
Empoleon
SM - Forbidden Light · 81/131 · Holo Rare
Current Prices
Number
81/131
Rarity
Holo Rare
Variant
Reverse_Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Aug 1, 2026
Empoleon: Rarity & Collectibility
Empoleon in its sought-after Reverse_Holofoil variant is a Holo Rare — the shimmering pulls that built the hobby and that set-builders prize most. Cataloged as Holo Rare #81/131 of the SM - Forbidden Light 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 (Holo Rare, SM - Forbidden Light #81/131) changes hands at roughly $0.71, 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 $0.71, whereas a Heavily Played one slides to around $0.34. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $0.71, Lightly Played $0.49, Moderately Played $0.44, Heavily Played $0.34 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value.
Detailed Price Breakdown
| Source | Condition / Grade | Average | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $5.57 | $5.57 | $5.57 | 4 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $2.49 | $2.49 | $2.49 | 8 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $11.50 | $11.50 | $11.50 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $0.34 | $0.34 | $0.34 | 2 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $0.49 | $0.49 | $0.49 | 57 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $0.44 | $0.44 | $0.44 | 10 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $0.71 | $0.49 | $0.49 | 196 |
Collector Outlook for Empoleon
Holo Rares such as Empoleon are perennial favorites, and nostalgia keeps demand for clean copies durable. 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.





