Why Is Base Set Nidoking Becoming Harder to Afford Each Year?
If you have been eyeing a Base Set Nidoking from the original Pokemon card days, you might notice its price creeping up every year. This holo rare, number 34 from the 1996 Japanese Expansion Pack, used to be more reachable for collectors on a budget. Now, even mid-grade versions are pushing past what many fans can grab easily.[1]
Start with supply. Base Set came out almost 30 years ago, and not many pristine copies survive. Cards get played, bent, or lost over time. The ones left in good shape, especially graded ones, shrink in number each year. High-grade sales like CGC 9.5 or PSA 9 show this clearly. For example, a CGC 9.5 Japanese Base Set Nidoking sold for $66 in September 2025, while another went for $107.50 in August. Earlier in February 2025, a Beckett 9.5 fetched $88.10. These are not cheap, and raw or low-grade ones still hit $37 for a PSA 1 in March.[1]
Demand keeps growing too. Pokemon cards exploded in popularity again thanks to nostalgia and new players from shows, games, and YouTube breaks. Nidoking stands out as a strong stage two Poison Ground type with cool artwork that fans love. Collectors chase Base Set holos for their history, and as the hobby booms, prices follow. Sites track these sales, and you see steady climbs on cards like this one.[1]
Grading plays a big role. More people send cards to PSA, CGC, or Beckett for official scores. A gem mint or near-mint grade makes a card worth way more, but it also pulls good copies off the market. Fewer ungraded options mean prices rise across the board. Look at older sales from 2022, like a BGS 9.5 at $102.50, and compare to recent ones. The trend points up.[1]
The market heats up with investors too. Whales buy up vintage Base Set to hold long-term, betting on more growth. Videos and sites hype breaks and hot cards, drawing eyes to classics like Nidoking. Even modern sets with Nidoking, like Scarlet and Violet Japanese versions, stay cheaper around $70 for PSA 10s, but they do not touch the original’s pull.[2]
Check price charts often if you hunt one. Sites log real sales, not just asks, so you spot the real climb. Base Set Nidoking joins other early holos getting tougher to snag without saving up more each year.[1]
