Ninetales · Obsidian Flames, what to know.
About the Ninetales card
Numbered 199 of 230 in Obsidian Flames, released in August 2023, Ninetales is an Illustration Rare, a Stage 1 Fire-type carrying 120 HP.
It evolves from Vulpix, so Ninetales is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by SIE NANAHARA.
Ninetales carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Very smart and very vengeful. Grabbing one of its many tails could result in a 1,000-year curse."
About Ninetales in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Vulpix. Nine tails, mystical Japanese kitsune influence in the design. Base Set holo Ninetales is one of the more aesthetically beloved holos in the set and a steady performer in graded prices.
What is Ninetales worth?
Ninetales is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Obsidian Flames's value. The rarity tier decides most of it, since the same card prints at several tiers with very different prices. In top-grade 1st Edition, Obsidian Flames holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Ninetales before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Ninetales, surface is the grade cap. The fire foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Ninetales
When you go to buy Ninetales, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Ninetales, so price the specific copy in front of you.
