Poliwhirl · Scarlet & Violet 151, what to know.
About the Poliwhirl card
Poliwhirl is card 176 of 207 in Scarlet & Violet 151, released in September 2023, an Illustration Rare. It is a Stage 1 Water-type with 90 HP.
As a Stage 1, it evolves from Poliwag, which places Poliwhirl deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Gemi.
The card's flavor text gives Poliwhirl a line of lore: "This Pokémon's sweat is a slimy mucus. When captured, Poliwhirl can slither from its enemies' grasp and escape."
About Poliwhirl in the Pokémon world
The middle Poliwag stage. Now bipedal with arms but retained spiral belly. Notably the card on the cover of the original Game Boy Pokémon manual. Mid-stage demand.
What is Poliwhirl worth?
Poliwhirl is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Scarlet & Violet 151'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, Scarlet & Violet 151 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 Poliwhirl before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Poliwhirl, 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 Poliwhirl
Buying Poliwhirl well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. Match the rarity tier to the comp before you buy. Always see the holo surface in good light first.
