Kakuna Limited Edition and Pre-Release Card Value Trends

In TCG ·

Kakuna holo card art from Neo Discovery by Yukiko Baba

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Neo Discovery's Kakuna: Value, Variants, and Vintage Vibes

Kakuna may look serene as it rests in its cocoon, but in the late-90s Pokémon TCG landscape it carried a surprising amount of strategic and collectible weight. This little Grass-type, evolving from Weedle and stepping into the Stage 1 slot, holds a place in collectors’ hearts not just for its art, but for how its “Secrete Poison” attack could shape a game. The card belongs to the Neo Discovery era, a subset with a tightly bounded print run and a dedicated fanbase seeking out holo, reverse, and first-edition prints for the right balance of nostalgia and playability. The holo version—evolving from the same cocoon as its non-holo peers—remains a touchstone for early-foil collectors, and its value trajectory reflects the broader TCG nostalgia boom that continues to ripple through modern markets. ⚡ To understand its current market arc, it helps to anchor the conversation in the card’s data. Kakuna is an Uncommon Grass-type from the Neo Discovery set (neo2). It is a Stage 1 Pokémon that evolves from Weedle, carrying 70 HP and a single, distinctive attack: Secrete Poison. The attack costs Grass, Grass and, crucially, imposes a field-wide consequence: during your opponent’s next turn, any attack that damages Kakuna triggers Poison on the opponent’s Active Pokémon, and Kakuna deals 10 damage to each of the opponent’s Benched Pokémon. The caveat is simple yet important—Weakness to Fire ×2 remains a staple for this little cocoon, making Kakuna a deliberate, tempo-based inclusion in many early strategies. The artwork—illustrated by Yukiko Baba—grants Kakuna a memorable look that fans still associate with the era’s tactile, hand-drawn charm. The card exists in multiple variants: holo, normal, and reverse holo, with 75 cards in the official Neo Discovery set. 🎨

Card data at a glance

  • Category: Pokémon
  • Name: Kakuna
  • Set: Neo Discovery (neo2)
  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Stage: Stage 1
  • HP: 70
  • Type: Grass
  • Evolves From: Weedle
  • Attack: Secrete Poison (Grass, Grass) — Special effect: on your opponent’s next turn, if their Active Pokémon is damaged by an attack from Kakuna, that Active Pokémon becomes Poisoned; Kakuna also deals 10 damage to each of the opponent’s Benched Pokémon. Note: Weakness and Resistance do not apply to Benched Pokémon.
  • Weakness: Fire ×2
  • Illustrator: Yukiko Baba
  • Variants: holo, normal, reverse
  • Card count (official/total): 75 / 75

From a gameplay perspective, Secrete Poison is not an all-out knockout option, but it creates midfield pressure and bench denial that can tilt a match’s tempo. In a meta where Beedrill—its final evolutionary line—aims to capitalize on sticky board states, Kakuna’s ability to poke a Poison-charged path into the next turn can force careful damage mitigation from your opponent. The combination of 70 HP, a double-Grass cost, and a Poison-focused effect means Kakuna is best used as a setup piece: you survive a turn or two, apply pressure, and then pivot toward Beedrill’s more aggressive options as the game unfolds. The holo version, with its shimmer and tactile presence, often becomes a fan favorite long after the battles are over. 💎

Limited editions, pre-releases, and value trends

The historical value of Kakuna’s prints is a story told in shades of rarity and condition. The Neo Discovery set’s official print run sits at 75 cards, a tight calendar of releases that increases both nostalgia and attention for even the smallest differences between print lines. Among Kakuna’s variants, the holo print is typically the more sought-after due to the visual appeal and the subset’s overall scarcity. That scarcity helps explain why first-edition copies—where they exist—permit a noticeable premium relative to unlimited prints, even for an Uncommon card from a vintage era. In the current market snapshot, Cardmarket data shows Kakuna averaging around 0.83 EUR, with a wide low end around 0.02 EUR and a modest upward trend (0.43) over recent windows. The 7- and 30-day averages also reflect a gradual climb toward mid-range pricing, underscoring how players and collectors alike are reconnecting with Neo Discovery prints. 🔎 On the U.S. side, TCGPlayer data demonstrates a similar pattern: 1st Edition Kakuna cards — if present in your collection — command a higher ceiling than Unlimited copies, with reported low prices around 1.2 USD and mid prices near 1.68 USD, and highs pushing to roughly 3.62 USD for some holo variants in strong condition. The Unlimited prints hover in the $0.25 to $0.75 vicinity on average, with occasional spikes that can occur during auctions or when a notable sale surfaces. While these numbers aren’t guarantees of future gains, they reinforce a consistent truth about vintage early-2000s TCGs: condition, print line (holo vs. non-holo), and edition status (first edition where available) are the major levers that determine value, not merely the card’s in-game viability. For collectors chasing the full Neo Discovery experience, Kakuna holo serves as a tangible focal point—proof that even a modestly powered Stage 1 can occupy a cherished corner of a player’s or investor’s display. ⚡ For fans weighing nostalgia against modern play, Kakuna’s value story also nods to the broader pre-release and limited print culture that shaped early Pokémon TCG collecting. Pre-release and early foil promos across various sets created aspirational targets for players who were building decks while the hobby was still solidifying its rules and power curves. Kakuna’s holo and reverse holo prints, along with the 1st Edition curiosity in some print runs, offer a snapshot of that era’s premium mindset: rarity plus art equals a lasting story for a card that once simply served as a transition in a Beedrill-focused ladder. 🎴

Where nostalgia meets strategy today

If you’re chasing Kakuna with an eye toward both playability and display-worthy charm, you’ll find that the card’s combination of paralysis-by-poison strategy and the vivid Yukiko Baba artwork makes it a welcome centerpiece in any Neo Discovery-inspired collection. It’s a reminder that even the smallest cocoon can carry a big narrative: the leap from Weedle to Kakuna, the momentary pause before Beedrill’s wings unfold, and the retro glow of holo foil that catches the eye in a well-lit display case. The era’s simplicity—combos, tempo swings, and clean art—still resonates with modern players who enjoy the heritage alongside the current game’s complexity. 🔥
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