Hydrapple ex
Quick take
- SIR number 167 in Stellar Crown, released September 2024
- Illustrated by Teeziro (the regular and Full Art prints are 5ban Graphics)
- The alt-art collectible version of Hydrapple ex
- A core slot in any Stellar Crown master set
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Stellar Crown
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 167/142 · $36.46 — 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 chase-tier Hydrapple, drawn by an artist who likes big monsters
Stellar Crown released in September 2024 and gave several newer Scarlet and Violet Pokemon their spotlight cards. Hydrapple ex is one of them. The Special Illustration Rare, number 167, is the version most collectors want for a binder, sitting above the regular print and the Full Art ultra rare.
“SIR number 167 in Stellar Crown, released September 2024”
Teeziro handled this art. That is worth noting. Teeziro tends to get the larger, stranger Pokemon, and Hydrapple fits that brief. The regular and Full Art prints of Hydrapple ex were done by 5ban Graphics, so the SIR is the one that carries an illustrator's name and a hand-painted feel.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits toward the bottom of the Stellar Crown SIR pricing ladder. It is an entry-level SIR by value, well below the set's marquee chase cards. For a master-set builder that is good news, since it is one of the cheaper required SIR slots to fill.
Pricing has been broadly flat since the set settled after release, with only small month-to-month movement. No breakout demand spike has hit it, which keeps it stable and accessible rather than volatile.
Treat this as a collector card, not a speculative play. Hydrapple does not have the broad fan demand of a Charizard or Pikachu, and the price reflects that. The upside case rests on the Pokemon gaining popularity over time and on Teeziro's name carrying weight with art-focused buyers. Steady, not explosive.
Graded copies command a premium over raw, as you would expect for any modern SIR, but the gap is modest at this price level. A clean PSA 10 or CGC 10 is worth chasing mainly if you already own a near-flawless raw copy, since grading fees can eat much of the upside on a lower-value card.
In Scarlet and Violet sets, any Special Illustration Rare lands at roughly 1 in 90 packs, and that figure covers every SIR in the set combined. Stellar Crown has multiple SIRs, so the odds of pulling this specific Hydrapple ex run much longer, realistically into the hundreds of packs. For comparison, any Double Rare shows up around 1 in 5 packs, any Illustration Rare around 1 in 12, any Ultra Rare around 1 in 15, and any Hyper Rare somewhere between 1 in 300 and 1 in 700.
As an SIR this is far rarer than the standard ex print, but it is one of the more common-to-acquire SIRs on the secondary market because demand is modest. The pull odds are long, but the singles price is friendly, so most builders buy it rather than hunt packs for it.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Teeziro is a Pokemon TCG illustrator who first appeared in the Sword and Shield era, debuting with a Lycanroc in Chilling Reign. Before going official, Teeziro entered the 2019 Pokemon Card Game Illustration Grand Prix with a Charizard piece. Since then Teeziro has built a strong reputation, including a run of connected alternate-art cards. The artist often gets assigned the bigger, more unusual Pokemon.
The full-art design centers Hydrapple's cluster of snake-like heads emerging from its red, syrup-like apple body. Teeziro's painterly hand gives the creature texture and personality rather than a flat product render. The extended SIR borders let the art run past the usual card frame.
Special Illustration Rare with full-bleed alternate art and a textured holo finish, numbered 167/142, sitting in the secret-rare range above the set's named 142-card count. Hydrapple ex is a Stage 2 Grass-type ex card in play.
It takes a genuinely strange Pokemon, a bundle of snake heads in a ball of syrup, and turns it into a character study. Teeziro's style is what separates this from the more generic full arts, and it is the main reason illustration collectors reach for it.
BackgroundAbout Hydrapple ex
Hydrapple is the final evolution of the Applin line, introduced in Generation 9. Applin evolves via a Syrupy Apple into Dipplin, and Dipplin evolves into Hydrapple. In the lore Hydrapple is described as seven symbiotic creatures called syrpents living inside a body made of red syrup. It is a Grass-type in this TCG card and a Grass/Dragon type in the games.
- ›Distinctive, genuinely weird design that stands out
- ›Part of the modern Applin evolution family
- ›Connected to The Teal Mask and the wider Scarlet and Violet content
- ›Appeals to fans who collect newer-generation Pokemon
- ›Introduced in the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games
- ›Later added to Pokemon GO as an Applin evolution
Own it wellCollector guide
Like all modern SIRs, the full-bleed borders show edge whitening and corner wear fast. Check the corners and the back edges under good light. Surface scratches on the holo pattern are the other thing to watch, since they catch light at an angle.
Grade only a copy that already looks gem-mint raw. At this price level grading fees can swallow most of the premium, so it is worth it mainly for a flawless centered copy or for set builders who want a uniform graded run. A 9 grade often does not clear the cost on a card this affordable. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve it in a penny sleeve inside a top loader or one-touch, kept out of direct sunlight. The holo and the dark borders both reward careful handling. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than ripping packs for it. The math favors it heavily here. Look for sharp corners, clean centering, and a scratch-free holo. Near-mint raw copies are easy to find, so be patient and pick a clean one rather than settling. See the singles buying guide →
Modern SIRs are far less faked than vintage cards, but still buy from reputable sellers. Check the holo texture and the print quality of the back, and be wary of any listing where the photos look too soft to judge corners or surface.
Protect your card
Low Chase Score — basic protection is plenty. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
The card is well liked for its art among Teeziro fans and players who enjoy Hydrapple, but it has not generated broad hype. Reception is quietly positive. It is appreciated as a solid SIR, not treated as a marquee chase.
Most online chatter frames it as an underrated or affordable SIR pick from Stellar Crown, with Teeziro's name coming up as the main draw. There is no significant speculative buzz around it.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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