Charmander
Quick take
- Naoki Saito meta-illustration with the signature artist-hand-visible composition
- Day-one English market around $108 raw, top tier of the 151 IR lineup
- Pairs with Squirtle IR (#170) and Bulbasaur IR (#166) for the Gen I starter chase
- Charmander is the franchise's most-collected starter, perennial demand floor
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet 151
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 168/165 · $92.15 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Fire Starter Reimagined as Pencil Sketch
The Scarlet & Violet 151 set (sv3pt5, 2023) is the modern era's Generation I tribute. Every card in the set features one of the original 151 Pokemon, with new illustrations from Japanese artists across the rarity spectrum. The Illustration Rare slots became the most-collected subset, each IR uses a distinctive artistic style that breaks from the standard battle-illustration template into pencil sketches, watercolour scenes, and meta-illustrations.
“Naoki Saito meta-illustration with the signature artist-hand-visible composition”
Naoki Saito's Charmander sits at the top of the IR pricing tier. The signature meta-illustration approach shows the Pokemon mid-pose on what appears to be a sketchbook page, with the artist's hand visible in the foreground holding a pencil. The composition collapses the boundary between Pokemon-as-subject and Pokemon-as-drawing, a thematically appropriate choice for a set that's explicitly about reimagining the original 151.
Pricing reflects three convergent demand drivers. The meta-illustration appeal of Saito's signature style. The 151 starter trio chase (collectors target Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur as a paired set). Charmander's status as the franchise's most-collected starter line. The card has held the $100+ tier consistently for 18 months and shows no signs of cooling.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $108 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Top tier of the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup, alongside Squirtle IR (~$100) and Bulbasaur IR (~$85). Above other IRs in the set like Pikachu (~$83), Charmeleon (~$79), Wartortle (~$63).
151 IR pricing has been remarkably stable since release. The set's print window has been longer than typical (multiple production runs to meet sustained demand), which has moderated early-release scarcity spikes. Charmander IR has held the $100+ tier consistently for 18 months, durable rather than appreciating, but the floor is firm.
Stable. The 151 set's broader print run caps upside, but Charmander's character durability provides a firm floor. PSA 10 graded copies are the cleanest long hold. The risk is broader market softening across the entire Scarlet & Violet era. The upside is continued artist-collector demand for Saito's work.
PSA 10 around 1.5-2x raw. The light-palette sketchbook composition is forgiving on centering but exposes surface marks on the foiled holographic finish. Submit clean copies, the premium clears submission costs comfortably.
Roughly 1 in 18 packs across all Illustration Rare slots in the 151 set based on community pull rate data. With multiple IRs in the set, the per-specific-card rate is roughly 1 in 180+ packs.
Top tier of the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup, alongside Squirtle IR and Bulbasaur IR. The starter trio plus Pikachu IRs form the chase tier of the IR subset, with other IRs (Charmeleon, Wartortle, Ivysaur, Eeveelution lineage) clearly below in pricing.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Naoki Saito is a contemporary Japanese illustrator known for editorial and graphic design work outside the Pokemon TCG. His signature meta-illustration approach (Pokemon depicted in artist's workspace settings, on sketchbook pages, or with implied artist presence) became a defining style of the 151 set's IR lineup. Saito's other 151 contributions include some of the most-praised compositions in the set.
Charmander mid-pose on what appears to be a sketchbook page. The artist's hand is visible in the lower foreground holding a pencil mid-stroke. The illustration collapses the boundary between Pokemon-as-subject and Pokemon-as-drawing, Charmander is rendered as if mid-creation rather than mid-action. The composition uses warm cream and orange tones with subtle pencil-line accents around the figure.
Illustration Rare with full-bleed textured holofoil. Texture follows Charmander's body contours and the pencil-line accents. The light cream background interacts with the holofoil in a subtle way, the foiling adds shimmer without overwhelming the sketchbook aesthetic. The artist's hand in the foreground is rendered with consistent texture, treating it as part of the illustration rather than a separate element.
Most chase card illustrations commit fully to either action or portrait. Saito's Charmander commits to the meta-illustration premise, Charmander as a drawing being created, and the result reads as one of the most thoughtful chase cards in the modern era. The artist's hand in the foreground is what most collectors single out when discussing why this card is special.
BackgroundAbout Charmander
Charmander debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the Fire-type starter. National Pokedex #004. Evolves into Charmeleon at level 16 and Charizard at level 36. The most-collected starter line across all generations, anchored by Charizard's franchise-mascot status. Charmander itself has appeared in every Pokemon game with starter selection mechanics and is widely recognised as the most-chosen starter in the Generation I era based on community polling.
- ›Most-collected starter line across all generations
- ›Charizard's franchise-mascot status reflects back onto Charmander's collector appeal
- ›Original Generation I 151, automatic legacy status
- ›Ash's original starter in the early anime (1997-1999), broad cultural memory
- ›Charmander's tail-flame design is one of the franchise's most-iconic visual elements
- ›Generation I starter in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
- ›Ash's Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard storyline in the original anime
- ›Pokemon: The First Movie cameo
- ›Multiple subsequent anime appearances across decades
- ›Pokemon GO release in 2016 as one of the first available starters
Charmander itself has minimal competitive presence (LC Little Cup play notwithstanding). Charmeleon and Charizard inherit the competitive utility. The 151 set TCG IR has playable stats for the standard format but is universally a display piece at this price.
Own it wellCollector guide
The light-cream palette is forgiving on centering but exposes surface marks. The pencil-line accents around the figure are detailed enough that any print inconsistency is visible under angled light. Centering drift on the vertical axis is the most common 151 print issue.
Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 1.5-2x raw, which on a $108 raw works to $160-220. Verify centering at 55/45 or better on both axes. Submit alongside the other 151 starter IRs in a single batch for graded starter-line display sets. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve on pull, top loader or magnetic case for raw. Graded slab for long-term hold. The light palette is sensitive to UV exposure over multi-year storage, keep out of direct sunlight even when slabbed. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. The 151 starter IRs (Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur) are best bought as a trio rather than card-by-card. Buying Charmander alone risks the other two appreciating before you complete the trio, which has happened multiple times since release. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Strongly positive. Naoki Saito's Charmander is consistently cited as one of the best-illustrated cards of the entire Scarlet & Violet era. The meta-illustration approach gets specific praise, collectors who care about composition over straight portraits gravitate to this card.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $108 raw
- ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $180-240 range over the past year
High. The card features regularly in 'best illustrations' lists across Reddit's r/PokemonTCG and Twitter collector accounts. Naoki Saito has emerged as one of the modern era's most-celebrated TCG illustrators specifically through this 151 set work.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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