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Alakazam card art from Base Set 56/102 featuring Ken Sugimori illustration with a dynamic telekinetic pose and spoons

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Alakazam is a Psychic-type Pokémon that appears in the early English Pokémon Trading Card Game base expansion. As a Stage 2 evolution of Kadabra, this card exemplifies the archetypal high-CP Psychic attacker of its era. In Base Set, Alakazam combines a powerful offensive option with a distinctive defensive ability, reflecting the era’s emphasis on manipulating damage and status effects during the early turns of a match. The card’s silhouette and art — a signature Ken Sugimori portrayal — reinforce the theme of heightened psychic prowess and strategic control on the battlefield.

Within the broader history of the Pokemon TCG, Alakazam’s Base Set release stands as a landmark moment. The Base Set introduced many of the franchise’s most iconic mechanics and characters to English-language players, establishing foundational gameplay patterns that would influence competitive play for years. Alakazam’s presence in this set underscores the era’s emphasis on deliberate, tempo-driven play: the ability to move damage counters and the chance to disrupt the opponent’s turns with Confuse Ray typify the period’s emphasis on battlefield information and stage-control strategy.

Card Information

Name: Alakazam
Set: Base Set (Base Set 56/102)
Rarity: Rare
Card Number: 56/102
Illustrator: Ken Sugimori
Type: Psychic
HP: 80
Stage: Stage 2
Evolves From: Kadabra
Attacks:
- Confuse Ray — Cost: Psychic ×3; Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused. (Damage: 30)
Ability: Damage Swap (Pokémon Power) — As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may move 1 damage counter from 1 of your Pokémon to another as long as you don’t Knock Out that Pokémon. This power cannot be used if Alakazam is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Weakness: Psychic ×2
Retreat Cost: 3
Legal Formats: Not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats (as of the data in Base Set era reference and modern reissues).
Variants: Normal, Holo, and Reverse Holo print variants exist for this card in Base Set.

The card art for Alakazam in Base Set was illustrated by Ken Sugimori, whose work on this and numerous other creatures helped define the early visual language of the Pokémon TCG. The card’s holo variant features a shimmering foil treatment that enhances the collectible appeal of this rare card and makes it a centerpiece for many vintage collections.

Gameplay and Strategy

Alakazam’s combination of a high-utility Pokémon Power and a straightforward high-damage attack makes it a cornerstone of several early Psychic-type strategy concepts. The Damage Swap ability enables a player to reposition damage counters across their board, which could be used to protect a fragile threat while maintaining pressure on the opponent’s Pokémon. Practically, this means the player can delay knockouts on weaker targets by shuffling damage away to more resilient Pokémon or, conversely, consolidate damage on a target that is already near defeat to set up a controlled KO on the opponent’s terms. The ability’s limitation — not usable if Alakazam is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed — adds a layer of decision-making related to status conditions and turn sequencing, reinforcing the importance of reliable protection and active card management in the pre-Rule variant era of the game.

Confuse Ray provides a probabilistic touch to Alakazam’s kit. The attack’s 30 damage is modest by later standards but is paired with a coin-flip confusion effect that can stall opposing threats or force unfavorable trades. In practice, a balanced deck might leverage Confuse Ray to maximize the chance of leaving opposing Pokémon unable to attack safely for a turn, while using Damage Swap to maintain board presence and temper the risk of over-committing to a single target.

Players have historically integrated Alakazam into archetypes that favored tempo and field control. While the exact metagame shifts across formats, the card’s core mechanics encourage a play pattern that values flexible damage placement and careful status management. The Stage 2 evolution requirement from Kadabra reflects the older approach to stage progression, where evolving late in the early game could shift the momentum in favor of a patient, calculated buildup rather than rapid, multi-Pokémon pressure seen in later sets.

Collector and Market Information

Rarity and print variants contribute to Alakazam’s collectibility within Base Set. The holo version, in particular, remains a sought-after piece among vintage collectors due to its iconic artwork, nostalgic significance, and the card’s role in staple strategies of the era. The Base Set’s total official print count sits at 102 cards, with Alakazam occupying the 56th position in the sequence, a factor often referenced by collectors tracking complete Base Set collections.

Market pricing data reflect online marketplace activity and can vary by condition, edition (first edition vs. unlimited), and print run. As of late 2025, price data from online marketplaces include:

Updated 2025-10-31. Avg: 42.38 EUR; Low: 7.99 EUR; Trend: 36.43; Avg 1st Edition holo data: 7.99; Trend holo: 19.66.
TCGplayer (USD): Updated 2025-10-31. Holofoil: Low: 34 USD; Mid: 52.55 USD; High: 242.05 USD; Market Price: 53.9 USD; 1st Edition holofoil: Low/Market values are historically high, with 1st Edition holofoil showing premium pricing in markets where available.

These figures illustrate how vintage Base Set cards can vary significantly by condition and print run. In particular, holofoil editions typically command higher prices, and first-edition releases are considerably rarer and more valuable in many collect markets. For researchers and collectors, the data provide a snapshot of current market dynamics and the enduring appeal of Base Set era Pokémon cards, including Alakazam.

Art and Lore

The Base Set Alakazam artwork, credited to Ken Sugimori, presents the Pokémon in a classic telekinetic pose, often depicted with multiple spoons as a signature motif associated with the species’ psychic abilities. Sugimori’s illustration style from the late 1990s emphasized clean lines, bold color blocks, and dynamic composition that communicates both power and precision. The holo variant’s foil treatment enhances the metallic sheen and depth of the character’s energy aura, reinforcing the card’s role as a focal point in many players’ early-game plans.

In the broader Pokémon universe, Alakazam is noted for its exceptionally high intelligence and telepathic capabilities. The TCG’s portrayal in Base Set aligns with this lore by featuring a card that relies on tactical manipulation of the battlefield rather than brute force alone. The combination of Damage Swap and Confuse Ray ties into the creature’s reputation for strategic mastery, making Alakazam a thematic fit for players seeking to outmaneuver opponents through careful planning and battlefield awareness.

Trivia

Alakazam is part of the original Base Set release, a milestone that helped establish foundational gameplay mechanics and card design conventions for the Pokémon TCG.
The card’s ability, Damage Swap, is a precursor to the more modern concepts of sequencing and energy-damage management that would evolve across sets in subsequent years.
Base Set Alakazam is commonly found in holo and non-holo variants, with holo versions often commanding higher secondary-market values due to their rarity and visual appeal.
The artwork by Ken Sugimori has become iconic within the Pokémon TCG community, contributing to the enduring popularity of the character’s card within vintage decks and collectors’ holdings.
In its era, Alakazam’s combination of 80 HP, a three-Psychic-energy attack, and a defensive, damage-displacement ability made it a notable board presence in Psychic-themed builds, despite the comparatively modest raw damage output by modern standards.

📘 Alakazam (Base Set 56/102)