🔗 Share this article

The makers of Pokémon introduced fans to the card series DP set back in 2007, including the Bonsly card. Within this depiction, Gen IV rock-type is shown by designer Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising pose. Here, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo appears toppled and crying. Don't be fooled, though. Like its ability Fake Tears, Bonsly aims to influence their opponent's emotions to lowering their attack. Memorable card, no? Electroacoustic harpist Hopkins certainly thinks so. She possesses a collection book containing over 300 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.

The Full Collection Including Rare Finds

That's not the whole collection either. She has acquired twenty holo reverse versions featuring Bonsly, which depicts the small Pokémon in reflective foil everywhere but the central artwork. The most valuable item, however, is the PSA 6-graded reverse holographic of Bonsly. Admittedly, it isn't a top-graded Charizard from the base set. However, can you claim an amusing, almost perfect Bonsly card maintained in all its splendor? I thought as much.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested most of the current year gathering every 2007 Bonsly card she can possibly find. She first heard about the out-of-print card in recent months, during a discussion the notoriously odd cards in the compendium with a staff member at a local shop. Crying Omanyte was considered, as was the forever alone Cubone in an amusement park. However, the one that Bonsly crying, or card number 17, that caught Hopkins's attention.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly is obviously influenced from miniature trees, which are typically planted in containers with holes at the bottom. They are designed to support healthy development, in fact growers encourage each other to drill holes on the bottom if they don't already have one. Bonsai can also be placed in shallow containers lacking drainage, known as suiban, and the retained water could aid caretakers decorate their plants to look like nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, hence the hole.

A Memorable and Notorious Card

Even with this reasonable background, however, The company appears somewhat overly focused regarding the hole in Bonsly. Also, products such as Bonsly plush toys always incorporate an empty space at the bottom of the tree-like Pokémon. It makes no difference if the depiction of Bonsly in question is weeping or content: It's going to show the hole. This hole represents an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card became a meme in collector circles both due to that drainage hole, and also because of its status. Until recently, the card was the only version of Bonsly card released in the TCG where many of its monsters are typically depicted in dozens of different ways. For 16 years, if you wanted this Pokémon card, you needed to accept for hole Bonsly.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I felt I discovered my favorite one," Hopkins shares in a message, mentioning how she felt astonished that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She'll be the first to inform you her fondness for the Bonsly card serves no practical purpose, yet that didn't stop her. The liking evolved into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought every Bonsly #71 card available to her. She quickly got into a habit of stopping by the nearby card store on a weekly basis, and was dubbed among the staff as the Bonsly collector. The store began setting aside any recently acquired this specific card they obtained only for her. The majority of these cost between $1 and $3, she mentions, approximating her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars only on the album itself.

Rising Prices

Currently, excellent this Bonsly card might be valued at $14.99. Although that is expensive, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards usually go for four dollars or more. That price increase corresponds to when Hopkins started her collection in earnest, although there are probably several factors at play. Even though Bonsly #71 is well-known with enthusiasts, Emily's social media updates about it have also garnered millions of views. With information of its existence keeps growing to a wider audience, there's a chance the price of Bonsly #71 cards might increase even more. If nothing else, enthusiasts note that card market costs are soaring in 2025 overall.

No Signs of Stopping

Emily remains undeterred, yet.

"What's incredible is certain fans and fans from her channel have sent copies of Bonsly to me to add to my collection, and I am keeping them secure indefinitely," Hopkins says. Far from being alarmed, viewers feel admiration and motivation by her Bonsly binder.

"I've actually always wanted to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Buy up all of a common card|every copy of a common card