Pokemon Jungle Set: Complete Review & Price Guide
A comprehensive guide to the Pokemon Jungle expansion set, covering every holographic rare, notable cards, current prices, and collecting strategies.
Pokemon Jungle Set: The First Expansion
The Pokemon Jungle Set was the first expansion for the Pokemon TCG, released in June 1999 in English. With 64 cards, Jungle expanded the game with new Pokemon, new strategies, and a jungle theme that brought fan favorites like Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon to the trading card game for the first time. Collectors in Sacramento, San Francisco, and throughout Northern California who were playing in 1999 remember the excitement of opening Jungle booster packs and discovering what the first expansion had to offer.
Set Overview and Card Distribution
Jungle contains 64 cards with the following rarity breakdown:
- 16 Holographic Rares: Including Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Mr. Mime, Scyther, Pinsir, Kangaskhan, Snorlax, Wigglytuff, Vileplume, Victreebel, Venomoth, Pidgeot, Nidoqueen, Clefable, and Electrode
- 16 Non-Holo Rares: Mirror versions of the holo rares without holographic foil
- 16 Uncommons: Evolution cards and popular Pokemon like Butterfree, Primeape, and Rhydon
- 16 Commons: Basic Pokemon and supporting cards
Notable Cards and Competitive Impact
Several Jungle cards had significant competitive impact on the early Pokemon TCG metagame:
- Scyther: A 70 HP Basic with free retreat and Swords Dance that became a Haymaker staple
- Mr. Mime: Invisible Wall prevented all damage of 30 or more, creating a unique defensive strategy
- Wigglytuff: Do the Wave dealt 10 damage per benched Pokemon, powering explosive turns
- Snorlax: Thick Skinned prevented status conditions while Body Slam offered solid damage
- Eeveelutions: Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon gave players type coverage options from a single basic Eevee
Current Market Values
Jungle holos are generally more affordable than Base Set holos, making them an excellent entry point for vintage collectors. PSA 9 Unlimited values for the holographic rares typically range from $20-$80, with some standouts commanding more. Collectors in San Jose, Oakland, and the Bay Area can build a complete graded Jungle holo set for a fraction of what Base Set would cost.
- Flareon Holo PSA 9: $40-$80
- Jolteon Holo PSA 9: $40-$80
- Vaporeon Holo PSA 9: $40-$80
- Scyther Holo PSA 9: $30-$60
- Mr. Mime Holo PSA 9: $25-$50
- Snorlax Holo PSA 9: $30-$60
- 1st Edition Holos: 3-5x Unlimited prices depending on the card
Collecting the Jungle Set
One advantage of collecting Jungle is that the non-holo rare versions of each holographic card are identical except for the holographic foil. This means budget-conscious collectors can build a visually complete set using non-holo rares at significantly lower cost. The set's jungle theme also makes for a visually cohesive binder display that stands out from other vintage sets. Many collectors in Roseville, Modesto, Stockton, and Elk Grove choose Jungle as their first complete vintage set for this reason.
Whether you want to start collecting the Jungle set or sell your existing Jungle cards, get a free quote from PokemonBuySell.com. We buy vintage Pokemon cards at competitive prices and serve collectors in Folsom, Sacramento, and across the nation. View every Jungle card in our set guide and track prices in our card database.
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