Base Set

Base Set, known in Japan as 1st Starter & Expansion Pack (第1弾スターターパック & 第1弾拡張パック), is the first set of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game created by Creatures Inc. It was released in Japan on October 20, 1996, and in the United States on January 9, 1999. It consists of 102 cards; the cards in the set are based on Pokémon species from the first generation of the series. Like other sets in the series, the game puts two players against each other, and each player aims to defeat their opponent by knocking out the opponent's Pokémon or rendering them unable to continue playing. The Japanese release was published by Media Factory, and Wizards of the Coast handled production in the United States. The set has been featured in multiple versions and reprints, including the Game Boy Color video game Pokémon Trading Card Game and in future sets like XY: Evolutions and Celebrations. The value of Pokémon cards was initially high before experiencing a market crash a year after its US release. The value of Pokémon cards, especially Base Set, eventually saw a marked increase in the 2020s, with influencer Logan Paul credited as being partly responsible by purchasing and opening Base Set boxes on live stream. Some of the cards have characteristics that have made them more expensive, such as an error in which a drop shadow had been removed. The Base Set contains some of the most valuable Pokémon cards, especially the first edition Charizard and the erroneously printed pre-release Raichu.