Alakazam in 2026: Five TCG Eras for Pokémon No. 65
By Dexhaul Team · August 28, 2026
Alakazam earned card number 1 out of 102 in the original Pokémon Base Set. That is not a coincidence.
Rare holo cards in Base Set were numbered alphabetically, and Alakazam starts with "A." So the Kanto Psychic master sits at the very front of one of the most studied card sets in history. When Base Set 2 launched in 2000, the numbering reset and Alakazam took position 1/130 again. No other Pokémon holds that dual-number-one distinction across both Base Set prints, and that quirk gives Alakazam a collector talking point that no other holo can match.
This guide covers every significant TCG era for Alakazam, what each version costs from independent sellers right now, and where it makes sense to start.
Era 1: The Base Set Holo (1999)
The Base Set Alakazam (1/102) is a holo rare featuring the iconic watercolor Ken Sugimori artwork: Alakazam standing upright, holding its two silver spoons, set against a warm yellow holo field. It shipped in Booster Packs and the Base Set theme decks starting in January 1999 in North America.
Collectors distinguish three Base Set variants. The Shadowless print (produced for the first few months) lacks a shadow on the right side of the card border, making it visually distinct and more sought after by completionists.
The standard Unlimited print followed shortly after. Both use the same artwork, but Shadowless cards command a consistent premium because of their short production window.
Raw Shadowless copies in lightly played condition run $60 to $250 across independent sellers today, depending on centering and surface wear. Graded copies reach considerably higher: a PSA 8 example from Urban Empire Collectables sits at $734. The gap between raw and graded is steeper for Alakazam than for some other Base Set holos, because graded PSA 9 and 10 copies are genuinely scarce due to the card's tendency to show print lines on the holo field.
Era 2: Base Set 2 and the Expedition e-Card (2000–2002)
Base Set 2 (February 2000) repackaged most of the original Base Set cards, again placing Alakazam at position 1/130. The print quality is identical to the Unlimited Base Set run, and prices reflect that: Base Set 2 copies sell for $32 to $45 raw, making them the accessible entry point for collectors who want a holo 1/102 predecessor without spending three figures.
The more interesting follow-up is the Expedition Base Set Alakazam (1/165), released in 2002 as part of the e-Card series. Expedition was the first set to include Nintendo's dot-code system on the card border, allowing scans with the e-Reader accessory.
That feature never caught on, but Expedition holos are now valued as a curious footnote: a brief experiment that straddled the Wizards of the Coast and Nintendo Publishing eras.
Raw Expedition Alakazam lists for around $155 from independent sellers, reflecting its relative scarcity compared to the far more printed Base Set runs.
Era 3: The XY Fates Collide and Mega Evolution Period (2016)
Alakazam returned as a full EX in XY: Fates Collide (May 2016). Alakazam EX (117/124) is an Ultra Rare with 150 HP, and its Mega Evolution, M Alakazam EX (118/124), features the oversized X variant with 220 HP and a distinctive full-art design. Both see regular independent seller listings in the $35 to $70 range for raw copies.
A Pokémon Center Exclusive Mega Alakazam promo (card 009 in the Mega Evolution promo series) also exists from this period. It is a holofoil promo distributed only through Pokémon Center, and independent sellers list it around $78. If you want Mega Alakazam but prefer the promo presentation over the Fates Collide full art, this is the one to track down.
Era 4: SV:151 Brings Alakazam Into the Modern Pull Pool (2023)
Scarlet and Violet 151 returned Alakazam to the spotlight with three distinct prints. The standard Alakazam ex (188/165) is a reverse holo available for around $13. The Ultra Rare (201/165) and Special Illustration Rare (203/165) push into the $64 to $70 range, with the SIR featuring full-art style extended artwork that reimagines Alakazam in a painterly modern format.
SV:151 has become one of the most pulled sets of the Scarlet and Violet era, and Alakazam ex benefits from that liquidity: it is easier to find raw singles from multiple independent sellers than older EX cards from the XY era, and the prices have stabilized well below the vintage ceiling. For collectors who want Alakazam in a modern format without spending on Base Set premiums, the SIR is the natural destination.
Era 5: The Plush and Figure Side of Collecting
Alakazam's merchandise footprint outside the TCG is narrower than Charizard or Pikachu's, which is part of what makes the pieces that do exist interesting to track down.
The Pokémon Fit plush line (released through Pokémon Center Japan) produced an Alakazam: a compact, seated plush accurate to the official art, currently listed by independent importers at $20 to $30. The larger 6-inch Pokémon Center Poké Plush version runs around $50. Neither is common at major retailers, which is why independent sellers carry most of the available stock.
For display collectors, the Alakazam V Box from the Sword and Shield era included a foil promo Alakazam V and four booster packs, and independent sellers list sealed examples around $75 today. It is the one sealed product that bridges the plush/figure side of collecting with the TCG in a single purchase.
Where to Start in 2026
The right entry point depends entirely on what you want the collection to say.
If vintage authenticity is the goal, the Base Set Unlimited holo in raw lightly played condition ($60 to $80) gives you the original artwork in a format you can actually handle and display without worrying about damaging a graded slab. Graded copies (PSA 8 at $734 and up) are for collectors who want the card as a long-term anchor piece and are comfortable with the certification premium.
If modern representation matters more, the SV:151 SIR at $64 delivers current artwork at a fraction of the vintage price, and the $13 standard ex gives you a playable version. The Mega Evolution EX pair sits in a useful middle ground: it is firmly in the secondary market, not sky-high in price, and the full-art design photographs well for display.
Any of these paths lands on card number 1 eventually. The numbering always closes the loop.
Search DexHaul for Alakazam to compare current listings from independent shops across all five eras, including graded copies, plush, and sealed products.