Articuno vs Articuno
Articuno (Fossil) and Articuno (Wizards Black Star Promos) are frequently compared because they share the same Pokémon identity across different printings. This page breaks down which one is the better buy right now.
Current TCGPlayer market prices put the two at $196.99 for Articuno and $455.00 for Articuno — a gap of $258.01 (131%). Prices update daily, and the two charts below show how each has moved.
Stat comparison
| Market price | $196.99 | $455.00 |
| Set | Fossil | Wizards Black Star Promos |
| Number | #2 | #48 |
| HP | 70 | 80 |
| Type | Water | Water |
| Subtypes | Basic | Basic |
| Retreat cost | 2 | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare Holo | Promo |
Price history
Price History
Price History
Which should you buy?
When comparing Articuno (Fossil #2) against Articuno (Wizards Black Star Promos #48), the most immediate difference is price. Articuno currently trades at roughly $455.00 while Articuno sits near $196.99 — a gap of about $258.01 (131%). That spread alone is often the deciding factor for buyers weighing the two. On raw HP, Articuno edges the comparison at 80 to the other card's 70 — a meaningful margin for trading hits and surviving chip damage. Both are Water-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. Both are printings of the same character. One comes from Fossil (1999/10/10) and the other from Wizards Black Star Promos (1999/07/01). Competitive players usually pick whichever printing is currently legal in the format they play, while collectors often want both for visual variety. Rarity is another dividing line: Articuno is Rare Holo while Articuno is Promo, 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, Articuno or Articuno?
Articuno (Wizards Black Star Promos) is more expensive at $455.00, versus $196.99 for Articuno (Fossil) — a difference of $258.01 (131%). Prices refresh daily from TCGPlayer market data.
Are Articuno and Articuno 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 1999, from Fossil and Wizards Black Star Promos respectively.
Where should I buy Articuno or Articuno?
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.