Budget Pokemon Card Spotlight: Fennekin

There are so many things to take into consideration when building a budget binder page. Some people may see those as constraints, but I think they are pretty cool challenges. Generation VI cards weren’t too plentiful when making the page, so I went for an unusual choice. After all, do you have Fennekin in any of your binder pages? 

Who is Fennekin?

Although Fennekin has recently received a promo card via the Chaos Rising ETB, it isn’t necessarily a name you see that often. That is not because there aren’t any cards featuring this pocket monster. Nor is it because it isn’t cute or adorable. It just seems to be one of the many Pokemon that are in this weird “in-between” state among collectors. 

Given the cuteness factor, one would expect Fennekin to be a tad more popular. It certainly has a group of fans, and the recent IR from Chaos Rising remains quite popular. However, when people discuss fire Pokemon, this pocket monster isn’t necessarily part of the conversation. Fire, like other Energy types, has an abundance of Pokemon to choose from.

It is worth noting Fennekin has been part of various Pokemon games since XY. Additionally, he Pokemon was even part of a half dozen of side games, including Super MD, Rumble Rush, and Shuffle. It also appeared in the anime as part of Serena’s team. Later on, we also saw Aria’s Fennekin, as well as a version tied to Mirror Serena and various other minor appearances throughout the anime.

In virtually all major anime instances, Fennekin ultimately evolves into Braixen and Delphox, making it a bit more “forgettable” in that regard. It is a base stage Pokemon and, while cute, people seem to like its evolutions a tad more. That situation affects many other Pokemon too, unfortunately, but they all have their dedicated fans and collectors.

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 Gen VI Pokemon to put in this binder page. However, I wanted to balance out the overall energy types a bit. Given how I already had 2 electricity types, a Fire type seemed like a solid overall choice. 

Additionally, this is a budget binder page. Therefore, I need to keep the common/uncommon card theme going on this page.. Besides being cute, this Fennekin card can tell quite the story. We see our friend outside, in a seemingly high-up region, as we can see clouds at eye level. There is some grass, and what seems to be a ruin of sorts. 

In addition, this Fennekin card from Chaos Rising is not that difficult to obtain. The set is still recent enough to ensure ample supply of this card in near mint condition. It was also a  fairly common pull throughout my Chaos Rising product openings. Plus, it looks stunning as a reverse holo, should you want to theme your binder page that way.

Fennekin TCG Card History

Contrary to some other Pokemon on this binder page, Fennekin isn’t that well-represented. Yes, it has only been available since Generation VI, but even so. There are about a dozen different card designs in circulation today, although many of them have been reprinted in various languages. It isn’t much, but there are plenty of common cards with this pocket monster out there. 

In addition, Fennekin has a pretty high representation in terms of promo cards. More specifically, it has had around a dozen different total card designs. Yet it was a promo card for McDonalds (2014, 2016, and 2021), XY Black Star, and is a MEP Black Star Promo. That means 5 of its card prints are promotional cards. Quite impressive, but also to be expected for such an adorable Pokemon.

Like most other Pokemon on this binder page, Fennekin is traditionally a common card, The IR version for Chaos Rising is the only exception to date. That is not abnormal for a base stage Pokemon which has 2 evolution stages. 

Why This Specific Fennekin  Artwork

I had my mind set on adding a Fire Pokemon for Gen VI so the choices were already a bit limited. In addition, I built this binder page during my Chaos Rising openings, so adding the card from that set made sense. Moreover, as said before, it is a pretty cute pocket monster! I’m quite fond of it, even if the card depicts it as if we are a nuisance for looking at it. 

Moreover, I want to build these pages to show people how affordable it can be to collect Pokemon. You don’t need to spend big money on big cards to make pages look nice. This page represents all 9 Pokemon generations AND has 3 wildcard slots. It still costs under $5 to put together. 

Who is the Artist?

The person responsible for bringing this Fennekin rendition to the TCG world is Saino Misaki. That name might not ring a bell for a lot of people right away. However, Saino Misaki has illustrated 81 cards since VMAX Climex. This “workload” confirms the Pokemon Company values the artist and their work. And even though the artist name might not ring a bell for many, the artwork most certainly will. 

Numerous “major” Pokemon have been illustrated by Saino Misaki over the years. Think of Charmander, Glaceon, Mimikyu, Eevee, Marill, Jigglypuff, and many others. Furthermore, the artist is responsible for several prominent Trainer Full Art cards, including Erika, Nessa, Lady, Furisode Girl, Dawn, and Diantha. 

Like most other artists, Saino Misaki does not stick to one particular Pokemon, The artwork spans over a dozen different pocket monsters, and only one Fennekin. Given how few designs Fennekin has had since its Gen VI introduction, that isn’t too surprising. That said, all of the artist’s work contains recognizable elements:

• Posing Pokemon and Trainers
• Overall bright color schemes
• Colorful scenes with often blue sky
• Detailed Pokemon and Trainer expressions, often happy and joyful

Where Can You Find This Fennekin Artwork?

For this particular binder page, I opted for the Chaos Rising common card because it is accessible and affordable. Chaos Rising  is also printed in various other languages, both within Asia and beyond. Finding any card from this set should be a breeze, even if you are focused on one language only. 

As mentioned before, it is part of one of the more recent English sets we have gotten. ,But if you visit your local card shop, you may see a Korean/Japanese version of the set in Ninja Spinner [m4].. There’s also an Indonesian version (which combines Chaos Rising with Pitch Black, called “Shadowy Threats”. These are all good budget options for sealed boxes or single packs. But for the card itself:

• Ninja Spinner (JP):                     $0.02 – $0.05
• Ninja Spinner  (KR) :                   $0.02 – $0.05
• Chaos Rising (EN):                     $0.03 – $0.05

Since this artwork originates from a regular set, good-condition copies remain relatively affordable. If you are looking for a cute Fennekin to add to your collection, the acquisition process should be very smooth and painless.

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 particular Fennekin card receives the following marks:

• 💰 Price: ★★★★★ (Very Cheap)
• 📦 Availability: ★★★★★ (Found in over half a dozen languages)
• 🌍 Languages: 6+
• 🎨 Artwork: 10/10 (subjective, of course)
• Beginner Friendly: Yes

Why Collectors Should Care

If you’re building a Generation VI binder, a “forgotten Pokemon” collection, or simply want artwork capable of telling a story in one image,  this Fennekin is a very affordable addition and one that belongs in more people’s collection. Given how there aren’t that many cards of this Pokemon to begin with, giving it a minor spotlight seems long overdue.

Regardless of the card’s purpose for your needs, Fennekin deserves more love than it has gotten over the years. With just around a dozen cards, it feels underrepresented compared to the vast majority of the Pokemon TCG. Moreover, the specific card I chose for this page is illustrated by an experienced TCG artist, making it worth exploring.

Budget Verdict for Fennekin

There is a lot to like about this card, although that will always be a subjective topic. Fennekin is a pretty cute and playful Pokemon, making it appeal to people of all ages. While it may not have any long-lasting recognition in the anime or movies, it is still worth adding it to any binder 

Artwork	10/10
Nostalgia	5/10
Availability	10/10
Budget Value	10/10
Overall Collector Score	8.75/10

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 Fennekin 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.