Arcanine ex vs Growlithe


Arcanine ex (Legend Maker) and Growlithe (Legend Maker) are frequently compared because they belong to the same evolution line. This page breaks down which one is the better buy right now.
Current TCGPlayer market prices put the two at $438.33 for Arcanine ex and $50.00 for Growlithe — a gap of $388.33 (777%). Prices update daily, and the two charts below show how each has moved.
Stat comparison
| Market price | $438.33 | $50.00 |
| Set | Legend Maker | Legend Maker |
| Number | #83 | #55 |
| HP | 120 | 50 |
| Type | Fire | Fire |
| Subtypes | Stage 1, ex | Basic |
| Retreat cost | 2 | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare Holo EX | Common |
Price history
Price History
Price History
Which should you buy?
When comparing Growlithe (Legend Maker #55) against Arcanine ex (Legend Maker #83), the most immediate difference is price. Arcanine ex currently trades at roughly $438.33 while Growlithe sits near $50.00 — a gap of about $388.33 (777%). That spread alone is often the deciding factor for buyers weighing the two. On raw HP, Arcanine ex edges the comparison at 120 to the other card's 50 — a meaningful margin for trading hits and surviving chip damage. Both are Fire-type Pokémon, which means they compete for the same energy slots and archetype shells. Running both in the same deck is usually overkill unless the strategy specifically wants redundancy. Arcanine ex evolves directly from Growlithe, so the two are not really "competing" cards — they sit on the same evolution line, with the basic feeding into the evolution. Collectors often want both to complete the line. Rarity is another dividing line: Growlithe is Common while Arcanine ex is Rare Holo EX, which typically explains most of the price gap and signals different print volumes. For buyers, the practical question is usually about use-case. If you are chasing value or planning to flip, the cheaper card carries less downside risk. If you are building a deck, the shared-deck or evolution relationship matters more than the sticker price. And for collectors, the two printings or variants together tend to form a more complete set than either alone. Always check the live TCGPlayer and Amazon listings before buying, since prices move.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more expensive, Arcanine ex or Growlithe?
Arcanine ex (Legend Maker) is more expensive at $438.33, versus $50.00 for Growlithe (Legend Maker) — a difference of $388.33 (777%). Prices refresh daily from TCGPlayer market data.
Are Arcanine ex and Growlithe used in the same decks?
Not in the archetypes tracked on this site. They may still see play in rogue or tournament-specific builds that aren't listed here.
Which is more recent?
Both were released in 2006, from Legend Maker and Legend Maker respectively.
Where should I buy Arcanine ex or Growlithe?
Both cards are typically available on TCGPlayer (the largest individual-card marketplace) and Amazon (where sealed product and bundles dominate). Use the buy links above to see live listings by condition and seller.