Empoleon – Battle Styles (#40)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Empoleon (#40) is a Rare Holo V card from Sword & Shield - Battle Styles released in 2021. It showcases artwork by Ayaka Yoshida and the Swirling Slice attack (130 damage), Move an Energy from this Pokémon to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.. TCGplayer market price sits around $0.81, Cardmarket average sale is €1.18, Floor listings start near €0.45.
- TCGplayer market price: $0.81
- Cardmarket trend price: €0.78
- Recent low listing: €0.45
Card Details
- Set
- Battle Styles
- Card Number
- 40
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare Holo V
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Ayaka Yoshida
- HP
- 210
- Type
- 💧 Water
- Regulation Mark
- Regulation E ✓ Legal in Standard
- Weaknesses
- Lightning ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 2 (Colorless, Colorless)
Abilities
-
Emperor's Eyes
As long as this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, your opponent's Basic Pokémon in play have no Abilities, except for Pokémon with a Rule Box (Pokémon V, Pokémon-GX, etc. have Rule Boxes).
Attacks & Strategy
-
Swirling Slice
[Water, Colorless, Colorless]
— 130
Move an Energy from this Pokémon to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (43.3 per energy).
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Empoleon from Battle Styles (Rare Holo V) represents a solid addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2021, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Ayaka Yoshida.
Market Trends: Current market conditions show moderate interest in this card.
Investment Considerations: Mid-range TCG cards often provide balanced risk-reward profiles for collectors.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Empoleon 40 is legal for tournament play in Standard, Expanded, Unlimited formats. The card bears Regulation Mark E, indicating its current competitive viability.
Key Attack: Empoleon's Swirling Slice deals 130 damage for Water + Colorless + Colorless energy. Special effect: Move an Energy from this Pokémon to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
Stats Overview: 210 HP • Water Type • Weak to Lightning ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Empoleon Cards
Looking for other Empoleon cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Styles #40 ← Current | 210 | 1 attack | Rare Holo V | $0.81 |
�📦 Battle Styles Set Context
This Empoleon is part of the Battle Styles expansion , released as part of the Sword & Shield series in 2021.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Ayaka Yoshida, 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 Empoleon 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 V cards from Battle Styles are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Ayaka Yoshida resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Water typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Empoleon 40 was released in 2021 in the Battle Styles expansion. This set is part of the Sword & Shield series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Ayaka Yoshida. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Set Popularity: Battle Styles represents a mid-era release that balances accessibility with collectibility.
Competitive History: Water type Pokémon like Empoleon with high HP make excellent tank options in competitive play, often serving as cornerstone Pokémon in control decks. Currently legal in Standard, Expanded, Unlimited formats.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Empoleon 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 Water energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Empoleon works best in Water type decks. With high HP, consider including healing and damage reduction cards to maximize survivability. For Standard format play, check the current rotation for legal support cards.