Blastoise’s standing as a true Pokémon icon certainly can’t be questioned. Featured on the cover of Pokémon Blue and thus half of the original box duo in the West, the final form of Squirtle continues to be a fan favorite almost three decades after its first appearance. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Blastoise ex card from Pokémon Card 151 [SV2a]—a set created to cater to those who’d been into Pokémon from the very beginning—garnered a huge amount of hype.

The first thing to note about this Special Art Rare (SAR) card’s Full Art illustration is the fact that Blastoise ex is turned sideways. While this may on the surface appear to be a minor detail, it’s actually one that elevates the status of the card in general. That’s because it puts Blastoise’s most iconic feature in full view—its shoulder cannon that’s now become one of the defining images of the entire Pokémon franchise.

Blastoise ex is shown standing on the seafloor—and this is for a reason. This card’s illustration is the culmination of a three-part narrative extending from the set’s Squirtle and Wartortle cards. If a card has a certain storyline, its value tends to increase. That’s exactly what has happened here.

The spectrum-like holofoil adds a visual effect to the card as well. The holofoil makes it seem as though light is streaming down from the surface of the water all the way down to the seafloor, making the illustration appear more life-like.

In English, this card is 200/165 in the 151 [MEW] set.

A Blastoise ex (Pokémon Card 151 [SV2a] 202/165) card goes for 4,500 JPY (~US$29) according to the latest figures.

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