Base Set

BS · Base · Released January 9, 1999 · 102 official cards · 102 total

Base Set is a Pokémon TCG set in the Base series, released January 9, 1999. The checklist runs 102 numbered cards. A complete set is 102 cards. Counting every printing — reverse holos, foil patterns, stamps — a master set is 102 variants, and a grand master set is 409.

This is where every checklist begins: the 102 cards of the 1999 Base Set, sixteen of them holos, headed by Mitsuhiro Arita’s Charizard 4/102 — the most famous trading card of the modern era — alongside Ken Sugimori’s Blastoise and the rest of the original lineup.

Base Set is also the purest test of what “master set” means, because the checklist barely changes while the printings multiply: 1st Edition, Shadowless, Unlimited, and the late 1999–2000 copyright run all count. The same Charizard exists across each of them, which is why a grand master chase here is measured in printings, not new artwork.

Complete set

102cards

Master set

102variants

Grand master set

409variants

Printed in both 1st Edition and Unlimited. Complete and master counts are per edition — the printings mirror each other. A grand master set spans both editions.

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Card checklist

102 cards

each card lists its printings · + marks grand-master-only versions

1/102

Alakazam

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

2/102

Blastoise

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

3/102

Chansey

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

4/102

Charizard

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

5/102

Clefairy

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

6/102

Gyarados

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

7/102

Hitmonchan

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

8/102

Machamp

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

9/102

Magneton

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

10/102

Mewtwo

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

11/102

Nidoking

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

12/102

Ninetales

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

13/102

Poliwrath

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

14/102

Raichu

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

15/102

Venusaur

Rare

Holo Shadowless · Holo Unlimited · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

16/102

Zapdos

Rare

Holo Unlimited · +Holo Shadowless · +Holo 1999–2000 Copyright

17/102

Beedrill

Rare

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

18/102

Dragonair

Rare

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

19/102

Dugtrio

Rare

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

20/102

Electabuzz

Rare

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

21/102

Electrode

Rare

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

22/102

Pidgeotto

Rare

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

23/102

Arcanine

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

24/102

Charmeleon

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

25/102

Dewgong

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

26/102

Dratini

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

27/102

Farfetch'd

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

28/102

Growlithe

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

29/102

Haunter

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

30/102

Ivysaur

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

31/102

Jynx

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

32/102

Kadabra

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

33/102

Kakuna

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

34/102

Machoke

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

35/102

Magikarp

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

36/102

Magmar

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

37/102

Nidorino

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

38/102

Poliwhirl

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

39/102

Porygon

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

40/102

Raticate

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

41/102

Seel

Uncommon

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

42/102

Wartortle

Uncommon

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

43/102

Abra

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

44/102

Bulbasaur

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

45/102

Caterpie

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

46/102

Charmander

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

47/102

Diglett

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

48/102

Doduo

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

49/102

Drowzee

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

50/102

Gastly

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

51/102

Koffing

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

52/102

Machop

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

53/102

Magnemite

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

54/102

Metapod

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

55/102

Nidoran♂

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

56/102

Onix

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

57/102

Pidgey

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

58/102

Pikachu

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright · +Shadowless Red Cheek

59/102

Poliwag

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

60/102

Ponyta

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

61/102

Rattata

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

62/102

Sandshrew

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

63/102

Squirtle

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

64/102

Starmie

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

65/102

Staryu

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

66/102

Tangela

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

67/102

Voltorb

Common

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

68/102

Vulpix

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

69/102

Weedle

Common

Shadowless · Unlimited · +1999–2000 Copyright

70/102

Clefairy Doll

Rare

Unlimited · +Shadowless · +1999–2000 Copyright

71/102

Computer Search

Psychic Energy

Common

102/102

Water Energy

Common

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are in Base Set?

Base Set has 102 cards in its numbered checklist.

How many cards are in a Base Set master set?

A Base Set master set is 102 variants — every printing of every card counted separately, including reverse holos, alternate foils, and stamped versions. A complete set (one of each card) is 102 cards, and a grand master set — every printing across all editions, plus attached promos — is 409 variants.

Does Base Set have 1st Edition cards?

Yes. Base Set was printed in both 1st Edition and Unlimited, and the printings mirror each other card for card. Complete and master counts here are per edition; a grand master set spans both.

What are Shadowless Base Set cards?

Shadowless cards come from an early 1999 print run that lacks the drop shadow to the right of the art frame. They were printed after 1st Edition and before the corrected Unlimited run. Our checklist counts Shadowless, Unlimited, and 1999–2000 copyright printings toward the grand master set.

Who illustrated the Base Set Charizard?

Mitsuhiro Arita illustrated Charizard 4/102, along with Base Set Pikachu, Venusaur, and Gyarados. Ken Sugimori illustrated Blastoise, Mewtwo, Alakazam, and the classic trainer cards like Professor Oak.