Brock's Ninetales · Gym Challenge, what to know.
About the Brock's Ninetales card
Numbered 3 of 132 in Gym Challenge, released in October 2000, Brock's Ninetales is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Fire-type carrying 70 HP.
It evolves from Brock's Vulpix, so Brock's Ninetales is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Brock is the Rock-type Gym Leader of Pewter City and Ash's longtime traveling companion. Brock's Ninetales is part of that themed lineup.
Illustrated by Ken Sugimori. Sugimori is the lead character designer of Pokémon itself, so his card art carries the tight, on-model look that defined how the creatures appear in the games.
About Ninetales in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Vulpix. Nine tails, mystical Japanese kitsune influence in the design. Base Set holo Ninetales is one of the more aesthetically beloved holos in the set and a steady performer in graded prices.
What is Brock's Ninetales worth?
Brock's Ninetales is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Gym Challenge's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Gym Challenge holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to Blaine's Charizard at the top; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Gym Challenge shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The trainer-prefix naming runs across the set, and the 1st Edition Brock's Ninetales carries the Edition 1 stamp and a premium over Unlimited in matching grade.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Brock's Ninetales. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the fire foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Brock's Ninetales
When you go to buy Brock's Ninetales, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Brock's Ninetales, so price the specific copy in front of you.
Three prints, three markets.
Edition 1 stamp under the artwork. Trades above Unlimited in matching grade.
No stamp. The standard, more affordable print.
