Lapras (Japanese)
S12a: VSTAR Universe · 177/172 · Art Rare
Current Prices
Number
177/172
Rarity
Art Rare
Variant
Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Lapras (Japanese): Rarity & Collectibility
Lapras (Japanese) in its sought-after Holofoil variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #177/172 of the S12a: VSTAR Universe 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 Lapras (Japanese)?
In 2026, a Near Mint Lapras (Japanese) (Rare, S12a: VSTAR Universe #177/172) changes hands at roughly $7.54, 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 $7.54, whereas a Damaged one slides to around $1.00. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $7.54, Lightly Played $4.99, Moderately Played $5.50, Damaged $1.00 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Lapras (Japanese) is valued near $51.00 — about 6.8x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Lapras (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) Lapras (Japanese) sits around $51.00 — roughly 6.8x 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 $17.02, CGC 10 $26.51, CGC 9.5 $19.99 — 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 | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $7.74 | $7.74 | $7.74 | 5 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $8.00 | $8.00 | $8.00 | 39 |
| ebay | ACE 10 | $35.76 | $35.76 | $35.76 | 2 |
| ebay | BGS 10 | $36.00 | $36.00 | $36.00 | 20 |
| ebay | BGS 9 5 | $29.00 | $29.00 | $29.00 | 14 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $26.51 | $26.51 | $26.51 | 56 |
| ebay | CGC 6 | $5.80 | $5.80 | $5.80 | 1 |
| ebay | CGC 7 5 | $6.00 | $6.00 | $6.00 | 2 |
| ebay | CGC 8 5 | $7.01 | $7.01 | $7.01 | 3 |
| ebay | CGC 9 | $17.74 | $17.74 | $17.74 | 16 |
| ebay | CGC 9 5 | $19.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 | 10 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $51.00 | $51.00 | $51.00 | 34 |
| ebay | PSA 5 | $15.62 | $15.62 | $15.62 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 6 | $11.50 | $11.50 | $11.50 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 7 | $8.50 | $8.50 | $8.50 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 8 | $15.99 | $15.99 | $15.99 | 10 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $17.02 | $17.02 | $17.02 | 16 |
| ebay | SGC 10 | $15.51 | $15.51 | $15.51 | 1 |
| ebay | SGC 9 5 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | 2 |
| ebay | TAG 10 | $25.68 | $25.68 | $25.68 | 2 |
| tcgplayer | DAMAGED | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $4.99 | $7.60 | $7.60 | 83 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.50 | 2 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $7.54 | $6.49 | $8.25 | 1,433 |
Collector Outlook for Lapras (Japanese)
Lapras (Japanese) holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. An accessible pickup whose pull is enjoyment and progress toward a finished set. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Lapras (Japanese) on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
