Squirtle
Quick take
- The most valuable card in Stellar Crown despite being an Illustration Rare
- Slice-of-life art by Saboteri of Squirtle in a kiddie pool
- A Kanto starter, which broadens demand well beyond the set
- A clear case of art driving value over rarity tier
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Stellar Crown
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 148/142 · $96.00 — 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 art rare that stole Stellar Crown
Stellar Crown had its ex chase cards, but the card collectors actually talk about is this Squirtle. It is an Illustration Rare, not a Special Illustration Rare or a Hyper Rare, yet it sits at the top of the set on price. That happens when the art lands.
“The most valuable card in Stellar Crown despite being an Illustration Rare”
Saboteri skips the action entirely. Squirtle is playing in a kiddie pool on a sunlit porch, two little bird Pokemon watching from the side. It is a slice-of-life scene, the kind of warm, everyday illustration that the Illustration Rare slot was made for, and the kind collectors fall hardest for.
It also taps into Kanto-starter nostalgia. Squirtle is one of the three original starters, so the card pulls demand from far beyond Stellar Crown set builders.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Sits at the top of Stellar Crown, above the set's ex chase cards, which is unusual for an Illustration Rare. Graded gem-mint copies carry a clear premium over raw.
Climbed past the set's flashier cards as the art caught on and has held that position since. Art-driven Illustration Rares of popular Pokemon tend to be sticky, because the demand is about the illustration, not the format.
Art-driven cards of nostalgic Pokemon hold up well, and this is one of the era's standouts. The usual modern caveat applies, large print runs limit scarcity, so it is a steady hold rather than a scarcity play. Graded copies are the safer position.
Meaningful at the top grade. Clean PSA 10 copies trade above raw, with PSA 9 closer to raw. Centering and surface on the full-art foil decide the grade.
Scarlet and Violet sets pull any Illustration Rare at roughly 1 in 12 packs. With many Illustration Rares per set, pulling this specific Squirtle runs much longer, on the order of one in a hundred-plus packs.
More common out of the pack than the set's Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares, yet it outprices them. That is unusual and shows how much the art alone is driving the value here.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Saboteri is a modern Pokemon illustrator known for warm, everyday scenes rather than battle poses. That slice-of-life approach is exactly what makes the best Illustration Rares connect with collectors.
Squirtle splashes happily in a kiddie pool on a sunlit porch, with two small bird Pokemon watching nearby. The whole scene is calm and domestic, framed by the Illustration Rare's full-art foil.
Illustration Rare printing with full-art foil and no text box intruding on the scene. It is a different treatment from the Special Illustration Rare and Hyper Rare tiers, focused on the illustration itself.
It turns an ordinary Squirtle into a moment you want to look at, and that charm is why it beat the set's expensive ex cards on demand.
BackgroundAbout Squirtle
Squirtle debuted in Red and Green in 1996 as the Water-type Kanto starter and the first form of the Blastoise line. As one of the three original starters, it has stayed a fan favorite for nearly three decades.
- ›An original Kanto starter with lasting nostalgia
- ›A friendly, instantly recognizable design
- ›Anime presence, including the Squirtle Squad
- ›Broad appeal across collectors of all ages
- ›Debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996)
- ›The Squirtle Squad in the original anime
- ›A starter option in multiple games and remakes
A basic Squirtle with no competitive role. Its value is entirely about the art and the Pokemon, not play.
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art Illustration Rare foil scratches and shows edge whitening. Centering is the most common grading problem on these, so check the borders carefully before paying a graded premium.
Grade clean copies given the value and the strong PSA 10 premium. Confirm centering and surface first, since a PSA 9 on a modern card sits much closer to raw. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and a top loader at minimum, a graded slab for long holds. Keep it out of direct sunlight to protect the foil. See the storage guide →
Supply is healthy, so there is no rush. Buy on recent sold prices rather than asking prices, and decide up front between raw and graded. TCGPlayer and eBay both list it deeply. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Beloved. It is regularly named one of the best Illustration Rares of the Scarlet and Violet era, and it became the face of Stellar Crown for most collectors despite not being a chase-tier card.
- ›Gem-mint graded copies trade at a clear premium over raw
- ›The top single in Stellar Crown, above the set's ex cards
A frequent pick in 'best art rares' and 'most underrated chase' content. The kiddie-pool scene is one of the most-shared illustrations of the era.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
Keep collectingRelated cards
Plan your Scarlet & Violet Stellar Crown master set
Track every card, see what you're missing, and lay out your binder page by page.
