When I initially set out to build this budget binder page, I had a few goals in mind. Firstly: mix up cards from different regions. Second, pick good-looking affordable cards. Salandit checks all of the right boxes, despite being an average common card. Even so, it fits right in with the overall theme, and brings some Fire Energy to this page.
Who is Salandit Again?
First introduced as part of Gen VII, Salandit has always been an interesting creature. Despite how it looks, it is officially classified as a Poison/Fire Pokemon. One wouldn’t necessarily expect it to be a poison type, given how it’s often depicted in lava-based environments. Even so, this is important to note – and gives me a bulk bin hunting side quest.
One thing one cannot say is that Salandit is even remotely cute. It isn’t an ugly Pokemon either, but the salamander body isn’t exactly something to make people fawn over. Then again, it has cool color patterns, including the streak of red/orange on its back. It also has weird light purple eyes which, while cool, are also the stuff of nightmares.
Players of the Pokemon games will likely encounter a Salandit along the way. The pocket monster can be found in Sun/Moon, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet, and the Hidden Treasures of Area Zero. Curiously, it was omitted from Legends Z-A, even though it received a TCG card during the game’s release window.
Anime-wise, Salandit has had several major and minor appearances. This is on par with most other pocket monsters, as having at least 3 major anime appearances seems to be the norm. Moreover, the handful of minor appearances create laughs and memorable moments.
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 VII Pokemon to put in this binder page. However, I wanted to balance out the overall energy types a bit. So in hindsight, 2 Fire types back-to-back is not ideal, but it still balances out somehow.
Additionally, this is a budget binder page. Therefore, I need to keep the common/uncommon card theme going on this page..On its own, the Salandit card is more than capable of telling quite the story. Plus, it also counterbalances all of the cute cards a bit, to ensure this is not a purely “cute Pokemon” page.
Next to the Fennekin card from Gen VII, this Gen VII card creates a contrasting mood. Fennekin is more annoyed than wary, whereas Salandit is happy but also quite alert. Neither seem like they will attack right away, but I would be very careful of every move made while they are nearby.
Salandit TCG Card History
When a Pokemon is introduced in the latter generations – Gen VII, VIII, or IX – it isn’t abnormal to not have a lot of TCG representation yet. In the case of Salandit, there have been 15 different cards, which is more than Fennekin. That may come as a surprise, but it seems The Pokemon Company is somewhat keen on this particular creature.
Unlike Fennekin, however, there has only been 1 promo card for Salandit so far. The SM Black Star promo looks very cool and offers a rather unique art style for this pocket monster. It is also illustrated by Naoki Saito, a renowned Pokemon TCG artist. Finding this 2018 promo card shouldn’t be too difficult, as it got an English and Japanese release.
Besides this promo card – which isn’t even an IR – Salandit always shows up as a common card in every TCG it’s a part of. It started that way in Guardians Rising, and still holds true in Perfect Order. Moreover, it has been a Psychic type 3 times, and a Dark type once so far. The latter only appeared in the Japanese Darkness Houndoom ex Start Deck.
Why This Specific Salandit Artwork
Although I wasn’t planning on putting two Fire-type Pokemon beside one another, I also didn’t have that many Gen VII choices at the time. The Salandit was on my desk, after I opened up some Perfect Order packs. so it just made sense. Plus, it gave me a bit of a “creepier card”, which was a welcome change of pace.
That said, I think it slots in nicely and just works. Is it the optimal binder page? No, but it never needed to be one either. It works well as a budget binder page, and we still have three “wildcard” slots too because of how the binder is structured. Those are all positive “problems” to have, in my book.
Who is the Artist?
The person responsible for bringing this Salandit artwork to the world is Kazuhisa Uragami. Not necessarily in most people’s top 10 lists of Pokemon TCG artists they name off the top of their head, but a solid choice regardless. Granted, the artist has only done 6 Pokemon cards to date, but that doesn’t have to mean anything.
With just 6 card illustrations, it becomes easier to see emerging artist patterns. Having depicted Crobat, Charjabug, Misdreavus, Budew, and Castform – besides Salandit – the art style becomes rather apparent. Moreover, they seem to like a variety of Pokemon to illustrate, ranging from Electricity to Water, and Fire to Dark.
That said, all of the artist’s work contains recognizable elements:
- Very expressive Pokemon,
- Eye-level pocket monsters in their natural environment
- A good balance of light and dark colors to set the mood
- Ability to bring cute and fierce Pokemon to life
Where Can You Find This Salandit Artwork?
For this particular binder page, I opted for the Perfect Order common card because it is accessible and affordable. The Perfect Order version 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 Nihil Zero [m3].. There’s also an Indonesian version combining Perfect Order with Ascended Heroes, called “Void Blast”. These are all good budget options for sealed boxes or single packs. But for the card itself:
- Nihil Zero (JP): $0.02 – $0.05
- Nihil Zero (KR) : $0.02 – $0.05
- Perfect Order (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 Salandit to add to your collection, the acquisition process should be very smooth and painless. However, you also have 14 other artwork options, depending on your preference.
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 Salandit card receives the following marks:
- 💰 Price: ★★★★★ (Very Cheap)
- 📦 Availability: ★★★★★ (Found in over half a dozen languages)
- 🌍 Languages: 6+
- 🎨 Artwork: 9/10 (subjective, of course)
- Beginner Friendly: Yes
Why Collectors Should Care
If you’re building a Generation VII binder, an “unusual Pokemon” collection, or simply want artwork capable of telling a story in one image, this Salandit is a very affordable addition. If you can get the promo card on the cheap, it can make for a slightly nicer budget binder page. However, that will primarily depend on the card’s price.
Regardless of the card’s purpose for your needs, Salandit won’t hurt you or your binder by including it. Plus, the artist responsible for this card has a limited portfolio, making it easy to complete all of their illustrations. I have 4 out of 6 that I’m sure of, and the Budew might be somewhere in card piles too.
Budget Verdict for Salandit
There is a lot to like about this card, although that will always be a subjective topic. This Salandit rendition is a bit of a schemer, which I do like a lot. While it may not have any long-lasting recognition in the anime or movies, it is still worth adding it to any binder
| Artwork | 9/10 |
| Nostalgia | 6/10 |
| 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 Salandit 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.
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