Why Is Base Set Doduo Increasing in Value Each Year?
If you collect Pokemon cards from the original Base Set, you might notice something interesting about Doduo, the little two-headed bird from card number 48. Its price, especially for higher grades, keeps climbing year after year. Ungraded copies sit around $11 right now, but a PSA 10 version just hit $393 with a recent bump of almost $5. Even a BGS 9.5 sold for $99 in late 2024. This is not a fluke. Common cards like Doduo from the 1999 Base Set are getting harder to find in good shape, and that scarcity drives prices up.[1]
First off, Doduo is a common card, not one of the flashy holos like Charizard or Mewtwo. Back in the day, kids threw these in binders or played with them rough. Most got damaged, lost, or tossed. Today, survivors in decent condition are rare. Look at the price chart: a grade 7 goes for $20, grade 8 at $28, grade 9 at $44, and it jumps to $65 for 9.5. Top grades like PSA 10 or BGS 10 Black Label? Those are over $500 and even $2,500 in some cases. Demand for these vintage commons grows as collectors chase complete sets.[1]
The Base Set hype plays a big role too. First Edition and Shadowless versions from 1999 are the holy grail. While stars like First Edition Holo Mewtwo sold for $15,000 or Chansey for $55,000, even commons benefit from the same nostalgia wave. Everyone wants a full Base Set in top shape, and Doduo is part of that. As big cards like Venusaur hit $55,000 for GEM MT 10, affordable commons rise to fill out collections.[2][1]
Grading matters a ton. Services like PSA and BGS check for wear, centering, and edges. A raw Doduo might cost $11, but slab it at PSA 10 and it triples or more in value. Recent sales show steady gains: ungraded up $1 this month alone. Collectors submit more cards now, but pristine ones from 25 years ago are limited. Supply stays low while Pokemon’s popularity explodes with new games, shows, and the TCG boom.[1]
Nostalgia fuels it all. Base Set reminds fans of the early 2000s rush. Doduo evolves into Dodrio, tying into the game’s bird theme, but its real appeal is purity: pure 1999 cardboard. Newer sets like Scarlet & Violet have their own Doduo, but they lack that vintage punch. Prices for Base Set 2 Doduo hover at $0.46 market, showing originals pull ahead.[3][4]
Low entry price helps too. At $11 ungraded, Doduo lets new collectors dip into vintage without breaking the bank. They buy, grade, and flip for profit as values tick up. Check sales history: steady climbs across grades mean yearly growth. If you own one, hold tight or get it graded. The trend looks solid for commons riding the Base Set wave.[1]
