Two Pikachu cards, both labelled “AR,” both drawn from a set called 151. Only one of them is the Japanese SV2a chase card collectors mean when they say “Pikachu AR 173/165” — and the numbers on the card are the only reliable way to tell them apart.
Pikachu AR (173/165) is the Art Rare Pikachu from Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), the Japanese set that reimagined the original 151 with full-scene “Art Rare” illustrations. It released in Japan on 16 June 2023 and has stayed one of the most requested single cards from that set ever since. This guide covers how to identify the card correctly, where it sits in the SV2a print run, why it gets confused with a separate Chinese-market print, and where to see our own PSA 10 graded copy.
Pikachu AR 173/165 is the Art Rare Pikachu from Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), a Japanese set released 16 June 2023 with a print run of 210 cards total (165 numbered base cards plus AR/SAR/SR chase cards beyond that). It is a separate print from the Chinese-market “Pikachu AR [CN] 172/151” card — check the card number before buying. A PSA 10 graded copy is listed at ¥16,280 (~$102 at ¥159/USD).
Prices are our own current listing as of September 2026, converted at ¥159/USD.
Identifying Pikachu AR 173/165
The card you’re looking for is printed as Pikachu, card #173, Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), and carries the “AR” — Art Rare — rarity marking. Every detail that confirms the card is on the card itself: the number in the bottom corner, the set symbol for SV2a, and the AR rarity mark.
Because Art Rare cards in this set use a full-scene illustration rather than the standard frame, they’re easy to spot at a glance once you know the layout — but the card number is still the detail to check before you buy or sell, especially given the lookalike print covered below. Our own PSA 10 graded copy of this exact card is listed at ¥16,280 (~$102 at ¥159/USD).
Where It Sits in Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a)
Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a) is the Japanese set built around the original 151 Pokémon, released 16 June 2023. The set’s full print run runs to 210 cards in total: 165 numbered base cards covering the extended Kanto roster, plus a run of AR, SAR, and SR chase cards numbered beyond the base set, up to #210. Pikachu AR at #173 falls inside that chase-card range, alongside other Art Rare prints from the same release.
That structure — a numbered base set followed by a run of higher-rarity chase cards — is standard for modern Japanese Scarlet & Violet-era sets, and it’s why a card numbered “173” can exist in a set most people describe as having “151” cards: the base roster is 151 Pokémon, but the full checklist runs well past that once AR, SAR, and SR prints are counted. For the complete numbered checklist, see our Pokémon 151 Japanese card list or the SV2a card list.
What Makes an AR (Art Rare) a Chase Card
“AR” stands for Art Rare, a rarity tier introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era that replaces the standard card frame with a full illustration, usually depicting the Pokémon in an expanded scene rather than a battle pose. In Pokémon Card 151, the AR tier sits above the numbered base cards and below the set’s SAR (Special Art Rare) and SR (Super Rare) tiers.
Compare the treatment against a base-set common from the same release, like Magikarp:
Where the common uses the standard frame and a simple pose, the Art Rare treatment given to Pikachu at #173 uses a full-bleed illustration — the visual difference collectors are chasing when they specifically ask for the “AR” print rather than any other Pikachu card from the set. We won’t state a pull-rate figure here since it isn’t something we can verify to a citable source; our SV2a Pokémon 151 pull rates and best cards article covers what’s publicly reported on that front.
Don’t Confuse It With the Chinese-Print Pikachu AR 172/151 (업데이트: 현재 품절 — Quick Order로 재입고 요청)
This is the single most important identification note for this card. There is a separate Pikachu AR card, printed for the Chinese market, that is also drawn from a set called “151” and is also numbered close to this one — catalogued as Pikachu AR [CN] 172/151. It is not the same card as the Japanese SV2a #173 print covered in this guide.
The two are easy to mix up in casual listings because both are described as “Pikachu,” “AR,” and “151” in shorthand. Before buying, selling, or comparing prices, confirm which print you’re actually looking at:
- This card — Pikachu, #173, Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), Japanese print, released 16 June 2023.
- The lookalike — Pikachu AR [CN] 172/151, a separate Chinese-market print.
Treat these as two distinct cards with two distinct identities, not two versions of the same card. If a listing doesn’t specify the set code or language of print, ask before assuming it’s the SV2a Japanese card.
Why Look at This Card Graded PSA 10
Art Rare cards from Pokémon Card 151 use the same full-bleed, textured-foil treatment that shows edge and surface wear easily on raw copies — the same reason grading matters for other AR prints from this set, including the set’s Mewtwo AR at #183.
A PSA 10 slab settles the condition question before the card changes hands: what you see in the case is the graded state, not a raw copy you have to inspect yourself for corner and edge wear under a full-bleed illustration. One such copy is listed here, PSA 10 Pikachu 173/165 AR, at ¥16,280 (~$102 at ¥159/USD).
Where to Buy Pikachu AR 173/165
We ship Japanese cards and sealed product out of Tokyo with tracked delivery. The listing for this card is graded, which settles condition before it ships.
Looking for other cards from the same set, or want to compare it against the set’s box product? Our Pokémon 151 booster box buying guide and Pokémon 151 vs VSTAR Universe box comparison cover the sealed side, and our top 10 Pikachu Japanese cards roundup places this AR print alongside other Pikachu chase cards. For anything not listed individually, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to request specific singles.
자주 묻는 질문
What set is Pikachu AR 173/165 from?
Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a), a Japanese set released 16 June 2023. The card carries the AR (Art Rare) rarity marking and is numbered 173 in the set’s full print run.
Is Pikachu AR 173/165 the same card as Pikachu AR [CN] 172/151?
No. Pikachu AR 173/165 is the Japanese SV2a print. Pikachu AR [CN] 172/151 is a separate print made for the Chinese market. Check the card number and set code before buying or comparing prices, since both are shorthand-described as “Pikachu, AR, 151.”
How many cards are in Pokémon Card 151 (SV2a)?
The set’s full print run totals 210 cards: 165 numbered base cards covering the extended Kanto roster, plus a run of AR, SAR, and SR chase cards numbered beyond the base set, up to #210.
What does AR mean on a Japanese Pokémon card?
AR stands for Art Rare, a rarity tier from the Scarlet & Violet era that replaces the standard card frame with a full-scene illustration, sitting above the set’s numbered base cards and below its SAR and SR tiers.
Where can I buy a graded copy of Pikachu AR 173/165?
A PSA 10 graded copy is currently listed at ¥16,280 (about $102 at ¥159/USD), shipped from Tokyo with tracked delivery.
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