Piplup · Phantasmal Flames, what to know.
About the Piplup card
Piplup is card 98 of 130 in Phantasmal Flames, released in January 2026, an Illustration Rare. It is a Basic Water-type with 70 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Piplup needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Illustrated by Jiro Sasumo.
The Pokédex entry printed on Piplup reads: "A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care."
What is Piplup worth?
Piplup is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Phantasmal Flames'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, Phantasmal Flames 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 Piplup before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Piplup is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on these cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the water foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
If you are collecting Piplup
If you are buying Piplup, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. Price the Piplup against the population report, since modern holo supply is large.
