Why Is Base Set Metapod Rising in Value Over Time?
If you collect Pokemon cards from the original Base Set, you might have noticed something interesting about Metapod, the common card numbered 081/130. This unassuming Stage 1 Grass-type Pokemon, which evolves from Caterpie and into Butterfree, has a current market price around $0.49 on major marketplaces, with listings starting as low as $0.08.[1] But here’s the key point: over time, its value has been steadily climbing, even though it is just a common card from 1999. Collectors on sites like PokemonPricing.com are asking why this sleeper hit keeps gaining ground.
First, understand the basics of Base Set cards. Released as the very first English Pokemon TCG expansion, Base Set includes iconic cards like Charizard and Blastoise that command thousands of dollars in top condition. Commons like Metapod were printed in huge numbers back then, so raw copies flooded the market for years at pennies each. Today, though, supply is shrinking fast. Many early cards got played hard in the 90s and 2000s, ending up damaged, lost, or thrown away. Metapod, as part of the Caterpie line, saw tons of use in casual decks for quick evolutions. The ones still around in near-mint or better shape are getting rarer by the year.
Grading plays a huge role in this rise. Services like PSA have graded far fewer Metapod cards compared to stars like Venusaur or even other commons. High-grade examples, say PSA 9 or 10, pop up less often at auctions, driving bids higher. While a raw Metapod might still go for under a dollar, graded versions have doubled or tripled in price over the last few years as collectors chase complete Base Set rainbows, sets where every card is graded the same. That completionist drive pulls up even overlooked commons.
Nostalgia fuels the fire too. Base Set takes people back to the start of the Pokemon craze. Metapod represents that pure, simple evolution chain everyone remembers from the games and show. As older collectors with disposable income return to the hobby, they build out full Base Sets, not just the holos. Newer fans discovering the set through YouTube breaks or social media also bid on affordable pieces like this to start their collections.
Market trends back this up. Pokemon TCG prices overall have surged since 2020, with vintage sets leading the charge. Commons from Base Set that were once ignored now appreciate 10 to 20 percent annually in good condition, outpacing inflation. Metapod benefits from low print rarity in surviving stock and its spot in a popular evolution line. Compare it to similar commons: some hold steady, but Metapod edges ahead thanks to Butterfree’s fanbase, which pulls eyes to the whole line.
Finally, speculation adds momentum. Savvy flippers grab bulk lots of Base Set commons, grade the gems, and resell. With fewer unopened product surfacing, graded Metapod supply stays tight. If you own one in solid shape, hold it or get it slabbed, because this quiet riser shows no signs of slowing as the Base Set legacy grows. Check recent sales on PokemonPricing.com to track its path yourself.
