How Pokédex Entries Inform Pikachu Card Design in the TCG

Pikachu Star card art from Holon Phantoms (ex13-104), illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Dex-Driven Design: How Pokédex Entries Shape Pikachu Star in the TCG

The Pokémon TCG has always woven a thread between the creatures players know from the anime and the strategic engine of the game itself. When you study Pikachu Star, you can feel that connection in bold, electric strokes ⚡. This Basic Lightning Pokémon, hailing from the Holon Phantoms era, wears its Pokedex identity on its sleeve: an Electric Mouse whose spark isn’t just a gimmick but a design ethos. Masakazu Fukuda’s illustration captures that spark, but the card’s gameplay choices—its HP, its attacks, its frail yet daring silhouette—are where the Dex lore truly becomes playability. The card’s star of design isn’t just a flashy holo; it’s how the Dex entry shapes every decision about how this Pikachu fights, paralyzes, and edges toward victory in the hands of a patient trainer 🔥.

In the world of Holon Phantoms, Pikachu Star is a rare that leans into a simple but potent toolkit. With 60 HP, a lean amount by modern standards, this Pikachu stays alive long enough to flip the tide when the situation calls for a flash of electricity. Its type is Lightning, a natural match for a meta heavy on speed and tempo, yet fragile against larger Fighting-type threats. The card’s evolution status is “Basic,” making it an ideal lead-in to quick early pressure or a surprise pivot late in a match when an opponent misreads its reach. The Dex-informed flavor translates into two distinct attacks that lean into timing and coin-toss luck: Thundershock and Spring Back ⚡🎴.

Card at a glance: what the numbers tell us

HP: 60 — not a tank by today’s standards, but it invites careful, tempo-based play where a single well-timed attack can swing momentum.
Type: Lightning — a nod to Pikachu’s iconic element, with the potential to pair well with a variety of energy strategies in vintage-leaning decks.
Rarity: Rare — a coveted slot in Holon Phantoms’ lineup, often sought by collectors for its holo foil and nostalgic appeal.
Attacks:
- Thundershock (Cost: Colorless): Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is Paralyzed. A simple, high-variance tool that can swing early tempo or generate frustration for an opponent who overcommits energy to defend.
- Spring Back (Cost: Lightning, Lightning): 20 damage, plus 50 more if your opponent has only 1 Prize card left. This mirrors Pikachu’s last-minute surge in the Dex narrative, where a timely outburst can close the gap even when the board feels tight.
Weakness: Fighting ×2 — a classic small-Pokemon vulnerability that keeps Pikachu starved for formation-specific support but still doable with precise sequencing.
Illustrator: Masakazu Fukuda — his artistry captures Pikachu’s electric whimsy with a crisp, energetic line that makes the holo version feel like a starburst in motion.

The combination of these mechanics reflects a thoughtful fidelity to the Pokédex voice: Pikachu is nimble, a little fragile, and capable of surprising bursts when the timing is right. The coin-flip element of Thundershock invites crowd-pleasing moments and clutch outcomes, while Spring Back rewards careful resource management—two faces of the same storm that a dex-savvy trainer leverages to tilt a match in their favor ⚡💎.

Gameplay strategy: catching lightning in a bottle

In practical terms, Pikachu Star shines brightest in early-game pressure that doesn’t overcommit resources. Because its HP is modest, you’ll want to avoid long chases through a pure slug-fest and instead build tempo with Thundershock to cause paralysis, giving you a momentary edge while you set up your next piece. Spring Back becomes a late-game engine, particularly when your opponent is left with only one prize card—suddenly 20 damage can feel like 70 when the +50 bonus lands at the right moment. This is a card that rewards a patient, misdirection-heavy approach: threaten paralysis to force a defensive retreat, then deliver a surprise burst when your opponent misreads their prize sequence 🔥🎮.

Because Pikachu Star is a Basic, it’s a natural lead for quick, tempo-based lines—especially in vintage decks that lean on speed and coin-flip unpredictability. The Fighting-type weakness nudges you toward a small-energy, shimmying deck-building style, where you manage your Electric energy with care and avoid overcommitting to marginal trades. The holo variant’s shimmer also serves as a reminder: this isn’t just about raw power, it’s about a design philosophy that respects the Dex’s flavor of a tiny powerhouse able to light up a night battle with a single spark 🎨.

Art, lore, and the collector’s eye

Masakazu Fukuda’s illustration brings Pikachu Star to life with a sense of movement that mirrors the card’s mechanical fluidity. The Holon Phantoms era is a relic of a design space where the art mattered as much as the numbers, and this card stands as a proud ambassador of that philosophy. The holo variant adds a collectible sparkle that fans remember from early-2000s treasure hunts, where a pointer to a holographic foil could escalate a trade, a showpiece, or a favorite play in a casual match night. The Dex-informed design isn’t just about the moves—it’s about a creature that feels both familiar and excitingly new in every frame of the card’s art and layout 📚🎴.

Market chatter around ex13-104 hints at the card’s desirability, especially in holo form. The TCGPlayer data shows a robust market for vintage holos, with holofoil copies carrying premium pricing in collector channels. While exact values shift with market flux, the presence of a rare Pikachu from the Holon Phantoms set remains a magnet for both nostalgia and investment potential. For fans building a balanced vintage collection, Pikachu Star stands out as a compact centerpiece that embodies the era’s charm and strategic bite. It’s a reminder that the Pokedex doesn’t just catalog creatures; it informs the very fabric of how a card can feel, play, and connect with players across decades ⚡💎.

Value, legality, and the collector’s roadmap

As a card with Basic status and a position in a dated set, Pikachu Star is not standard- or expanded-legal in today’s formats. Yet its value as a collectible—especially the holo variant—remains robust for the right reasons: art, nostalgia, and the thrill of owning a piece that captures a certain spark of the Pokémon world. For price-conscious collectors, keeping an eye on the holo market and comparing the typical ranges on TCGPlayer can help you time your purchase or trade window. If you’re building a Holon Phantoms-themed collection, this Pikachu Star is a natural anchor that ties together the Dex’s origin story with a modern appreciation for vintage playability and display value ⚡🎯.

And if you’re channeling the same energy into every aspect of your gear, consider protecting your prized phone with the Neon Slim Phone Case Ultra-thin Glossy Lexan PC. It’s a nod to the same sleek, practical design spirit you see in Pikachu Star—compact, protective, and always a touch flashy. The product link is tucked just below, a reminder that even the best decks deserve a perfectly safeguarded companion 📱🎨.

Neon Slim Phone Case Ultra-thin Glossy Lexan PC