Piplup (Japanese)
SM11b: Dream League · 052/049 · Character Rare
Current Prices
Number
052/049
Rarity
Character Rare
Variant
Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Piplup (Japanese): Rarity & Collectibility
Piplup (Japanese) in its sought-after Holofoil variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #052/049 of the SM11b: Dream League 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 Piplup (Japanese)?
In 2026, a Near Mint Piplup (Japanese) (Rare, SM11b: Dream League #052/049) changes hands at roughly $67.72, 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 $67.72, whereas a Heavily Played one slides to around $24.99. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $67.72, Lightly Played $57.50, Moderately Played $64.98, Heavily Played $24.99 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Piplup (Japanese) is valued near $145.00 — about 2.1x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Piplup (Japanese): 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) Piplup (Japanese) sits around $145.00 — roughly 2.1x 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 $81.00, CGC 10 $250.00, CGC 9.5 $75.00 — 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 | $58.99 | $58.99 | $58.99 | 4 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $80.00 | $80.00 | $80.00 | 19 |
| ebay | ACE 10 | $200.73 | $200.73 | $200.73 | 2 |
| ebay | BGS 10 | $1,450 | $1,450 | $1,450 | 17 |
| ebay | BGS 9 5 | $70.00 | $70.00 | $70.00 | 7 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $250.00 | $250.00 | $250.00 | 23 |
| ebay | CGC 9 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $60.00 | 13 |
| ebay | CGC 9 5 | $75.00 | $75.00 | $75.00 | 8 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $145.00 | $145.00 | $145.00 | 39 |
| ebay | PSA 8 | $51.00 | $51.00 | $51.00 | 2 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $81.00 | $81.00 | $81.00 | 17 |
| ebay | TAG 10 | $125.00 | $125.00 | $125.00 | 4 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $24.99 | $24.99 | $24.99 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $57.50 | $57.50 | $57.50 | 15 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $64.98 | $64.98 | $64.98 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $67.72 | $67.72 | $67.72 | 44 |
Collector Outlook for Piplup (Japanese)
Piplup (Japanese) holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Cards in this band from beloved sets tend to keep a loyal collector base over time. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Piplup (Japanese) on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
