Slowpoke
Quick take
- Illustration Rare, card 204, sits in the set's secret-rare numbering above the 198 base cards
- Art by Toshinao Aoki, a long-tenured TCG illustrator who returned as a recurring artist in the modern era
- Slowpoke's fanbase drives steady demand beyond what the rarity alone would push
- Mandatory pickup for anyone completing the Scarlet & Violet Base Set master set
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet Base Set
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 204/198 · $38.82 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyA low-key Illustration Rare that punches above its rarity tier
Card 204 in Scarlet & Violet Base Set is the Slowpoke Illustration Rare, art by Toshinao Aoki. It sits in the IR slot of the set's secret-rare run, above the standard 198 cards. For a common-feeling Pokemon, it gets a surprising amount of love.
“Illustration Rare, card 204, sits in the set's secret-rare numbering above the 198 base cards”
Part of that is the art. Aoki frames Slowpoke in a relaxed everyday scene rather than a battle, which is exactly what the Illustration Rare subset was built to do. The other part is Slowpoke itself. The Pokemon has a cult following, and that fanbase reliably chases any card that shows it doing nothing in particular. The result is a card that moves faster than its rarity would suggest, even if it is not a top-of-set chase.
For master set builders, this is a required pull. Scarlet & Violet Base Set master sets include every Illustration Rare, so 204 is on the checklist whether you love the art or not. The good news is the art makes it an easy one to want.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This is a mid-tier secondary card, not a set chase. It sits well below the set's Special Illustration Rares and ex chase cards, but it holds a clear premium over the bulk holos and the common Illustration Rares in the set. Think of it as a recognizable name on collector want lists rather than a marquee single. Live pricing is shown elsewhere on this page.
Pricing has been steady since the set's 2023 release. Slowpoke's fanbase gives the card a soft floor, so it has not slid into bulk territory the way some IRs do. Expect slow, demand-driven movement rather than sharp swings.
Treat this as a collector card first, not a flip. The Slowpoke name keeps demand consistent, which protects the downside. The upside is capped by how many copies exist as an IR pulled around 1 in 12 packs across a heavily printed set. A clean copy is a safe hold. If you want appreciation, a high grade is where any real movement will come from.
Raw copies trade cheaply because the print run is large. The premium lives at the top of the grading scale. A PSA 10 or equivalent gem-mint slab carries a meaningful multiplier over raw, while a 9 sits much closer to raw money. Centering and surface are the usual gating factors on this print.
In Scarlet & Violet sets, you can expect to hit some Illustration Rare roughly once every 12 packs. That is the rate for any IR, though. Each set has many different Illustration Rares, so the odds of pulling this specific Slowpoke run much longer, often well past a booster box of hunting. For comparison within the era: any Double Rare lands around 1 in 5 packs, any Ultra Rare around 1 in 15, any Special Illustration Rare around 1 in 90, and Hyper Rares somewhere from 1 in 300 to 1 in 700. Most people who want this card buy the single rather than rip packs for it.
As IRs go, this one is more available than chase-tier secret rares but harder to land than the set's common holos. The large print run of Scarlet & Violet Base Set keeps raw supply healthy, which is why the action is at the graded-gem end rather than in raw copies.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Aoki is one of the longer-tenured names in Pokemon TCG art, with card work going back to the early era of the game. After a long gap he returned to the modern game and became a recurring illustrator again during the Scarlet & Violet era. His style leans toward clean, character-focused compositions with a storybook warmth, which suits the Illustration Rare format well.
The card places Slowpoke in a calm, everyday setting rather than mid-battle. It is the kind of slice-of-life framing the Illustration Rare subset was designed around, letting the Pokemon just exist in its environment. Slowpoke's signature blank, unbothered expression carries the piece. The holo treatment on the IR finish gives the scene a soft shine without overwhelming the art.
Standard Scarlet & Violet Illustration Rare layout: full illustration with the textured holo pattern used across the era's IRs, and the card number 204/198 marking it as a secret rare above the 198-card base count. The finish is a flat holo sheen rather than the heavier texturing seen on Special Illustration Rares.
It takes one of the most low-energy Pokemon in the franchise and leans into that personality instead of fighting it. The art does not try to make Slowpoke cool. It lets Slowpoke be Slowpoke, and that honesty is why the people who love this Pokemon love this card.
BackgroundAbout Slowpoke
Slowpoke has been around since the original Red and Green games as a Water and Psychic type from the Kanto region. It is famous for being slow on the uptake, with a tail that other Pokemon nibble on, and it evolves into Slowbro and Slowking. Decades of games, anime appearances, and merchandise have made it one of the more beloved gag Pokemon, and Galarian Slowpoke later expanded the family further.
- ›Long-running fan favorite dating to the very first generation
- ›Comedic, laid-back personality that fans find endearing
- ›Evolves into the equally popular Slowbro and Slowking
- ›Frequent star of merchandise and lighthearted promos
- ›Original Kanto Pokedex as a Water and Psychic type
- ›Galarian Slowpoke and its regional evolutions in the Galar region
This card is a collector piece, not a competitive staple. The basic Slowpoke here is a low-HP Water type with Rest and Headbutt, fine for casual play but not a fixture in tournament decks.
Own it wellCollector guide
Modern IRs show wear easily. Watch the front-facing holo surface for print lines and fine scratches, and check the corners and edges under good light. Centering varies on this print, so eyeball the border on all four sides before paying a premium.
Grading only makes sense for clean, well-centered copies aiming at a gem-mint grade. The PSA 10 or equivalent carries the premium here. A 9 lands close to raw value, so a borderline copy is usually better left raw and enjoyed in the binder. Pre-screen centering and surface before sending. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve in a penny sleeve plus a top loader at minimum, or a card saver if you plan to grade. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from humidity to protect the holo. For master set storage, a side-loading binder page or a toploader binder avoids the edge wear that flat binder slots can cause. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than chasing it through packs, since the specific-card pull odds are brutal. Raw near-mint copies are the value play and easy to find. If you want a slab, buy the grade you actually want already encased rather than gambling on a raw copy grading a 10. Verify photos show centering and surface clearly before committing. See the singles buying guide →
Modern Scarlet & Violet cards are far less faked than vintage chase cards, and at this price point fakes are uncommon. Still, check that the holo pattern matches genuine SV IRs, confirm the 204/198 number and Aoki credit are present and cleanly printed, and use a light test if anything feels off. For any serious money, buy graded from a reputable grader.
Protect your card
Low Chase Score — basic protection is plenty. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Collectors like this card more than its rarity would predict. The recurring theme online is people specifically hunting the full-art Slowpoke and being thrilled when they finally land it. That is the kind of name-driven demand that keeps an IR from sinking into bulk.
Slowpoke pulls and binder shots circulate steadily in collecting communities. The card gets singled out as a favorite from the set's Illustration Rare lineup, helped by the Pokemon's broad goodwill and Aoki's art. Buzz is consistent rather than spiky.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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