She's Collected Countless of Pokemon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.

Pokémon creators released the world to the card series Diamond & Pearl edition back in 2007, showcasing the Bonsly card. On this artwork, the Gen 4 rock-type appears by designer the talented Harada in a somewhat awkward position. On the card, the predecessor to Sudowoodo is depicted fallen and weeping. Don't be fooled, yet. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, Bonsly aims to influence the foe's feelings with the goal of lowering their offensive power. Unforgettable artwork, isn't it? Harp player Emily Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got a binder with 305 cards of Bonsly as evidence.

The Entire Assortment with Key Pieces

But that isn't the full extent as well. She's got 20 holo reverse versions of this particular card, which depicts the little guy with shiny foil all over except the primary illustration. The crown jewel, however, proves to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly card. Sure, it isn't a top-graded original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess an amusing, nearly pristine Bonsly card maintained in all its splendor? I thought as much.

How It All Began

Hopkins has spent most of the current year gathering all available Bonsly cards from that year that she could locate. She first heard regarding this discontinued card in recent months, during a discussion the notoriously odd cards in the Pokémon TCG with an employee at a local shop. Omanyte in tears was in the running, just like the forever alone Cubone at the theme park. But it was Bonsly crying, also known as Bonsly #17, that caught Emily's focus.

The Design and Inspiration

The design of Bonsly is based by bonsai plants, which are often grown in planters featuring holes for drainage. These are meant to support healthy development, to the extent that fans suggest to peers to drill holes on the bottom if holes are missing. Bonsai can also be placed on low dishes without holes, known as suiban, and the retained water can help growers arrange their bonsai to look like nature vistas. Bonsly fits the initial category, thus the hole exists.

The Infamous Hole Card

Despite this logical explanation, though, The company appears somewhat a little too concerned about the drainage feature. Even merchandise like Bonsly plushes make sure to include a hollow cavern at the bottom of the tree-like Pokémon. Regardless whether the portrayal of the Pokémon appears sad or content: It's going to show a hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card gained meme status among fans both due to that drainage hole, and also because of its rarity. For years before, this Bonsly card was the single type of Bonsly available included in the series in which most Pokémon usually appear in multiple editions. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you needed to accept with the hole version.

Emily's Dedication

"Upon noticing Bonsly among the selections of these cursed cards, I knew I located the one for me," she explains over email, mentioning how she was surprised to have never seen it before. She admits freely to state her love of the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation evolved into a major fixation, as she acquired all copies of this card available to her. She quickly got into a habit of stopping by her local card shop every week, and was dubbed among the staff as the Bonsly fan. The store began setting aside any recently acquired Bonsly #71 cards they obtained exclusively for Emily. Most of these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, approximating she's spent somewhere around $400 just on the binder alone.

Rising Prices

These days, excellent Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost $4 and above. This rise in cost more or less coincides with her starting point her collection in earnest, although there are probably multiple reasons. Even though this card is famous among collectors, Hopkins's posts on it have also garnered countless views. With information about this card keeps growing among more people, it is likely that the price of Bonsly #71 cards may continue to shoot up. At the very least, investors mention how TCG prices are soaring currently overall.

Unstoppable Determination

Emily remains undeterred, though.

"The amazing thing is that a few followers and fans on social media have mailed their own Bonsly cards to Emily to expand the set, and she is preserving these Bonsly safe forever," Emily states. Instead of being put off, viewers are amazed and encouraged by her Bonsly binder.

"I've actually always wanted to try this," an observer mentions. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card

Dalton Davis
Dalton Davis

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and AI-driven solutions, passionate about bridging technology and business needs.