2016 Pokémon Japanese Sun & Moon Promo - Pretend Grunt Pikachu #014/SM-P - Near Mint

The Pretend Grunt Pikachu #014/SM-P is one of the most charming and culturally specific Pikachu promo cards of the entire Sun & Moon era, and one of the most sought-after costume Pikachu releases in the Japanese exclusive promo catalogue. Released on December 17, 2016, this card was distributed exclusively through the Sun & Moon Special Box: Pretend Grunt Pikachu, a Japan-only Pokémon Center product that came with two promo cards: #013/SM-P depicting Pikachu dressed as a Team Skull Grunt, and this card, #014/SM-P, depicting Pikachu dressed as a generic Team Rocket-style Grunt in a masked ninja helmet, surrounded by fellow Pikachu in costume in a bright, celebratory anime-inspired composition.

Illustrated by the acclaimed Kouki Saitou, the artwork captures Pikachu at its most playful, leaning fully into the Alola-era villain aesthetic with a shimmering holofoil finish that makes the costume detail genuinely pop. The Pretend Grunt Pikachu Special Box was never restocked, never released in English, and never distributed outside Japan, placing a permanent ceiling on the supply of both promo cards from the moment the product sold out. The companion card #013/SM-P featuring the Team Skull Grunt costume is equally sought after, and collectors who want the complete pair must source both independently on the secondary market.

Card Details

Why This Card?

The Pretend Grunt Pikachu is part of one of the most beloved costume Pikachu promo sub-series in the Japanese TCG catalogue, a lineage that runs from early Team Rocket era tributes through to the iconic Hakama and Firefighter Pikachu promos from the 2018 Pokémon Center Tokyo DX opening. Each card in this series was produced for a single distribution window at a single product or event, and none have ever been reprinted. The result is a permanently supply-constrained collector item that grows more difficult to source in Near Mint condition with every passing year.

If you are looking to complete the pair, check availability of the companion Pretend Team Skull Pikachu #013/SM-P in our singles catalogue. For broader context on the Japanese exclusive promo market, read our guide to vintage and promo Pokémon collecting. Track live market data via Sports Card Investor, Troll and Toad, and Misprint, and browse the full singles catalogue at PokéMENA.