Shroomish Art Spotlight: Collector Favorites in Pokémon TCG

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Shroomish card art from Unified Minds by Ken Sugimori

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Shroomish and Ken Sugimori’s Grass-Type Charm in Unified Minds

Fans of the Pokémon TCG know that the tiniest silhouettes can spark the strongest memories. Shroomish, a humble Basic Grass-type, is one such card that has endured in players’ and collectors’ conversations long after its card counting and sleeve-sliding days. In the Unified Minds set (SM11), this little Mushroom Pokémon is more than a simple stat line; it’s a vivid brushstroke in Ken Sugimori’s art catalog, a reminder that even common cards can carry a spark of nostalgia, strategy, and charm ⚡🔥. With 60 HP and a single, sing-song attack, Shroomish is easy to overlook on a fast bench, yet it rewards curious collectors who dive into the full artifact of its design and play pattern. The card’s core data is elegantly concise: it’s a Grass-type Basic with 60 HP, a single Poison Powder attack, and a weakness to Fire that doubles the damage it would receive. Its retreat cost of 1 keeps it accessible for early bench setups, letting you set up a Breloom evolution while maintaining pressure on your opponent’s Active. The art by Ken Sugimori captures that quintessential Pokémon vibe—the small, cheerful Shroomish with a hint of forest floor texture and a splash of color that pops in holo and reverse-holo variants. The card’s rarity is Common, which means it appears frequently in packs, but the overall allure comes from its art, its lineage within Unified Minds, and its evolution line that brings Breloom into focus later in play. Card data at a glance anchors the experience for both players and collectors: - Name: Shroomish - Type/Stage: Grass / Basic - HP: 60 - Attack: Poison Powder — Cost: Grass; Effect: Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Poisoned - Weakness: Fire x2 - Retreat Cost: 1 - Set: Unified Minds (SM11) - Illustrator: Ken Sugimori - Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse Holo - Evolves to: Breloom (Breloom is the natural evolution, a key synergy in Grass-type lines) - Rarity: Common What makes this card truly sing for collectors is not merely its stats but its artistry and place in the broader Sugimori catalogue. Sugimori’s signature soft shading and bold, approachable character design breathe life into a card that would otherwise be a straightforward bench pressure creature. In the Unified Minds era, the art style balances vibrant forest greens with gentle, earthy detailing—an aesthetic that pairs beautifully with the “forest floor” vibe of Shroomish’s habitat. For many fans, this card is a keeper not just for the card itself but for the memory of opening a pack and discovering Sugimori’s hand in every leaf and cap. From a gameplay perspective, Poison Powder is a compact, tempo-friendly attack. It doesn’t require heavy energy investment, and its Poisoned status helps you apply ongoing pressure while you pivot toward Breloom, a Pokémon with stronger offensive and utility options as you climb the evolutionary ladder. In sealed play or casual constructed formats that welcome Unified Minds staples, Shroomish serves as a dependable early bench piece to stall or redirect momentum while you set up your board. Its energy cost is simple, and with a retreat of 1, it remains malleable for quick save plays when your opponent tries to disrupt your plan. Market watchers will appreciate the nuanced value of Shroomish across variants. Data from Cardmarket and TCGPlayer reveals a spectrum typical for Common Grass basics of this era. Non-holo copies tend to hover in the few-cent to dime range, with typical averages around EUR 0.07 on Cardmarket and low prices around EUR 0.02. The holos, meanwhile, sit higher on the spectrum—averaging around USD 0.35 on TCGPlayer’s holo market, with low holo prices near EUR 0.02 in some markets and highs that can approach a few dollars in standout listings. The dynamic illustrates a classic collector’s principle: the allure of holo and reverse-holo variants can elevate interest and price even when the base card remains a routine staple of decks and collections. For a card with a finalized price snapshot that includes a high watermark of roughly USD 1.49 for certain non-standard market moments on TCGPlayer, the range tells a story of steady, modest demand with spikes tied to specific print runs or condition-focused finds. In the art-facing dimension, Shroomish sits at a crossroads of nostalgia and strategy. The set Unified Minds is known for its accessibility and for weaving familiar Pokémon with fresh mechanics and Trainer-support content. Ken Sugimori’s illustration captures a moment of forest tranquility—a contrast to the high-stakes, fast-paced battles that often dominate the TCG stage. This juxtaposition sparks conversations among collectors about artwork as much as card play value. As a basic Grass-type, Shroomish also hints at the long-term evolution arc that many players enjoy: a path from humble basic to the more ambitious Breloom, a cycle that resonates with fans who started collecting with first-generation and second-generation favorites. Crafting a collector’s mindset around Shroomish means embracing both its immediate gameplay utility and its longer-term archival value. The card’s holo variants, in particular, tend to become focal points at local tournaments and shop displays, where the glow-light effect on a quiet forest creature can evoke a sense of wonder and memory rather than pure numeric advantage. For new collectors, it’s an accessible entry point into the broader Unified Minds set, inviting a deeper dive into related cards—like Breloom's evolution or other Grass-type staples that share Sugimori’s distinctive touch. If you’re building a tribute collection: consider pairing Shroomish with other Ken Sugimori-illustrated cards from the same era to showcase the artist’s enduring influence on Pokémon’s visual language. You’ll find fan discussions and blog spotlights that celebrate the artistry behind the cards, much like this piece, pairing art appreciation with practical insight into deck-building and market dynamics. For players, the Poison Powder interaction remains a charming reminder that small, well-timed effects can carve out room for a strategic pivot, especially when you’re aiming to control tempo while the bench warmers—like Shroomish—prepare for a future Breloom payoff. Product spotlight and community engagement aren’t mutually exclusive; the practical, tactile nature of a card’s art and mechanics often leads to conversations about the wider Pokémon universe. If you’re curious to explore products beyond the card table, this highlighted item offers a convenient way to keep your devices aligned with TCG-themed gear, blending collector passion with daily usability. ⚡🎴 CTA: Phone Grip Click-On Reusable Adhesive Holder Kickstand

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