Why Is Base Set Nidoran Male Getting More Expensive Each Year?
If you have been tracking Pokemon card prices on sites like PriceCharting, you might notice something interesting about Nidoran Male from the original Base Set. This little Poison-type card from 1999 is not a superstar like Charizard or Blastoise, but its prices keep climbing year after year, especially for higher grades. Collectors are paying more for ungraded copies around $18 and jumping to nearly $1,000 for PSA 10 gems. What is driving this steady rise? Let us break it down in simple terms.
First, understand the card itself. Nidoran Male is card number 40 in the Base Set, the very first Pokemon TCG expansion released in English. It shows the small purple Pokemon with its distinctive horn, ready to evolve into Nidorino and then Nidoking. Unlike flashier cards, it was common when printed, so tons were pulled from booster packs back in the day. That means supply started high, but time has changed things.[4]
The biggest reason for the price jump is rarity from age and condition. Base Set cards are over 25 years old now. Many got played with, bent, or lost in moves. The ones left in top shape are scarce. Look at recent sales data: PSA 10 Nidoran Male hovers around $900 to $1,200, down a bit lately from peaks but still way up from five years ago when it was under $500. Lower grades like PSA 9 sit at $96, also trending higher over time despite small weekly dips. Fewer pristine copies mean collectors bid more to own one.[1]
Demand plays a huge role too. Base Set is the holy grail for Pokemon fans. It brings back memories of the 90s boom. Nidoran Male appeals to set completers, people chasing every card from the first set. It is not rare in print run terms, but high-grade versions are tough to find. As more collectors enter the market, especially younger ones with cash from jobs or crypto, they target these affordable entry points into vintage collecting. A solid PSA 8 goes for $60, making it reachable before you chase bigger fish like Nidoking at $933 PSA 10.[1]
Population reports back this up. Grading companies like PSA have slabbed thousands of Base Set cards, but the gem mint 10s for commons like Nidoran Male stay low. Supply shrinks as cards get locked in slabs or vanish into private collections. Meanwhile, nostalgia fuels auctions. Every year, shows like Worlds or online hype pushes prices. Even related cards, like Jungle’s 1st Edition Nidoran (female side), show similar patterns with ungraded at $1.81 and PSA 10 at $87, proving the whole Nidoran line holds value.[2]
Market trends add fuel. Pokemon TCG exploded post-2020 with new sets and the Netflix show. Vintage Base Set cards rose 20-50% yearly on average. Nidoran Male rides this wave because it is undervalued compared to holos. Smart buyers grab it now, expecting bigger gains as supply dries up. Check sales volume: just a few per week for mid-grades, but each sells higher than last year.[1]
Low print errors or unique traits help too. Some Nidoran Male have shadowless backs or 1st Edition stamps, boosting value further, though standard unlimited versions still climb. Its evolution line ties into Nidoking, a solid mid-tier card, drawing chain collectors.[1][4]
In short, age whittles supply, nostalgia and new money boost demand, and Base Set prestige seals the deal. If you spot a raw copy in good shape, grade it. Prices look set to keep rising.
