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Pikachu card art from Wizards Black Star Promos basep-1

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Pikachu is a basic Lightning-type Pokémon card released as part of the Wizards Black Star Promos in the early era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. With 60 HP and two straightforward attacks, the card reflects the design philosophy of the time: accessible, easy-to-understand mechanics suitable for new players while remaining relevant in casual play. As a common promo, Pikachu serves both as a foundational creature for Electric-type strategies and as a collectible emblem of the set’s limited promotional print run.

Card Information

Name: Pikachu
Card ID: basep-1
Rarity: Common
Set: Wizards Black Star Promos
Card Count (Official/Total): 53 / 53
Dex Number: 25
Type: Lightning
Stage: Basic
HP: 60
Illustrator: Keiji Kinebuchi
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
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse (First Edition: False)
Legal Formats: Standard: False, Expanded: False
Updated: 2024-08-25
Pricing Data (as provided): CardMarket: None, TCGPlayer: None

Gameplay and Strategy

In its original era, this Pikachu functioned as a lightweight, early-game option for Electric-type decks. Its modest 60 HP reflects the lower-tuture power level of early Pokémon TCG design, which emphasized straightforward damage output and simple status effects. The key to utilizing Pikachu effectively lies in leveraging its Growl and Thundershock attacks in complementary ways.

Early-Game Buffer: Growl provides a defensive buffer against powerful single-turn blows. When an opponent intends to deal substantial damage with a single attack, Growl can mitigate a portion of that damage on Pikachu during the next opponent’s turn, potentially allowing Pikachu to survive a harsh exchange and set up Raichu draws in subsequent turns. The effect ends if either Pokémon is benched, so Pikachu works best when supported by a stable bench and minimal disruption.
Paralysis Chance with Thundershock: Thundershock offers a reliablely small-but-potentially game-changing effect by attempting to Paralyze the Defending Pokémon. The 20 damage plus the paralysis chance makes it a reasonable two-pronged option for pressuring the opponent while keeping Pikachu on the battlefield for another turn or two.
Type and Weakness Considerations: As a Lightning-type attacker, Pikachu is generally a tempo card in early Electric archetypes. Its weakness to Fighting ×2 creates vulnerability against a portion of common early-game threats, so careful matchup planning and supportive Energy acceleration help mitigate risk.
Energy Requirements and Bench Management: With a cost of Colorless for Growl and two Lightning energies for Thundershock, deck builders typically combine Pikachu with readily accessible Energy acceleration and draw support. However, given its promo status and historical context, modern deck-building considerations should treat this card as a historical reference rather than a current powerhouse.
Evolution into Raichu: The evolution line Pikachu → Raichu provides a natural progression for players who can sustain Energy to Raichu in later turns. In formats where Raichu (as a later card) is legal, Pikachu often serves as the initiating piece in a broader Electric strategy; in this specific promo’s era, Raichu would be the targeted upgrade in the evolution ladder.

Given that the card’s official legality is marked as not legal in Standard or Expanded formats, its use today is primarily historical, collectible, or for themed crossover discussions rather than competitive play in contemporary tournaments. Collectors and readers often study such cards to understand early design conventions and the evolution of attack mechanics across generations.

Collector and Market Information

The Pikachu promo from Wizards Black Star Promos is a part of the early era of Pokémon TCG printings, where promotional releases complemented standard sets. As a Common rarity within a limited promo variant, it contributes to collection breadth for players and collectors who aim to document every Pikachu variant or every card from Wizards-era promotions. The card’s official data indicates a total print count of 53 cards for the set, with the Pikachu entry sharing the same card number conventions as the rest of the Wizards Black Star Promos print run.

Pricing data for this particular card, as provided in the card data, shows no current entries for CardMarket or TCGPlayer. In practice, market values for promo Pikachu cards—especially those with holo or reverse holo variants—vary widely based on condition, edition (first edition vs. standard), and market demand. Collectors often reference condition-oriented grading details, such as centering, corner wear, and surface gloss on holo variants, when assessing value. Because this card is a non-rotating promotional print with no listed market data in the provided dataset, it should be considered primarily a historical and collection-oriented piece rather than a value-driven asset in modern markets.

For researchers and enthusiasts, the WBP (Wizards Black Star Promos) lineage represents a distinctive collection chapter, illustrating the early promotional strategy used by the publisher before subsequent reissues and evolutions of the card database. The Pikachu promo’s impact on set composition and the broader Electric-type collection is best understood in the context of these early print runs and their distribution patterns.

Art and Lore

The illustration for this Pikachu is attributed to Keiji Kinebuchi, an artist whose work contributed to several early Pokémon card illustrations. The Wizards Black Star Promos line often featured distinct foil and art treatment compared to later standard-print Pikachu cards, reflecting the promotional nature and collectible emphasis of these releases. The artwork typically emphasizes the character’s iconic yellow aesthetics, big cheeks, and energetic posture that fans associate with Pikachu across generations. While the card itself represents a gameplay artifact, it also carries cultural resonance as part of the franchise’s early TCG artwork cataloguing.

In the broader lore of the Pokémon TCG, Pikachu cards have long served as emblematic depictions of the franchise’s mascot, with numerous reprint cycles across generations. This particular promo stands as a historical reference point for how Nintendo, Wizards, and the broader card ecosystem collaborated to expand the TCG’s reach in its formative years. The card’s art, like many from the period, contributes to the collectible narrative of Pikachu as a perennial fan favorite and a staple of Electric-type gameplay representation.

Trivia

This Pikachu is a Basic Pokémon with a relatively modest 60 HP, characteristic of early card designs.
It belongs to the Wizards Black Star Promos set, a promotional print run distinct from the main Base Set lineup.
Two attacks appear on the card: Growl (a defensive mitigation move) and Thundershock (damage with a paralysis chance).
The card’s legal status for Standard and Expanded formats is listed as false, indicating its historical and collectible status rather than current competitive relevance.
The illustration is credited to Keiji Kinebuchi, linking the card to an artist who contributed to multiple early Pokémon TCG artworks.

📘 Pikachu — Pokémon TCG Card Listings