Foongus: Rarity vs Pull Rate Correlation in TCG

In TCG ·

Foongus card art from Silver Tempest (SWSh12-011)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Foongus and the math of rarity: unpacking pull rates in Pokémon TCG

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, rarity is more than a stamp on a card’s corner—it’s a probability map that shapes how players approach each booster pull. Foongus, a Common Basic Grass-type from the Silver Tempest set (SWSh12, card 011), embodies the quiet backbone of many decks and the omnipresent reality of booster odds. With just 50 HP and a modest Ram attack that deals 10 damage, Foongus might not grab the spotlight, but it illustrates a fundamental truth: the more common a card is, the more frequently you’ll encounter it in packs, sleeves, and binder pages alike. The card’s basic stage and low energy cost make it a reliable early-game body, especially when you’re setting up a broader strategy or stalling for late-game power. ⚡🔥

The Silver Tempest set itself presents a telling snapshot of rarity distribution. Officially listing 195 unique cards in its core print, with a total of 245 across all variants, it reinforces the idea that Commons like Foongus are designed to flood the early portions of booster packs. In practice, this means that while you’re chasing Rare or Ultra Rare powerhouses, you’ll encounter a steady stream of Commons across multiple packs. This isn’t just about collecting—it’s a fundamental mechanic that encourages players to build flexible, energy-efficient lines and to see how many small, repeatable plays can add up over a game. Foongus’ presence in this mix helps new players practice bench development, energy management, and timing without risking a heavy investment in a single card. 🎴🎨

Rarity, pull-rate expectations, and deck-building realities

  • Common cards typically appear with higher frequency in booster packs, while Rare and Ultra Rare cards occupy a smaller slice of the distribution. For Foongus, this translates into frequent sightings that can help you test basic grass-type support lines or stall tactics without breaking your budget. 🌱
  • As a Basic Grass-type with 50 HP, Foongus is especially appealing for players experimenting with early-game tempo and energy acceleration. Its single-cost Ram attack—10 damage—offers a predictable, low-risk option to chip away at early-game threats while you set up larger threats later in the match.
  • When you consider the regulation and printing context, Foongus sits under the F regulation mark in Steel or later formats, reinforcing its role as a flexible, commonly accessible piece in Expanded play. In practice, the card’s accessibility makes it a valuable teaching tool for understanding how energy, retreat costs (1), and attack costs influence decision-making in the first few turns. 🔎
  • From a collector’s lens, the relationship between rarity and pull rate becomes a narrative of momentum. While Foongus won’t supplant chase cards as a centerpiece, it gives players a steady, affordable path to building a complete Silver Tempest binder and a tangible sense of progress with each new pack.

To pair this with real-world market signals, consider how price data mirrors the rarity-driven pull-rate reality. On Cardmarket, non-holo Foongus in this era typically hovers around 0.02–0.03 EUR, with the average near 0.03 and holo variants edging higher—roughly 0.15 EUR on average, sometimes peaking toward 0.24 EUR for select copies. On TCGPlayer, the standard Foongus market price sits around 0.06 USD, with reverse-holo versions often higher—mid-$0.17, and occasionally peaking near the $2 mark for standout reverse holos. Those numbers echo the practical experience of chasing Common and Common-reverse holo cards: they’re affordable, common in quantity, and still hold a collectible edge for players who enjoy a complete set. 💎

“The thrill of the hunt isn’t always in pulling the rarest card—it's in understanding the rhythm of the packs and using that rhythm to your advantage.”

Artist credits and illustration specifics can color the story, but the provided card data doesn’t list an illustrator for Foongus in Silver Tempest. That said, the artwork across this set is a mosaic of styles from dedicated Pokémon artists, each contributing to the charm of the card pool. The lack of a listed illustrator in this snapshot shouldn’t dampen the appreciation for the card’s visual design; Foongus remains a playful reminder of nature’s whimsy—mushroom-on-known-unseen magic with a hint of forest mystery. 🧚‍♀️

Strategic takeaways for players and collectors

  • For players: Foongus’ low HP and single-colorless attack invite you to weave it into a tempo or stall-based Grass deck. Use it to bait your opponent’s early resources while you ramp into larger threats. Its low retreat cost helps you keep flexibility on the bench, chasing multi-attack turns as you draw into your primary plan. Always weigh the value of bench pressure versus damage output, particularly when you’re facing lists packed with higher-OHP threats. ⚡🎮
  • For collectors: Common cards can become surprisingly collectible in reverse-holo form. Foongus’ reverse-holo presence in Silver Tempest offers a practical path to completing a binder, with typical reverse-holo prices hovering in the few-tenths-to-a-dollar range depending on print quality and market demand. The durability of the card as a staple in many Grass-themed decks makes it a reliable entry-point for new collectors who want to steadily expand their holdings without a steep financial hurdle. 💎
  • Pricing dynamics: The separation between non-holo and holo values reflects supply and demand. The near-zero odds of pulling a high-value card don’t preclude macro gains over time—especially as players look to complete sets or chase specific variants. Smart collectors track both the raw pull rate and the secondary market, where reverse holos can offer a surprising value bump as the set ages. 🧭

Art, lore, and the delight of the Silver Tempest era

The Foongus you’re admiring here belongs to a broader ecosystem in Silver Tempest, a set known for its balanced mix of evergreen staples and newer mechanics. While this article doesn’t credit a specific illustrator in the provided data, fans have long appreciated the whimsical, forest-inspired aesthetic of Foongus and its companions in the grass category. The TCG’s art team brings a playful but meticulous attention to the fauna and fungi of the Pokémon world, turning a simple Basic into a charming piece of the evolving story behind each card. 🎨

Putting it all together: connecting rarity, pull rate, and value

So what’s the bottom line for Foongus and its place in the great equation of rarity vs pull rate? Common cards like Foongus anchor a set’s accessibility, making it easier for newcomers to build armies of grass-type Pokemon while seasoned players appreciate the reliable, repeatable options they can rely on as a base for experimentation. The market data supports this practical role: Foongus remains cheap to acquire in bulk, with reverse holos offering a touch more value for collectors who like the satisfaction of completing sets. And because Silver Tempest continues to show strong card diversity, the presence of Foongus as a common staple reinforces the relationship between rarity class and in-pack probability in a way that’s tangible, testable, and very much part of the modern TCG experience. ⚡💎

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