01Card Stats

Stage 2 (evolves from Nidorino)

HP 90

TypeGrass

RarityRare Holo

IllustratorKen Sugimori

WeaknessPsychic ×2

Retreat●●●

SetBase Set

Released1999

02Editions and Print Runs

Printed in the WotC era when 1st Edition, Shadowless, and Unlimited distinctions still applied.

1st Edition

How to spot it: 1st Edition stamp in the bottom-left of the artwork frame.

First print window; smaller run than Unlimited.

Shadowless

How to spot it: No drop shadow on the right and bottom of the artwork box; thinner, lighter frame.

Early Unlimited sub-print between 1st Edition and Unlimited; scarcer than standard Unlimited.

Unlimited

How to spot it: No 1st Edition stamp; standard print frame.

Most common version of this card.

04Variants and Foiling

Rarity tiers: Rare Holo
Foiling: Holo version with the holo pattern applied to the artwork.
Alt art / specials: No full-art, secret rare, or alternate-art version documented for this print.

05Language and Regional Versions

English: Standard English release.
Japanese: Released in the equivalent Japanese set.
European: Localized European prints exist with translated text.
Other: No documented language-exclusive errors or major regional variants.

06Current Market Value

Holo	1st Edition ~$214 · Shadowless ~$69 · Unlimited ~$23 raw · PSA 10 ~$14,502 (PriceCharting realized, May 2026)

Vintage WotC holo with edition variants; the 1st Edition print is the chase.

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07Why Collectors Want It

Original 1999 Base Set holo: 1st Edition ~$260 (the chase), with Shadowless and Unlimited trading lower.
1st-Edition PSA 10 copies realize ~$9,590 — a blue-chip vintage holo.
Base Set holos are foundational WotC vintage; gem-mint 1st-Editions are scarce.
Essential to any Base Set or Nidoran♂-line master set.

08Competitive Playability

Tier: None

Stage 2 Nidoking with 90 HP; top attack around 30 damage. Functions as an evolution-chain piece rather than a tournament attacker.

09Card Moves and Abilities

Thrash Cost: Grass + Colorless + Colorless · 30+ damage

Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 10 more damage; if tails, this attack does 30 damage and Nidoking does 10 damage to itself.

Toxic Cost: Grass + Grass + Grass · 20 damage

The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. It now takes 20 Poison damage instead of 10 after each player's turn (even if it was already Poisoned).

Weakness: Psychic ×2
Retreat cost: 3

10Grading and Population

PSA 10 estimate: 1st Edition PSA 10 ~$9,590 (PriceCharting realized, May 2026).

Base Set holos suffer print lines and holo scratch; 1st-Edition PSA 10s are scarce and trade far above raw.

Other graders: BGS and CGC also grade Base Set holos; PSA remains the resale benchmark.

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