Why Is Base Set Onix Still Rising Despite High Print Numbers?
If you have been tracking Pokemon card prices, you might notice something odd about Base Set Onix. This common card from the original 1999 Base Set was printed in huge numbers, yet its value keeps climbing in 2025. Raw copies and even graded ones are fetching higher prices than expected. So what is driving this trend?
First, lets clarify which Onix we mean. The English Base Set Onix is card 87/102, a basic rock snake Pokemon that was super common back in the day. Wizards of the Coast printed millions of Base Set cards to meet demand, making most commons like Onix easy to find in unlimited editions. You can still buy raw Base Set 2 Onix, a reprint from 2000, for under a dollar on sites like TCGPlayer, where market price sits around $0.92.[2] Base Set 2 mixed Base Set and Jungle cards with a silver border, but it lacks the prestige of the true first print.[5]
High print runs should mean low prices, right? That holds for most commons. But Onix stands out because collectors treat it differently now. Its massive size and cool design make it a favorite for display. Picture a 28-foot steel snake curling across your binder or desk, it pops visually. Fans love it as an underdog from the earliest sets, evoking nostalgia for kids who pulled it from those first booster packs.
Grading changes the game too. High-grade versions are getting scarcer as old cards age. Sunlight fades colors, edges chip from handling, and corners dent over time. A near mint Onix from 25 years ago is tough to find, pushing PSA 9s and BGS 9.5s higher. Look at Japanese Base Set Onix #95, a close cousin. Recent sales show PSA 9s at $25.70 in June 2025 and a PSA 9 paired with Sandshrew at $300 in July.[1] Even lower grades like PSA 7 sold for $11 in April, up from earlier lows. CGC 9.5 Japanese copies hit $49.95 last year, and a BGS 9.5 went for $20.50 recently.[1] English versions follow suit, with raw Base Set Onix climbing past $10 on Etsy for near mint copies originally listed higher.[6]
Another factor is the vintage boom. Base Set is the holy grail of Pokemon TCG, and commons from it gain value as sets like Gym Heroes or Fossil see steady interest.[4][5] Fossil had high prints too but holds value thanks to stars like Dragonite.[5] Onix benefits from spillover demand, especially as players chase complete Base Set binders. Errors play a role in related cards, like Fossil orange HP misprints or Jungle prototypes, boosting interest in early commons overall.[7]
Supply tightness helps too. While prints were high, many Onix got played with, tossed, or lost. Survivors in top shape are drying up. Japanese versions prove this, with sales spiking despite their own mass production.[1] English Base Set Onix mirrors that, as collectors grade more aggressively now.
Marketplaces show the rise clearly. Listings that lingered at low prices are moving faster, and completed sales trend up through 2025. It is not just hype, it is steady demand from nostalgia hunters and new collectors entering vintage via affordable entry cards.
Onix rising proves print numbers alone do not dictate price. Iconic art, rarity in high grades, and Base Set magic keep it climbing. Keep an eye on your copies, they might be worth checking for the slab.
