Ninetales
Quick take
- Illustration Rare from Obsidian Flames (sv3), the 2023 Charizard ex set
- Gen 1 Kanto Pokemon with broad, long-running name recognition
- Frequently named among the better Illustration Rares in the set
- Mid-tier price keeps it accessible for master set builders
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Obsidian Flames
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 199/197 · $31.03 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyA Kanto fan favorite done as a quiet, warm Illustration Rare
Ninetales 199/197 is the Illustration Rare slot in Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames (sv3), the 2023 set built around Charizard ex. Charizard soaked up the headlines, but the Illustration Rare subset is where a lot of collectors actually spend their time, and this Ninetales is one of the cards people single out. It pairs a beloved Gen 1 Pokemon with a soft, illustration-style scene instead of the usual action pose.
“Illustration Rare from Obsidian Flames (sv3), the 2023 Charizard ex set”
For master set builders, this card sits in the IR tier you need to clear to complete the set. It isn't the trophy card and it isn't priced like one, which is part of the appeal. You can land it without wrecking the budget, and it pulls its weight on a binder page. Ninetales has carried name recognition since 1996, so even casual collectors know it on sight.
The bigger draw is the art. SIE NANAHARA was still a newer name in 2023, and this piece leans into the delicate, warm style they became known for. It reads as a display card first and a checklist box second.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits in the affordable middle of the Obsidian Flames Illustration Rare tier. It is nowhere near the set's Charizard chase cards, and well under the Special Illustration Rare prices. For a master set builder it's one of the easier IR boxes to tick, the kind of card you can pick up raw without much planning.
Like most modern SV Illustration Rares, it settled below launch hype as supply caught up, then held a steady floor on the strength of the Pokemon and the art. Don't expect sharp moves either direction unless Obsidian Flames sealed product dries up.
Treat it as a collect-because-you-like-it card, not a flip. Modern IRs of non-headline Pokemon rarely move fast. The upside is patience. Clean Gen 1 art ages well, and completist demand stays steady as people finish the set. Downside risk is limited because the entry price is already modest.
A PSA 10 carries a clear premium over raw, but in absolute terms the gap is modest because the raw card is inexpensive. Lower gem rates push the cost of chasing a 10 up relative to the card's value, so grading mostly makes sense if you already own a near-flawless copy.
In Scarlet & Violet sets you pull some Illustration Rare roughly once every 12 packs, but that's any IR, not this one. Each set has a stack of IRs, so the odds on one specific card run far longer. For comparison, a Double Rare lands about 1 in 5 packs, an Ultra Rare about 1 in 15, a Special Illustration Rare around 1 in 90, and a Hyper Rare anywhere from 1 in 300 to 1 in 700. Pulling this exact Ninetales from packs takes a lot of opening, which is why most collectors just buy the single.
Among Obsidian Flames pulls, an IR is meaningfully easier to hit than the set's Special Illustration Rares or the Charizard chase cards. That makes Ninetales a realistic pack pull and an easy buy, not a rarity wall.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
SIE NANAHARA was a relatively new illustrator on the Pokemon TCG scene as of 2023. Their work is known for a delicate, intricate, painterly look, and this Ninetales fits that signature style.
Ninetales stands in a warmly lit forest scene, its nine tails fanned out and catching the light. The treatment is soft and illustration-led rather than a combat pose, with warm golden lighting setting the mood. It's a calm, regal composition that suits the Pokemon.
Full-art Illustration Rare layout with the textured IR holo finish, no holo window box like a standard card. The art fills the frame edge to edge. The number reads 199/197, above the named set count, which marks it as a secret-numbered IR.
The warmth is the hook. Where a lot of IRs go busy or dramatic, this one is quiet and well lit, and the soft style flatters Ninetales. That restraint is why fans keep naming it among the set's better illustration cards.
BackgroundAbout Ninetales
Ninetales has been around since Red and Blue in 1996, evolving from Vulpix with a Fire Stone. The design draws on the nine-tailed fox myth, with long life and a vengeful streak in the Pokedex flavor. It's one of the cleaner-looking original 151 designs, which keeps it a steady pick for art cards.
- ›Original 151 Kanto Pokemon with lasting name value
- ›Elegant, recognizable fox design that suits illustration art
- ›Long history of well-liked card appearances
- ›Fire typing keeps it in rotation across sets and merch
- ›Featured across many sets since the 1999 Base era as both Vulpix and Ninetales
- ›Recurring subject for alt-art and illustration-style cards in modern sets
This print is a Stage 1 Fire-type built for collecting, not the meta. Ninetales lines have surfaced in competitive play at various points over the years, but this Obsidian Flames card is valued for art and set completion rather than tournament use.
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art IRs show edge whitening fast because the dark borders expose any chipping. Check all four corners and the edges under good light. The textured holo surface can hold faint scratches and print lines, so angle it to catch the light before buying.
Grade only if you have a copy that looks gem-mint raw. Because the card is inexpensive, a PSA 9 often won't clear grading and slabbing costs in resale. Aim for a 10 or keep it raw in a sleeve and toploader for the binder. Read the grading guide →
Penny sleeve plus a snug toploader, or a graded slab if you submit it. Keep it out of direct light to protect the warm tones, and store upright at stable humidity. For a master set, a side-loading binder page with a soft inner sleeve avoids edge wear. See the storage guide →
This is a buy-the-single card for most people. Raw near-mint copies are common and cheap, so prioritize centering and clean edges over chasing a slab. If you want a graded copy, a PSA or CGC 10 is the sensible target given how affordable the raw card is. See the singles buying guide →
Counterfeits are far less of a worry on a low-value modern IR than on vintage chase cards, but still verify the texture pattern, sharp print, correct 199/197 numbering, and a proper holo finish. If a listing's price looks too good, look closer at the photos.
Protect your card
Low Chase Score — basic protection is plenty. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Reception skews positive. It comes up regularly when collectors list their favorite Illustration Rares from Obsidian Flames, usually for the warm lighting and the calm, regal take on a Gen 1 Pokemon. It's a liked card, not a hyped one.
Steady low-key appreciation rather than viral attention. Posts tend to praise the art and the nostalgia of a Kanto fox getting the illustration treatment, and it shows up in set-completion and binder-page content.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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