📘 Arcanine — Pokémon TCG

Category: Pokemon TCG · Created: · Updated:

Arcanine card art from EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

This entry covers the Arcanine card from the EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun) subset of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. As a Fire-type Pokémon card, it represents an early-20th- to early-21st-century printing style in which illustrated creatures from the mainline franchise were adapted into collectible cards. The card—bearing the illustration credit of Ken Sugimori, a long-standing contributor to Pokémon art—offers a snapshot of card design and gameplay conventions from trainer kit releases. The kit-based approach, often emphasizing training and battle practicality, can yield unique card attributes compared to core set releases.

Arcanine in this print is a Stage 1 evolution, developing from Growlithe, and presents a straightforward but potentially situational damage profile. While not marked with a traditional rarity in this printing ( rarity is listed as None ), the card is noted to be available in holo, normal, and reverse holo variants within the set’s print run, reflecting the common practice of producing multiple foil treatments for trainer kit reprints.

Card Information

  • Category: Pokemon
  • Name: Arcanine
  • Illustrator: Ken Sugimori
  • Dex ID: 59
  • HP: 90
  • Type: Fire
  • Stage: Stage 1
  • Evolves From: Growlithe
  • Set: EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun) — set id tk-ex-m
  • Rarity: None
  • Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse
  • Legal formats: Standard: False, Expanded: False
  • Attacks:
    • Flare — Cost: Fire; Damage: 20
    • Heat Tackle — Cost: Fire, Colorless, Colorless, Colorless; Damage: 70; Effect: Arcanine does 10 damage to itself.
  • Weaknesses: Water (×2)
  • Retreat Cost: 2
  • Artwork: Ken Sugimori
  • Update: 2025-05-04
  • Pricing (as listed): Cardmarket: None; TCGPlayer: None

Gameplay and Strategy

The Arcanine card from this trainer kit presents a compact, offense-oriented toolkit with a relatively modest HP pool of 90. Its two attacks provide a straightforward offense: Flare offers a low-damage opening option, while Heat Tackle delivers higher base damage at a cost of mobility and risk due to self-inflicted damage.

Key considerations for gameplay in this printing include:

  • Attack Choices: Flare serves as a basic early-game option to pressure the opponent, especially when energy takes a predictable path. Heat Tackle provides higher impact (70 damage) but includes a self-damage component (Arcanine takes 10 damage), introducing a risk-reward dynamic for players who lean on aggressive aggressive play or build around self-damage mitigation.
  • Energy Requirements: The Fire-based costs align with standard Fire-energy strategies, but the extended Colorless requirement for Heat Tackle adds energy-diversity considerations. In decks that can reliably accelerate Fire energy and Colorless energy, Heat Tackle can become a primary finisher, especially when supported by effects that counteract self-damage or maximize the attack’s payoff through subsequent turns.
  • Weakness and Positioning: The Water weakness is a common foil for Fire-heavy decks. In environments where Water-types see significant play, Arcanine’s vulnerability may influence target selection and retreat planning.
  • Format Legality: This card is not legal in Standard or Expanded formats, limiting its competitive relevance to historical or non-official play environments. That status informs deck-building considerations and the potential acquisition interest for collectors rather than tournament viability.
  • Evolution Line: As a Stage 1 evolution of Growlithe, Arcanine benefits from typical growth curves in the early- to mid-game phase, potentially enabling synergy with Growlithe’s presence or other Stage 1 Fire attackers in historical formats.

Collector and Market Information

Rarity is listed as None for this Arcanine printing, reflecting its status within the EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun) subset. The kit lineage often includes reprints and trainer-focused cards designed to introduce new players to gameplay dynamics within a compact product line. Print variations exist for this card (Normal, Holo, Reverse Holo), aligning with standard practices for kit-based reprints that sought to provide collectible appeal alongside play value.

Pricing and market data for this specific printing may be limited or incomplete in public databases, as indicated by the absence of entries on Cardmarket and TCGPlayer. Collectors and players researching this card should consider checking regional listings, vintage trainer kit archives, and dedicated TCG databases for any updated valuations or availability. The lack of current standard or expanded legality further informs the potential market niche for this card, often appealing to collectors of trainer kits and vintage Fire-type cards rather than contemporary competitive play investors.

Art and Lore

The card lists Ken Sugimori as the illustrator, reflecting the long-standing collaboration between Sugimori and the Pokémon franchise for core creature designs and their depictions across various media, including the Trading Card Game. Sugimori’s artwork is renowned for its distinctive, dynamic character portrayal, which has helped shape the visual identity of Pokémon in the TCG space. While specific composition details of this Arcanine illustration are not described here, the holo and reverse variants in the set underscore the era’s emphasis on foil finishes to elevate collectible appeal.

From a lore perspective within the broader Pokémon universe, Arcanine is celebrated for its speed, strength, and iconic canine form. While card-specific lore is limited in this particular printing, Arcanine’s status in the franchise as a legendary-like Fire-type companion aligns with its traditional role in battles and in-game narratives. The EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun) context situates this Arcanine within a trainer-focused production line, emphasizing gameplay value and character recognition in tandem with Minun’s thematic presence in the same kit.

Trivia

  • The card originates from the EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun) subset, contributing to a collection of kit-based reprints intended for instructional play and casual collection alike.
  • Print variants available for this Arcanine include Normal, Holo, and Reverse Holo, consistent with the kit’s distribution strategy for collectible appeal.
  • The card’s legality status indicates it is not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats, reflecting its role as a historical or special-issue printing rather than a contemporary competitive card.
  • The combination of Fire-type attacks and a self-damage mechanic via Heat Tackle highlights early-2000s TCG design patterns that experimented with risk-reward dynamics on stage-based evolutions.
  • Illustration by Ken Sugimori is a hallmark of many core Pokémon artworks, contributing to the card’s appeal for fans of the franchise’s original art direction.

CTA & NETWORK LINKS

Arcanine — EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun)

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