Alakazam 009
Quick take
- Black star promo distributed with the Mega Gardevoir Elite Trainer Box, not pulled from packs
- Regular Stage 2 Psychic Alakazam with 140 HP, illustrated by Aya Kusube, not a Mega
- A Pokemon Center Exclusive version of 009 exists alongside the standard promo
- Completionist piece for the Mega Evolution Promos checklist, not a hype-driven flip
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Mega Evolution Promo
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 9/79 · $71.65 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyAn ETB promo Alakazam that earned its spot through art, not power
Alakazam 009 is a black star promo from the Mega Evolution Promos line, the promo set that ran alongside the 2025 Mega Evolution main release. It came packed with the Mega Gardevoir Elite Trainer Box rather than pulled from boosters, which is the whole reason collectors track it. You did not open this one. You got it by buying the box.
“Black star promo distributed with the Mega Gardevoir Elite Trainer Box, not pulled from packs”
The card itself is a regular Stage 2 Psychic Alakazam with 140 HP, illustrated by Aya Kusube. No Mega mechanic here. It evolves from Kadabra and runs the Psychic Draw ability with the Powerful Hand attack. The appeal comes from the full-illustration holo treatment and the way promo distribution caps supply that booster cards never hit. For a master-set builder, it's a checklist box you can only tick by chasing the right product or buying the single later.
Clean illustration promo, limited distribution. That is the kind of card that sits quietly for a while and then gets annoying to find sealed. Worth grabbing while ETB stock and loose singles are still around.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Sits in the mid-to-lower band of the Mega Evolution Promos checklist. The Mega ex promos and the marquee chase pieces command the real money in this set. A regular Stage 2 Alakazam promo trades well below them.
Soft and supply-driven so far. As the Mega Gardevoir ETB sells through and loose copies stop circulating, expect the floor to firm up rather than spike. Promo singles tend to creep, not jump.
Treat it as a completionist piece, not a flip. The upside is the slow tightening of supply once the ETB is gone, not hype-driven appreciation. Low risk, modest ceiling.
Graded copies carry the usual promo premium over raw, but the absolute numbers stay modest for a non-ex Stage 2. Grading makes sense only on a flawless copy or the Pokemon Center Exclusive version.
There is no booster pull rate for this card. It's a black star promo from the Mega Evolution Promos line, packed with the Mega Gardevoir Elite Trainer Box rather than seeded into packs. Supply is tied to how many of that box shipped and how many buyers kept the promo sealed instead of cracking it. A separate Pokemon Center Exclusive version of 009 also exists. Because it's promo-distributed, scarcity tightens over time as the boxes sell through, not because the odds were ever long in a pack.
Compare it to a Scarlet & Violet Special Illustration Rare, which runs roughly 1 in 90 packs for any SIR and into the hundreds of packs for one specific card. A promo like this has no pack math at all. You either bought the box or you buy the single. That makes it easy to acquire on demand but harder to find sealed once the product is gone.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Aya Kusube is credited as the illustrator on this Mega Evolution Promos Alakazam. Beyond the credit on this card, treat their wider body of work as something to verify card by card rather than assume.
A full-illustration holo promo of Alakazam, the Psychic-type known for the spoons it wields. Sellers list it as illustration art rather than a standard text-box layout. I'm keeping the scene description general since I couldn't confirm specific composition details from a primary source.
Black star promo, holofoil, card number 009 in the Mega Evolution Promos (MEP) set. Stage 2 Psychic, 140 HP, evolves from Kadabra. A Pokemon Center Exclusive version of 009 also exists alongside the standard promo.
It's a promo, so the foil pattern and the full-art framing differ from the booster prints of the same era. The Pokemon Center Exclusive version is the detail that separates a common ETB insert from a card worth chasing.
BackgroundAbout Alakazam 009
Alakazam is one of the original Psychic heavyweights, the final stage of the Abra line that goes back to the very first games. Its card flavor leans on the same idea every time, a Pokemon with enormous psychic power and the trademark spoons. This promo keeps it as a straightforward Stage 2 rather than tying it into the Mega mechanic.
- ›Gen 1 recognition keeps Alakazam on collector radar across every era
- ›The Abra-Kadabra-Alakazam line is a nostalgia favorite
- ›Psychic typing and the spoon imagery make for clean illustration art
- ›Promo-only distribution adds a layer of chase for set builders
- ›A staple of the Psychic type since the earliest Pokemon TCG sets
- ›Final evolution of the Abra line, a fixture in Gen 1 and beyond
This print's verified text is an ability, Psychic Draw, which lets you draw 3 cards when you play it from hand to evolve a Pokemon, plus an attack, Powerful Hand, that places 2 damage counters on the opponent's Active Pokemon for each card in your hand. As a promo Stage 2 it's a collector card first. Any play use would be format-dependent and niche.
Own it wellCollector guide
ETB promos can arrive with edge or corner wear straight from the box, and holo promos show whitening on the back edges easily. Inspect corners and the holo surface before paying a premium. The Pokemon Center Exclusive version is the one worth scrutinizing most.
Only worth grading on a pristine copy or the Pokemon Center Exclusive version. For a standard promo Alakazam, raw or in a sleeve is fine for most master sets. The graded premium on a non-ex Stage 2 promo is modest. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and toploader at minimum. Keep it out of direct light to protect the holo, and store flat to avoid the slight bowing promos sometimes pick up. See the storage guide →
Decide which copy you want first, the standard 009 or the Pokemon Center Exclusive, because they trade as different cards. If you want it sealed in the ETB, buy before that box disappears from shelves. For the single, there's no rush. Promo prices move slowly. See the singles buying guide →
For modern promos, check the holo pattern and print quality against a known-good scan, confirm the black star promo marking and the 009 number, and verify the set symbol. Counterfeits of recent promos are less sophisticated than vintage fakes, but a quick light test and a clean back swirl still help. Buy graded if you're paying up for the Pokemon Center Exclusive.
Protect your card
Low Chase Score — basic protection is plenty. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Received as a solid completionist promo rather than a headline chase. Collectors note the full-illustration art and the Alakazam nostalgia, but the conversation in this set centers on the Mega ex promos, not this card.
Light. It shows up in Mega Evolution Promos checklist posts and ETB unboxing content rather than as a standalone hype card. The Pokemon Center Exclusive version gets a bit more attention from variant chasers.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
Keep collectingRelated cards
Plan your Mega Evolution Mega Evolution Promo master set
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