Articuno · Fossil, what to know.
About the Articuno card
Articuno is card 2 of 62 in Fossil, released in October 1999, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Water-type with 70 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Articuno needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita painted the Base Set Charizard and much of the early holo run, and his work has a painterly weight that set the visual tone of the Wizards era.
The card's flavor text gives Articuno a line of lore: "A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear to doomed people who are lost in icy mountains."
About Articuno in the Pokémon world
A Legendary Ice-Flying bird. One of the three Legendary birds of Kanto. Fossil holo Articuno is a marquee Fossil holo. Strong collector demand thanks to Legendary status.
What is Articuno worth?
Based on recent eBay sales, raw copies trade from $40 to $150 depending on the print and a PSA 10 runs from $3,350 to $9,500. The 1st Edition print is the most valuable, with a PSA 10 near $9,500. The table on this page breaks the price down by print and grade, updated 2026-06-05.
Print variants and how to spot them
Fossil shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The Edition 1 stamp under the artwork separates the scarcer 1st Edition Articuno from the Unlimited copy.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Articuno. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the water foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Articuno
Buying Articuno well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. The 1st Edition Articuno trades above the Unlimited copy, so confirm the stamp before you agree a number. Always see the holo surface in good light first.
Three prints, three markets.
Edition 1 stamp under the artwork. Trades above Unlimited in matching grade.
No stamp. The standard, more affordable print.
