Ivysaur
Quick take
- Mid-evolution slot in the Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venusaur 151 IR chain
- Day-one English market around $52 raw, second tier of 151 IR pricing
- Pairs with Bulbasaur IR (#166) for the early Grass starter evolution arc
- Yoriyuki Ikegami illustration in the lifestyle-aesthetic series
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet 151
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 167/165 · $40.08 — 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 Bridge Card in the 151 Grass Starter Chain
Ivysaur has always been the awkward middle Grass starter. Bulbasaur is the cute Pokedex #001 beginning that gets all the franchise attention. Venusaur is the final form with Mega Evolution credentials and OU competitive history. Ivysaur exists primarily to bridge them. Across 25+ years of Pokemon TCG history, Ivysaur cards have traded at fractions of their evolutionary neighbours.
“Mid-evolution slot in the Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venusaur 151 IR chain”
The 151 set's Illustration Rare treatment gives Ivysaur a moment of standalone attention. Yoriyuki Ikegami's illustration places the Pokemon in a sun-dappled garden setting, consistent with the broader 151 IR lifestyle aesthetic. The card sits at $52 raw, second tier of 151 IRs alongside Charmeleon ($79) and Wartortle ($63). The pricing reflects Ivysaur's mid-evolution status combined with the Grass starter line's value-tier hierarchy.
For collectors building the Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venusaur evolutionary chain in 151 set IRs, Ivysaur is the bridge card. Bulbasaur IR ($85) plus Ivysaur IR ($52) plus a Venusaur ex from the 151 set covers the full Grass starter line in matched 151 set illustrations.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $52 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Second tier of the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup. Below the starter trio (Bulbasaur $85, Charmander $108, Squirtle $100) and Pikachu IR ($83). Comparable to Charmeleon IR ($79) and other mid-evolution IRs.
Has held the $45-60 range for 18+ months. Less volatile than headline cards because the demand pool is narrower (Grass starter chain completionists). The 151 set's longer print window has moderated speculation.
Stable. Ivysaur IR's narrower demand pool caps upside but provides a firm floor. Works as a master-set or evolutionary-line completion piece.
PSA 10 around 1.4-1.8x raw, $73-95. Submission economics are tight but workable for clean copies.
Community 168-pack sample data puts IR at roughly 1 in 9 packs across all Illustration Rare slots. Per-specific Ivysaur, roughly 1 in 90+ packs depending on the set's IR count.
Second tier of the 151 set's IR lineup. Below the starter trio (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) and Pikachu IR. Comparable to Wartortle IR ($63) and Charmeleon IR ($79). Above the lower tier of less-charismatic evolutionary slots.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Yoriyuki Ikegami is a contemporary Japanese illustrator with multiple Pokemon TCG credits. The Ikegami style favours calm character-portrait compositions with natural-aesthetic backgrounds, fitting the 151 set's lifestyle-illustration approach.
Ivysaur in a sun-dappled garden setting. The Pokemon's blue-green body and back-flower bud are rendered with soft natural light. Background suggests garden environment through warm gradient and implied foliage rather than explicit landscape.
Illustration Rare with full-bleed textured holofoil. Texture follows Ivysaur's body contours and the lifestyle background.
Ivysaur rarely gets premium illustration treatment. The 151 set's commitment to giving every evolutionary line slot a coherent IR treatment is what makes this card distinctive. Ivysaur belongs to the same artistic series as Bulbasaur, which gives display-set collectors visual coherence across the Grass starter chain.
BackgroundAbout Ivysaur
Ivysaur debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the mid-evolution of the Grass-type starter line. National Pokedex #002. Evolves from Bulbasaur at level 16 and into Venusaur at level 32. Generation I Grass/Poison final destination via Venusaur is one of the franchise's classic starter paths.
- ›Mid-evolution of the Generation I Grass starter line
- ›Bridge card for collectors completing the Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venusaur chain
- ›Pokedex #002, second-numbered Pokemon in every Pokedex
- ›Generation I origin, automatic legacy status
- ›Generation I in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
- ›Pokemon Stadium / Stadium 2 prominent feature
- ›Multiple anime appearances during Ash's Bulbasaur arc
- ›Pokemon GO release in 2016
- ›Featured in most Generation I tribute releases
Ivysaur has minimal competitive presence outside of Little Cup play. Venusaur inherits the competitive utility. The 151 set TCG IR has playable stats but is a display piece at this price.
Own it wellCollector guide
The green palette is forgiving on centering. The back-flower bud detail must remain pristine for clean grade. Centering drift on the vertical axis is the most common 151 print issue.
Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 1.4-1.8x raw, $73-95 on a $52 raw card. Submission economics are tight, only submit copies with strong centering. Pair with Bulbasaur IR for graded Grass-starter evolution display. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve on pull, top loader or magnetic case for raw. Climate-controlled storage is sufficient. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. Best bought alongside Bulbasaur IR (#166) for the early Grass starter evolution arc. Together with a Venusaur ex from the 151 set, the trio completes the matched-set Gen I Grass chain. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Positive but quiet. Ivysaur IR rarely makes 'best of' lists, sits in the middle tier where it competes with no specific narrative beyond evolutionary-line completion.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $52 raw
- ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $70-100 range
Moderate. Less visibility than the headline starter IRs but features in 'complete 151 IR set' discussions and 'Bulbasaur to Venusaur evolutionary chain' collector content.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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