Empoleon
SM - Cosmic Eclipse · 56/236 · Rare
Current Prices
Number
56/236
Rarity
Rare
Variant
Reverse_Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Empoleon: Rarity & Collectibility
Empoleon in its sought-after Reverse_Holofoil variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #56/236 of the SM - Cosmic Eclipse set, it is the kind of card RarePokemonCard tracks for scarcity and collector demand rather than raw price alone. The harder a card is to pull in top condition, the more weight serious collectors place on it.
How Rare & Valuable Is Empoleon?
In 2026, a Near Mint Empoleon (Rare, SM - Cosmic Eclipse #56/236) changes hands at roughly $0.77, and desirability among set-builders keeps that number firm. Because demand concentrates on clean copies, surface wear is punished hard: a Near Mint example commands about $0.77, whereas a Heavily Played one slides to around $0.18. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $0.77, Lightly Played $0.55, Moderately Played $0.56, Heavily Played $0.18 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Empoleon is valued near $60.00 — about 78x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Empoleon: Gem Mint & Population
Even for a card at this rarity, the top of the market belongs to certified gem-mint copies. A PSA 10 (or CGC 10 / BGS Black Label equivalent) Empoleon sits around $60.00 — roughly 78x a raw copy. That gap exists because relatively few examples ever earn a perfect grade, so gem-mint population is the real scarcity collectors chase. Step down a notch and demand spreads across PSA 9 $17.50, CGC 10 $49.00 — each tier a smaller, scarcer pool than the one below it. The rule of thumb for collectors: the rarer the card, the more a certified high grade matters to its standing.
Detailed Price Breakdown
| Source | Condition / Grade | Average | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | 3 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $3.56 | $3.56 | $3.56 | 22 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $49.00 | $49.00 | $49.00 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $60.00 | 2 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $17.50 | $17.50 | $17.50 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $0.18 | $0.18 | $0.18 | 2 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $0.55 | $0.70 | $0.70 | 46 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $0.56 | $0.56 | $0.56 | 8 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $0.77 | $0.75 | $1.49 | 248 |
Collector Outlook for Empoleon
Empoleon holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Collect it for completeness and the joy of the hunt; its appeal is the set, not the ceiling. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Empoleon on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
