The Safari Zone HD Remaster project is a way to recreate the original “Safari Zone Guesstimation Card List” I made many years back, but to also bring a fresh new look to the original Vending Machine set! Afterall, the original Vending cards were never released as a whole in English (not counting a few Black Star Promos), and my original English version cards are definitely looking a bit long in the tooth after all this time.
This project originally started with GC|Linkinboss—a regular on the PA! Discord—posting a few Vending cards using my Neo Gendai blanks… which I then thought that maybe they’d like to straight-up help remake the original Safari Zone? GC|L was totally onboard, and so here we are!
To get an idea of how much has changed since the original Safari Zone Guesstimation Card List release and this Safari Zone HD Remaster project, take a look at these Weezing cards:
Now as with the original version, the goal is to reproduce what Wizards might have done had they released the Vending Machine cards in an actual English set. For this, we would try to reproduce not just the card text based on how the game text would’ve been written back then (so no text stating “Special Conditions”) but also updating card rarity and giving them card numbers based on that rarity. To add one more bit of realism, we’re pretending this set was released between Neo Destiny and Expedition, and thus between February and September 2002; this means some Vending cards that were turned into promos, but they ended up included anyway (As some of these end up as a holo). There may be other surprises and minor adjustments as well, but these will also be based on what we felt Wizards might have done with the cards that they had access to… as a reminder, Wizards had rights to every Japanese card released at the time, even if they never actually released them in the end.
This page will cover all the cards released thus far. They are ideally being released weekly, between two to four (or so) at a time. Thus every card released will appear here. Easy-peasy, huh? So wait, why is this set out of 134 cards when the original Safari Zone was only out of 108? I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out, won’t you??
| Card № | Pokémon | Rarity | Original Set |
| 1 | Aerodactyl LV. 30 | ☆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 2 | Alakazam LV. 45 | ☆ | Masaki (Bill) Trade promos |
| 3 | Articuno LV. 34 | ☆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 4 | Blastoise LV. 52 | ☆ | Please Trade |
| 5 | Charizard LV. 76 | ☆ | Please Trade |
| 6 | Ditto LV. 15 | ☆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 7 | Gengar LV. 40 | ☆ | Masaki (Bill) Trade promos |
| 8 | Golduck LV. 28 | ☆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 9 | Golem LV. 37 | ☆ | Masaki (Bill) Trade promos |
| 10 | Kingler LV. 33 | ☆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 11 | Machamp LV. 54 | ☆ | Masaki (Bill) Trade promos |
| 12 | Mewtwo LV. 54 | ☆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 13 | Mewtwo LV. 67 | ☆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 14 | Moltres LV. 14 | ☆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 15 | Omastar LV. 36 | ☆ | Masaki (Bill) Trade promos |
| 16 | Poliwrath LV. 40 | ☆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 17 | Raichu LV. 32 | ☆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 18 | Snorlax LV. 35 | ☆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 19 | Venusaur LV. 67 | ☆ | Please Trade |
| 20 | Weezing LV. 26 | ☆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 21 | Wigglytuff LV. 40 | ☆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 22 | Zapdos LV. 28 | ☆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 23 | Arbok LV. 30 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 24 | Arcanine LV. 35 | ★ | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 25 | Chansey LV. 40 | ★ | Vending Series 1 |
| 26 | Dodrio LV. 25 | ★ | Vending Series 1 |
| 27 | Dugtrio LV. 40 | ★ | Easily Understand How to Play Pokémon Cards: Latest Edition Book |
| 28 | Electabuzz LV. 22 | ★ | Vending Series 2 |
| 29 | Graveler LV. 28 | ★ | Vending Series 2 |
| 30 | Haunter LV. 26 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 31 | Hitmonlee LV. 23 | ★ | Vending Series 2 |
| 32 | Hypno LV. 30 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 33 | Kadabra LV. 39 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 34 | Kangaskhan LV. 36 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 35 | Lapras LV. 24 | ★ | Vending Series 2 |
| 36 | Machoke LV. 28 | ★ | Vending Series 2 |
| 37 | Magmar LV. 27 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 38 | Mr. Mime LV. 20 | ★ | Vending Series 1 |
| 39 | Pidgeotto LV. 38 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 40 | Raichu LV. 33 | ★ | Bulbasaur Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 41 | Rhydon LV. 37 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 42 | Sandslash LV. 35 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 43 | Scyther LV. 23 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 44 | Seadra LV. 26 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 45 | Slowbro LV. 35 | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 46 | Venomoth LV. 22 | ★ | Vending Series 2 |
| 47 | Bulbasaur LV. 15 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 48 | Charmeleon LV. 38 | ◆ | Base Set (Yes, a Base Set reprint, only because there is literally NO OTHER Charmeleon card we could’ve used!) |
| 49 | Dewgong LV. 24 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 50 | Diglett LV. 16 | ◆ | Easily Understand How to Play Pokémon Cards: Latest Edition Book |
| 51 | Electabuzz LV. 30 | ◆ | Bulbasaur Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 52 | Fearow LV. 24 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 53 | Golbat LV. 25 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 54 | Graveler LV. 27 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 55 | Growlithe LV. 16 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 56 | Haunter LV. 25 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 57 | Hitmonchan LV. 23 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 58 | Ivysaur LV. 26 | ◆ | Bulbasaur Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 59 | Jynx LV. 18 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 60 | Jynx LV. 27 | ◆ | Bulbasaur Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 61 | Kadabra LV. 40 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 62 | Kakuna LV. 20 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 63 | Koffing LV. 16 | ◆ | Vending Series |
| 64 | Machoke LV. 24 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 65 | Magmar LV. 18 | ◆ | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 66 | Magneton LV. 30 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 67 | Metapod LV. 20 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 68 | Nidorina LV. 22 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 69 | Nidorino LV. 23 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 70 | Omanyte LV. 22 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 71 | Onix LV. 25 | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 72 | Parasect LV. 29 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 73 | Pikachu LV. 16 | ◆ | Toyota Auto Campaign |
| 74 | Pinsir LV. 15 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 75 | Poliwhirl LV. 30 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 76 | Rapidash LV. 30 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 77 | Squirtle LV. 15 | ◆ | Vending Series 1 |
| 78 | Wartortle LV. 78 | ◆ | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 79 | Weepinbell LV. 23 | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 80 | Abra LV. 8 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 81 | Bellsprout LV. 10 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 82 | Bulbasaur LV. 12 | ● | Bulbasaur Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 83 | Caterpie LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 84 | Charmander LV. 10 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 85 | Clefairy LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 86 | Cubone LV. 14 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 87 | Doduo LV. 10 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 88 | Eevee LV. 5 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 89 | Gastly LV. 13 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 90 | Geodude LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 91 | Grimer LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 92 | Growlithe LV. 12 | ● | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 93 | Horsea LV. 20 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 94 | Kabuto LV. 22 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 95 | Koffing LV. 14 | ● | Bulbasaur Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 96 | Krabby LV. 17 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 97 | Lickitung LV. 20 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 98 | Machop LV. 18 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 99 | Magnemite LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 100 | Meowth LV. 17 | ● | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 101 | Nidoran ♀ LV. 12 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 102 | Nidoran ♂ LV. 22 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 103 | Omanyte LV. 20 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 104 | Paras LV. 20 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 105 | Pidgey LV. 10 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 106 | Pikachu LV. 5 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 107 | Poliwag LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 108 | Ponyta LV. 8 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 109 | Porygon LV. 18 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 110 | Rattata LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 111 | Sandshrew LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 112 | Seel LV. 10 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 113 | Shellder LV. 16 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 114 | Slowpoke LV. 9 | ● | Official TCG Playmat Promo |
| 115 | Spearow LV. 9 | ● | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 116 | Spearow LV. 12 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 117 | Squirtle LV. 14 | ● | Squirtle Intro Pack Half Deck |
| 118 | Staryu LV. 17 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 119 | Tangela LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 120 | Tauros LV. 35 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 121 | Venonat LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 122 | Voltorb LV. 8 | ● | Vending Series 2 |
| 123 | Vulpix LV. 13 | ● | Vending Series 3 |
| 124 | Weedle LV. 15 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 125 | Zubat LV. 12 | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 126 | Moon Stone | ★ | Vending Series 1 |
| 127 | Pokémon Tower | ★ | Vending Series 3 |
| 128 | Flash | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 129 | Guard Spec. | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 130 | Master Ball | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 131 | Max Revive | ◆ | Vending Series 2 |
| 132 | Pokémon Retransfer | ◆ | Vending Series 3 |
| 133 | Fossil Excavation | ● | Vending Series 1 |
| 134 | Mysterious Fossil | ● | Fossil (It made sense a reprint as there are several fossils in the set!) |
| 135 | Mew LV. 25 | ☆☆☆ | World Hobby Fair Promo |
| 136 | Mewtwo LV. 30 | ☆☆☆ | World Hobby Fair Promo |
RARITY GUIDE:
- ☆ = Rare Holo
- ★ = Rare
- ◆ = Uncommon
- ● = Common
- ☆☆☆ = SECRET RARE!
…SURPRISE! As per tradition with the last 2 Neo Sets, there were a few secret rares thrown in, an idea that WOTC certainly appreciated, as they also did it with their own’s Dark Raichu, so why not? And what better duo to fill that role than the elusive Mew and Mewtwo, which we bestowed with a reverse holo a la Southern Island Promos.
Finally, at some point in the future, we MAY have a physical, proxy release of Safari Zone cards. Like, if you ever wanted to play with original Japanese Vending Machine cards in your deck, but can’t read Japanese… well, we might have a solution for you! GC|Linkinboss whipped these up for kicks and giggles, and they look awesome! Maybe one day they’ll be in your hands as well?
