Cardrake
Home/Expansions/Other XY - Evolutions/M Blastoise EX Full Art
M Blastoise EX Full Art MEGA
#102/108Illus. 5ban Graphics
Ultra Rare

M Blastoise EX Full Art

#102/108 · from XY - Evolutions · released November 2, 2016
Track this card
Holofoil
80/ 100
A-Tier Chase

Cardrake Chase Score

A top chase card for this set.

Does this score look right?

Quick take

  • Base Set tribute trio member alongside M Charizard EX FA and M Venusaur EX FA
  • Day-one English market around $59 raw, highest of the Evolutions tribute trio
  • 5ban Graphics composition referencing the 1999 Base Set Blastoise pose
  • Mega Blastoise single-cannon design from Pokemon X/Y (2013) and OR/AS (2014)

Collector's readWhat it means for your master set

Set position
3 of 196
One of the most valuable cards in the set (#3)
Demand vs rarity Est.
5.5×
Well above its rarity · others at this rarity sell for about $12.30
Cost to complete
≈6%
of the ~$1075 to finish XY - Evolutions
Completion difficulty Est.
Hard
One of the hardest cards to complete
Where it sits in the price lifecycle
Release Hype
Post-Release Correction
Stable / Reprint Risk
End-of-Print Spike
Out-of-Print Maturation
Buy timingXY - Evolutions is out of print, so supply only tightens over time. Buy a clean copy when you find one rather than waiting for a dip.
Out of print · pricing stable · estimated

Set landscapeWhere this card sits in XY - Evolutions

fewermore cards
Common
16
5
9
3
33
Uncommon
8
12
7
1
28
Rare
2
6
1
9
Ultra Rare
3
9
7
2
21
Secret Rare
3
2
5
Holo Rare
5
6
1
1
13
Rare BREAK
4
4
all
24
19
37
22
8
3
0
113
0.5
1
5
15
50
150
150+
Columns = resale price up to $X (log) · shade = cards in cell (log) · right & bottom = totals · white ring = this card

VariantsCard variants

Holofoil 102/108 · $67.97 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.

M Blastoise EX Full Art completes the Base Set tribute trio at the top of XY Evolutions' chase ladder. 5ban Graphics' Mega Blastoise composition uses the single-cannon design from Pokemon X/Y's Mega Evolution era, calling back to the original 1999 Base Set Blastoise pose. TCGPlayer market around $59 raw at last sync, holding the highest pricing of the tribute trio. Belongs in any Evolutions Base Set tribute collection.

The storyThe Single-Cannon Tribute to 1999 Base Set Blastoise

XY Evolutions (xy12, November 2016) was the 20th-anniversary tribute set. The Base Set tribute Full Art ex trio is the consensus chase subset. M Charizard EX (#13) headlines. M Blastoise EX (#102) and M Venusaur EX (#100) round out the trio. All three reference Mitsuhiro Arita's original 1999 Base Set illustrations through pose, composition, and Pokemon design choices.

“Base Set tribute trio member alongside M Charizard EX FA and M Venusaur EX FA”

Mega Blastoise's design from Generation VI replaced the two shoulder-mounted water cannons with a single massive cannon emerging from the back. The single-cannon configuration was the visual signature of the Mega form. 5ban Graphics' composition foregrounds that single cannon in an action pose against a water-spray background. The reference to Arita's 1999 dual-cannon turret stance is implicit rather than direct, but the framing and dynamic angle preserve the spirit of the original.

Pricing sits at $59 raw, the highest of the tribute trio. M Charizard EX FA trades at $52, M Venusaur EX FA at $36. Blastoise's stronger pricing reflects collector appreciation for Mega Blastoise as a design within the Mega Evolution era, plus master set demand from collectors building the matched tribute trio.

By the numbersMarket analysis

Price context

Around $59 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Highest of the XY Evolutions Base Set tribute trio. Above M Charizard EX FA (~$52) and M Venusaur EX FA (~$36). PSA 10 graded copies trade in the $150-200 range.

Price trend

Has held the $50-70 range for nine years with cyclical fluctuations. Mega Blastoise's design has stayed in collector consciousness through Pokemon GO Mega events and tournament-format relevance. The Base Set tribute angle keeps the card relevant beyond pure Mega Blastoise demand.

Investment outlook

Stable. Evolutions' broader print exposure caps upside, but Blastoise's character durability provides firm floor. The Base Set tribute trio positioning means M Blastoise EX FA holds value as long as the tribute concept remains a coherent collecting target. PSA 10 graded copies are the cleanest long hold.

Demand drivers
Generation I Water-type starter representation in the tribute trioBase Set tribute lineage tied to 1999 Mitsuhiro Arita originalMega Blastoise's single-cannon design as a Mega Evolution era keystoneEvolutions master set completion as a 20th-anniversary collecting target5ban Graphics art-collector demand
Graded premium

PSA 10 around 2.5-3x raw, $150-200. The blue-water palette is forgiving on minor surface marks but exposes centering drift. The card is now nine years old, condition varies.

Approx. pull rate

XY-era Full Art ex pulls roughly 1 in 16-20 packs across all Full Art slots in Evolutions. Per-specific Full Art card, roughly 1 in 200+ packs.

Rarity context

Highest-priced member of the Evolutions Base Set tribute trio. Above M Charizard EX FA (~$52) and M Venusaur EX FA (~$36). The tribute trio is the consensus chase subset of Evolutions.

ArtworkWhy the art matters

Card artwork
Artist · 5ban Graphics

5ban Graphics produced all three Base Set tribute Full Art ex cards in Evolutions, creating a coherent artistic series across the trio. The studio approach maintained the same compositional logic (low-angle dragon-spread for Charizard, action pose for Blastoise, ground-stance for Venusaur) while updating each Pokemon to its Mega Evolution form.

The artwork

Mega Blastoise in an action pose with the single back-mounted cannon foregrounded. The composition uses water spray and steam effects to convey the cannon's power. Background uses deep blues and water-themed gradients. The Pokemon's shell colour scheme and the cannon's mechanical details are rendered with high fidelity to the Mega Blastoise game design.

Technical details

Full Art ex rarity uses full-bleed holofoil treatment. The XY-era Full Art treatment is consistent across the era. Texture follows Mega Blastoise's body contours, the cannon's surface, and the water-spray background elements.

What makes it special

The single-cannon Mega Blastoise design is genuinely different from the original Blastoise silhouette. Where M Charizard EX FA preserved the dragon-spread pose from 1999 Base Set, M Blastoise EX FA had to reimagine the action because Mega Blastoise's single cannon is structurally distinct. 5ban Graphics' solution foregrounds the cannon as the visual centerpiece, which works because the cannon is the most-distinctive element of the Mega form.

BackgroundAbout M Blastoise EX Full Art

Blastoise debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the final evolution of the Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise line. National Pokedex #009. Water-type. One of the three Generation I starter finals. Mega-evolves into Mega Blastoise in Generation VI (Pokemon X/Y, 2013), with the design replacing the two shoulder-mounted water cannons with a single massive back-mounted cannon. The single-cannon configuration is the visual signature of the Mega form.

Why fans love it
  • ›Generation I starter with permanent legacy status
  • ›One of the three Base Set starter holofoils that founded the modern TCG
  • ›Mega Blastoise design from Gen VI is widely regarded as a strong Mega Evolution
  • ›Iconic water-cannon design across the entire Blastoise line
  • ›Cross-generational cultural recognition
Notable appearances
  • ›Generation I starter in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
  • ›Multiple anime series including Gary Oak's signature Blastoise
  • ›Pokemon Stadium / Stadium 2 prominent feature
  • ›Mega Blastoise in Pokemon X/Y (2013) and OR/AS (2014)
  • ›Pokemon GO release in 2016 with subsequent Mega Blastoise event
Competitive relevance

Blastoise has been a stable Water-type pick across multiple generations. Mega Blastoise in Gen VI pushed offensive viability in OU via Mega Launcher boosting Aura Sphere and Water Pulse. The Evolutions Full Art ex has playable stats for vintage formats but is universally a display piece at this price.

Own it wellCollector guide

Condition notes

The blue palette is forgiving on minor surface marks. The card is now nine years old, condition varies significantly across the population. Centering drift on the long axis is the most common XY-era print issue. The cannon detail must remain pristine for clean grade.

Grading recommendation

Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 2.5-3x raw, $150-200 on a $59 raw card. Submission economics clear comfortably. Verify centering at 55/45 or better on both axes. Read the grading guide →

Storage advice

Perfect-fit sleeve, rigid top loader or magnetic case for raw. Graded slabs are the standard for long holds. Climate-controlled storage matters at nine-year vintage. See the storage guide →

Buying advice

TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. The Evolutions Base Set tribute trio is best collected as a unit. Combined the three Full Art ex cards run about $147 raw. See the singles buying guide →

Protect your card

High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guide
Inner sleeveVault X Exact Fit SleevesA snug perfect-fit inner layer — double-sleeve valuable cards with these before the matte sleeve goes on.View on Amazon →Outer sleeveDragon Shield Matte SleevesMatte, archival-safe outer sleeves — the everyday standard for keeping surfaces and edges clean.View on Amazon →Rigid holderCardboard Gold Top LoadersPSA-recommended acid-free top loaders — rigid protection against bends and scratches on raw high-value cards.View on Amazon →Premium binderDragon Shield Card Codex 360A 360-card side-loading portfolio with a padded cover for long-term, display-safe storage.View on Amazon →

Word on the streetCommunity sentiment

Reception

Consistently positive. M Blastoise EX Full Art is consistently cited in 'best Evolutions cards' lists and 'best Mega Blastoise card' rankings. The single-cannon design's visual distinctiveness gets specific praise.

Notable sales
  • ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $59 raw
  • ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $150-200 range over the past 12 months
Social buzz

Steady. The card features in 'best Evolutions cards', 'Base Set tribute', and Mega Blastoise collector content. 5ban Graphics' coherent treatment of the tribute trio gets attention in studio-focused content.

Good to knowFrequently asked questions

Mega Blastoise's single-cannon design is distinctive enough that the card stands on its own beyond the tribute concept. Mega Blastoise had OU presence in Gen VI competitive play via Mega Launcher boost mechanics. The card has held appeal beyond pure Base Set-tribute collectors, which has pushed the pricing slightly above M Charizard EX FA in this set despite Charizard's generally stronger franchise position elsewhere.
Yes for most Evolutions collectors. The trio (M Charizard $52, M Blastoise $59, M Venusaur $36) runs $147 raw total. The Base Set tribute concept reads as incomplete with any one card missing.
Different category. Base Set Blastoise #2 Unlimited Holofoil trades $159 raw, with Shadowless and 1st Edition variants at multiples. M Blastoise EX FA from Evolutions is the modern tribute card at $59 raw. Both have independent collector pools, though most Base Set Blastoise owners eventually pick up the tribute Full Art for matched-pair display.
For clean copies, yes. PSA 10 premium runs 2.5-3x raw, which on a $59 raw works to $150-200. Submission economics clear costs comfortably. Verify centering at 55/45 or better on both axes.
Not in the current Mega Evolution era TCG cycle (me1 through me04). The Pokemon Company has prioritised debut Mega forms in the modern era. M Blastoise EX FA from Evolutions remains the most-cited XY-era Blastoise card and the most recent significant Mega Blastoise TCG appearance.

Keep collectingRelated cards

M Charizard EXSame set, Base Set tribute trio, M Charizard EX Full ArtM Charizard EXM Venusaur EX Full ArtSame set, Base Set tribute trio, M Venusaur EX Full ArtM Venusaur EX Full ArtBlastoiseOriginal Base Set Blastoise that this tribute referencesBlastoise
Game data
Type
Pokémon
Element
Water
Stage
MEGA
HP
220
Rarity
Ultra Rare
Artist
5ban Graphics
WWWHydro Bombard
120
This attack does 30 damage to 2 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
Weakness
GGrassx2
Resistance
DDragonone
Retreat
CCC

Plan your Other XY - Evolutions master set

Track every card, see what you're missing, and lay out your binder page by page.

Open the binder planner

More cards in Other XY - Evolutions

See all 113 cards →
Fighting Energy 96/108Fighting Energy96/108Darkness Energy 97/108Darkness Energy97/108Metal Energy 98/108Metal Energy98/108Fairy Energy 99/108Fairy Energy99/108M Venusaur EX Full Art 100/108M Venusaur EX Full Art100/108M Charizard EX Full Art 101/108M Charizard EX Full Art101/108Mewtwo EX Full Art 103/108Mewtwo EX Full Art103/108Pidgeot EX Full Art 104/108Pidgeot EX Full Art104/108M Pidgeot EX Full Art 105/108M Pidgeot EX Full Art105/108Dragonite EX Full Art 106/108Dragonite EX Full Art106/108Brocks Grit Full Art 107/108Brocks Grit Full Art107/108Mistys Determination Full Art 108/108Mistys Determination Full Art108/108

More from 5ban Graphics

M Charizard EX X Secret, illustrated by 5ban GraphicsM Charizard EX X SecretRayquaza, illustrated by 5ban GraphicsRayquazaUltra Ball, illustrated by 5ban GraphicsUltra BallM Rayquaza EX Shiny Full Art, illustrated by 5ban GraphicsM Rayquaza EX Shiny Full ArtDialga EX 122 Secret Rare, illustrated by 5ban GraphicsDialga EX 122 Secret RareGardevoir, illustrated by 5ban GraphicsGardevoir