Raichu (Japanese)
Base Expansion Pack · 081/128 · Rare
Current Prices
Number
081/128
Rarity
Rare
Variant
1st_Edition
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Aug 1, 2026
Raichu (Japanese): Rarity & Collectibility
Raichu (Japanese) in its sought-after 1st_Edition variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #081/128 of the Base Expansion Pack set, it is the kind of card RarePokemonCard tracks for scarcity and collector demand rather than raw price alone. The harder a card is to pull in top condition, the more weight serious collectors place on it.
How Rare & Valuable Is Raichu (Japanese)?
In 2026, a Near Mint Raichu (Japanese) (Rare, Base Expansion Pack #081/128) changes hands at roughly $25.00, and desirability among set-builders keeps that number firm. Because demand concentrates on clean copies, surface wear is punished hard: a Near Mint example commands about $25.00, whereas a Heavily Played one slides to around $9.99. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $25.00, Lightly Played $19.00, Heavily Played $9.99 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Raichu (Japanese) is valued near $255.00 — about 10x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Raichu (Japanese): Gem Mint & Population
Even for a card at this rarity, the top of the market belongs to certified gem-mint copies. A PSA 10 (or CGC 10 / BGS Black Label equivalent) Raichu (Japanese) sits around $255.00 — roughly 10x a raw copy. That gap exists because relatively few examples ever earn a perfect grade, so gem-mint population is the real scarcity collectors chase. Step down a notch and demand spreads across PSA 9 $60.00, CGC 10 $49.99 — each tier a smaller, scarcer pool than the one below it. The rule of thumb for collectors: the rarer the card, the more a certified high grade matters to its standing.
Detailed Price Breakdown
| Source | Condition / Grade | Average | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | HEAVILY PLAYED | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | 2 |
| ebay | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $19.00 | $19.00 | $19.00 | 4 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $29.99 | $29.99 | $29.99 | 17 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $255.00 | $255.00 | $255.00 | 7 |
| ebay | PSA 5 | $13.47 | $13.47 | $13.47 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 7 | $31.00 | $31.00 | $31.00 | 2 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $60.00 | 5 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $25.00 | $25.00 | $25.00 | 17 |
Collector Outlook for Raichu (Japanese)
Raichu (Japanese) holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Cards in this band from beloved sets tend to keep a loyal collector base over time. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Raichu (Japanese) on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
