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Lt. Surge's Raichu

Card 11/132

Vintage 2000 Gym Challenge Raichu — WotC-era Lightning-type from the Pikachu line.

Gym ChallengeSet
2000Released
Rare HoloRarity
Ken SugimoriIllustrator

01Card Stats

Stage 1 (evolves from Lt. Surge's Pikachu)
HP 80
TypeLightning
RarityRare Holo
IllustratorKen Sugimori
WeaknessFighting ×2
Retreat●●
SetGym Challenge
Released2000

02Editions and Print Runs

Printed in the WotC era when 1st Edition 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.

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

Holo1st Edition ~$130 raw · PSA 10 ~$2,241; Unlimited ~$59 · PSA 10 ~$531 (PriceCharting realized, May 2026)

Lt. Surge’s Raichu holo from Gym Challenge.

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07Why Collectors Want It

  • Original WotC-era printing from the Gym Challenge set — foundational vintage Raichu.
  • Final evolution of the Pichu → Pikachu → Raichu line — evolves from Pikachu with a Thunder Stone. Home to the line’s vintage Base Set holo and a long run of GX/V prints.
  • Required for any complete Raichu master set across eras.
  • Collectors of the Gym Challenge set need this card to finish it.

08Competitive Playability

Tier: None

Stage 1 Raichu with 80 HP; top attack around 40 damage. Functions as an evolution-chain piece rather than a tournament attacker.

09Card Moves and Abilities

Kerzap Cost: Lightning + Lightning · 20+ damage

Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 30 more damage to the Defending Pokémon and discard all Lightning Energy cards attached to Lt. Surge's Raichu. If tails, this attack does 20 damage.

Thundertackle Cost: Lightning + Lightning + Colorless + Colorless · 40 damage

Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. If tails, Lt. Surge's Raichu does 20 damage to itself.

Weakness
Fighting ×2
Retreat cost
2

10Grading and Population

PSA 10 estimate: WotC-era Raichu PSA 10 populations vary; small numbers across most sets.

Graded copies command notable premiums over raw, especially for 1st Edition prints.

Other graders: BGS and CGC also grade vintage Pokemon; PSA dominates secondary-market liquidity.

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