12 Hardest Sandshrew Pokémon Cards to Pull
Ranked by estimated pull rates from English booster packs.
Sandshrew’s warm earthy artwork and Alolan Sandshrew’s icy scenes give this collection two contrasting looks. Much of the challenge here is finding a particular reverse holo. These English estimates compare exact finishes and use visibly labelled assumptions where direct evidence is limited.
Pull rates are estimates—see how this ranking works.
Estimated odds, limited coverage. This uses the same estimates as our pull-rate calculators, including labelled rough models and very-low-confidence assumptions. It does not establish the hardest Sandshrew ever printed; nearby estimates may not represent a real difference in difficulty.
How the ranking works ↓We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through our eBay links. Card images are artwork references; edition stamps and foil finishes may differ.
Sandshrew pull rates at a glance
A larger pack figure means a lower estimated chance. Figures are rounded to two significant digits; matching rounded estimates share a rank.
| Rank | Card & set | Estimated packs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandshrew 131/264Fusion Strike · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 220Rough estimate |
| 2 | Alolan Sandshrew 137/236Cosmic Eclipse · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 190Rough estimate |
| 3 | Sandshrew 83/214Unbroken Bonds · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 180Rough estimate |
| 4 = | Sandshrew 75/162BREAKthrough · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 140Rough estimate |
| 4 = | Sandshrew 124/147Supreme Victors · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 140Rough estimate |
| 6 = | Sandshrew 78/149Boundaries Crossed · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 130Rough estimate |
| 6 = | Alolan Sandshrew 19/145Guardians Rising · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 130Rough estimate |
| 6 = | Alolan Sandshrew 28/156Ultra Prism · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 130Rough estimate |
| 9 | Sandshrew 96/123Mysterious Treasures · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 120Rough estimate |
| 10 = | Sandshrew 82/113EX Delta Species · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 110Rough estimate |
| 10 = | Sandshrew 79/123HeartGold SoulSilver · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 110Rough estimate |
| 10 = | Sandshrew 91/110Legendary Collection · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 110 |
The hardest-to-pull Sandshrew countdown
#10 (joint) · Sandshrew
Legendary Collection · 91/110 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 110 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$115.24 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Legendary Collection’s distinctive reverse-holo treatment makes this a different collecting target from the ordinary finish. The displayed image may be an artwork reference; check the actual foil pattern when buying.
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Reverse holos use the community single-sheet estimate of 1/110. Common and uncommon estimates approximate the mixed nine-card sheet.
#10 (joint) · Sandshrew
HeartGold SoulSilver · 79/123 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 110 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$33.51 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This HeartGold SoulSilver printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 105 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#10 (joint) · Sandshrew
EX Delta Species · 82/113 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 110 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$87.71 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This EX Delta Species printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 107 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#9 · Sandshrew
Mysterious Treasures · 96/123 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 120 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$8.04 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Mysterious Treasures printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 120 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#6 (joint) · Alolan Sandshrew
Ultra Prism · 28/156 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 130 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$0.56 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Ultra Prism printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 129 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#6 (joint) · Alolan Sandshrew
Guardians Rising · 19/145 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 130 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$0.81 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Guardians Rising printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 126 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#6 (joint) · Sandshrew
Boundaries Crossed · 78/149 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 130 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$10.54 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Boundaries Crossed printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 130 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#4 (joint) · Sandshrew
Supreme Victors · 124/147 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 140 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$12.96 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Supreme Victors printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 140 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#4 (joint) · Sandshrew
BREAKthrough · 75/162 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 140 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$0.87 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This BREAKthrough printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 139 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#3 · Sandshrew
Unbroken Bonds · 83/214 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 180 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$0.42 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This reverse holo offers a smaller collecting target alongside Unbroken Bonds’ GX chases. Its estimated chance concerns this particular number and finish, not the probability of finding any reverse holo.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 179 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#2 · Alolan Sandshrew
Cosmic Eclipse · 137/236 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 190 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$2.78 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
This Cosmic Eclipse printing adds a reverse-holo version to the Pokémon’s checklist. The estimate concerns the exact collector number shown. An ordinary card with the same artwork does not count as this foil pull.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 193 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#1 · Sandshrew
Fusion Strike · 131/264 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 220 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$0.96 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Sandshrew sits among dense green leaves, its yellow body making a bright focal point. This comparison ranks the reverse holo, whose rough odds reflect a share of Fusion Strike’s large eligible pool.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 217 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
How we compare Sandshrew pull rates
We compare the chance of pulling one exact card from one English pack of its release. A rarity’s overall hit rate is different from the odds of finding a particular Sandshrew within that rarity. Evidence ranges from reported community openings and print-sheet models to rough comparisons and assumed rarity frequencies. Each rough estimate carries its warning beside the odds; expand its explanation for the actual basis.
Japanese cards, guaranteed promos, deck cards and box toppers are outside this ranking. Vintage editions with shared odds take one position. Distinct pack-pulled finishes can qualify separately. Prices do not affect the order, and a missing price does not remove an otherwise eligible card.
Up to ten cards are selected automatically from available estimates, with any tie at the cutoff kept together. Estimates are rounded to two significant digits for comparison, not presented as precise measurements. New cards can enter when a matching printing and estimate are available; prices refresh with the catalogue. Descriptions stay with their card when the order changes.
Sandshrew pull-rate questions
Which Sandshrew card is hardest to pull?
Sandshrew 131/264 (Fusion Strike, Reverse Holofoil) has the lowest estimated chance among the qualifying cards here: about 1 in 220 packs. This is the current model’s ordering, including any rough assumptions labelled above. It does not cover every Sandshrew ever released.
Will opening 220 packs guarantee the top-ranked card?
No. For the first card listed at rank 1, opening 220 independent packs gives an estimated 63.8% chance of at least one copy. The average waiting time is not a promise; actual packs and factory collation can behave differently from this model.
Is the hardest Sandshrew to pull also the most expensive?
Not necessarily. Artwork, demand, condition and how much product exists also matter to collectors. This guide ranks estimated pack odds. Our most expensive Sandshrew guide compares available raw prices instead.
Do a booster box or an Elite Trainer Box guarantee a Sandshrew?
These estimates do not establish any product-level guarantee. A named Sandshrew promo included in a product is separate from the random cards inside its booster packs. Use the exact-card calculator to explore pack quantities and its stated assumptions.
Why can a reverse-holo Sandshrew rank above a rarer-looking card?
This compares one exact printing. A large reverse-holo pool can make a particular card’s modelled chance small even when reverse holos overall are common. Most of these estimates assume equal chances within the pool. That does not prove this Pokémon is short-printed, and it does not describe the ordinary non-holo version.