We begin our official Geopik archive with a true piece of Pokémon history: the original Onix from the 1996 Japanese “Expansion Pack.” This card is a foundational element of the TCG and a cornerstone for any collection focused on geology. Its special “No Rarity” status marks it as a relic from the very first print run, making it a truly special artefact.
Card Details
- Pokémon Name: Onix (イワーク)
- Set: Expansion Pack (Japanese Base Set)
- Year: 1996
- Card Number: 095
- Rarity/Edition: Uncommon (No Rarity Symbol – First Print)
- Artist: Ken Sugimori
- National Pokédex No.: 095
Card Text & Attacks
- Type: Fighting
- HP: 90
Attack 1:
- Japanese: いわおとし
- Romaji: Iwa Otoshi
- English: Rock Throw
- Cost: [Fighting]
- Damage: 10
Attack 2:
- Japanese: かたくなる
- Romaji: Katakunaru
- English: Harden
- Cost: [Fighting][Fighting]
- Effect: During your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage done to Onix by attacks. (If Onix would take 40 or more damage from an attack, this effect does nothing.)
- Weakness: Grass
- Resistance: None
- Retreat Cost: [Colourless][Colourless][Colourless]
Pokédex Entry:
- Japanese: 普段は土の中に住んでいる。地中を時速80キロで掘りながらエサをさがす。
- Romaji: Fudan wa tsuchi no naka ni sunde iru. Chichū o jisoku 80 kiro de horinagara esa o sagasu.
- English: It usually lives underground. While digging through the ground at 80 km/h, it searches for food.
Collector’s Notes
This Onix card hails from the inaugural “Expansion Pack,” the set that launched the Pokémon TCG in Japan in October 1996. Its most significant feature for collectors is the absence of a rarity symbol in the bottom right corner. These “No Rarity” cards are exclusive to the very first print run and are considered the true “first edition” of Pokémon cards, making them highly prized. The card’s “Old Back” design is another key feature, instantly identifying it as a piece of vintage history from the game’s earliest days.
The artwork is by the legendary Ken Sugimori, the lead character designer for the original Pokémon games. His iconic, soft watercolour style defined the look and feel of the first generation of Pokémon and is a huge part of what makes these early cards so nostalgic and beloved. The illustration perfectly captures Onix’s immense scale and its natural, rocky habitat, establishing it as the quintessential Rock-type Pokémon from the very beginning.
For the Geopik collection, Onix is a foundational species. It is the embodiment of raw geology within the Pokémon world, a serpentine creature composed of massive boulders. Its Pokédex entry, describing its subterranean life and its ability to tunnel through the earth at high speeds, directly connects it to geological processes. This card isn’t just a collectible; it’s a perfect representation of the intersection of natural science and popular culture that this collection aims to celebrate.
