Is Litten Rare and Valuable? A Detective Pikachu Guide

Hey Pokémon fans! Jason Striegel here to shed some light on one of the most elusive starter Pokémon – Litten. As a long-time Pokémon breeder and card collector, I‘ve done some deep investigative research to answer whether Litten truly lives up to its fiery rarity.

How Rare is Litten in the Games?

Let‘s start with the basics. Litten is a Generation 7 starter Pokémon from the Alola region, first appearing in Pokémon Sun and Moon. This automatically makes Litten trickier to find than regular wild Pokémon.

Out of the three Alolan starter choices – Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio – players can only pick one per save file. So at most, you‘re guaranteed a single Litten! If you didn‘t choose Litten as your starter, then your only chance of obtaining one is through trading or breeding.

According to detailed encounter rate data on Serebii, Litten‘s spawn rate in the wild is a miniscule 5% during SOS battles. To put this in perspective, you‘re 3 times more likely to encounter the ultra rare Mimikyu than a Litten!

And when it comes to gender ratios, Litten is skewed heavily male at a staggering 87.5% male to 12.5% female. That‘s a 7:1 ratio – one of the most uneven in the Pokédex! Female Littens are far more elusive than their male counterparts.

In Pokémon Go, Litten has only been available during select events, special research tasks, and raids. Shiny Litten hasn‘t even been released yet! Based on past starter rollout patterns, we likely won‘t see Litten widely available for quite some time.

Why is Litten‘s Final Evolution Controversial?

While Litten itself is adorable, its final evolution Incineroar is much more divisive among fans. According to an official Pokémon fan poll in 2020, Incineroar was voted the least popular Pokémon from Sun and Moon with only 3% favorability.

Many fans disliked Incineroar’s muscular humanoid design and Fire/Dark typing. For a Pokémon based on a cat, Incineroar leans heavily into a wrester heel theme. This divergence from Litten’s original feline inspiration was disappointing for some fans.

Incineroar’s lukewarm reception likely reduces Litten’s popularity and rarity as a starter choice. In my opinion, Incineroar deserves more appreciation for its signature moves like Darkest Lariat and sheer power! But it‘s understandable why some hoped for Litten to stay a cute fiery kitten.

Litten Card Values and Rarity

Now let‘s look at Litten‘s value and rarity in the Pokémon TCG. As a starter Pokémon, Litten receives fewer cards than more popular Pokémon. Here‘s a comparison of Litten card values across some modern sets:

As you can see, Litten‘s original Sun & Moon card debut packs the most value, especially for ultra rare secret holo versions. Older sets like Guardians Rising and Burning Shadows also command higher prices due to scarcity.

Modern sets like Champion‘s Path have flooded the market with Litten cards, reducing their worth. But mint condition graded cards can still fetch over $50!

Sealed booster boxes and packs containing Litten range from $400 (Sun & Moon base) to as low as $90 (Champion‘s Path). Overall, Litten‘s starter status keeps its cards rarer than more common species.

Tips for Catching a Shiny Litten

As an avid Shiny Hunter, I know the thrill of chasing down a shiny Litten! Here are my top tips for upping your shiny Litten odds:

• Chain catch Comfeys to get a catch combo boost. Comfey‘s Flower Veil helps call shiny Littens.

• Breed using foreign Ditto and Litten holding Destiny Knot. This is the Masuda Method.

• Equip Litten parent with Everstone to pass down Nature. Use shiny charm to boost odds.

• Soft reset starter selection for quicker resets. Have patience, took me 2 weeks of resets for my pink shiny Litten!

The sense of satisfaction from finally encountering a shiny Litten after so much effort is priceless for any collector. Just keep at it with these methods!

Graded Litten Card Value and Rarity

For premium collectors, graded Litten cards take rarity to the next level. According to PSA, a Gem Mint 10 Litten from the Sun & Moon Base Set sells for around $350. Compare this to a Mint 9 valued at $90 – over a 3x increase for the 10 grade!

Graded Littens over 10 years old or special backstamp promos can even exceed $1000 in PSA 10 condition. When examining card conditions, focus on the centering, edges, corners, and surface.

Avoid fingerprints, scratches, or edge wear that can drastically reduce grading value. Always sleeve your Littens!

Conclusion

So in summary, Litten truly lives up to its billing as a rare and valuable Pokémon. From elusive gender ratios, event-locked encounters, controversial evolutions, and short-printed cards, Littens demand time, patience, and perseverance to obtain.

But that investment pays off with one of Alola‘s most captivating starter Pokémon. With its cuddly feline charm yet feisty personality, Litten has rightfully earned a spot among the Poké-elite. Thanks for reading and I hope these tips help you catch this blazing hot Pokémon!