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Arcanine card art from Rising Rivals (pl2-1) holo variant

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Arcanine is a Fire-type Pokémon card from the Rising Rivals expansion, identified by the set code pl2. This card represents a Stage 1 evolution, advancing from Growlithe, and features a robust 100 HP in a single-prize format that was typical for mid-era archetypes. The card is printed as a Rare Holo, reflecting its collectible appeal as part of the holofoil subset within the Rising Rivals release. Illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda, Arcanine embodies the fiery, aggressive motif characteristic of Fire-type Pokémon in the TCG’s early to mid-2000s design language. A notable aspect of Arcanine’s move set is its Poké-Body Flare Condition, which interacts with attached Fire Energy to alter its vulnerability landscape during play. Together, these attributes situate Arcanine as a solid, if era-specific, option for Fire-focused decks aiming to leverage high HP, aggressive attacks, and a nonstandard Weakness dynamic.

Card Information

Name: Arcanine
Dex ID: 59
Category: Pokémon
HP: 100
Type: Fire
Stage: Stage 1 (Evolves from Growlithe)
Set: Rising Rivals (pl2) — 111/120
Rarity: Rare Holo
Illustrator: Masakazu Fukuda
Attacks:
- Burn Out — Fire + Colorless; 30+ damage. "You may do 30 damage plus 30 more damage. If you do, Arcanine is now Burned."
- Flames of Rage — Fire + Colorless + Colorless; 60+. "Discard a Fire Energy attached to Arcanine. This attack does 60 damage plus 10 more damage for each damage counter on Arcanine."
Poké-Body: Flare Condition — As long as Arcanine has any Fire Energy attached to it, Arcanine has no Weakness.
Weakness: Water (+20)
Retreat Cost: 2
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse; First Edition: False; W Promo: False
Legal Formats: Standard: False; Expanded: False
Illustration: Masakazu Fukuda
Official Set Information: Official card count for Rising Rivals indicates 111 of 120 in the full print run.

Gameplay and Strategy

In gameplay terms, Arcanine’s combination of solid HP, early-stage evolution, and targeted Fire energy requirements makes it a versatile, though format-constrained, option for Fire-focused decks from the era of Rising Rivals. The Poké-Body Flare Condition is a defensive asset, effectively removing Arcanine’s weakness to Water as long as Fire Energy remains attached. This is particularly relevant in matchups where Water-type Pokémon or Water-heavy strategies were common threats and can provide Arcanine with a survivability edge during critical turns.

The two attacks offer a mix of aggression and payoff that aligns with typical Fire-type playstyles of the period. Burn Out provides an immediate damage option with the potential for a higher total (30 base plus 30 extra) at the player's discretion, at the cost of self-inflicted risk due to Burn status. Flames of Rage delivers a more substantial base (60) and scales with Arcanine’s own damage counters, rewarding players who can sustain the Pokémon on the board while building up existing damage counters. However, Flames of Rage also requires discarding a Fire Energy, which can pressure energy budgeting and deck composition—players must balance energy between Burn Out, Flames of Rage, and any accelerants or energy-retrieval tools available in their deck.

Strategic considerations for Arcanine include:

Leveraging Flare Condition to mitigate weaknesses against Water-dominant matchups, increasing Arcanine’s effective staying power on the bench or in active position.
Timing the use of Burn Out to capitalize on immediate damage while controlling Burn status to avoid predictable counters or energy loss without a plan to capitalize on the extra damage.
Managing Fire Energy resources to support Flames of Rage’s discard cost while maintaining a sustainable pace of damage through the game.
Pairing with other Fire-type or energy-accelerating Pokémon in Rising Rivals-era decks to ensure reliable energy attachment and support, given the non-standard legality in later formats.

In contemporary terms, Arcanine’s card is most relevant to collectors and players studying the broader arc of Fire archetypes in the late 2000s TCG era, particularly as it intersects with Poké-Body mechanics and the evolving approach to Weakness mitigation.

Collector and Market Information

Arcanine from Rising Rivals carries the Rare Holo rarity, reflecting its dual nature as a playable card and a sought-after holo foil for collectors. The card was printed across normal, holo, and reverse holo variants, with no First Edition or W Promo print in this particular iteration.

Market data provides a snapshot of its collectibility and value range in recent years. As of late 2025, CardMarket reports an average price around 8.79 EUR for non-holo copies, with holofoil variants showing higher activity and a broader price spread (low around 0.97 EUR for some listings and higher values depending on condition and edition). Price trends indicate a moderate, steady demand within the vintage era of the card’s release. On TCGPlayer, holofoil copies show a broader spectrum of values, with low prices around 14.85 USD and mid prices near 25.65 USD, up to high-end listings approaching 54.90 USD for highly sought-after versions. Market price often centers around 29.99 USD for holo copies, with reverse holo listings (where available) trading at 34.41 USD or higher in some cases. These figures reflect general market dynamics for Rising Rivals cards and can vary with grade, edition, and supply conditions at any given time.

Because this Arcanine card is not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats, its best-known value in modern play is primarily historical and collector-oriented. Collectors typically assess holo condition, centering, and the presence of any misprints or factory errors when determining premium pricing, particularly for cards featuring the Masakazu Fukuda artwork and the distinctive Rising Rivals foil treatment.

Art and Lore

The artwork for Arcanine in this release is credited to Masakazu Fukuda, whose rendition captures the dynamic, flame-driven character of the Pokémon. The Rising Rivals set is noted for its bright, action-forward visuals and a cohesive Fire-type aesthetic that aligns with Arcanine’s in-game persona as a powerful, furnace-like Pokémon capable of unleashing potent fire-based assaults. The card’s holo print further emphasizes a radiant glow that accentuates the fiery motif across the design, a hallmark of the era’s collectible presentation. While the Pokémon itself is widely recognized in the broader franchise, the card’s flavor and illustration contribute to its distinct identity within the Rising Rivals subset and the mid-2000s TCG artwork tradition.

Trivia

The card’s Poké-Body Flare Condition provides a permanent-state weakness mitigation as long as Fire Energy is attached, a mechanic that interacts with the evolving rule set of the era.
Arcanine’s attacks—Burn Out and Flames of Rage—embody a classic balance of risk and reward: Burn Out offers optional extra damage at the cost of Self-Burn, while Flames of Rage scales with Arcanine’s own suffering via damage counters, encouraging strategic timing.
The release is part of the Rising Rivals set, which features a mix of Fire-type heavy lines and a broader collection strategy for players pursuing the holo-foil chase from that expansion era.
Print status indicates multiple variants (normal, holo, reverse) with no first-edition or W Promo variant documented for this specific card in the provided data.
The card’s legality in modern formats is restricted, reflecting its vintage status and the shifting rules ecosystem across generations of the Pokémon TCG.

📘 Arcanine — Pokémon TCG Card Overview