She's Gathered Hundreds of Pokemon Hole Cards, and She's Unstoppable.

The makers of Pokémon released collectors to the card series DP set back in 2007, including the Bonsly illustration. Within this depiction, the fourth generation stone creature is shown by artist Harada-san in a, shall we say, compromising situation. On the card, the predecessor to Sudowoodo appears knocked over and shedding tears. But don't misunderstand, however. Like its ability Fake Tears, Bonsly aims to sway the foe's feelings in the hopes of reducing their damage output. Iconic piece, isn't it? Harp player Hopkins is a firm believer. And she's got a collection book containing over 300 cards of Bonsly to show for it.

The Entire Assortment with Key Pieces

But that isn't everything she has as well. She obtained twenty reverse foil versions featuring Bonsly, portraying the little guy in reflective foil covering everything except the main image. The crown jewel, though, proves to be the PSA 6-rated reverse holographic Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it's not a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. Yet, do you possess a goofy, almost perfect Bonsly card maintained in all its splendor? Probably not.

How It All Began

Hopkins has spent a large part of this year stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She discovered of this rare card earlier this year, while debating the most cursed cards among collectors with an employee in a nearby store. Omanyte in tears was a contender, just like the forever alone Cubone at the theme park. But it was Crying Bonsly, aka Bonsly #17, that grabbed Emily's focus.

The Concept of Bonsly

Bonsly is obviously influenced on bonsai trees, which are typically planted in planters that have drainage holes. These holes are intended to aid growth, in fact growers encourage each other to create openings in their containers if they don't already have one. Additionally, bonsai may sit in shallow containers lacking drainage, called suiban, where the water stays may assist enthusiasts arrange their bonsai to resemble outdoor scenes. Bonsly is the former, which explains the hole.

Why Bonsly Stands Out

Even with this reasonable background, yet, The Pokémon Company looks a bit excessively attentive regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merch such as Bonsly plush toys ensure they feature a cavity below of Bonsly. Regardless if the illustration of Bonsly in question is crying or calm: It will display a hole. The opening is a fundamental aspect in Bonsly's appearance. Card number 71 became a meme within the community thanks to that drainage hole, as well as its status. Up until last year, the card was the only version featuring Bonsly included in the series where many of its monsters usually appear in multiple editions. Over a decade and a half, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you were stuck for hole Bonsly.

The Collector's Passion

"When I discovered Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I felt I located my favorite one," Emily states over email, adding that she felt astonished to have never seen it before. She admits freely to inform you her fondness for Bonsly #71 has no real value, but she didn't care. The liking became a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought every Bonsly #71 card she could possibly find. She soon developed a practice of stopping by her favorite shop regularly, and was dubbed to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The store began putting any new Bonsly #71 cards that came in exclusively for Emily. Typically, these cards go for a few dollars, she says, approximating she's spent approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.

The Financial Side

Nowadays, excellent Bonsly #71 cards can cost up to around fifteen dollars. While that's on the higher end, run-of-the-mill versions tend to cost four dollars or more. The upward trend corresponds to when Hopkins started building her set, but it's possible that various influences. While it's true that the card is notorious in the community, Emily's social media updates regarding the card have also garnered countless views. As news of its existence expands further to new fans, it's possible that their market price may continue to shoot up. If nothing else, enthusiasts mention how trading card game values are climbing in 2025 in general.

Unstoppable Determination

Hopkins cannot be stopped, yet.

"The amazing thing is that some supporters and fans of the YouTube channel have mailed their own Bonsly cards her way to expand the set, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," Emily states. Far from being alarmed, fans are impressed and inspired by her Bonsly binder.

"I've long desired to attempt something similar," one commenter says. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card