Why Is Base Set Tangela Increasing in Cost Each Year?
If you collect Pokemon cards from the original Base Set, you have noticed Tangela getting more expensive over time. This common Grass-type Pokemon from 1999, card number 66, started as a cheap filler card. Today, even ungraded copies sell for around $14, while PSA 10 gems hit $325 and keep climbing. Recent sales show the top grade up $12 in the last few months alone.[1] So what drives this steady rise year after year?
First, supply keeps shrinking. Base Set printed in huge numbers back in the day, but most commons like Tangela ended up in kids hands. They got played with, bent, or tossed. Survivors in good shape are rare now, especially 1st Edition or Shadowless prints. High-grade examples, like PSA 9 or 10, pop up less often, with sales as low as one per week.[1] Fewer cards mean collectors bid higher.
Demand comes from nostalgia and smart buying. Base Set is the holy grail of Pokemon TCG. Fans chase complete sets, and Tangela fills a spot many overlook until prices spike. Its quirky design, with vines covering its face, appeals to completionists. Plus, graded versions hold value as investments. A PSA 10 jumped from lower prices years ago to over $300 now, with steady weekly sales pushing it up.[1]
Market trends help too. Pokemon cards boomed since 2020, with vintage Base Set leading the pack. Commons like Tangela follow stars like Charizard, but they offer better entry points. Low print runs for pristine copies create scarcity. Sales data shows consistent volume, one sale a day for ungraded and weekly for top grades, keeping pressure on prices.[1]
Tangela also ties into broader hype. Newer sets feature it, like Scarlet and Violet 151 or Twilight Masquerade, keeping the Pokemon fresh in players minds.[5][6] This reminds collectors of the original, boosting interest in Base Set versions.
Watch sales sites closely. Ungraded holds at $14, but grades climb: PSA 9 at $60, PSA 9.5 at $65, and PSA 10 leading the charge.[1] If you own one, grade it. The upward trend looks set to continue as supply dries up.
