For the fourth generation Pokemon in my Gen 1-9 budget binder page challenge, I opted for Shinx. To most people, this may come across as a curious choice, but it’s also a relatively easy one to make. It is a very cute Pokemon, which always makes for a strong candidate. Moreover, the creature appeared a few times in the anime and in the movies.
Introducing Shinx
If you ever watched the Pokemon anime – or the movies – you may be more familiar with Shinx than someone solely focused on the TCG. While it is not a “top tier” Pokemon, it is a solid choice to represent Generation IV.. Moreover, it has received over 20 cards in the TCG to date, giving it a pretty solid presence.
Although the name might not suggest it, Shinx is another Electric-type Pokemon. As its name suggests, it is based on the Sphinx, a somewhat mythical creature to our society. It is good to see some more Egyption-era references make its way into the Pokemon TCG. Plus, it is the only Pokemon to date with a base stat of 263, making it a bit of a peculiarity.
Obviously, there are more iconic Generation 4 Pokemon to choose from. That is one of the reasons why I picked Shinx – as well as the other cards on this page – as it would not be most people’s first or second choice..Even so, the combination of a lion’s head and human body works for me, so I wanted to include it at all cost.
It is hard to say why Shinx wouldn’t be a top choice when you ask people about Pokemon Gen IV.There is nothing wrong with how it looks, the abilities, or its appearances in the anime and movie. And while it is “cute”, it is still a bit of an “oddity” for most collectors and fans. It has also been downgraded from a “rare” card initially to a “common” card today.
Why Did I Add This Card?
You would think that collecting cards in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and English gives me an edge in the amount of Generation IV Pokemon at my disposal.. That is a valid thought, but it doesn’t necessarily represent reality. I have thousands of cards, which also makes choosing one over another a very tricky ordeal.
With the common card theme continuing on this page, it is time to take a step back first. Look at the card properly, notice the little details, then look at it again as a whole. In my opinion, it is a FANTASTIC card, despite its common card status. A lot of artwork goes into every card, and it doesn’t have to be shiny or expensive to tell a story. Unfortunately, some of us tend to forget that part more often than not.
One thing working in Shinx’s favor is how it has become a common card over the years. In this card’s instance, it is from Perfect Order, an available and affordable set. It did not necessarily need to be in English, but it is a nice addition to my multilingual building approach. You can pick up this card for a few cents on the dollar, and it has a holographic version too if you prefer a shiny option.
Shinx TCG Card History
Considering how Shinx was first introduced to the TCG as a part of Diamond & Pearl, it has made an “acceptable” number of appearances. With 21 cards to date – including reprints – the Pokemon has had a good run so far. Sure, it could have been even more prevalent, but almost two dozen designs since late 2007 isn’t bad at all.
That said, you might not find a Shinx in every set between August 2007 and today that comes to mind. Although it has multiple anime and movie appearances, it is not a “main character” by any means, nor does it have to be. The overarching Pokemon ecosystem needs a lot of support characters, and this pocket monster makes for a good overall addition.
With a budget build in mind, I always prioritize affordable and accessible cards. Shinx, with its 21 appearances, is almost always a common card. That makes the price to acquire it much lower compared to some other Gen IV Pokemon. However, it can also be a tad hard to acquire in some ways, although the secondary markets usually have you covered.
Why This Specific Shinx Artwork
Common and uncommon Pokemon cards have amazing artwork and it is always worthy of a second look. Although this artwork may not stand out necessarily, we see Shinx in motion while also looking at us. Whether that is in a “goodbye” manner or to see if we are keeping up with it as it goes on an adventure, is anyone’s guess.
You can argue that Shinx doesn’t necessarily have abnormal lore behind it. It is a lion-human hybrid Pokemon, capable of generating electricity attacks. its fur can also blind enemies, allowing the Pokemon to flee from danger. However, did you know there are both male and female versions of this pocket monster? You can tell them apart based on the length of its top tuft, which is shorter for the female variant.
Who is the Artist?
The person responsible for this illustration of Shinx is Saboteri, one of the many popular Pokemon TCG artists today. Saboteri has become a top-tier artist among fans due to their work on dozens of Pokemon, dating back all the way to the Scarlet & Violet era. Other notable illustrations include Wooper, Quaxly, Phanpy, Dipplin, Gastly, Mega Charizard X EX, and more.
Interestingly, this is the only time Saboteri has worked on Shinx. Then again, their portfolio spans many different pocket monsters, so it’s not entirely surprising either. All of these cards capture the artist’s style rather well:
- Various emotional expressions, often outspoken
- Pokemon caught in the middle of an action
- Fantastic color schemes to complement both the Pokemon and background
- Soft colors to make the card a “whole”
Where Can You Find This Shinx Artwork?
For this particular binder page, I opted for the Perfect Order common card , simply because I had it on my desk and it is fairly recent. It also exists in both Japanese and Korean, giving you even more budget options to add this card to your collection..I believe this is also the only Shinx card I had in my collection when building this page.
- Perfect Order (POR): $0.05 – $0.10
- Niihl Zero (KR) : $0.02 – $0.05
- Nihil Zero (JP): $0.02 – $0.05
It is not hard to find a near mint copy of this card or its holographic version. Both Nihil Zero and Perfect Order are recent enough to eliminate most concerns about card conditions. However, always inspect your cards before making a purchase!
Card Availability Score
I always like to introduce a custom score to sourcing cards like this for a budget binder challenge theme. As such, this Shinx card receives the following marks (at the time of writing this article):
- 💰 Price: ★★★★★ (Very Cheap)
- 📦 Availability: ★★★★★ (Found in multiple recent sets across different languages)
- 🌍 Languages: 3
- 🎨 Artwork: 9/10 (subjective, of course)
- Beginner Friendly: Yes
Why Collectors Should Care
If you’re building a Generation IV binder, a “forgotten Pokemon” collection, or simply want artwork capable of telling a story in one image, this Shinx is a very affordable addition worth considering. It can counter some of the other cards on this page and bring an electricity type to a collection without relying on Pikachu.
I firmly believe that Shinx deserves more love than it has gotten over the years. Although it does seem to get a “yearly” appearance in the Pokemon TCG, it doesn’t get anything more than that. Despite being more prominent in the anime and movies than dozens of other Pokemon of its generation, it is stuck in this “meh” territory.
Budget Verdict for Shinx
There is a lot to like about this particular Pokemon card, but it is 100% OK if your opinion differs from mine. It is certainly cute, although not necessarily a “must-have” for most people out there, but it can still complement a budget binder page rather well.
| Artwork | 9/10 |
| Nostalgia | 7/10 |
| Availability | 10/10 |
| Budget Value | 10/10 |
| Overall Collector Score | 9/10 |
Collector Challenge
Can you find this exact artwork in another language? Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Thai,German, Italian, Spanish, or Indonesian all count. Or do you have any other Larvitar artwork you are fond of and want to show me? Make sure to hit me up on the socials and I will gladly take a look!
It’s a fun way to start exploring international Pokémon cards without spending a fortune. Moreover, it is an excellent way to rekindle some [potentially] lost memories of the Pokemon Anime.
