Articuno - 161/159 - SV09: Journey Together (JTG) NM Pokemon
The original Kanto legendary bird, rendered at its most serene. Articuno 161/159 from Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together (SV09) lands as an Illustration Rare — a secret card numbered beyond the set's 159-card base, the hallmark of the modern era's most collectible non-holo pulls. The art is by Kuroimori, a Scarlet & Violet-era illustrator whose style leans whimsical and atmospheric, and the composition here delivers exactly that: Articuno gliding through a frozen forest, crystalline fronds and icy sparkles framing the scene, cool cyan and deep blue dominating the palette. No battle pose, no forced drama — the illustration simply trusts one of Pokémon's most beloved Gen I legendaries to carry the card.
- Card: Articuno — 161/159, Illustration Rare (IR), Holofoil
- Set: Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together (SV09), released March 28, 2025 — the ninth main Scarlet & Violet expansion and the set that brought back the beloved Trainer's Pokémon mechanic
- Illustrator: Kuroimori, with multiple Scarlet & Violet-era credits including Paldean Fates and Twilight Masquerade
- Market: Raw NM copies trading around $20–22 across TCGPlayer and recent eBay sales, with the card showing a notable uptick in the past 30 days
- Condition: Near Mint (NM)
Articuno has long been the consensus favorite of the Kanto bird trio among collectors — the Ice-typing, the elegant palette, the calm-flight aesthetic all age exceptionally well in modern art treatments. This Kuroimori Illustration Rare is the cleanest, most evocative single-card Articuno of the modern era. A natural anchor for any Generation I legendary collection or Illustration Rare run from SV09.
Available at Collector Station, Easley, SC. Local pickup available. All sales final. Shipping damage must be reported within 48 hours of delivery with photos.
