She Has Amassed Countless of Pokémon Drainage Hole Cards, and Nothing Can Halt Her.

The Pokémon Company introduced the world to the trading card game DP set back in 2007, showcasing a Bonsly trading card. In this card, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon appears by illustrator Midori Harada in an unusual position. Here, the predecessor to Sudowoodo is depicted knocked over and shedding tears. However, don't mistake this, yet. As its move Fake Tears suggests, Bonsly aims to sway the foe's feelings to lowering their attack. Memorable card, isn't it? Harp player Emily Hopkins absolutely agrees. She owns a binder containing over 300 Bonsly cards to prove it.

The Entire Assortment and Its Highlights

But that isn't the whole collection either. She obtained 20 holo reverse editions of the Bonsly card, showing the tyke with metallic accents covering everything except the central artwork. The crown jewel, however, is the PSA 6-graded holo reverse Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it's far from a top-graded Charizard illustration. However, can you claim a goofy, almost perfect card of Bonsly maintained forever immortalized? I didn't think so.

The Start of the Obsession

Emily dedicated most of the current year accumulating every 2007 Bonsly card available on the market. She initially learned of this rare card earlier this year, while talking about the most cursed cards in the compendium with a staff member at a local shop. The weeping Omanyte was a contender, just like the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. However, the one that Bonsly crying, also known as card number 17, that caught Hopkins's attention.

The Design and Inspiration

The design of Bonsly is based on bonsai trees, that are commonly placed in pots featuring holes for drainage. These holes are intended to support healthy development, in fact enthusiasts suggest to peers to add holes on the bottom if holes are missing. Additionally, bonsai may sit on shallow pots hole-free, called suiban, and the collected moisture could aid caretakers arrange their bonsai to resemble nature vistas. Bonsly is the former, which explains the hole.

The Infamous Hole Card

Even with this reasonable background, yet, The company appears somewhat excessively attentive about the drainage feature. Also, products like Bonsly plushes make sure to include a cavity at the bottom of Bonsly. It makes no difference if the depiction of this particular Bonsly is weeping or calm: It will display hole. The hole is an intrinsic part of how Bonsly looks. This specific Bonsly card turned into an internet joke within the community because of the famous hole, and also because of its rarity. For years before, Bonsly #71 was the only version of Bonsly available printed in a game where numerous creatures usually appear in various forms. For sixteen years, should you desire a Bonsly card, you were stuck with the hole version.

A Growing Obsession

"When I saw Bonsly among the selections of oddball cards, I felt I discovered the one for me," Emily states in a message, mentioning how she was surprised to have missed it until then. She admits freely to inform you her passion for the Bonsly card has no real value, yet that didn't stop her. The appreciation became a full-blown obsession, with Emily purchasing all copies of this card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a routine of going to the nearby card store on a weekly basis, and became known to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The store began putting any new this specific card it received aside just for Hopkins. The majority of these are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, estimating that she has invested approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.

Market Trends and Value

These days, excellent Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to nearly $15. Although that is expensive, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards tend to cost $4 and above. The upward trend corresponds to her starting point collecting seriously, though there are likely multiple reasons. Even though this card is famous among collectors, her online content regarding the card have attracted countless views. As news regarding Bonsly #71 expands further to a wider audience, it's possible that the price of Bonsly #71 cards might increase even more. At the very least, investors note that TCG prices are climbing in 2025 across the board.

No Signs of Stopping

Emily remains undeterred, though.

"What's incredible is that a few followers and fans on social media have shipped their own Bonsly cards to me to add to my collection, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," she declares. Instead of being put off, the audience are amazed and encouraged by this project.

"I've long desired to do this," one commenter says. "Purchase all of a common card|every copy of a common card

Jay Swanson
Jay Swanson

A passionate gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering esports and indie game development across Europe.