Raikou – POP Series 2 (#3)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Raikou (#3) is a Rare card from POP - POP Series 2 released in 2005. It showcases artwork by Kouki Saitou and the Roar attack, Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any.. TCGplayer market price sits around $19.13, Cardmarket average sale is €26.49, Floor listings start near €8.00.
- TCGplayer market price: $19.13
- Cardmarket trend price: €28.14
- Recent low listing: €8.00
Card Details
- Set
- POP Series 2
- Card Number
- 3
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Kouki Saitou
- HP
- 70
- Type
- ⚡ Lightning
- Weaknesses
- Fighting ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 1 (Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Roar
[Colorless]
Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any. -
Thunder
[Lightning, Lightning, Colorless]
— 50
Flip a coin. If tails, Raikou does 20 damage to itself.
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Raikou from POP Series 2 (Rare) represents a solid addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2005, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Kouki Saitou.
Market Trends: Current market conditions show moderate interest in this card.
Investment Considerations: Vintage cards from this era have shown strong long-term appreciation potential.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Raikou 3 is legal for tournament play in Unlimited format.
Key Attack: Raikou's Roar for Colorless energy. Special effect: Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any.
Stats Overview: 70 HP • Lightning Type • Weak to Fighting ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Raikou Cards
Looking for other Raikou cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POP Series 2 #3 ← Current | 70 | 2 attacks | Rare | $19.30 |
�📦 POP Series 2 Set Context
This Raikou is part of the POP Series 2 expansion , released as part of the POP series in 2005.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Kouki Saitou, whose distinctive illustration style has made their cards highly collectible. Explore more cards illustrated by this artist to discover similar art styles and collecting themes.
💎 Professional Grading Guide
Professional grading can significantly increase the value of your Raikou card. Here's what you need to know:
Industry standard • Value multiplier: 2-4x
Best for: High-value cards, modern sets
Subgrades available • Value multiplier: 2-3x
Best for: Premium cards, perfect centering
Fast turnaround • Value multiplier: 1.5-3x
Best for: Budget-friendly option, bulk
💡 Should You Grade This Card?
- Yes, consider grading if: Card value exceeds $20 and is in excellent condition
- Grading cost: $20-100+ per card (depending on service level)
- Break-even point: Card should be worth $50+ raw to justify grading costs
- Turnaround time: 2 weeks to 6 months depending on service
Collector Notes
- Rare cards from POP Series 2 are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Kouki Saitou resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Lightning typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Raikou 3 was released in 2005 in the POP Series 2 expansion. This set is part of the POP series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Kouki Saitou. This artist is known for creating premium illustration rare and special rare artwork that collectors highly value. View complete portfolio →
Set Popularity: POP Series 2 is a vintage set that has gained significant collector interest over time, with sealed product and individual cards showing strong appreciation.
Competitive History: Lightning type Pokémon like Raikou with versatile attack options provide flexibility in deck building and can adapt to different matchups. Currently legal in Unlimited format.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Raikou card with these essential products:
- Penny sleeves: Basic protection
- Perfect fit sleeves: Pre-grading
- Top loaders: Display & storage
- Binders with side-loading pages
- Storage boxes (800-count)
- ETB (Elite Trainer Box) storage
- Premium display cases
- Pair with Lightning energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Raikou works best in Lightning type decks. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.