Gyarados, known as the Atrocious Pokémon, was one of the now legendary 151, released in the first generation of Pocket Monsters. Evolving from Magikarp to the powerful and iconic Gyarados forms, we’ve gathered the most epic and visually stunning cards for our list. We’ve even got a card at the end that never got released Internationally.
Gyarados was released worldwide when Base Set was released on the 9th of January 1999. Skulkraken was the name given to Gyarados for its international launch, before it was decided to use the Japanese name. Skulkraken comes from a combination of skull and kraken.
Gyarados – Base Set #6
Where better to start than with the Gyarados card in Base Set. The cards artwork is done by Mitsuhiro Arita and was first released in the Japanese Expansion Pack. Mitsuhiro Arita has designed several Gyarados cards, with a few of them appearing in this list. In total Arita has been involved with illustrating 627 cards.
This version of the artwork has been reprinted twice, in the Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection expansions. Being part of the Base Set, this card is very valuable and very rare in a PSA10. Its value is currently around the $10,100 mark with only a couple of sales per year.
Gyarados EX – BREAKpoint #123
Gyarados was a big feature of the BREAKpoint set, being involved with or on 6 different cards. First released in the Japanese Rage of the Broken Heavens expansion back on the 11th December 2015. The artwork is done by Mitsuhiro Arita and features Greninja and Manaphy from the set alongside Gyarados. Mitsuhiro Arita was also the designer of the symbols for the first six Energy types.
Gyarados – HeartGold & SoulSilver #4
HeartGold & SoulSilver was released internationally on the 10th February 2012. The artwork was once again done by Mitsuhiro Arita, originating from the Japanese SoulSilver Collection. This card’s HeartGold & SoulSilver print was reprinted in Holofoil in the Blastoise & Suicune ex deck of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic. This reprint lacks a regulation mark and is thus not legal for tournament play. Arita has credited his work on the Base Set’s Pikachu and Charizard for having a “big effect” on his career.
Giovanni’s Gyarados – Gym Challenge #5
One of two cards in the Gym Challenge set, the other being Misty’s Gyarados. Designed by the infamous Ken Sugimori, who is the lead character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. The card was seen for the first time in the Japanese set Challenge from the Darkness. The card has only ever been seen in these two sets and only comes in a holofoil.
Gyarados-GX – Crimson Invasion #18
There were several Gyarados cards in the Crimson Invasion expansion, a Regular card, a Full Art card, and a Secret Rainbow Rare. We’ve chosen the regular card as our favourite. The card was designed by 5ban Graphics, who designed all 3 versions of Gyarados in this set. The card was first released in the Ultradimensional Beasts set on the 15th September 2017 and is one of the newer cards in this list.
Gyarados – Skyridge #H10
One of the most valuable Gyarados cards to exist, coming in both a holofoil and non-holofoil version. On the Non Holofoil print version of the card, there is a short strip containing Pokédex information and a brief card summary. The species, height, and weight are present on the Holofoil print. Designed by Kimiya Masago, who has designed less than 20 cards.
Dark Gyarados – Team Rocket #8
Another card with both a holofoil and non-holofoil version, this card was in the Team Rocket expansion and was reprinted as part of the Celebration set. The card was first released in the Japanese Rocket Gang expansion as a Holofoil card. Designed by Kagemaru Himeno who helped design many cards in the Team Rocket expansion.
Misty’s Gyarados – Gym Challenge #13
Ken Sugimori has designed another beautiful Gyarados card, with this one being Misty’s. Released as part of the Gym Challenge set on the 14th August 2000. It’s one of the most valuable Gyarados cards with a first edition in a PSA 10 fetching around $700. This card only comes in its Holofoil print and was also released in the Japanese set Leaders’ Stadium.
Shining Gyarados – Neo Revelation #65
The most valuable Gyarados card in existence and designed by the Art Director of Pokemon, Ken Sugimori. An ungraded version, first edition of this card fetches around $500, with the regular edition being a little over the $200 mark. A beautiful card featuring the first version of a shiny Gyarados seen in the series.
The card was first seen in the Japanese set Awakening Legends which was released on the 23rd of November 2000. The Japanese version of the card, which does not have a first edition version, ungraded – fetches around $400. A PSA10 version of the Japanese card is very rare, with around 6 sales a year, and will set you back around $8,800.
Gyarados – Ancient Origins #21
Ancient Origins stands out as a highly coveted set within the XY Series. Illustrated by TOKIYA, it initially debuted in the Japanese Bandit Ring expansion. In Japan, this edition was distributed as an unnumbered XY-P Promotional card during the Gyarados Battle event, hosted at select Pokémon Centers on August 22 and 23, 2015, to celebrate the inauguration of Pokémon Center Hiroshima.
Lance’s Gyarados
This card was only released in Japan, but its unique art style means it deserves an honourable mention on this list. The Pokémon VS set, released in 2001, was never given an equivalent international release. There are however a few test production prints made in English, meaning if you can find them they are incredibly valuable.