Our fourth international specimen is from the year 2018 and the Sun & Moon TCG era. This Onix, from the set Celestial Storm, features a dramatic and atmospheric piece of artwork from one of the original masters of the Pokémon TCG, Mitsuhiro Arita.
Card Details
- Pokémon Name: Onix
- Set: Sun & Moon – Celestial Storm
- Year: 2018
- Card Number: 71/168
- Rarity/Edition: Common
- Artist: Mitsuhiro Arita
- National Pokédex No.: 095
Card Text & Attacks
- Type: Fighting
- HP: 100
- Attack 1: Screech
- Cost: [Colourless]
- Effect: During your next turn, the Defending Pokémon takes 20 more damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
- Attack 2: Rage
- Cost: [Fighting][Fighting]
- Damage: 10+
- Effect: This attack does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokémon.
- Weakness: Grass x2
- Resistance: None
- Retreat Cost: [Colourless][Colourless]
- Flavour Text: It usually lives underground. It searches for food while boring its way through the ground at 50 miles per hour.
Collector’s Notes
This card is a fantastic example of the art of Mitsuhiro Arita, one of the three original artists for the Pokémon TCG. He is famous for his dramatic use of light and shadow, and for creating a powerful, almost primal feel for his subjects. This Onix is no exception. It is depicted in a deep, red-hued cave, coiled and ready to strike. The lighting suggests the glow of magma or a deep, subterranean heat source, making the scene feel dangerous and powerful.
For our Geological Pokémon exhibit, this card is a masterpiece of environmental storytelling. It places Onix in its natural habitat—deep within the Earth’s crust. The red glow perfectly aligns with the lore of Onix being able to withstand incredible heat and pressure. This specimen represents the “subterranean” or “mantle” aspect of our collection, exploring the world of geology that exists far below our feet.
