Gyarados

Gyarados is a Water-type Pokémon, National Pokédex #130, described as rarely seen in the wild, huge and vicious, capable of destroying entire cities in a rage. It is a Stage 1 Pokémon that evolves from Magikarp.

First released in the English Base Set on January 9, 1999, in North America. The artwork was created by Mitsuhiro Arita, and the card originated from the Japanese Expansion Pack.

• The card features flavor text stating it can destroy entire cities in a rage[1].
• It was reprinted in Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection expansions[3].
• A rare Japanese version with artwork by Ryouichi Abe from the CoroCoro Pokémon Snap Best Photo Contest is extremely rare with unknown existence numbers[3].

Condition. Check for centering, edge wear, corner dings, and surface scratches. Common flaws include whitening on edges, print lines, and slight bending. Grading difficulty is extremely difficult for graded 10, with only 2.06% achieving that grade[5].

Storage. Store in a rigid card sleeve inside a penny sleeve, kept in a temperature-controlled, dry environment. Use a toploader for display and avoid direct sunlight or humidity exposure.

Authenticity. Fakes often have incorrect font, off-color holo patterns, or misaligned text. Verify the artist credit (Mitsuhiro Arita), card number (6/102), and base set black border. Authentic cards have a distinct holographic pattern and proper texture. graded authentication is recommended for high-value copies[5].