Fomantis
Quick take
- First Illustration Rare ever printed for Fomantis
- Ranked #7 on Wargamer's Pitch Black chase list, the only regular IR to make it
- Nature scene by Jiro Sasumo, praised specifically for his work on natural scenery
- Card 085/084, the opening slot of the set's 11-card IR block
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Pitch Black
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 85/84 · $1.84 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe little mantis that cracked the chase list
Nobody expected a Fomantis card to matter. Then the Abyss Eye reveals hit in May 2026 and this one stood out immediately. When Wargamer ranked the seven biggest chase cards in Pitch Black, Fomantis took the last spot, the only regular Illustration Rare on a list otherwise filled with Mega ex cards. Their reasoning was simple: "Artist Jiro Sasumo is so good at these nature scenes." That is rare air for a Basic Grass Pokemon with one attack.
“First Illustration Rare ever printed for Fomantis”
Two things drive it. This is the first Illustration Rare Fomantis has ever received, which matters to collectors chasing a full-art card for every species. And the art earned the attention on its own. Wargamer weighed it against another of the set's IRs for that final chase slot and gave Fomantis the edge for being a little more unique.
For Pitch Black master set builders this is card 085, the first slot in the 11-card Illustration Rare run from 085 to 095. It currently sits around fifteenth in the set by price, upper half of the IR block. Not a wallet-breaker, but not a throw-in either.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Sits around fifteenth in Pitch Black by market price. That puts it in the upper part of the set's eleven Illustration Rares but well below the Special Illustration Rares and the Mega Darkrai ex chase cards. Think affordable single, not centerpiece.
Two weeks after the July 17, 2026 release, the English market has largely found its level after the usual early softening. Supply keeps building while the set is in print, so expect drift rather than drama from here — there is no reason to think this card behaves differently from the set's other IRs.
Modest. Mid-tier IRs from modern sets rarely appreciate while product is in print, and modern sets get printed heavily. The upside case is the species-first angle, since first full-art cards tend to hold better than repeat treatments. Buy it because you want it in the binder, not as a position.
Thin at this price point. A gem mint grade adds a premium but grading fees eat most of it unless the raw card is flawless. Population will grow fast while packs are cheap. Grade for the display case, not for resale math.
The Pokemon Company does not publish official odds, and community data for the Mega Evolution era is still settling. Using recent-era norms as a guide, some Illustration Rare shows up roughly once per dozen packs. With 11 different IRs in Pitch Black, landing this specific Fomantis is closer to a hundred-plus packs of variance. If you want the card, buying the single costs far less than a couple of booster boxes worth of gambling.
Within the set, it prices in the upper part of the IR block, which is unusual for a non-evolved common species and speaks to the art. Against the broader hobby, mid-tier modern IRs like this are the affordable end of full-art collecting, an order of magnitude below the set's Special Illustration Rares and nowhere near vintage chase territory.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Sasumo illustrated the Illustration Rare version of this card. The regular common in the same set (003/084) was handled by nisimono. Wargamer's set coverage called out Sasumo specifically for his skill with nature scenes. This piece was among the first Illustration Rares shown from Abyss Eye, revealed in May 2026 alongside the set's Armarouge and Goldeen IRs.
A full-art nature scene with Fomantis set among plants in a quiet outdoor setting, one of the set's most visually appealing cards according to Wargamer. It fits the Pokemon. Fomantis spends its days soaking up sunlight, and the art leans into that calm, botanical character rather than action.
Standard modern Illustration Rare treatment: borderless full-frame artwork with textured holofoil across the card face. Numbered 085/084, the first card past the set's base count of 84. In Japan it appeared in Abyss Eye as 082/081.
It is the first Illustration Rare for Fomantis, full stop. Species firsts stay relevant after a set rotates out of the conversation, because they remain the definitive full-art for that Pokemon until something better comes along.
BackgroundAbout Fomantis
Fomantis debuted in Pokemon Sun and Moon in 2016 as an Alolan Grass type modeled on the orchid mantis, a real insect that disguises itself as a flower. It evolves into Lurantis when leveled up during the day, fitting its sun-worship theme. The dex entry printed on this card notes that many Trainers give their Fomantis flowerpots so they can sunbathe in peace.
- ›Orchid mantis design that reads as a flower until you look twice
- ›Connection to Lurantis, whose Totem battle in Sun and Moon's Lush Jungle made the line memorable
- ›Cute-tier Pokemon that rarely gets premium card treatments, so this one feels special
- ›Sunbathing lore gives illustrators an easy hook for warm nature scenes
- ›Debuted in Pokemon Sun and Moon (2016) as part of the Alolan dex
- ›Totem Lurantis, its evolution, was the Lush Jungle trial boss in Sun and Moon
- ›Has appeared on TCG cards since the Sun and Moon era, almost always as a common
None. The regular print is a 70 HP Basic with Reckless Charge, one Grass for 30 damage and 10 recoil to itself. It exists as an evolution stepping stone for Lurantis at best. This card's value is entirely collector-driven.
Own it wellCollector guide
Textured full-art cards show edge and corner wear quickly, and holofoil surfaces pick up scratches from careless sleeving. Check the borders on both faces under angled light before buying. Pack-fresh copies from a two-day-old set should be plentiful, so pass on anything with visible flaws.
Only grade a copy that looks flawless under a loupe. For a card at this price level the fee-to-value math is against you, and gem populations will climb while product is everywhere. A crisp raw copy in the binder is the sensible play for master set builders. Read the grading guide →
Penny sleeve into a side-loading binder pocket for the master set, or sleeve plus toploader if it lives in a box. Keep it away from direct sunlight, which is mildly ironic for this Pokemon, since foil layers and card faces fade. See the storage guide →
Wait two to four weeks. Fresh-set singles almost always dip once early supply saturates the market. Set a target a bit under current asks and be patient. Do not chase it in packs, the math never works for one specific IR. See the singles buying guide →
Counterfeit risk is low for a mid-tier modern IR, but the basics still apply: real cards have the textured embossing you can feel on IR surfaces, crisp print with no blur under magnification, and the standard card stock snap. Buying from established marketplace sellers with returns covers you.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Warm from the first reveal. This card was among the first Illustration Rares shown from Abyss Eye in May 2026, and by English release Wargamer had it seventh on their Pitch Black chase list, praising the nature scene and noting it is the first IR for the species. In a set marketed around Mega Darkrai and its abyss theme, the gentle Fomantis art became the counterprogramming people latched onto.
Two weeks after release there is still no long track record to point at, just the shape of a sleeper. Positive reveal coverage in May, a chase list spot most people did not see coming, and collectors treating it as the IR to grab before prices settle. Nothing viral, only steady chatter for a card most expected to ignore.
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