Blaziken – Dark Explorers (#17)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Blaziken (#17) is a Rare Holo card from Black & White - Dark Explorers released in 2012. It showcases artwork by TOKIYA and the Blaze Kick attack (40+ damage), Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 more damage. If tails, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned.. TCGplayer market price sits around $5.73, Cardmarket average sale is €2.93, Floor listings start near €0.55.
- TCGplayer market price: $5.73
- Cardmarket trend price: €3.12
- Recent low listing: €0.55
Card Details
- Set
- Dark Explorers
- Card Number
- 17
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare Holo
- Illustrator
- 🎨 TOKIYA
- HP
- 140
- Type
- 🔥 Fire
- Weaknesses
- Water ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 2 (Colorless, Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Blaze Kick
[Fire, Colorless]
— 40+
Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 more damage. If tails, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned. -
Flamethrower
[Fire, Fire, Colorless]
— 130
Discard an Energy attached to this Pokémon.
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (43.3 per energy).
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Blaziken from Dark Explorers (Rare Holo) represents a solid addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2012, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator TOKIYA.
Market Trends: Current market conditions show moderate interest in this card.
Investment Considerations: Vintage cards from this era have shown strong long-term appreciation potential.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Blaziken 17 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
Key Attack: Blaziken's Blaze Kick deals 40+ damage for Fire + Colorless energy. Special effect: Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 more damage. If tails, the Defending Pokémon is now Burne...
Stats Overview: 140 HP • Fire Type • Weak to Water ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Blaziken Cards
Looking for other Blaziken cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Explorers #17 ← Current | 140 | 2 attacks | Rare Holo | $5.73 |
�📦 Dark Explorers Set Context
This Blaziken is part of the Dark Explorers expansion , released as part of the Black & White series in 2012.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by TOKIYA, whose distinctive illustration style has made their cards highly collectible. Explore more cards illustrated by this artist to discover similar art styles and collecting themes.
💎 Professional Grading Guide
Professional grading can significantly increase the value of your Blaziken card. Here's what you need to know:
Industry standard • Value multiplier: 2-4x
Best for: High-value cards, modern sets
Subgrades available • Value multiplier: 2-3x
Best for: Premium cards, perfect centering
Fast turnaround • Value multiplier: 1.5-3x
Best for: Budget-friendly option, bulk
💡 Should You Grade This Card?
- Yes, consider grading if: Card value exceeds $20 and is in excellent condition
- Grading cost: $20-100+ per card (depending on service level)
- Break-even point: Card should be worth $50+ raw to justify grading costs
- Turnaround time: 2 weeks to 6 months depending on service
Collector Notes
- Rare Holo cards from Dark Explorers are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by TOKIYA resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Fire typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Blaziken 17 was released in 2012 in the Dark Explorers expansion. This set is part of the Black & White series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by TOKIYA. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Set Popularity: Dark Explorers is a vintage set that has gained significant collector interest over time, with sealed product and individual cards showing strong appreciation.
Competitive History: Fire type Pokémon like Blaziken with versatile attack options provide flexibility in deck building and can adapt to different matchups. Currently legal in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Blaziken card with these essential products:
- Penny sleeves: Basic protection
- Perfect fit sleeves: Pre-grading
- Top loaders: Display & storage
- Binders with side-loading pages
- Storage boxes (800-count)
- ETB (Elite Trainer Box) storage
- Premium display cases
- Pair with Fire energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Blaziken works best in Fire type decks. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.