Why Is Base Set Shadowless Venusaur Becoming Extremely Valuable?
If you collect Pokemon cards, you know Base Set Shadowless Venusaur is one of those chase cards that keeps climbing in price. Right now, an ungraded copy sells for around $122, while a PSA 10 gem mint version hits $3,356 and even higher for top grades like BGS 10 Black at $21,820.[1] Prices have held strong or ticked up recently, with low sales volume showing how rare high-grade ones are just one sale per week for ungraded and even less for perfect copies.[1]
Shadowless Venusaur comes from the early prints of the original 1999 Base Set, the very first Pokemon TCG expansion that kicked off the whole hobby.[4] These cards lack the drop shadow around the artwork and text that later prints added. That subtle difference makes them special because Wizards of the Coast printed shadowless versions right after first edition but before they refined the process. Fewer shadowless cards exist in top condition since they are older and handled more over time.
Venusaur stands out as the grass starter evolution, completing the trio with Charizard and Blastoise. Its holo foil catches light in that classic way fans love from Base Set holos.[2] While Charizard gets all the hype, Venusaur has its own appeal with powerful attacks and artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita, the artist behind many icons. Related rarities like the Base Set No Rarity Venusaur a printing error missing the black star sold for $55,000 in PSA 10 back in 2021, proving starter holos from early sets demand big money.[3]
Demand stays hot because Base Set defined Pokemon collecting. Booster packs with Venusaur on the wrapper felt like treasure back then, and nostalgia drives prices today.[4] Low population reports mean pristine shadowless Venusaur is tough to find graded PSA 9 at $1,165 or PSA 9.5 at $3,164.[1] Recent sales in the UK show near-mint copies at 449 pounds, up from 249 earlier in 2025.[2] Investors chase them knowing supply shrinks as cards get played with or lost.
Even proxies pop up on sites like Etsy for fans who want the look without the cost, but real shadowless originals keep value locked in.[5] Listings on TCGPlayer have holo rares starting at $25 ungraded but jumping to $84 for better copies.[6] As the hobby grows, especially with fewer unlimited prints around, shadowless Venusaur rides that wave to extreme value.
