Arcanine
Arcanine — Base Set #23/102
The Arcanine is card #23/102 in the 1999 Pokemon Game Base Set (Wizards of the Coast) — the set that launched the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It is a uncommon Fire-type Stage 1 card, issued across four printings: 1st Edition, Shadowless, Unlimited and the 1999-2000 (4th) print. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 6,297 copies have been graded, with only 1,047 earning a PSA 10 (Gem Mint) — a sense of how scarce top-grade examples are.
Print variants & how to tell them apart
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 2–6 | 1 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Edition | ||||||||
| PSA | 2,053 | 310 | 702 | 428 | 247 | 347 | 17 | 2 |
| SGC | 19 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Shadowless | ||||||||
| PSA | 1,363 | 221 | 435 | 267 | 176 | 232 | 31 | 1 |
| SGC | 12 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Unlimited | ||||||||
| PSA | 2,584 | 436 | 936 | 583 | 280 | 343 | 6 | 0 |
| SGC | 36 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 (4th Print) | ||||||||
| PSA | 230 | 78 | 86 | 42 | 9 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
Card details
Attacks
Prices & where to buy
| Variant | Market | TCGplayer | eBay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Edition | $87.21 | TCGplayer | eBay |
| Shadowless | $44.9 | TCGplayer | eBay |
| Unlimited | $3.54 | TCGplayer | eBay |
| 1999–2000 (4th Print) | — | — | eBay |
About the print variants
Base Set cards come in four printings: 1st Edition (Edition-1 stamp), Shadowless (no stamp, no drop shadow, the extra '99' in the copyright), Unlimited (drop shadow, most common), and the 1999-2000 (4th print) (like Unlimited but the copyright reads (c)1999-2000). Machamp is the exception -- it is always 1st-Edition-stamped.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1999 Pokemon Base Set Arcanine card?
The Arcanine is card #23/102 in the 1999 Pokemon Game Base Set by Wizards of the Coast, the first English Pokemon Trading Card Game set. It is a uncommon Fire-type card and exists in four printings: 1st Edition, Shadowless, Unlimited and the 1999-2000 print.
How can I tell which printing of the Arcanine I have?
Check three tells: a 1st Edition has the black 'Edition 1' stamp at the lower-left of the artwork; a Shadowless has no stamp AND no drop shadow on the right of the art box (plus an extra '99' in the copyright line); Unlimited has the drop shadow and is by far the most common; the 1999-2000 print looks like Unlimited but its copyright reads (c)1999-2000.
How rare is a graded Arcanine?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 6,297 copies of the Arcanine have been graded, of which only 1,047 earned a PSA 10 (Gem Mint). Mid-grade copies are obtainable, but gem-mint examples are genuinely scarce.
Which printing of the Arcanine is most valuable?
The 1st Edition is the most valuable printing - around $87.21 on TCGplayer versus about $3.54 for Unlimited, with Shadowless in between. Holofoil and condition push values higher still.
More Fire-type Base Set cards
Sources: pokemontcg.io, PSA & SGC population reports, and live TCGplayer market data. Card data, variants & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-06-30.