If you are looking up “Price Charting for EX Sandstorm Pikachu,” the short answer is that this is a low-value common card, with raw Near Mint copies of Pikachu 72/100 from the 2003 EX Sandstorm set selling for around $6.00 in recent recorded sales. It is not a rare “ex” card, despite what the search phrasing might suggest. Pikachu appears in EX Sandstorm as a plain Common Basic Pokémon, illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, and carries the modest price you would expect from a mass-printed common from that era. A quick but important clarification: there is no card literally named “EX Sandstorm Pikachu ex.” The set is called EX Sandstorm, and Pikachu inside it is just card number 72 of 100 — a Common, not a special full-art or holographic “ex” card.
The “EX” in the set name refers to the e-Card era branding of early 2000s Pokémon releases, not the rarity of this particular Pikachu. As an example of what this means in practice, a collector who pulls or buys this card should not expect a windfall. On the European Cardmarket platform, listings for this Pikachu begin as low as €0.50, which is roughly the price of a postage stamp. The card’s value comes mostly from nostalgia and set completion rather than scarcity.
Table of Contents
- What does price charting show for the EX Sandstorm Pikachu (72/100)?
- Why is the EX Sandstorm Pikachu worth so little, and what limits the data?
- How does the Reverse Holo variant change the price chart?
- Where should you check prices for this Pikachu?
- What mistakes do collectors make when pricing this card?
- How does this Pikachu fit into the broader EX Sandstorm set?
- Who illustrated the card, and what makes it collectible at all?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What does price charting show for the EX Sandstorm Pikachu (72/100)?
price charting for this card draws on a handful of marketplaces that track sold and listed prices over time. The base #072/100 card has a last recorded raw sale of about $6.00 in Near Mint condition, according to Sports Card Investor’s tracking page. That figure represents an ungraded copy in good shape, not a professionally graded slab. For a common from 2003, that is a typical resale range — high enough to cover shipping and a small profit, but not the kind of card that justifies grading fees. To put that in comparison, the same card on Cardmarket in Europe starts at €0.50 for the cheapest listings.
The gap between a €0.50 European listing and a $6.00 U.S. sale illustrates how condition, region, and seller expectations affect the chart. A loose, played copy tossed into a bulk lot is worth almost nothing, while a clean, centered Near Mint copy listed individually can fetch several dollars. Price charting is most useful here for spotting the floor and ceiling of realistic value. For the EX Sandstorm Pikachu, that range runs roughly from under a dollar for damaged or bulk copies to around $6 for a clean raw card, with the Reverse Holo variant sitting above that.
Why is the EX Sandstorm Pikachu worth so little, and what limits the data?
The core reason this Pikachu carries low value is its rarity classification: it is a Common. Common cards were printed in enormous quantities and inserted heavily into booster packs, so the surviving population is large even two decades later. Supply far outstrips collector demand for the base version, which keeps prices anchored near the bottom of the EX Sandstorm set’s value spread. There is also a real limitation in the available pricing data that buyers should be aware of.
Exact, dated graded prices — such as verified PSA 9 or PSA 10 sales — are not consistently available through public-facing charts without deeper access to the graded sales history. The raw figures above ($6.00 last sale, €0.50 starting listings) are well documented, but specific graded sale numbers and recent sale dates could not be independently confirmed. Treat any graded valuation you see quoted elsewhere with caution until you can verify it against an actual sold listing. As a warning, this data gap matters most if someone tries to convince you that a graded copy is worth a large premium. Always cross-check a graded price against completed sales on an active marketplace rather than trusting an asking price or an unsourced chart number.
How does the Reverse Holo variant change the price chart?
EX Sandstorm Pikachu exists in two main printings: the standard base card and a Reverse Holo version. The Reverse Holo features the same Mitsuhiro Arita artwork but with a shimmering, patterned foil across the non-artwork portion of the card. Because Reverse Holos were pulled less frequently than standard commons, they generally command a premium over the base version on price charts.
For a concrete example, while the base Pikachu 72/100 sits around $6.00 raw, collectors specifically hunting the Reverse Holo for a master set will typically pay more — sometimes a noticeable multiple of the base price, depending on condition and availability. Sports Card Investor tracks the Reverse Holo (072/100) as a separate entry from the base card precisely because their values diverge. If you are buying, this is the single most important detail to confirm before you pay: check whether the listing is for the base card or the Reverse Holo. A seller may price a base common at Reverse Holo levels, or a buyer may snag a Reverse Holo at base-card prices if the listing is mislabeled.
Where should you check prices for this Pikachu?
The card is actively listed and tracked across several marketplaces, and each serves a different purpose. TCGplayer (product 88073) is the standard reference for U.S. buyers, aggregating multiple seller listings into a market price. eBay carries both active listings and completed sales, which makes it the best place to see what copies actually sold for rather than what sellers are asking. Cardmarket is the go-to for European buyers, where the €0.50 floor reflects the card’s commodity status across the EU.
The tradeoff between these sources comes down to asking price versus sold price. TCGplayer and Cardmarket show you current listings, which tend to run optimistic because sellers set them. eBay’s completed-sales filter shows you reality — what a buyer was genuinely willing to pay. For a low-value common like this Pikachu, the difference can be the gap between a $6 listing and a $2 actual sale. A practical approach is to use TCGplayer or Cardmarket to gauge the going rate, then verify against eBay’s sold listings before buying or selling. For a card in this price range, it rarely makes sense to overthink it, but the same habit protects you on more valuable cards later.
What mistakes do collectors make when pricing this card?
The most common mistake is assuming the search phrase “EX Sandstorm Pikachu ex” refers to a rare, valuable card. It does not. There is no Pikachu ex in this set — only the Common 72/100. Buyers who chase a nonexistent rare version can end up overpaying for a base common, or get confused by listings that mix up set names and rarities. Always confirm the card number (72/100) and the rarity symbol before assuming value. Another frequent error is ignoring condition when reading a price chart.
A single “last sold” number hides a wide range. A card with whitening on the edges, surface scratches, or off-center printing can be worth a fraction of the charted Near Mint price. As a warning, for a common from 2003, paying to have a raw copy graded almost never makes financial sense — grading fees typically exceed the card’s entire value unless it grades a perfect PSA 10 with strong demand, which is far from guaranteed. The limitation worth repeating is that public graded-price data for this card is thin. If you cannot find a verified sold graded copy, do not assume a slab is worth a large multiple of the raw price. The absence of data is not evidence of high value.
How does this Pikachu fit into the broader EX Sandstorm set?
EX Sandstorm was released in 2003 as part of Pokémon’s English e-Card Series, a 100-card set known for introducing several popular Pokémon-ex cards and dual-type concepts. Within that set, Pikachu 72/100 is one of the many commons that fill out the base numbering, sitting well below the chase cards like the holographic Pokémon-ex in collector interest and value.
For an example of the contrast, the genuine Pokémon-ex cards from EX Sandstorm — the ones with the silver borders and elevated rarity — can sell for many times the price of this Pikachu, especially in graded condition. The Pikachu’s role in the set is that of an affordable, recognizable common that completists pick up cheaply rather than a centerpiece of the set.
Who illustrated the card, and what makes it collectible at all?
The EX Sandstorm Pikachu was illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, one of the most recognized names in Pokémon card art and the illustrator behind some of the franchise’s most iconic early cards, including the original Base Set Charizard. Arita’s involvement gives even a low-value common a measure of collector appeal among fans who follow specific artists.
That artist connection, combined with Pikachu’s status as the franchise mascot, is the main reason this card holds any premium over a generic common at all. A clean Near Mint copy of an Arita-illustrated Pikachu has a steady audience of buyers at the few-dollar level, which is why the raw last sale lands near $6.00 rather than the €0.50 bulk floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EX Sandstorm Pikachu an “ex” card?
No. Pikachu in EX Sandstorm is a Common Basic Pokémon, card 72/100. “EX” refers to the set’s e-Card era branding, not the card’s rarity. There is no Pikachu ex in this set.
How much is the EX Sandstorm Pikachu 72/100 worth?
Raw Near Mint copies of the base card had a last recorded sale around $6.00, while European Cardmarket listings start as low as €0.50.
Is the Reverse Holo version worth more?
Yes. The Reverse Holo variant generally commands a premium over the base common because it was pulled less frequently. It is tracked as a separate entry on price charts.
Should I get this card professionally graded?
For most copies, no. Grading fees usually exceed the card’s value unless it earns a perfect PSA 10 with strong demand, which is not guaranteed for a common.
Where can I check current prices?
TCGplayer and Cardmarket show current listings, while eBay’s completed sales show what copies actually sold for. Cross-check listings against sold prices before buying.
Who illustrated the EX Sandstorm Pikachu?
Mitsuhiro Arita, the artist behind the original Base Set Charizard and many other iconic Pokémon cards.
