Riolu (Japanese)
S12a: VSTAR Universe · 201/172 · Art Rare
Current Prices
Number
201/172
Rarity
Art Rare
Variant
Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Aug 1, 2026
Riolu (Japanese): Rarity & Collectibility
Riolu (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 #201/172 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 Riolu (Japanese)?
In 2026, a Near Mint Riolu (Japanese) (Rare, S12a: VSTAR Universe #201/172) changes hands at roughly $14.12, 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 $14.12, whereas a Lightly Played one slides to around $12.00. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Riolu (Japanese) is valued near $34.00 — about 2.4x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Riolu (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) Riolu (Japanese) sits around $34.00 — roughly 2.4x 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 $20.00, CGC 10 $49.99, BGS 9.5 $4.25 — 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 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | 1 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $29.37 | $29.37 | $29.37 | 16 |
| ebay | BGS 10 | $38.00 | $38.00 | $38.00 | 4 |
| ebay | BGS 9 5 | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 | 11 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 | 11 |
| ebay | CGC 8 5 | $12.50 | $12.50 | $12.50 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $34.00 | $34.00 | $34.00 | 31 |
| ebay | PSA 7 | $8.51 | $8.51 | $8.51 | 2 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | 17 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | 6 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $14.12 | $13.99 | $14.12 | 120 |
Collector Outlook for Riolu (Japanese)
Riolu (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 Riolu (Japanese) on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
