Why Is Base Set Machamp Becoming More Valuable Over Time?
The original Base Set Machamp from 1999, card number 8/102, is a holographic stage 2 Fighting-type Pokemon with 100 HP, illustrated by Ken Sugimori. This vintage card from the very first Pokemon TCG expansion is seeing its value climb steadily due to strong collector demand and its special traits. As one of the 32 rare holos in the Base Set, it appeals to fans chasing complete sets from the game’s launch era. First Edition and Shadowless versions, printed early in the run, are especially prized because fewer copies survive in top shape after decades. Shadowless cards lack the shadow around the card’s border, marking them as from the initial print waves before Wizards of the Coast added it later.
Several unique features make this Machamp stand out and drive up prices. Collectors hunt for error variants like the “Green Dot Machamp,” where a blue-green ink blob sits over the H in HP on some unlimited prints. There’s also the rare “Cosmos Holo Machamp,” which uses the starlight holofoil pattern from Base Set but got printed with Base Set 2’s cosmos pattern in certain starter decks. Other quirks include holobleed over the HP and energy symbol, holo shifts from misaligned foil, and even inverted backs on some copies. Gray stamp errors on First Editions add to the chase, as they are tough to find compared to regular prints. These imperfections turn average cards into treasures for error hunters.
Market data shows real price growth. A PSA 9 graded Base Set Machamp can fetch around $300, while lower grades like PSA 6 go for about $80, not counting grading fees of $30 or more. Listings for ungraded First Edition Shadowless versions describe them as rare and carefully stored, hinting at even higher values in mint condition. Population reports from grading services reveal low numbers of high-grade examples, which naturally pushes prices up as supply shrinks.
Nostalgia plays a big role too. The Base Set takes people back to Pokemon’s boom in the late 1990s, and Machamp’s muscular design captures that classic vibe. Meanwhile, modern Pokemon TCG popularity, like strong Machamp ex decks in expansions such as Genetic Apex, keeps the character relevant without flooding the market with new print runs of the original. Decks built around Machamp ex use efficient energy curves and cards from packs like Charizard and Pikachu, dominating current metas, which spotlights the OG Machamp indirectly.
Scarcity from age and wear seals the deal. Most Base Set cards from 1999 saw heavy play, so pristine holos are vanishingly rare. As collectors grade more and compete at auctions, values keep rising year after year.
Sources
https://game8.co/games/Pokemon-TCG-Pocket/archives/482611
https://www.moneyin.org/detail/137890678
https://closo.co/blogs/crosslisting/how-can-you-sell-pokemon-cards-without-getting-ripped-off-a-real-guide
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Error_cards
https://www.moneyin.org/detail/325970416
https://www.tcgplayer.com/search/pokemon/product?q=Nemona+SV01%3A+Scarlet+%26+Violet+Base+Set
