01Card Stats

Stage 1 (evolves from Sandshrew)

HP 70

TypeFighting

RarityUncommon

IllustratorKen Sugimori

WeaknessGrass ×2

Retreat●

SetFossil

Released1999

02Editions and Print Runs

Printed in the WotC era when 1st Edition and Unlimited distinctions still applied.

1st Edition

How to spot it: 1st Edition stamp in the bottom-left of the artwork frame.

First print window; smaller run than Unlimited.

Unlimited

How to spot it: No 1st Edition stamp; standard print frame.

Most common version of this card.

04Variants and Foiling

Rarity tiers: Uncommon
Foiling: Non-holo standard finish.
Alt art / specials: No full-art, secret rare, or alternate-art version documented for this print.

05Language and Regional Versions

English: Standard English release.
Japanese: Released in the equivalent Japanese set.
European: Localized European prints exist with translated text.
Other: No documented language-exclusive errors or major regional variants.

06Current Market Value

Market value

~$6.78 raw

Raw copies run $1.49 to $3.25

No graded (PSA) sales in our index yet - check recent eBay sold prices below for the grading upside.

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07Why Collectors Want It

Released in 1999's Fossil, the WotC era's third main set famous for introducing the original Bird trio and fossil-themed Pokémon.
A non-holo Rare slot in Fossil; the 1st Edition variant is the headline-chase parallel and trades meaningfully above the Unlimited print.
Raw asking sits around $7 for Unlimited; 1st Edition and clean centering trade well above and grade into the hundreds.
A foundational pickup for any Sandslash-line collection or WotC-era Kanto run.

08Competitive Playability

Tier: None

Stage 1 Sandslash with 70 HP; top attack around 20 damage. Functions as an evolution-chain piece rather than a tournament attacker.

09Card Moves and Abilities

Slash Cost: Colorless + Colorless · 20 damage

Fury Swipes Cost: Fighting + Fighting · 20× damage

Flip 3 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads.

Weakness: Grass ×2
Resistance: Lightning -30
Retreat cost: 1

10Grading and Population

PSA 10 estimate: WotC-era Sandslash PSA 10 populations vary; small numbers across most sets.

Graded copies command notable premiums over raw, especially for 1st Edition prints.

Other graders: BGS and CGC also grade vintage Pokemon; PSA dominates secondary-market liquidity.

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Sandslash