Haunter 027
Quick take
- First full art card for Haunter in the history of the Pokemon TCG
- Full art print illustrated by Arai Kiriko, numbered as Black Star Promo 027
- Distributed in the English Mega Gengar ex Mega Battle Deck
- Darkness-type Stage 1 with 100 HP and the Spooky Shot attack
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Mega Evolution Promo
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 27/79 · $40.49 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyHaunter's first full art, 28 years in the making
Haunter has been on cards since the earliest sets, but it never got a full art treatment until this one. That is the whole story here. After roughly 28 years of standard prints, the Ghost-type finally gets a dedicated full art card, and collectors paid attention.
“First full art card for Haunter in the history of the Pokemon TCG”
The card released as Black Star Promo 027, packed into the English Mega Gengar ex Mega Battle Deck. That ties it directly to the Mega Evolution era and the Mega Gengar theme, which gives it a hook beyond being a nice Haunter. If you collect the Gastly line or want the full set of Mega Evolution promos, it belongs on the list.
Reception split. Plenty of people loved finally getting a full art Haunter. Others wanted something spookier than the scene they got. Either way, the first-ever status keeps interest steady.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits mid-pack in the Mega Evolution promo line. It is a deck-exclusive Illustration Rare, not a chase Special Illustration Rare or Hyper Rare, so it trades well below the headline ex cards from the era. The live market price on this page is the number to trust.
Pricing has held up better than a typical promo because of the first full art angle. Deck-exclusive supply plus a known print-quality issue gives clean copies some support. It is not a runaway mover.
Treat it as a collector card first. The first full art status is a durable reason to want it, and graded gem-mint copies are scarcer than the print run suggests. It is still a promo from a recent, widely distributed set, so do not expect vintage-style appreciation. Buy the copy you want for your binder. Grade only if it is genuinely clean.
High grades carry a real premium here because the card is reportedly tough to grade, with edge and corner whitening showing up straight from the factory. Raw near-mint copies are easy to find. A true gem-mint slab is the harder thing to source.
This is not a booster pull. Haunter 027 came as a fixed promo inside the English Mega Gengar ex Mega Battle Deck, so you get it by buying the deck rather than chasing pack odds. Supply tracks deck print runs instead of rarity slots. For context, in standard Scarlet and Violet boosters an Illustration Rare lands around 1 in 12 packs, but a deck-exclusive promo like this skips that lottery entirely.
Set against the chase cards of the Mega Evolution era, the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares that run far longer odds, this Illustration Rare promo is far more attainable. Its value comes from the first full art story, not from scarcity.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Arai Kiriko is credited as the illustrator on the full art print of this card. The regular print uses different art by a separate illustrator.
The full art shows Haunter emerging from shrubbery, hands forward in the classic floating pose. It is a lighter, more playful take on the Ghost-type than a haunted-house or Lavender Town setting would have been, which is exactly what some collectors wished it had leaned into.
Full art Illustration Rare with a holographic finish. The art runs across the full frame in the modern IR style rather than sitting inside a bordered window.
It is the first time Haunter has appeared as a full art card. That alone sets it apart from the long line of standard Haunter prints before it.
BackgroundAbout Haunter 027
Haunter is the middle stage of the Gastly line from the original 151, evolving from Gastly and into Gengar. It has shown up on cards since the earliest sets, which is why the absence of a full art until now is the notable part of its record.
- ›Part of the Gastly to Gengar evolution line
- ›An original Gen 1 Ghost-type with long-running fan attachment
- ›Tied to Mega Gengar through this deck's theme
- ›First full art status drives crossover interest from Gengar collectors
- ›Original 151 roster as the Gastly line's middle evolution
- ›Featured in the Mega Gengar ex Mega Battle Deck as promo 027
Own it wellCollector guide
Watch the edges and corners. This card has a reputation for factory whitening on the borders, so inspect copies closely even when they ship deck-fresh. Check the corners under good light before paying a clean-copy premium.
Only send copies that look genuinely flawless on edges and corners. Given the reported low gem-mint rate, grading is worth it for a strong copy but a gamble for an average one. If you just want it for a binder, a raw near-mint is the smarter buy. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and toploader or one-touch as soon as you pull it from the deck. Edges are the weak point, so avoid loose binder slots that let the card shift and rub. See the storage guide →
Buy from sellers who show clear photos of all four corners and both edges. Raw copies are plentiful, so there is no need to overpay. For a graded purchase, let the slab do the quality work and focus on the grade and cert. See the singles buying guide →
As a current-era promo, counterfeit risk is lower than vintage, but still buy from reputable sellers. Cross-check the 027 number, the promo stamp, and the Arai Kiriko credit against a known-good reference image.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Mixed but engaged. Collectors celebrated the milestone of Haunter finally getting a full art, while a vocal group felt the shrubbery scene did not capture the Ghost-type's character. A Lavender Town style backdrop was a common wish.
The first full art angle drove most of the conversation, framed as a 28-year wait that finally paid off. Print quality and grading difficulty came up as a recurring complaint.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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