Blastoise ex 151: price and market value of the Mitsuhiro Arita SAR

If you're looking up the Blastoise ex 151 price, you're in the right place. Card 200/165 from the Scarlet & Violet - 151 set is one of the set's centerpieces: a Special Illustration Rare (SAR) signed by Mitsuhiro Arita, with a market value that holds firmly between 156 and 206 euros on the French-speaking market. This is one of the three starters in their ex form to receive this premium treatment in the set, alongside Venusaur and Charizard. That is why it deserves a serious analysis, whether you collect or invest.

The Scarlet & Violet - 151 set: context

Released in October 2023 in France (launched under the name Scarlet & Violet - 151 in English), this set is a direct celebration of the original Pokédex. It gathers exactly the first 151 Pokémon — from Bulbasaur to Mew — and reinterprets them in the modern format of the Scarlet & Violet generation. The set numbering itself is a wink: officially numbered up to 165 base cards, it includes many secret cards beyond that, including several highly sought-after SARs.

The set was an immediate commercial success in Europe. The mix of nostalgia and premium illustrations drove strong demand from launch, and the prices of some secret cards have never really dropped. In that context, the three starter ex SARs — Venusaur, Blastoise and Charizard — sit at the center of the hierarchy of cards to own.

The particularity of this set: unlike the standard Scarlet & Violet expansions, it contains no Paldea-related cards. It is a fully retro set, which gives it a strong identity and lasting appeal among collectors who started with the first generation.

The card in detail

• Number: 200/165 (secret card beyond the set's official numbering)
• Rarity: Special Illustration Rare (SAR / ISR) — not to be confused with Illustration Rare (IR), a distinct and lower rarity in the Scarlet & Violet system
• Artist: Mitsuhiro Arita
• Type: Water

An important point to clarify: in the French-speaking community, people often talk about a "Blastoise ex IR". That is a loose shortcut. Card 200/165 is technically a SAR (Special Illustration Rare), a rarity above IR. There is no Blastoise ex in standard Illustration Rare in this set. The distinction matters for valuation, because SARs consistently reach higher prices than IRs.

On the illustration itself: Mitsuhiro Arita, an absolute veteran of the Pokémon TCG (he has illustrated cards since the original Base Set in 1998), delivers a spectacular aquatic composition here. Blastoise is shown diving, surrounded by bluish underwater light, with a sense of movement that contrasts with the more static poses of classic illustrations. The full-art SAR format particularly highlights that visual depth. For fans who grew up with Blastoise, seeing this iconic starter revisited by one of the game's historic artists has a real emotional resonance.

Market value and current prices

The pricePokeItemFR field is not available for this card in our database at the time of writing. We therefore rely on the raw price of the French-speaking secondary market.

This 156 to 206 euro range reflects transactions observed on CardMarket and specialized FR platforms, updated in August 2026. The spread between the low and high end of the range is explained by card condition: an ungraded copy in excellent condition oscillates around 160-175 euros, while a near-perfect copy can exceed 190 euros.

Compared with its direct neighbors in the set, Blastoise ex SAR sits below Charizard ex SAR (as always) but above or on par with Venusaur ex SAR, depending on the period. The FR market has been relatively stable on this card since spring 2024 — no sharp drop, no spike either.

Valuation factors

Nostalgia and popularity of the Pokémon: Blastoise remains one of the most appreciated starters of the first generation. Its iconic status since 1996, reinforced by Pokémon Red/Blue, guarantees constant demand from collectors in their thirties and forties.

Effective rarity: SARs are among the hardest cards to pull from a booster. The pull rate is estimated at less than one card per two or three boxes, which mechanically keeps pressure on prices.

The artist: Mitsuhiro Arita is a major name in the TCG. His name on a card adds heritage value, especially for collectors who have known his work since the beginnings of the game.

Competitive play: Blastoise ex is playable in Standard format (at the time of writing), which maintains functional demand on top of collector demand. That said, the SAR version is not bought to play — it costs too much to slide into a deck. Competitive demand sits rather on the common or uncommon versions of the card.

Print status: Scarlet & Violet - 151 has not been reprinted endlessly. The set is still available in sealed products, but supply is tightening gradually. A definitive end of production would consolidate the SAR market values.

Point of attention: Charizard ex SAR captures a large share of collectors' attention (and budget) in this set. Blastoise suffers a little from that internal competition, which explains why its market value is solid but not spectacular.

Should you buy this card?

Arguments for buying:

• The market value has been stable for more than a year, which suggests a well-established floor around 150 euros.
• The illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita confers lasting artistic and heritage value.
• Blastoise is a founding Pokémon whose popularity should not erode with time.
• The 151 set has a strong identity and thematic coherence that appeal to collectors beyond simple chase-card hunters.

Points to qualify:

• At 156-206 euros, the entry is not trivial. If the market drops 15-20%, you are left with a temporary paper loss that is hard to absorb.
• Charizard ex SAR from the same set attracts more buyers, which limits the upside potential of Blastoise ex by comparison.
• If you buy for display or exhibition, plan quality protection from the start (premium sleeve, toploader, or rigid binder).

Practical advice: if you are a fan of Blastoise or of the 151 set, this is clearly a card to own. For a purely speculative angle, wait a few months and watch how sealed-product stocks evolve — a natural tightening of the set could create favorable momentum by 2025-2026. In any case, avoid buying a damaged copy at a reduced price if you intend to value it: condition strongly determines the resale price.

Conclusion

The Blastoise ex 200/165 from the Pokémon 151 set is a card that brings together everything collectors look for: an iconic first-generation Pokémon, an SAR rarity among the hardest to obtain, and a legendary illustrator. Its market value between 156 and 206 euros (August 2026) reflects a mature, confident market. It is not the most expensive card in the set, but it is probably one of the most satisfying to hold.

To follow this price every day without having to tour the platforms by hand, use PokéItem directly in your browser, or download the app on your phone for a mobile version that detects your system automatically and sends you to the App Store or Google Play depending on your device. It is the simplest way not to miss a buying opportunity, or to know when to sell at the right time.