Pretend Magikarp Pikachu
XY Promos · #150/146 · Promo · 2013
Price history
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Graded values
updated 2026-07-27Grades 1–6 are estimates modeled from the raw price — PSA/CGC/BGS 7–10 and Ungraded are live tracked market values.
PSA 10 chart is building — graded values are tracked nightly, a new point appears each day.
CardPrice Score B-TIER
A genuinely charming costume Pikachu with premium raw pricing and thin graded supply earns solid B-tier standing, held back from higher by quiet recent activity and a dip off its all-time high.
- Pikachu cosplaying as Magikarp — one of the beloved "Poncho" / costume Pikachu concepts collectors chase across the XY era.
- English XY Black Star Promo, so it sits in the accessible-language camp for a card with real crossover appeal.
- Raw copies live in the four-figures-plus band; this is not a bulk promo.
- Graded population reads thin, which keeps every clean copy in demand.
- Sits comfortably off its all-time high right now — a quieter window for a card that historically runs hot.
This analysis covers every printing of Pretend Magikarp Pikachu — the score and live figures use our primary tracked printing, and the price panels above follow whichever printing you have selected.
Where Pretend Magikarp Pikachu fits in the hobby
Costume Pikachu is one of the hobby's most reliable heartstrings. Take the mascot everyone already loves, dress it up as another Pokémon, and you've built a card that pulls in Pikachu collectors, costume-Pikachu completists, and people who just think it's adorable. "Pretend Magikarp" Pikachu leans hard into that formula — the Mouse waddling around in a floppy Magikarp getup, the joke landing instantly.
This one lands in the XY Promos family, the English Black Star promo stream that ran alongside the XY-era sets. Promos from this period are a mixed bag by design — some are throwaway league handouts, others are genuinely scarce distribution pieces. This card sits firmly on the desirable end, and its four-figures-plus raw band tells you the market treats it as a chase piece, not filler.
What makes costume Pikachu cards sticky is that the demand pool never really shrinks. Pikachu is the face of the franchise, and the "pretend to be another Pokémon" gimmick gives each card a second fandom to draw from — here, Magikarp's own cult following. That double appeal is why clean copies tend to move whenever they surface, and why a card like this holds a premium the rest of the promo bin never sees.
Market read
This is a premium promo, not a common one — the raw band alone separates it from the sea of forgettable XY-era handouts. Demand here is driven by identity: it's a Pikachu, it's a costume card, and it carries Magikarp crossover charm, so it competes for attention with the strongest promo Pikachus rather than the weakest. That's a favorable neighborhood to live in.
At the moment the card sits a meaningful step below its all-time high, and recent graded activity has been quiet. For collectors, that combination — established desirability plus a softer window — is exactly the kind of setup worth watching rather than chasing at a peak. Thin graded supply means the picture can shift quickly once a few copies change hands.
- Pikachu is the franchise mascot — the single most collected character in the hobby.
- Costume / "pretend" Pikachu cards form a dedicated sub-collection with their own completists.
- Magikarp's own cult following adds a second fandom to the demand pool.
- English-language promo means broad global accessibility versus Japan-only alternatives.
- Premium raw band signals the market already treats it as a genuine chase card.
Exact figures — price, population, gem rate, grading EV — are live in the panels above and refresh nightly.
Why the art matters
The card's charm is entirely in the concept: Pikachu wearing a Magikarp costume, the oversized fish suit swallowing the little Mouse while its face pokes out the front. It's the visual gag that carries the whole card — the earnest, slightly-too-big outfit is the joke, and it's executed with the soft, playful line work that defines the costume-Pikachu run.
No confirmed artist credit is attached to this entry, so we'll leave attribution to the live data rather than guess. What's certain is the appeal: this is feel-good art built to make a collector smile, and that instant likability is a big part of why these costume pieces hold value.
Collector guide
Promos live and die on surface and edges. Check the corners under angled light and scan the borders for the whitening and print-line nicks that plague handled promos. Because the appeal is the artwork, any centering issue or surface scuff is immediately obvious and hits value hard.
With such a thin graded population, a high-grade copy stands out. The gem 10 carries a serious premium over raw here, so a truly clean card can justify the grading trip — but inspect centering and surface honestly first, since promo print quality is inconsistent.
Sleeve and toploader at minimum; a card in this price band deserves a sealed semi-rigid or a graded slab for long-term safekeeping. Keep it out of direct light and away from humidity swings to protect the glossy costume art.
Buy raw copies with clear, well-lit photos of both faces and all four corners. As a premium promo, it's the kind of card worth confirming against known-good examples — verify the promo stamp and print details before committing at this price.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Pretend Magikarp Pikachu #150/146 worth today?
As of July 28, 2026, a raw Pretend Magikarp Pikachu #150/146 trades around $2,000.00, and a PSA 10 copy around $12,125.00. Prices update nightly from live market data — the chart above has the full history.
What makes the Pretend Magikarp Pikachu special?
It combines the franchise's most collected character with the beloved costume-Pikachu gimmick, dressing the Mouse up as Magikarp. That double appeal — Pikachu completists plus Magikarp fans — gives it a wider demand base than a standard promo, which is why it commands a premium.
Is this a rare card?
It's a promo, but a desirable one that trades in the four-figures-plus range raw rather than as bulk. Graded copies are thin on the ground, so clean examples don't stay available for long when they surface.
Should I grade my copy?
If it's genuinely clean — sharp corners, strong centering, no surface scuffs — grading can make sense given the strong gem-10 premium and the thin population. Inspect it honestly first, since promo print quality varies and a mid-grade result won't capture that premium.
Is this card English or Japanese?
This entry is the English XY-era Black Star Promo, which makes it broadly accessible to collectors worldwide. Costume Pikachu concepts often exist across multiple regions, so confirm the specific promo details when buying.
How should I store a card this valuable?
At this price band, treat it like a chase card: penny sleeve inside a toploader or semi-rigid at minimum, or a graded slab for the long haul. Keep it away from direct light and humidity to protect the glossy artwork.
Why is it worth so much more than other XY promos?
Most XY promos are common league handouts with little collector demand. This one draws on Pikachu's mascot status plus the costume-card sub-collection, so it lives in the premium tier of the promo stream rather than the bulk bin.
How much is Pretend Magikarp Pikachu #150/146 worth?
As of July 28, 2026, Pretend Magikarp Pikachu #150/146 from XY Promos sells for around $2,000.00 in raw, ungraded condition.
Grading changes the math on this one: a PSA 10 is valued around $12,125.00, roughly 6.1x the raw price, while a PSA 9 sits near $7,063.12.
We update this valuation every night from live market data and verify it against real completed sales — see the chart above for how Pretend Magikarp Pikachu has moved over time.
