Empoleon · Brilliant Stars, what to know.
About the Empoleon card
Numbered 37 of 186 in Brilliant Stars, released in February 2022, Empoleon is a Rare Holo, a Stage 2 Water-type carrying 160 HP.
It evolves from Prinplup, so Empoleon is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Kouki Saitou.
Empoleon carries this Pokédex flavor text: "The three horns that extend from its beak attest to its power. The leader has the biggest horns."
What is Empoleon worth?
Empoleon is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Brilliant Stars's value. The rarity tier decides most of it, since the same card prints at several tiers with very different prices. In top-grade 1st Edition, Brilliant Stars holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Empoleon before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Empoleon, surface is the grade cap. The water foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Empoleon
When you go to buy Empoleon, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Empoleon, so price the specific copy in front of you.
