Riolu – BW Black Star Promos (#BW33)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Riolu (#BW33) is a Promo card from Black & White - BW Black Star Promos released in 2011. It showcases artwork by sui and the Run Around attack, Switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.. TCGplayer market price sits around $9.99, Cardmarket average sale is €1.93, Floor listings start near €0.50.
- TCGplayer market price: $9.99
- Cardmarket trend price: €2.89
- Recent low listing: €0.50
Card Details
- Set
- BW Black Star Promos
- Card Number
- BW33
- Rarity
- ✨ Promo
- Illustrator
- 🎨 sui
- HP
- 60
- Type
- ✊ Fighting
- Weaknesses
- Psychic ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 1 (Colorless)
- Evolves To
- Lucario
Attacks & Strategy
-
Run Around
[Colorless]
Switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon. - Hook [Fighting, Colorless] — 30
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Riolu from BW Black Star Promos (Promo) represents an interesting addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2011, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator sui.
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 Riolu BW33 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
Key Attack: Riolu's Run Around for Colorless energy. Special effect: Switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
Stats Overview: 60 HP • Fighting Type • Weak to Psychic ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Riolu Cards
Looking for other Riolu cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BW Black Star Promos #BW33 ← Current | 60 | 2 attacks | Promo | $9.99 |
�📦 BW Black Star Promos Set Context
This Riolu is part of the BW Black Star Promos expansion , released as part of the Black & White series in 2011.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by sui, 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 Riolu 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
- Promo cards from BW Black Star Promos are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by sui resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Fighting typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Riolu BW33 was released in 2011 in the BW Black Star Promos 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 sui. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Set Popularity: BW Black Star Promos is a vintage set that has gained significant collector interest over time, with sealed product and individual cards showing strong appreciation.
Competitive History: Fighting type Pokémon like Riolu 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 Riolu 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 Fighting energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Riolu works best in Fighting type decks. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.