Digital Vault Wiki

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Entei appears in the POP Series 2 subset as a basic Fire-type Pokémon card. This release is part of a transitional collection intended to connect the Pokémon Trading Card Game with the broader activities of the Pokémon Organized Play program. The card is issued in both normal and holofoil variants, with Entei classified as a Rare card in the set, underscoring its desirability for collectors as well as its role in early-stage gameplay. The POP Series 2 cards were produced to accompany promotional and event-centered activities, and Entei’s inclusion reflects its status as one of the Legendary Beasts central to Johto’s fire-themed legendaries.

The illustration, credited to Kouki Saitou, captures Entei’s imposing, fiery presence, which aligns with its reputation as a blazing guardian in Pokémon lore. In the broader Pokémon universe, Entei is one of the Legendary Beasts that embody volcanic fire, resilience, and epic mythos. The card’s holo variant highlights the fiery motif through foil effects that accentuate the artwork and energy indication, a common feature in holo releases designed to appeal to both players and collectors.

Card Information

Name: Entei
Card ID: pop2-1
Dex number: 244
Set: POP Series 2 (pop2)
Rarity: Rare
Illustrator: Kouki Saitou
HP: 70
Type: Fire
Stage: Basic
Variants: Normal, holo
Official card count (set): 17 total (17 official)
Variant legality: Not legal in Standard or Expanded formats (standard: false, expanded: false)
Artwork image: Base image path https://assets.tcgdex.net/en/pop/pop2/1
Retreat cost: 1
Weakness: Water
Update status: Updated 2025-08-16

Attacks and Abilities

The card features two attacks that reflect common early-era fire-colorless cost structures, with an emphasis on resource management and probability-based damage.

Stomp — Cost: Colorless, Colorless
- Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage.
- Base damage: 10 (with potential to reach 30 on heads).
Fire Spin — Cost: Fire, Fire, Colorless
- Effect: Discard 2 basic Energy cards attached to Entei or this attack does nothing.
- Damage: 50

Gameplay and Strategy

As a Basic Fire-type with two straightforward attacks, Entei serves as an early-game front-line option in a POP-era deck. Its 70 HP provides a moderate survivability profile for a basic Pokémon in its era, and its Fire Spin attack introduces a tempo consideration: players must manage attached Energy carefully, since the attack’s payoff (50 damage) comes with the conditional requirement to discard two basic Energy cards if the attack’s effect is to function.

In practice, Entei’s Stomp offers an accessible opening attack that can pressure opponents even when coin flips do not produce heads. When constructing an accompanying deck, players typically seek reliable Energy acceleration or Energy management to ensure the Fire Spin can be executed consistently. The card’s Water weakness is a notable consideration, particularly in formats where Water-type attackers are prevalent; however, the Standard and Expanded formats status of this card indicates it is not regularly legal in contemporary play, meaning its in-game relevance hinges on historical or non-rotating formats.

Synergy ideas that were common for basic Fire types of its era include pairing with other low-cost attackers to maintain offensive pressure while Fire Spin builds up energy for later turns. Since Fire Spin requires energy disposal upon use, deck-building emphasis typically falls on energy recycling or search effects that ensure a consistent energy supply to enable Fire Spin when desired. The dual-attack design also invites risk-reward calculus: Stomp’s potential 30-damage output with heads contrasts with Fire Spin’s higher-damage option that can substantially influence mid-game momentum if energy management is favorable.

Collector and Market Information

As a Rare holo from POP Series 2, Entei holds collector interest beyond its in-game utility. The set itself comprises 17 official cards, and the card’s holo variant is a key draw for collectors who pursue foil finishes alongside the traditional artwork. The card’s status as a holo or non-holo print can influence pricing and desirability in secondary markets.

Market data for this card reflects its status as a historical piece with varying availability. CardMarket lists the normal (non-holo) version with an average price around €28.74 as of 2025-10-31, with a low around €7.50 and a positive price trend (approximately 37.86 over a one-month window), along with typical short-term movement for one- and seven- and thirty-day metrics. For holofoil copies, CardMarket reports limited or non-standard data in several fields, with a trend value indicated (15.85) but lacking a broad average; this points to lower liquidity for holofoil copies relative to the normal print in that market.

In the U.S. market, TCGPlayer provides a more detailed snapshot for both normal and holofoil copies. Normal Entei (Pop Series 2) displays a low around $13.48, a mid around $16.36, and a high near $39.99, with a market price near $18.58 as of 2025-10-31. Holofoil copies show a lower bound around $4.76, a mid around $14.65, and a high near $37.05, with a market price around $24.59. These figures illustrate typical pricing dynamics for mid-era holo vs. non-holo prints, where holofoil variants often fetch a premium due to rarity and foil presentation.

Collectors and players should note that prices can vary by condition, edition (including non-first editions when applicable), and market fluctuations. The POP Series 2 release, while not part of current Standard or Expanded legality, remains a notable piece of Pokémon TCG history and a common target for card-centric collections that emphasize early 2000s and promotional sets.

Art and Lore

Kouki Saitou’s contribution to Entei in this POP Series 2 card aligns with a broader body of work in which Pokémon TCG art emphasizes bold, dynamic figures set against energetic flame motifs. Entei, in the lore of the Pokémon universe, embodies volcanic fire and steadfast guardianship, and the artwork seeks to convey a sense of power and resilience characteristic of the legendary beast. The holo presentation amplifies the visual impact by adding reflective detail to the fire-themed background and final card frame, which is a hallmark of holo cards from the era.

The POP Series 2 line connects to a programmatic emphasis on promotional alignment with events and organized play, reinforcing Entei’s status as a recognizable card in collector and tournament contexts of its time. While not a modern staple in contemporary formats, the card remains a representative artifact of early-2000s TCG design, illustrating how illustration style, typography, and energy-cost conventions evolved over successive generations of sets.

Trivia

- This Entei card is numbered pop2-1 within POP Series 2, reflecting its position at the start of the set’s card sequence. The set itself comprises 17 cards, providing a compact snapshot of the era’s design language for promotional releases.

- The card exists in both normal and holofoil variants, with holofoil copies commonly sought after by collectors for their foil treatment and the visual emphasis on Fire-type aesthetics.

- Legal status indicates that this card is not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats, highlighting its relevance primarily to historical collections and informal play or format-specific reprint environments.

📘 Entei — Pokémon TCG