Bulbasaur
Quick take
- Iwamoto's lifestyle-illustration aesthetic, same artistic series as Squirtle's coffee-mug IR
- Most affordable of the 151 starter trio at ~$85 raw
- Pairs with Charmander IR (#168) and Squirtle IR (#170) as the consensus starter chase
- Pokedex #001 status, Bulbasaur is the first entry in every Pokedex
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet 151
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 166/165 · $65.01 — 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 Most Affordable of the 151 Starter Trio, Still Top-Tier
The 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup defined the modern era's lifestyle-illustration aesthetic. Iwamoto's coffee-mug composition for Squirtle landed as the viral moment, but the Bulbasaur and Charmander IRs in the same artistic series provide context. The three cards together form a coherent vision of Generation I starters in domestic, post-adventure moments rather than battle scenes.
“Iwamoto's lifestyle-illustration aesthetic, same artistic series as Squirtle's coffee-mug IR”
Bulbasaur sits in the most affordable tier of the trio at around $85, with Charmander and Squirtle trading $15-25 higher. The pricing reflects the standard franchise hierarchy. Charmander/Charizard-line popularity pulls Charmander IR pricing up. Squirtle's coffee-mug viral moment compounds its demand. Bulbasaur is the steady value pick of the three. That doesn't make it less collected, every 151 starter trio chase requires this card, and the pricing is stable enough that 'buy Bulbasaur first' is sometimes the optimal staging strategy.
Within the 151 set, the starter IR trio (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) is the consensus chase subset. Collectors typically commit to all three rather than buying piecemeal. The trio's cohesive visual style and shared chase positioning makes the set feel incomplete with any one missing.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $85 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Top tier of the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup, but at the entry point of that tier, about $15-25 below Charmander IR and Squirtle IR. The pricing gap reflects the standard franchise starter hierarchy (Charmander/Charizard at the top, Squirtle/Blastoise in the middle, Bulbasaur/Venusaur as the value tier).
Has tracked the broader 151 starter IR market with stable consistency. The 151 set's longer print window moderated speculation, and Bulbasaur IR specifically has held the $70-95 range for 18+ months. Less volatile than Charmander or Squirtle IRs.
Stable. Bulbasaur IR's lower price point makes it the right starter trio purchase for collectors who can't justify Charmander or Squirtle pricing. The card's character durability is solid (Generation I starter status) and the artistic series positioning is iconic. PSA 10 graded copies are the cleanest long hold.
PSA 10 around 1.5-2x raw. The warm-cream palette is forgiving on centering but the Iwamoto-style detail work exposes surface marks. Submit clean copies, the premium clears submission costs comfortably.
Roughly 1 in 18 packs across all Illustration Rare slots in the 151 set. Per-specific-card rate roughly 1 in 180+ packs.
Entry of the top tier of the 151 set's IR lineup. Below Charmander IR (~$108) and Squirtle IR (~$100). Comparable to Pikachu IR (~$83). Above the second tier of IRs (Wartortle, Charmeleon, Ivysaur).
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Iwamoto is one of the contemporary Japanese illustrators contributing to the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup. The Iwamoto compositions for the Kanto starter trio became one of the most-discussed art series in modern Pokemon TCG. The lifestyle-illustration aesthetic, Pokemon in domestic settings with everyday objects, became Iwamoto's signature within the set.
Bulbasaur in a warm garden scene with the artist's familiar everyday-object aesthetic. The Pokemon's iconic bulb is fully closed, and the composition uses warm browns and greens with subtle highlights. The garden setting is suggested rather than rendered explicitly, implied through palette and texture rather than literal foreground details. Bulbasaur's pose is grounded and calm, head tilted slightly toward the viewer.
Illustration Rare with full-bleed textured holofoil. Texture follows Bulbasaur's body contours and the bulb's surface. The warm green-and-brown palette interacts with the holofoil in a subtle way that emphasises the natural-aesthetic feel of the composition without overwhelming the lifestyle premise.
The Iwamoto coffee-mug Squirtle gets the viral attention, but the Bulbasaur IR demonstrates the consistency of the artistic vision. Same lifestyle-illustration approach. Same warm palette family. Same domestic-setting commitment. The trio together reads as a unified series rather than three independent illustrations. Bulbasaur's IR specifically anchors the 'quiet competence' end of the series, less viral than Squirtle's coffee mug, but no less considered.
BackgroundAbout Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the Grass-type starter. National Pokedex #001. The first entry in the Pokedex, automatic foundational status in franchise lore. Evolves into Ivysaur at level 16 and Venusaur at level 32. Has appeared in every Pokemon game with starter selection mechanics. The Bulbasaur line is widely regarded as the easiest Gen I run thanks to type matchup advantages against most Gym Leaders.
- ›First entry in the National Pokedex, Pokemon #001
- ›Generation I starter, automatic legacy status
- ›Ash's Bulbasaur in the early anime, recurring storyline across multiple seasons
- ›Most type-favourable Gen I starter choice in casual playthroughs
- ›Iwamoto's lifestyle-illustration aesthetic gave Bulbasaur a modern art moment
- ›Generation I starter in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
- ›Pokedex #001, the first Pokemon listed in every Pokedex
- ›Ash's Bulbasaur recurring anime arc
- ›Pokemon: The First Movie cameo
- ›Pokemon GO release in 2016
Bulbasaur itself has minimal competitive presence (LC play notwithstanding). Ivysaur and Venusaur inherit the competitive utility. Mega Venusaur in Gen VI specifically has held Smogon OU presence. The 151 set TCG IR has playable stats but is a display piece at this price.
Own it wellCollector guide
The warm green palette is forgiving on centering. The bulb detail must remain pristine, surface marks on the bulb downgrade. Centering drift on the vertical axis is the most common 151 print issue. Inspect under angled light for any waviness in the textured holofoil.
Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 1.5-2x raw, which on an $85 raw works to $125-170. Submission economics work but are tighter than on the higher-priced starter IRs, only submit copies with strong centering. Pair submissions with Charmander and Squirtle IRs for a graded starter-trio batch. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve on pull, top loader or magnetic case for raw. Graded slab for long-term hold. Climate-controlled storage is sufficient. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. The 151 starter trio (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) is best bought together, Bulbasaur is the value entry but the trio is the chase. Buying Bulbasaur first as the cheapest starter is a reasonable staging strategy if budget is constrained. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Strongly positive. The Iwamoto starter trio is one of the most-loved illustration subsets of the modern era. Bulbasaur IR specifically is celebrated as the quiet companion to the more-viral Squirtle and the more-expensive Charmander.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $85 raw
- ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $140-180 range over the past year
Steady. Less viral than the Squirtle coffee-mug IR but features consistently in 'best 151 set IRs' lists and 'Iwamoto starter trio' discussions. The card photographs cleanly and shares well across social platforms.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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