N
The Best of XY · #180/171 · None · 2017JPN
Price history
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Graded values
Grades 1–6 are estimates modeled from the raw price — PSA/CGC/BGS 7–10 and Ungraded are live tracked market values.
PSA 10 chart is building — graded values are tracked nightly, a new point appears each day.
Graded population census · updated 2026-07-07
Population data from PriceCharting, updated monthly.
CardPrice Score B-TIER
A genuine trophy card — beloved character, Japanese premium set, thin supply — held back from the top tier only by tight grading economics and a middling gem rate.
- One of the most coveted N cards in the hobby — Japanese, low-numbered, and built around a fan-favorite character.
- Sits in a rarefied raw price band, a signal of genuine scarcity and cross-collector demand.
- The N character carries its own devoted following, layering waifu/husbando appeal on top of set demand.
- Graded population is meaningful but the gem rate hovers around a coin flip — clean copies are not a given.
- A trophy-tier chase card for XY-era and character collectors alike.
This analysis covers every printing of N — the score and live figures use our primary tracked printing, and the price panels above follow whichever printing you have selected.
Where N fits in the hobby
N has always been more than a support card. Introduced in the Black & White era, he's the brooding, idealistic foil to the player — a character with a fanbase that rivals the Pokémon themselves. Cards bearing his name carry weight in the hobby that goes well beyond their in-game utility.
This particular N comes out of *The Best of XY*, a Japanese set released to celebrate the XY generation. The "Best of" concept gathers standout cards from a run of sets into a single premium release, and full-art or otherwise elevated character trainers are the anchors collectors chase. That framing matters: this isn't a card you pulled by the box-load in wide circulation — it belongs to a curated, collector-facing product.
Put the character and the set format together and you get exactly the kind of card that commands a serious premium. Japanese trainer cards with strong character identity have quietly become some of the most reliable long-term holds in the hobby, and N sits near the top of that list. This is a centerpiece card, the sort of thing that defines a display case rather than filling a binder page.
Market read
This N lives in the upper reaches of the market — a four-figure-plus raw band tells you supply is thin and conviction is high. It's a card that trades on trophy status, not turnover. Sales activity is quiet, which is typical for a piece where holders sit tight and copies surface only occasionally. Don't mistake a quiet tape for a soft market; scarcity and low velocity go hand in hand up here.
Notably, the graded market prices the raw and the gem copies close together, so the usual "grade it and win" math doesn't apply cleanly here. Combine that with a gem rate that lands around a coin flip and the takeaway is simple: condition risk is real, and the premium for a top grade is not the automatic windfall it is on many chase cards. For your collection, the value is in owning the card at all.
- N's status as one of the most beloved characters in the Pokémon franchise, with a fanbase that collects him specifically.
- Japanese-exclusive origin, which adds a scarcity and desirability premium for many collectors.
- The "Best of XY" premium set format, positioning this as a curated, collector-facing release rather than a mass-circulation pull.
- Character trainer cards' proven track record as long-term hobby favorites.
- Thin supply relative to the number of collectors who want a definitive N for their case.
Exact figures — price, population, gem rate, grading EV — are live in the panels above and refresh nightly.
Why the art matters
Character trainer cards like N thrive on personality, and the art here leans into his signature look — the disheveled hair, the green, the far-off gaze of a character always half a step removed from everyone around him. It's the kind of illustration that turns a support card into a display piece.
Artist attribution for this specific print isn't confirmed here, so rather than guess, the safe read is this: N's card art across the TCG has consistently emphasized his introspective, slightly melancholic presence, and that emotional pull is a big part of why his cards resonate. If you're chasing this one, you're chasing the character as much as the card.
Collector guide
This is a premium card where condition drives everything. Inspect corners, edges, and especially surface under angled light — Japanese cards can show subtle print lines and holo scratches that tank a grade. Given the price band, buy the specific copy, not the listing.
Grading math is unusually tight here — the top-grade premium over a clean raw copy is modest, and the gem rate sits around a coin flip, so the odds of landing a perfect grade are far from guaranteed. Only submit truly clean copies; a mid-grade return can leave you underwater versus a strong raw specimen.
Treat it like the trophy it is: penny sleeve inside a snug top-loader or one-touch, kept out of direct light and away from humidity swings. For a card in this band, a sealed magnetic holder is the minimum, and slab storage in a rigid case if already graded.
Buy graded from reputable holders where possible, or verify raw copies against known-good scans of the print. At this price, provenance and clear photos of all four corners and the surface are non-negotiable before you commit.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is N #180/171 worth today?
As of August 14, 2026, a raw N #180/171 trades around $2,000.00, and a PSA 10 copy around $1,811.94. Prices update nightly from live market data — the chart above has the full history.
Is N worth grading right now?
The numbers currently say no: after grading fees, expected value is about $760.85 negative unless your copy is an exceptional gem candidate. Grade for the slab, not for profit.
Why is N such a sought-after card?
N is one of the most popular human characters in the entire franchise, dating back to the Black & White storyline where he's the emotional core. Collectors chase his cards specifically, independent of gameplay. That character demand, stacked on top of a premium Japanese set, is what pushes this one into trophy territory.
Is this card Japanese-only?
This printing comes from The Best of XY, a Japanese release celebrating the XY generation. Japanese exclusivity adds to its appeal for collectors who prize cards that never saw a wide Western print run.
Is it worth grading my copy?
Only if it's genuinely clean. The premium for a top grade over a strong raw copy is slim here, and the gem rate is roughly a coin flip, so submitting a card with any surface or corner issues risks a return that's worth less than a nice raw example. Inspect ruthlessly first.
Why are there so few recent sales?
High-end trophy cards trade quietly. Holders tend to sit on them, and copies surface only occasionally, so a thin sales record here reflects scarcity and strong-handed ownership rather than weak demand.
What condition issues should I watch for?
Check for holo scratches, print lines, edge whitening, and soft corners under good light. Japanese holo surfaces can hide fine scratches that only show at an angle. On a card in this band, a single flaw meaningfully changes what you should pay.
How much is N #180/171 worth?
Right now (August 14, 2026) the going rate for an ungraded N #180/171 from The Best of XY is about $2,000.00.
A PSA 10 copy runs about $1,811.94 and a PSA 9 about $676.00 — a 0.9x premium over raw, so condition and grading costs matter here. 1,109 copies have been graded to date, and 52% of them came back a 10 — worth knowing before you pay grading fees.
Prices on this page refresh nightly from live TCGplayer market data and are cross-checked against actual sold prices, so a single inflated listing never becomes "the price". The chart above has the full history.
