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Pikachu promo card art from Wizards Black Star Promos (Base Set) - high resolution image

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Pikachu is one of the most recognizable figures in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), and the Wizards Black Star Promos release featuring this character marks an early chapter in the franchise’s promotional distribution. The card presents a basic Lightning-type Pokémon with modest health and two straightforward attacks, representative of the simpler, more direct design philosophy of early sets. As a common promo, it served both as a collectible item for fans and as a practical card for players seeking a reliable early-game presence in Lightning-type decks.

Within the broader history of the TCG, Pikachu promo cards carry a distinctive aura due to the character’s iconic status in the Pokémon universe. While not a centerpiece finisher in competitive formats, the card’s Growl and Thundershock moves reflect the game’s early mechanical language—simple costs, predictable effects, and a focus on basic damage output and chance-based status effects. The Wizards Black Star Promos lineage, printed under the Wizards of the Coast era, adds a layer of collector interest because these prints circulated as promotional items rather than standard expansion insertions, making them notable for completionists and vintage set enthusiasts alike.

In cataloging terms, the card is often associated with a Base Set numbering tradition. Some sources refer to it with the Base Set 58/102 designation, reflecting contemporary card databases that map the Pikachu card to a Base Set sequence. Officially, Wizards Black Star Promos prints are listed separately from the core Base Set releases, which contributes to occasional variations in placement and numbering across different reference materials. Regardless of numbering conventions, the card remains a compact, iconic snapshot of the early Pokémon TCG era.

Card Information

Name: Pikachu
Rarity: Common
Category: Pokémon
Set: Wizards Black Star Promos
Card Number: basep-1 (sometimes cataloged as Base Set 58/102 in certain references)
Illustrator: Keiji Kinebuchi
Dex Number: 25
HP: 60
Type: Lightning
Stage: Basic
Evolution Line: Pikachu → Raichu
Attacks:
- Growl (Cost: Colorless)
- Effect: If the Defending Pokémon attacks Pikachu during your opponent's next turn, any damage done by the attack is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). (Benching either Pokémon ends this effect.)
- Thundershock (Cost: Lightning, Lightning)
- Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
- Damage: 20
Weakness: Fighting ×2
Retreat Cost: 1
Legal Formats: Standard: false, Expanded: false
Illustrations: Classic line art character portrayal by Keiji Kinebuchi
Availability: Promo print (non-standard release); commonly sought by collectors for its nostalgic value

Gameplay and Strategy

As a Basic Lightning-type with a modest 60 HP, Pikachu serves as an early-game anchor in decks that favor rapid development and defensive layering. Its two attacks provide a blend of utility and damage, though neither is a marquee finisher. The Growl attack, while inexpensive, offers a tactical lever by potentially dampening the opponent’s next attack. The effect activates if the Defending Pokémon attacks Pikachu on the opponent’s next turn, reducing incoming damage by 10 after applying Weakness and Resistance. This is a situational but potentially meaningful safeguard for a fragile Basic Pokémon on the bench or in active play, especially when facing aggressive early-game opponents. The caveat—neither Pokémon can be benched during the effect’s duration—encourages careful sequencing and position management. The second attack, Thundershock, costs two Lightning energy and yields 20 damage with a coin-flip paralysis chance. In the context of its era, this provides a simple, if modest, two-energy attacker with a chance to take an immediate status effect. While 20 damage is not large by modern standards, it fits into older grids where resource speed and energy acceleration were more constrained. In modern competitive decks, Pikachu’s utility is largely historical or collector-focused, but it can still illustrate foundational concepts such as damage mitigation, energy budgeting, and the impact of status effects on tempo. From a strategic standpoint, Pikachu is best utilized as a stepping stone in a broader Lightning-themed lineup. It may support early-game board development while more robust attackers come online. Its low retreat cost and status-protective ability make it compatible with basic bench strategies, where players aim to sustain a resilient front while drawing toward stronger threats. Because this particular print is not legal in Standard or Expanded formats, contemporary decks do not rely on it for tournament play; instead, it serves as a reference point for understanding early game mechanics and the evolution of energy-management strategies in the TCG’s formative years.

Collector and Market Information

The Pikachu promo from Wizards Black Star Promos is categorized as common, reflecting its distribution pattern as a promotional card rather than a standard set release. Promotional prints like this often carry heightened collector interest due to their limited run, distinctive promotional branding, and place in the early history of the Pokémon TCG. The artwork and promotion lineage, illustrated by Keiji Kinebuchi, add to its appeal among completionists and fans of the base-era aesthetic. Market availability varies by region and condition, with higher-grade examples typically commanding stronger attention in trade and sale, though price data is not consistently tracked across major markets for all early promos.

Official pricing feeds (Cardmarket, TCGPlayer, and similar platforms) may show gaps for this specific print, as indicated by the absence of recorded pricing in the provided data. Collectors and traders often reference retro-promo portfolios and archive catalogs to approximate value, taking into account factors such as whether the card is in holo, reverse, or normal variant, along with overall condition. Given its common rarity and promo status, its market value tends to be more a matter of historical interest and sleeve-collection priority than of high monetary investment.

Art and Lore

The illustration by Keiji Kinebuchi for this Pikachu promo captures the early-era design sensibilities of the Pokémon TCG, characterized by bold lines, clear outline work, and a sense of immediacy that mirrors the character’s energetic personality. Kinebuchi’s work on this card aligns with other base-era promos, where the art often emphasized the character’s recognizable silhouette and expressive charm. In the broader lore of the Pokémon world, Pikachu’s status as the franchise mascot amplifies the card’s cultural resonance, making the card a familiar touchstone for both players and collectors who grew up with the original release wave.

The Wizards Black Star Promos branding identifies the card as a promotional print rather than a standard expansion entry. Promo cards frequently served as attractors for events, tournaments, or exclusive promos, which contributed to their mystique and desirability among older collectors. While the in-game mechanics remain straightforward, the artwork and packaging context—promo branding, non-standard release patterns, and the Base Set numbering associations—create a distinctive lore footprint within the TCG’s history.

Trivia

One of the most enduring symbols of the Pokémon franchise, Pikachu in card form helps anchor early player experience and familiarity with Electric-type strategies.
The Growl and Thundershock moves reflect early TCG mechanics, including the simple damage calculations and status-condition outcomes that characterized the period.
As a Wizards Black Star Promo, the card exists outside the standard expansion flow, which can affect its rarity perception and collector interest compared to contemporary releases.
Variations in numbering conventions—such as the Base Set 58/102 reference seen in some catalogs—highlight how early promo cards are cataloged across different reference sources.
The card’s legal status—non-legal in Standard and Expanded formats—emphasizes its role as a collectible artifact rather than a mainstay in modern competitive play.

Pikachu (Base Set 58/102)

📘 Pikachu (Base Set 58/102)