Ninetales and Pokémon Center Merchandise: TCG Tie-In Trends

Ninetales card art from Power Keepers ex16-19 by Tomoaki Imakuni

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Ninetales and Pokémon Center Merchandise: TCG Tie-In Trends

Fans have long cherished the cross-pollination between Pokémon Center merchandise and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. When a beloved character like Ninetales appears in a set such as Power Keepers, the art, the rarity, and the legacy of the card ripple outward into echelon of collector culture and everyday play. This article harnesses the allure of a classic Fire-type from the ex era to explore how modern Pokémon Center items—like phone grips and other merch—echo the same spirit of celebration, strategy, and nostalgia ⚡🔥💎. The Ninetales card from Power Keepers, illustrated by Tomoaki Imakuni, stands as a perfect case study for how a single card can embody both competitive-minded play and collectible ambition.

Card snapshot: Ninetales ex16-19

Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Vulpix)
HP: 70
Type: Fire
Rarity: Rare (Power Keepers)
Set: Power Keepers (ex16)
Illustrator: Tomoaki Imakuni
Ability (Poke-BODY): Safeguard — Prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Ninetales by your opponent's Pokémon-ex.
Attacks:
- Quick Attack — Cost: Colorless, Colorless; 20 damage plus 20 more on a heads flip
- Will-o'-the-wisp — Cost: Fire, Colorless, Colorless; 50 damage
Weakness: Water ×2
Variants: holo, normal, reverse holo (Power Keepers supported all three)
Pricing snapshot (mid-2025): Normal: low around $2.50–$5.80 (TCGPlayer range; market around $3.91). Reverse holo/ holo values show a premium: holo reverse prices commonly above $30, with highs approaching $50 in peak listings. CardMarket data highlights a broad spectrum, with holo averages around the $10–$32 range depending on condition and print run.

Designed as a sturdy stage-1 evolution of a fan-favorite fox, Ninetales in Power Keepers carries the signature Imakuni artwork that captures the mystique of fire and moonlit folklore. The card’s Safeguard Poke-BODY made it an interesting pivot card when Pokémon-ex were dominating the meta, providing a shield against the cascading effects (and the infamous “ex” damage counters) unleashed by that era’s power-hitters. It’s a reminder that strategy isn’t just about raw numbers; it’s about understanding the interplay between ability text, attack costs, and the flow of your bench.

Playing Ninetales in the Power Keepers era

In gameplay terms, Ninetales offered a shield while you stabilized your board. Safeguard stops a wide swath of outs from Pokémon-ex attackers, giving you room to maneuver around big hitters like ex cards while you set up your own threats. Quick Attack delivers surprise pressure—20 base damage with an additional 20 on a heads, giving you a way to pick off smaller threats or accrue momentum while you threaten Will-o'-the-wisp. The 50-damage Will-o'-the-wisp is straightforward burn pressure, especially effective if you can set up multiple Fire energy accelerants or synergy with other Fire types in the deck—common in that era’s strategies where energy management and tempo defined success. The Water weakness reminds players to respect the metagame’s aquatic counters, urging careful bench placement and timing during matches. Collectors also note the card’s holo variants, which can tilt the perceived value relative to non-holo copies in casual play or tournament contexts.

Turbo-charging a deck around Ninetales means embracing a balance of stall and tempo. You’d want to protect Ninetales with a few smart bench-sitters that can expand your damage output or clog your opponent’s options. The power of Safeguard isn’t just preventing direct damage; it’s about forcing your opponent to rethink how they approach your board, often buying you crucial turns to deliver a serendipitous finisher with Will-o'-the-wisp or to evolve and press with a bigger threat later in the game. In a modern lens, players still appreciate such resilience in a card—whether used as a vintage centerpiece in a themed deck or a nostalgia pick for a collector who wants a strong focal card in a display shelf or binder page.

Collector’s corner: holo shine, rarity, and market vibes

Power Keepers was a set that balanced nostalgia with collectible appeal. Ninetales, as a rare card with holo variants, embodies that classic dynamic where the appearance matters as much as the numbers. The dual presence of normal and holo prints (plus a reverse holo variant) creates a spectrum of value for collectors. According to recent market data, normal copies tend to sit in the affordable range with a healthy upside if you snag a holo or reverse holo copy in pristine condition. CardMarket data shows a broad EUR spread, with holo prices generally higher than their non-holo counterparts, and a steady upward drift in value as players chase vintage Fire-type staples from the EX era. On the U.S. side, TCGPlayer’s numbers—low around $2.50, mid around $3.72, high around $5.80, with market price near $3.91—paint a picture of a card that remains approachable for casual collectors while still offering a niche upward trajectory for expectant buyers and traders. Reverse holo copies tend to command the most attention, with market prices that can climb well into the $30s and even approaching $50 in peak listings. This reflects a broader trend: holo variants from popular sets often outperform their non-holo siblings, especially when the card features strong fan-arts like Imakuni’s, and the nostalgia factor is high.

For modern collectors, the fascination with tie-ins extends beyond the card sleeves and binder pages. The art, the lore, and the set’s place in the history of the EX era blend into a broader narrative that resonates with fans who also collect Pokémon Center merchandise. A Ninetales card captured in a holo aura alongside commemorative phone grips or other merch becomes a tangible symbol of that synergy—where the tactile, everyday item (a phone grip) sits alongside a glossy, high-contrast collectible card with a storied background. It’s a reminder that collectibility isn’t solely about numbers; it’s about owning a piece of the larger Pokémon story that fans carry with them into battles, events, and everyday life 🔥🎴🎨.

Art and lore: the signature look of Imakuni

The illustrator behind Ninetales—Tomoaki Imakuni—adds a signature flair that many fans instantly recognize. Imakuni’s style blends whimsy with a hint of mystery, a perfect fit for the Fire-type’s enigmatic flame and the mythic aura surrounding Ninetales. This card’s art isn’t just a pretty picture; it’s a collectible artifact that sparks conversations about evolving illustration styles across generations. For fans who adore the fusion of gameplay and artistry, this card exemplifies how a single piece can bridge memory and strategy, making it a staple in many collector-conscious displays.

And when you pair that love of art with practical merch, the Pokémon Center ecosystem shines a little brighter. The trend toward limited-run accessories—like the Phone Grip Click-On Reusable Adhesive Holder Kickstand—lets fans carry a slice of that vintage energy into daily life, while the card itself remains a cornerstone of a curated collection. The synergy between tactile merch and timeless TCG staples is a celebration of how Pokémon remains a living, breathing universe across both play and display ⚡🎮.

Phone Grip Click-On Reusable Adhesive Holder Kickstand