Squirtle
Quick take
- Iwamoto coffee-mug illustration, one of the most-shared Pokemon TCG art pieces on social media
- Day-one English market around $100 raw, top tier of the 151 set's IR lineup
- Pairs with Charmander IR (#168) and Bulbasaur IR (#166) as the Gen I starter trio chase
- Squirtle's franchise recognition (Squirtle Squad, anime appearances) drives broad demand
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet 151
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 170/165 · $85.05 — 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 Coffee Mug Squirtle That Took Over Social Media
The 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup features unique compositions from various Japanese artists, but Iwamoto's coffee-mug series became the standout. Squirtle peering out from behind a coffee mug. Paired with similar 'Pokemon hanging out with everyday objects' compositions for other starters. The 151 IR work captured the modern TCG's shift toward lifestyle-illustration aesthetics over pure battle scenes.
“Iwamoto coffee-mug illustration, one of the most-shared Pokemon TCG art pieces on social media”
The Squirtle IR landed at the top of the 151 IR pricing tier on release and has stayed there. The illustration's coffee-mug premise gave the card a viral moment on Twitter and Instagram in late 2023. The composition reads cleanly at thumbnail size and shares well across social platforms, which compounded demand from collectors who weren't necessarily Squirtle fans but wanted the iconic illustration.
Within the 151 set, the Squirtle/Charmander/Bulbasaur starter IR trio is treated as a paired chase. All three trade in the $85-108 range, with Charmander typically a small step above the other two. The trio represents the consensus chase for the 151 set's IR subset, collectors target all three rather than buying piecemeal.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $100 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Top tier of the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup, alongside Charmander IR (~$108) and Bulbasaur IR (~$85). Substantially above the second tier of IRs in the set.
Has held the $90-110 range consistently for 18+ months. The 151 set's longer print window moderated speculation. The coffee-mug illustration's viral moment in late 2023 created a brief spike but pricing settled back to the stable $100 tier within months.
Stable. The 151 set's broader print run caps appreciation upside, but Squirtle IR's iconic illustration provides durable demand. PSA 10 graded copies are the cleanest long hold. The card works as a master-set completion piece rather than a speculative play.
PSA 10 around 1.5-2x raw. The cream-and-blue palette is moderately forgiving on centering but the coffee mug detail must remain pristine. 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.
Top three IRs in the 151 set (with Charmander IR at $108 and Bulbasaur IR at $85). The Gen I starter trio is the consensus chase subset of the set's IR lineup.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Iwamoto is one of the contemporary Japanese illustrators contributing to the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup. The Iwamoto coffee-mug compositions for the Kanto starters became one of the most-discussed art series in modern Pokemon TCG. Iwamoto's other 151 contributions include several similarly lifestyle-oriented compositions across the set's IR tier.
Squirtle peering out from behind a coffee mug on what appears to be a wooden table. The Pokemon's head is tilted to one side, eyes wide with curiosity. The coffee mug occupies the lower-left foreground. Squirtle's body is partially visible behind it. Warm cream and pale blue tones dominate, with subtle wood-grain texture suggested in the table surface. The composition reads as a domestic moment rather than a battle scene.
Illustration Rare with full-bleed textured holofoil. Texture follows Squirtle's shell and body contours, with the coffee mug rendered consistently in the texture layer. The cream-and-blue palette interacts with the holofoil in a way that adds subtle iridescence without overwhelming the lifestyle aesthetic.
The coffee-mug composition is the visual hook. Most chase card illustrations commit to action poses or hero portraits. Iwamoto's Squirtle commits to a domestic moment that reads as charmingly mundane. The result is a card that crosses over to non-TCG audiences via social media, Instagram and Twitter pickup gave this card reach that pure-battle illustrations rarely achieve.
BackgroundAbout Squirtle
Squirtle debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the Water-type starter. National Pokedex #007. Evolves into Wartortle at level 16 and Blastoise at level 36. Squirtle's anime presence is anchored by Ash's Squirtle (later returned to the Squirtle Squad), a recurring anime arc that gave Squirtle additional character development beyond its in-game role. Squirtle has appeared in every Pokemon game with starter selection mechanics.
- ›Generation I starter, automatic legacy status
- ›Squirtle Squad anime arc, one of the most-remembered early Pokemon storylines
- ›Iconic blue turtle design with broad demographic appeal
- ›Most popular Water-type starter in many collector polls
- ›The coffee-mug Iwamoto illustration created an additional layer of cultural recognition for the card specifically
- ›Generation I starter in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
- ›Ash's Squirtle and the Squirtle Squad anime arc
- ›Pokemon: The First Movie cameo
- ›Multiple subsequent anime appearances across decades
- ›Pokemon GO release in 2016
Squirtle itself has minimal competitive presence (LC Little Cup play notwithstanding). Wartortle and Blastoise inherit the competitive utility. Mega Blastoise specifically has held OU presence in some generations. The 151 set TCG IR has playable stats for the standard format but is universally a display piece at this price.
Own it wellCollector guide
The cream-and-blue palette is moderately forgiving on centering but the coffee mug detail must remain pristine, surface marks on the mug downgrade harshly. The wood-grain table surface detail can reveal print inconsistencies under angled light. Centering drift on the long axis is the most common 151 print issue.
Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 1.5-2x raw, which on a $100 raw works to $150-200. Verify centering at 55/45 or better on both axes. Submit alongside other 151 starter IRs in a single batch for graded display sets. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve on pull, top loader or magnetic case for raw. Graded slab for long-term hold. The light palette is moderately sensitive to UV exposure over multi-year storage. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. The 151 starter trio (Squirtle, Charmander, Bulbasaur) is best bought together. Buying piecemeal risks the others appreciating before completion. Trio total runs $290-300 raw at current market. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Overwhelmingly positive. Iwamoto's Squirtle is one of the most-loved illustrations of the modern era. The coffee-mug composition shares so well on social media that the card has cross-pollinated into non-TCG collector communities, Pokemon fans who don't collect cards still recognise and seek out this specific illustration.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $100 raw
- ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $170-220 range over the past year
Very high. The coffee-mug image features in countless Instagram posts, Twitter shares, and Reddit threads. The card became a benchmark for 'lifestyle-illustration' chase cards across the 151 set and subsequent SV-era releases.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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