Every Blastoise Card Variant Ranked by Value (2026)
The verified JK Index sold-comp on Blastoise ex #200 (Scarlet & Violet 151 SIR) sits at $135.99 Near Mint, $174 PSA 9, $592 PSA 10 as of August 9, 2026. That's modern anchor. Base Set 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise sits at a completely separate tier Reddit appraisal-thread comps put raw NM around $2,500, PSA 4 around $1,500 (scarcity outweighs condition on that print).
Somebody posts a photo of their Blastoise for appraisal every few minutes on r/PokemonCardValue and r/Pokemoncardappraisal. The questions repeat. Here's FAQ, anchored to JK Index verified prices for modern cards and to Reddit appraisal-thread comps for vintage.
Q: How much is a 151 Blastoise ex actually worth in 2026?
Live JK Index sold-comp data from Scarlet & Violet 151 set page, updated August 9, 2026:
| Card | # | Near Mint | PSA 9 | PSA 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blastoise ex Special Illustration Rare | 200 | $135.99 | $174.00 | $592.00 |
| Blastoise ex Ultra Rare (Full Art) | 184 | $20.76 |
Source: JK Index Scarlet & Violet 151 set page.
Reddit-community context matches this range. r/PokemonCardValue on 151 Blastoise pricing: "Price charting shows $126" (r/PokemonCardValue). That $126 figure aligns with UR #184 raw range, not SIR #200. The SIR clears above $135 NM per JK Index.
Q: My 151 Blastoise ex is damaged. Is it still worth selling?
Yes, at a real discount. r/PokemonCardsDeals on a damaged offer: "I'd offer 104 shipped, considering damage" (r/PokemonCardsDeals).
$104 for a damaged 151 Blastoise is roughly 20% below raw NM range on JK Index feed. Damaged-card discount tiers:
- Light play (minor whitening): 15–25% off raw NM
- Moderate play (visible edge wear, minor creasing): 40–60% off raw NM
- Heavy play (multiple creases, significant whitening): 70–85% off raw NM
Don't submit damaged 151 Blastoise ex for grading. Fees never clear return.
Q: What is my raw Base Set Blastoise worth in 2026?
Depends heavily on specific edition. For a standard Unlimited Base Set Blastoise 2/102 in ungraded near-mint condition, r/PokemonCardValue anchor: "I'd say nothing less than $175" (r/PokemonCardValue). Reddit clearing range: $175–$220 raw NM.
Base Set is not currently indexed as a live set page on JK Index at /sets/base-set path (as of August 2026, that slug returns 404). Base Set pricing in this section comes from Reddit appraisal-thread anchors, cross-checked against PWCC and Goldin auction records. Once JK Index Base Set page ships, this section should update to verified feed data.
Q: How much does grading change price on Base Set Blastoise?
Enormously. r/PokemonCardValue on PSA 9 comp: "PSA 9 around $1000" (r/PokemonCardValue).
Reddit-anchored ladder on Base Set Unlimited Blastoise (2/102) in August 2026:
| Grade | Recent sale range (Reddit / auction) |
|---|---|
| Raw NM (ungraded) | $175–$220 |
| PSA 8 | $400–$600 (extrapolated) |
| PSA 9 | ~$1,000 (r/PokemonCardValue) |
| PSA 10 | $5,500–$7,000 (extrapolated) |
The PSA 9 to PSA 10 jump on Base Set Blastoise Unlimited is roughly 6–7x. That's largest single-grade multiplier in vintage catalog, driven by PSA 10 rate around 10% on 1999 Base Set holos.
Q: Is my scratched Blastoise still worth grading?
Usually not. r/pokemoncardcollectors on scratch impact: "Scratches on holo are going to be a significant detractor from value" (r/pokemoncardcollectors).
The Blastoise holo pattern is a solid teal-blue field, which shows scratches under any angled light. Raw NM at $175–$220 becomes raw EX-NM at $85–$130 with visible holo scratches. PSA-graded outcome likely tops out at PSA 8 ($400–$600). Fees don't clear return.
Q: How do I tell if my Blastoise is 1st Edition Shadowless?
Two markers. First: small "Edition 1" logo on left side under Blastoise art. Second: no drop shadow behind card art window. Shadowless prints have no drop shadow; Unlimited prints have one.
1st Edition = "Edition 1" stamp + no drop shadow. That's rarest tier. If a Blastoise has stamp but also has drop shadow, it's a counterfeit 1st Edition and Shadowless were combined only in earliest 1999 print run.
Q: What's a 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise actually worth?
r/Pokemoncardappraisal on a real 2026 PSA 4 sale: "It'd prob get a 4 but despite that it is a first edition. Most recent psa 4 sale was about $1500" (r/Pokemoncardappraisal).
Even PSA 4 clears $1,500 on this print because scarcity outweighs condition at 1st Edition Shadowless tier.
r/Pokemoncardappraisal on raw comp specifically: "even raw ones in similar condition can sell for around $2.5k most recently sold on 15th July 2026 on eBay" (r/Pokemoncardappraisal).
Reddit-anchored ladder on 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise in August 2026:
| Grade | Recent sale range |
|---|---|
| Raw NM | ~$2,500 (2026-07-15 eBay comp) |
| PSA 4 | ~$1,500 |
| PSA 6 | $3,500–$5,000 (extrapolated) |
| PSA 8 | $10,000–$16,000 (extrapolated) |
| PSA 9 | $18,000–$28,000 (extrapolated) |
| PSA 10 | $45,000+ (2021 auction peak $54,000) |
The extrapolated grades will refresh to JK Index-verified comps once Base Set page ships on jkindex.io.
Q: How do I spot a fake 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise?
Three practical checks:
- Card back ink density. Real 1999 backs have deep blue-purple ink. Counterfeits often trend teal or navy.
- Font on "Edition 1" logo. Reproduction stamps often have slightly thicker strokes than real print.
- Card stock feel. 1999 Base Set stock has specific weight and slight texture. Modern reprint stock feels waxier.
Don't buy raw 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise sight-unseen at $2,000+. Buy PSA/BGS/CGC-graded copies from PWCC or Goldin, or pay for raw authentication before wiring funds on eBay.
Q: How does 151 Blastoise ex compare to Charizard ex and Venusaur ex from same set?
Live JK Index sold-comp data across 151 starter-trio SIRs (August 9, 2026):
| Card | # | Near Mint | PSA 9 | PSA 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard ex SIR | 199 | (top card, active) | ||
| Blastoise ex SIR | 200 | $135.99 | $174.00 | $592.00 |
| Venusaur ex SIR | 198 | $115.48 | $128.50 | $401.00 |
Source: JK Index Scarlet & Violet 151 set page.
Blastoise sits second in starter-trio pricing hierarchy across every era. In 1999 Base Set, 1st Edition Shadowless PSA 10 comps: Charizard $150K–$400K+, Blastoise $28K–$45K, Venusaur $18K–$28K. Same second-place slot in 151 SIR tier: Blastoise ex PSA 10 $592, Venusaur ex PSA 10 $401.
Q: Should I sell now or hold my Blastoise?
Depends on which one.
1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise (any grade): hold. Multi-year compounding, not cycling. Raw softens as surviving copies get graded, but graded copies continue to appreciate.
Base Set Unlimited Blastoise at $175–$220 raw: 2024–2026 vintage cycle has pulled this print up 6–8x from its 2020 floor. Selling at current highs is defensible. Holding another 12–24 months for next vintage cycle is also defensible.
151 Blastoise ex SIR at $135.99 raw / $592 PSA 10: hold through December 2026 print rotation. Modern SV-era chase with historical 20–35% appreciation window post-rotation.
Damaged Blastoise of any print: sell now. Damaged copies don't appreciate at same rate as clean copies.
Q: Where do I actually price-check before buying?
Live JK Index Marketplace sold-comp overlay before every Blastoise purchase over $100. 30-day median tells you real clearing prices, not eBay Buy It Now asking prices.
Pre-scan any raw Blastoise submission over $100 with JK Index Grading Readiness Scan. Base Set holo centering variance is single largest factor in PSA 9 vs PSA 10 returns on vintage copies.
Buy every Blastoise variant on JK Index Marketplace: verified sellers, 30-day sold-comp overlay, PSA population history from Base Set 1999 through Scarlet & Violet 151.
Pre-scan any Blastoise submission with Grading Readiness Scan before shipping to PSA, BGS, or CGC.
Sources (5)
- Scarlet & Violet 151 set page: live Near Mint, PSA 9, and PSA 10 sold comps on Blastoise ex #200 and #184
- JK Index Marketplace: Pokémon TCG: verified inventory and sold-comp overlay across every Blastoise SKU
- Grade Readiness Scan: centering + corners + surface pre-check on Base Set holos
- How Before Slab works: grading-readiness methodology
- Pokémon TCG Price Index: every Pokémon set price index in one place
Modern-Pokémon pricing data sourced from JK Index verified sales feed (eBay + TCGplayer transactions) as of August 9, 2026 per Scarlet & Violet 151 set page. Base Set pricing sourced from Reddit appraisal-thread comps and PWCC/Goldin auction records pending live JK Index Base Set feed.
