Dawn
Quick take
- Pokemon Diamond/Pearl player character and anime co-star
- Day-one English market around $8, entry tier of Phantasmal Flames trainer URs
- Yuu Nishida illustration in modern trainer-portrait style
- 329 monthly GSC impressions, disproportionately high traffic for the price tier
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Phantasmal Flames
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 118/94 · $5.68 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Sinnoh Anime Co-Star Gets a Modern TCG Moment
Dawn was introduced as the female player character in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (2007), then promoted to anime co-star alongside Ash Ketchum across the Sinnoh / Pokemon DP arcs (2006-2010). Where most game protagonists stay in the game canon, Dawn became one of the most-developed anime trainer characters in the franchise's history. Her competitive Coordinator career. Her signature Piplup. Her recurring guest appearances in subsequent anime arcs. The cultural weight pure-game protagonists rarely achieve.
“Pokemon Diamond/Pearl player character and anime co-star”
Phantasmal Flames includes Dawn at me2-118, a Trainer UR slot that brings the Sinnoh co-star into the modern Mega Evolution era TCG. Yuu Nishida's illustration depicts Dawn in her classic outfit with implied background of Sinnoh region elements. The composition is restrained, character portrait rather than action scene, palette-driven atmosphere rather than rendered environment.
Pricing at $8 places the card in the entry tier of Phantasmal Flames trainer URs. Below the headline trainer cards in the set, but at a price accessible to broad collector audiences. The 329 monthly GSC impressions tell the same story Piplup IR tells, Dawn's recognition extends beyond active TCG collectors, and search demand is broader than the price suggests.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $8 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Entry tier of Phantasmal Flames trainer URs. Below the headline trainer cards in the set but at an accessible price point.
Has held the $6-12 range since release. Entry-tier trainer URs show low volatility, narrow collector pool combined with stable completionist demand. Dawn specifically benefits from anime fan crossover that pure-TCG trainer cards lack.
Stable, limited upside. Dawn's character durability is solid (anime presence, game protagonist status) but the entry-tier price caps appreciation. The card works as a master-set completion piece or anime-character themed collection entry.
PSA 10 economics are tight at this price point. Premium is 1.2-1.5x raw, which works to $10-12, minimal margin after fees and shipping. Generally not worth grading speculatively. Personal-display grading is reasonable for collectors who want the Dawn slab specifically.
Roughly 1 in 12 packs across all Ultra Rare slots in Phantasmal Flames. Per-specific-card rate roughly 1 in 120+ packs.
Entry tier of Phantasmal Flames trainer URs. Below the headline trainer cards in the set. Comparable to other game-protagonist UR slots across recent Mega Evolution era releases.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Yuu Nishida is a contemporary Japanese illustrator with TCG credits across the Sword & Shield and Mega Evolution eras. The Nishida style favours clean character portraits with restrained backgrounds. Dawn UR is a representative example.
Dawn in her classic Diamond/Pearl outfit, pink skirt, black-and-white top, signature beanie. The character is depicted in a confident portrait pose with implied Sinnoh region background elements. The composition uses warm pinks and pale blues that align with Dawn's established character palette.
Ultra Rare with full-bleed textured holofoil. Texture follows Dawn's clothing contours and background elements. Standard UR foiling for the Mega Evolution era, consistent with other trainer UR slots in the set.
Trainer URs typically commit to action poses or hero shots. Nishida's Dawn commits to character portrait, Dawn as a person rather than a battle-card prop. The restrained composition lets the character carry the card. For Dawn-specific collectors, the portrait approach is more fitting than typical hero-pose treatments would be.
BackgroundAbout Dawn
Dawn (Hikari in Japanese) debuted as the female player character in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (2007). Included in subsequent appearances across Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl (2021) remakes and various anime arcs. Dawn's anime co-star role with Ash Ketchum across the DP series (2006-2010) made her one of the most-developed game-protagonist-turned-anime-character figures in franchise history. Her competitive Coordinator career, focus on Pokemon Contests rather than Gym Battles, and signature Piplup partnership gave Dawn a distinct identity within the franchise's protagonist roster.
- ›Pokemon Diamond/Pearl player character recognition
- ›Anime co-star status across the entire DP series (2006-2010)
- ›Signature Piplup partnership, the refused-to-evolve storyline became iconic
- ›Pokemon Contest Coordinator role, distinct from typical Gym Battle protagonists
- ›Recurring guest appearances in subsequent anime arcs maintained relevance
- ›Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (2007) as the female player character
- ›Pokemon DP / DP: Battle Dimension / DP: Galactic Battles / DP: Sinnoh League Victors anime (2006-2010)
- ›Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl (2021) remakes
- ›Recurring guest in Pokemon Journeys and other subsequent anime arcs
- ›Pokemon Masters EX as a sync pair option with multiple Pokemon
Own it wellCollector guide
Standard Ultra Rare foiling. The warm-palette composition is forgiving on centering. Inspect under angled light for any waviness in the holofoil pattern across Dawn's clothing details.
Submission economics are tight at $8 raw. PSA 10 premium is 1.2-1.5x raw, minimal margin. Generally not worth grading speculatively. Worth grading only for personal-display collectors who want the Dawn slab specifically. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve on pull, top loader for raw. Standard climate-controlled storage is sufficient at this price point. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw. eBay works but the price point isn't worth significant search time. Dawn UR is best bought alongside Piplup IR (me2-98) for the Dawn/Piplup thematic pair from Phantasmal Flames, total runs about $20 raw. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Steadily positive. Anime fans specifically appreciate Dawn's modern TCG treatment. Diamond/Pearl-era players who grew up with Dawn as their protagonist often single this card out as a nostalgic pickup.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $8 raw
- ›Limited PSA 10 graded comps given the price point
Higher than typical for entry-tier URs. The 329 monthly GSC impressions reflect Dawn's broad anime recognition driving steady search traffic beyond TCG-focused audiences.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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