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Mew card art from Southern Islands set (Neo era)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

The Mew card from the Southern Islands subset represents one of the iconic Psychic-type Pokémon reissued in a tropical-themed collection that showcased many beloved creatures from the original National Pokédex. Classified as a Basic Pokémon with a delicate 30 HP, this Mew embodies the playful, elusive nature of the legendary Mew while functioning within the early game metagame of the Neo era. The Southern Islands subset (SI1) features a compact card count and emphasizes the charm of the original 151 Pokémon, often highlighting them through holo, normal, and reverse variants. As a common rarity card, this Mew balanced accessibility with collectible appeal, making it a staple for players and collectors exploring the early collectible trading card experience.

Card Information

Name: Mew
Category: Pokémon
Dex ID: 151
HP: 30
Type: Psychic
Stage: Basic
Rarity: Common
Set: Southern Islands (SI1)
Set Card Count (official / total): 18 / 18
Illustrator: Keiko Fukuyama
Variants: Normal, Reverse, Holo
Variant Details: Normal size, Reverse size, Holo size
Evolution: Basic (no pre-evolution in this card’s line)
Weakness: Psychic ×2
Attack: Rainbow Wave
Attack Cost: Psychic
Attack Effect: Choose a type of Energy other than Colorless attached to Mew. This attack does 20 damage to each of your opponent's Pokémon of that type (including Benched Pokémon). Don't apply Weakness and Resistance.
Legal Formats (historical): Standard: False, Expanded: False
Illustration Notes: The artwork by Keiko Fukuyama captures Mew in a soft, whimsical pose consistent with the Southern Islands aesthetic, which often emphasized vibrant tropical themes and character-driven scenes.

Gameplay and Strategy

In competitive play, Mew’s Rainbow Wave attacks a single Energy type attached to Mew and damages every opponent Pokémon of that type for 20 damage, ignoring Weakness and Resistance. This creates a unique dynamic where the attack’s value is highly context-dependent, contingent on the opposing board state and the types present on the opponent’s side. Because Rainbow Wave targets a type rather than a specific Pokémon, it can apply pressure to multiple targets across the active and benched positions simultaneously, which can be advantageous in formats with diverse type matchups.

Strategic considerations include:

Type-focused pressure: When the opponent stacks a particular type on both active and bench slots, selecting that type can yield widespread damage across multiple targets. The effect’s wording—“Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance”—means the 20 damage applies uniformly to all affected Pokémon, making it more predictable against certain boards.
Survivability and tempo: With only 30 HP, Mew is highly vulnerable to fast knockouts. Any deck built around Rainbow Wave should consider supplemental protection, retreat options, or support Pokémon that can stabilize the board while Mew remains in play to leverage its attack when advantageous.
Energy management: The attack’s cost is a single Psychic Energy, but Rainbow Wave’s value hinges on how many Energy types are represented on Mew. Players might design a small-s footprint deck that maximizes the likelihood of deploying Rainbow Wave effectively with the right energy attachments.
Arc and archetypes: Historical use of this card often leaned on the novelty of the Rainbow Wave effect rather than raw damage output. In modern retrospectives, it’s considered a curiosity card that demonstrates early attempts at type-wide mass targeting in the TCG’s design space.

Because the Southern Islands subset emphasizes a tropical, collectible feel, the Mew card also functions as a thematic bridge between classic artwork and early 2000s collectible culture. Its Basic status, combined with holo, normal, and reverse variants, makes it a flexible addition to both play-focused decks and collection-focused displays.

Collector and Market Information

Rarity and variant coverage are central to this card’s value in collector circles. Mew is listed as Common, yet the subset’s holo and reverse holo editions—paired with the appeal of the Southern Islands theme—contribute to its desirability among collectors seeking iconic Pokémon from the original 151.

Set context and numbers:

Set: Southern Islands (SI1)
Official card count: 18
Variants: Normal, Reverse, Holo

Market data provides a snapshot of historical and current pricing for collectors and investors. Note that prices are dynamic and can vary by condition, edition, and seller. The following figures reflect available data as of late 2025:

Cardmarket (EUR): Avg 159.74 EUR; Low 49.95 EUR; Trend 129.66 EUR; Avg1 134.99 EUR; Avg7 118.86 EUR; Avg30 140.92 EUR; Avg holo: not provided; Low holo: not provided; Trend holo: not provided; Avg1 holo: 30 EUR; Avg7 holo: 64.85 EUR; Avg30 holo: 41.17 EUR.
TCGPlayer (USD): Reverse-Holofoil: Low Price 322 USD; Mid Price 348 USD; High Price 499.99 USD; Market Price 240.96 USD; Direct Low Price: N/A.

These statistics illustrate how early, popular Pokémon with broad recognition often command notable interest in reprint-era cards, even when their gameplay impact in the original formats was modest. Collectors frequently value the set’s holo and reverse holo variants for display and nostalgia, while players may prioritize the common version for affordability and casual play opportunities.

Art and Lore

Keiko Fukuyama’s illustration for Mew in the Southern Islands context contributes to the broader artistic ethos of the set, which blends tropical motifs with the timeless charm of classic Pokémon. The Southern Islands subset is notable for featuring many familiar Pokémon inhabiting a sunny, island-inspired backdrop, which accentuates the playful and enigmatic nature of Mew. Although this card does not introduce new lore about Mew within the game’s narrative, it reinforces Mew’s status as a versatile, ambiguous Psychic-type with a broad move pool implied by its thematic accessibility. The artwork aligns with the set’s aesthetic, emphasizing bright colors, soft lines, and a sense of whimsy that complements the original 151 Pokémon’s enduring appeal.

In the broader Pokémon universe, Mew is often depicted as a progenitor Pokémon with the ability to learn any move, a concept that resonates with its early in-game versatility and the thematic flexibility highlighted by Rainbow Wave’s type-focused mechanic. While the TCG card’s text does not grant any actual move-copying ability, the card’s position within a highly collectible subset underscores Mew’s status as a cornerstone of the original Pokémon roster.

Trivia

The SI1 set, Southern Islands, contains 18 cards, including Mew as one of its common, holo, and reverse variants. The si1-1 designation indicates its placement as the first card in the set’s numbering sequence.
This Mew carries 30 HP, which is modest by modern standards but typical for early Basic Pokémon in the Neo-era subset lineup.
Rainbow Wave is notable for its interaction with a chosen Energy type attached to Mew, and it specifically excludes the application of Weakness and Resistance to damage from the attack.
Keiko Fukuyama’s illustration is part of a lineage of artists contributing to early 2000s Pokémon artwork, with a style recognizable to collectors of the Southern Islands era.
While not legal in Standard or Expanded formats today, SI1 cards remain significant for historical collection and nostalgia, representing a transitional period in the Pokémon TCG’s evolution.

📘 Mew — Pokémon TCG