
34/102	Machoke	Pokemon	Uncommon	8,646
35/102	Magikarp	Pokemon	Uncommon	7,488
36/102	Magmar	Pokemon	Uncommon	6,297
37/102	Nidorino	Pokemon	Uncommon	5,994
38/102	Poliwhirl	Pokemon	Uncommon	7,089
39/102	Porygon	Pokemon	Uncommon	6,087
40/102	Raticate	Pokemon	Uncommon	5,472
41/102	Seel	Pokemon	Uncommon	5,719
42/102	Wartortle	Pokemon	Uncommon	15,068
43/102	Abra	Pokemon	Common	11,048
44/102	Bulbasaur	Pokemon	Common	29,522
45/102	Caterpie	Pokemon	Common	5,879
46/102	Charmander	Pokemon	Common	49,725
47/102	Diglett	Pokemon	Common	10,511
48/102	Doduo	Pokemon	Common	6,980
49/102	Drowzee	Pokemon	Common	8,196
50/102	Gastly	Pokemon	Common	9,396
51/102	Koffing	Pokemon	Common	8,095
52/102	Machop	Pokemon	Common	13,220
53/102	Magnemite	Pokemon	Common	8,191
54/102	Metapod	Pokemon	Common	7,095
55/102	Nidoran♂	Pokemon	Common	8,720
56/102	Onix	Pokemon	Common	9,166
57/102	Pidgey	Pokemon	Common	7,401
58/102	Pikachu	Pokemon	Common	56,983
59/102	Poliwag	Pokemon	Common	8,539
60/102	Ponyta	Pokemon	Common	12,006
61/102	Rattata	Pokemon	Common	8,758
62/102	Sandshrew	Pokemon	Common	8,458
63/102	Squirtle	Pokemon	Common	32,924
64/102	Starmie	Pokemon	Common	7,047
65/102	Staryu	Pokemon	Common	9,752
66/102	Tangela	Pokemon	Common	7,858
67/102	Voltorb	Pokemon	Common	6,201
68/102	Vulpix	Pokemon	Common	10,362
69/102	Weedle	Pokemon	Common	7,306
70/102	Clefairy Doll	Trainer	Rare	3,170
71/102	Computer Search	Trainer	Rare	3,160
72/102	Devolution Spray	Trainer	Rare	2,977
73/102	Impostor Professor Oak	Trainer	Rare	3,074
74/102	Item Finder	Trainer	Rare	2,975
75/102	Lass	Trainer	Rare	3,885
76/102	Pokémon Breeder	Trainer	Rare	2,954
77/102	Pokémon Trader	Trainer	Rare	3,255
78/102	Scoop Up	Trainer	Rare	2,617
79/102	Super Energy Removal	Trainer	Rare	2,924
80/102	Defender	Trainer	Uncommon	3,058
81/102	Energy Retrieval	Trainer	Uncommon	3,742
82/102	Full Heal	Trainer	Uncommon	3,626
83/102	Maintenance	Trainer	Uncommon	3,604
84/102	PlusPower	Trainer	Uncommon	3,365
85/102	Pokémon Center	Trainer	Uncommon	3,825
86/102	Pokémon Flute	Trainer	Uncommon	2,801
87/102	Pokédex	Trainer	Uncommon	4,178
88/102	Professor Oak	Trainer	Uncommon	4,061
89/102	Revive	Trainer	Uncommon	2,695
90/102	Super Potion	Trainer	Uncommon	4,001
91/102	Bill	Trainer	Common	5,063
92/102	Energy Removal	Trainer	Common	4,135
93/102	Gust of Wind	Trainer	Common	4,745
94/102	Potion	Trainer	Common	5,557
95/102	Switch	Trainer	Common	5,226
96/102	Double Colorless Energy	Energy	Uncommon	3,727
97/102	Fighting Energy	Energy	Common	7,079
98/102	Fire Energy	Energy	Common	6,739
99/102	Grass Energy	Energy	Common	5,229
100/102	Lightning Energy	Energy	Common	5,557
101/102	Psychic Energy	Energy	Common	5,671
102/102	Water Energy	Energy	Common	5,701

Card images © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, shown small for identification and education only, via the open TCGdex and pokemontcg.io card databases. Not for sale or reuse. To request removal, email hello@pocketmoonstars.com and we will take it down the same day.

Sources (checked October 2026): Bulbapedia: Base Set · TCGdex: Base Set card list · PSA population report (via Pikawiz) · CGC Cards population report · TAG Grading population report · Bill's Archive: complete release timeline