Sandshrew · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Sandshrew card
Numbered 91 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Sandshrew is a Common, a Basic Fighting-type carrying 40 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Sandshrew needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
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.
Sandshrew carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food."
About Sandshrew in the Pokémon world
A small Ground-type curl-up Pokémon. Yellow plated body. Fossil Common with low collector demand outside set completionists.
What is Sandshrew worth?
Sandshrew is a Common, so raw copies trade for very little and most of the print run survives. The only real value is in pristine, high-grade copies, where even a Common can reach low triple digits in 1st Edition PSA 10. See the live price above for the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Sandshrew, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Sandshrew is the most forgiving tier to grade in the set. Centering on the framed border is the usual cap, and the soft Wizards-era cardstock picks up edge whitening easily, but high print runs keep clean copies affordable.
If you are collecting Sandshrew
Raw copies of Sandshrew are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Sandshrew is the practical move.
