She Has Amassed Numerous of Pokemon Hole Cards, and She's Unstoppable.
The Pokémon Company unveiled the world to the card series Diamond and Pearl set in the year 2007, showcasing the Bonsly illustration. On this artwork, Gen IV rock-type appears by designer Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising position. In the image, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and shedding tears. Don't be fooled, though. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, the little creature attempts to sway the foe's feelings in the hopes of lowering their attack. Iconic piece, no? Electroacoustic harpist Hopkins certainly thinks so. She possesses a collection book containing over 300 Bonsly cards to show for it.
The Entire Assortment with Key Pieces
But that isn't the whole collection either. She has acquired 20 reverse holographic copies of the Bonsly card, portraying the little guy in reflective foil everywhere but the main image. The prized possession, though, proves to be the PSA 6-graded reverse holo Bonsly card. Admittedly, it's far from a top-graded Charizard illustration. But do you have a goofy, nearly pristine card of Bonsly preserved in its eternal glory? I didn't think so.
How It All Began
Hopkins has spent much of 2025 gathering each Bonsly card from 2007 that she could locate. She first heard regarding this discontinued card in recent months, while talking about the most cursed cards in the Pokémon TCG with an employee at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, along with Cubone by itself in an amusement park. However, the one that Crying Bonsly, aka the seventeenth card, which captured Hopkins's attention.
The Concept of Bonsly
The design of Bonsly is based by bonsai plants, which are often grown in pots with holes at the bottom. These holes are intended to support healthy development, in fact fans encourage each other to add holes in their containers when none are present. Additionally, bonsai may sit on shallow pots hole-free, called suiban, and the retained water can help caretakers decorate their plants to mimic outdoor scenes. Bonsly fits the initial category, thus the hole exists.
The Infamous Hole Card
Although this makes sense, yet, The company looks a bit overly focused about the drainage feature. Even merch including stuffed Bonsly ensure they feature a cavity at the bottom of this plant Pokémon. It makes no difference whether the portrayal of the Pokémon appears sad or content: It features a hole. The hole is a fundamental aspect in Bonsly's appearance. Bonsly #71 gained meme status in collector circles both due to the famous hole, as well as its unique position. Until recently, Bonsly #71 remained the sole iteration featuring Bonsly printed in a game where many of its monsters are typically depicted in multiple editions. For sixteen years, were you seeking a Bonsly card, you were stuck with the hole version.
Emily's Dedication
"When I saw Bonsly in the list of infamous cards, I felt I discovered my new favorite," Hopkins shares via email, mentioning how she felt astonished that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to tell you her passion for this particular card has no real value, but she didn't care. The liking turned into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card that she could get her hands on. She quickly got into a routine of stopping by the nearby card store every week, and earned the nickname among the staff as "Bonsly Girl". The shop started setting aside any recently acquired this specific card they obtained exclusively for Emily. Most of these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, approximating she has invested somewhere around $400 for the collection book.
The Financial Side
Currently, mint-condition Bonsly #71 cards might be valued at $14.99. While that is a premium price, run-of-the-mill Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost starting at $4. That price increase corresponds to when Hopkins started her collection in earnest, although there are probably several factors at play. While it's true that this card is famous with enthusiasts, Hopkins's posts regarding the card have attracted countless views. As news regarding Bonsly #71 continues to spread among more people, there's a chance the value of these cards could keep rising. Regardless, investors say that trading card game values are skyrocketing currently overall.
No Signs of Stopping
Hopkins cannot be stopped, however.
"The wonderful part remains that certain fans and fans on social media have sent their Bonsly cards her way to add to my collection, and I am keeping these cards protected always," Emily states. Rather than recoil in horror, fans are amazed and encouraged by her Bonsly binder.
"I've actually always wanted to try this," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card