If you’ve been following Pokémon TCG news closely lately, then you know that Kabuto is currently undergoing a dramatic revival. Thanks to an intrepid fossil fan buying up as many copies of the first printing of Kabuto as they can, the stony shellfish has undergone a 1,400% price spike between August and December of this year. There’s more than one first generation fossil Pokémon, though, and in recent days Omanyte has also been getting some attention.
According to data from TCGplayer, a month ago, on the 7th November, first edition printings of Omanyte from the set Fossil, where it debuted, were worth 87 cents. Now, on the 7th December, the card is selling for an average of $6.12, an increase of just over 600%.
Omanyte’s new $6.12 value, while a big step up compared to its old price tag, pales in comparison to the $30+ you now need to spend to get your hands on a first edition Kabuto. So if there is any sort of rivalry emerging here, then it’s currently pretty one-sided.
Then there’s Aerodactyl, Kanto’s final fossil Pokémon, whose price has remained far more stable than its other prehistoric counterparts. First edition Aerodactyls have remained roughly $7 throughout the entirety of 2025. This means that, even after the recent price bump, Omanyte hasn’t caught up to this soaring pterodactyl, or to its old dome shaped rival.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to definitively prove that this Omanyte price spike is related to all of the attention that Kabuto has been getting. While it certainly seems like the most probable cause, there may be other factors at play. The helix fossil does work in mysterious ways after all.
Who’s your favorite fossil Pokémon? Personally, I’ve always been a fan of Crandios because he’s just such a goofy li’l guy. Let us know your pick in the Wargamer Discord.