Empoleon
XY - BREAKthrough · 38/162 · Holo Rare
Current Prices
Number
38/162
Rarity
Holo 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 Holo Rare — the shimmering pulls that built the hobby and that set-builders prize most. Cataloged as Holo Rare #38/162 of the XY - BREAKthrough 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, XY - BREAKthrough #38/162) changes hands at roughly $1.31, 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 $1.31, whereas a Damaged one slides to around $0.29. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $1.31, Lightly Played $0.66, Moderately Played $0.76, Heavily Played $0.37, Damaged $0.29 — 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 $134.99 — about 103x 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 $134.99 — roughly 103x 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 $20.50, PSA 8 $7.51 — 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 | $1.99 | $1.99 | $1.99 | 9 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $2.97 | $2.00 | $3.94 | 11 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $134.99 | $134.99 | $134.99 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 8 | $7.51 | $7.51 | $7.51 | 2 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $20.50 | $20.50 | $20.50 | 3 |
| tcgplayer | DAMAGED | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.29 | 1 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $0.37 | $0.37 | $0.37 | 4 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $0.66 | $1.15 | $1.15 | 57 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $0.76 | $0.76 | $0.76 | 5 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $1.31 | $0.70 | $0.70 | 72 |
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.