Blastoise was card #2 in the very first Pokemon expansion Japan ever printed, back in October 1996. Squirtle sat two pages later at #63, a plain Common that almost nobody kept in top condition. Thirty years on, that gap between “the icon” and “the one everybody threw in a binder” still defines how these two starters trade — and it shows up again and again across every reprint the two have received since.
This guide walks through every verified Squirtle and Blastoise printing worth knowing about as a Japanese-card buyer: the original 1996 Base Set pair, the two graded Blastoise promos we carry in PSA10, the 2023 “151” set reprint, and the premium Pokemon TCG Classic deck release. We ship graded and sealed Japanese product out of Tokyo, so the identification details and pricing below come from the cards we actually handle.
Two graded Blastoise promos, both PSA10: the Celebrations 25th Anniversary Blastoise promo at ¥27,563 and the Pokemon TCG Classic Blastoise (003/032) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) at ¥18,169. We don’t currently hold a graded Squirtle single — the Squirtle chase prints are sourced on request via Quick Order.
The Two Graded Blastoise Cards We Hold
Both of the Blastoise singles currently in our catalog are commemorative reprints of the original 1996 Base Set artwork, graded PSA10, but they come from two completely different products four years apart.
The first is the Celebrations: Classic Collection Blastoise, part of the Celebrations 25th Anniversary expansion that released worldwide on October 8, 2021. It’s labeled “Classic Collection” rather than “Promo” on the card itself, and it exists purely to put the original 1996/1999 Base Set Blastoise art and number back in front of a new generation of collectors. You’ll sometimes see this exact card listed by the shorthand “003/025” — that’s how it’s catalogued in our own system — but the official Celebrations: Classic Collection checklist numbers it 002/025, matching Blastoise’s original slot as card #2 in 1996 Base Set. Our graded copy is in stock at ¥27,563.
The second is Blastoise 003/032, and this one comes from a completely different type of product: Pokemon Trading Card Game Classic, a premium commemorative Deck Kit built around three ready-to-play 60-card Theme Decks based on the original Kanto starters. In the Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean release, Blastoise is card 3 of 32 in the “Blastoise & Suicune ex Deck.” Japan’s version shipped through a lottery-only sale starting in late October 2023, with Traditional Chinese following November 10, English November 17, and Korean December 16. The English-language deck actually uses different numbering — Blastoise sits at 003/034 there, because the English checklist includes two extra Trainer cards that the JP/TC/KR version doesn’t have. Same card, different total count, different number on the card. Our graded PSA10 copy of the JP printing is in stock at ¥18,169 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
Both promos reprint the same 1996 Base Set Hydro Pump artwork, so at a glance they look nearly identical. The set stamp in the corner is what separates them — the Celebrations copy carries the Celebrations logo, the Pokemon TCG Classic copy carries the Classic deck’s own stamp and a “/32” total.
Where It Started: Base Set Blastoise & Squirtle
Every modern reprint traces back to the same source. Japan’s original Base Set — called “Expansion Pack” domestically — released October 20, 1996, more than two years before the English Base Set followed on January 9, 1999.
| Card | JP number | Rarity | JP release | EN release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blastoise | 2/102 | Rare Holo | Oct 20, 1996 | Jan 9, 1999 (same number) |
| Squirtle | 63/102 | Common | Oct 20, 1996 | Jan 9, 1999 (same number) |
Blastoise’s Rare Holo slot at #2 made it one of the three headline starters printed with foil treatment in the original set, alongside Charizard and Venusaur — which is exactly why it became the template every later “classic” reprint keeps returning to. Squirtle, by contrast, was printed as a plain Common at #63. It circulated in enormous numbers and was rarely protected by collectors at the time, which is the main reason well-preserved raw copies and graded examples from this era are harder to find today than the print run alone would suggest.
Squirtle & Blastoise ex in the 151 Set
The most recent mainstream reprint came in the 2023 “151” set — Japan’s Pokemon Card 151 subset, paired with the English 151 expansion (sv3pt5) released September 22, 2023. Both starters appear at multiple rarities, and this is one of the rare cases where the Squirtle numbering matches exactly between languages while the Blastoise ex secret-rare numbers diverge.
| Card | Rarity | EN number | JP number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squirtle | Common | 007/165 | 007/165 |
| Squirtle | Illustration Rare AR | 170/165 | 170/165 |
| Blastoise ex | Double Rare RR | 009/165 | 009/165 |
| Blastoise ex | Ultra Rare SR | 184/165 | 186/165 |
| Blastoise ex | Special Illustration Rare SAR | 200/165 | 202/165 |
Squirtle’s Illustration Rare at 170/165 is the one worth knowing by sight — a full-art, oversized-scene print that’s become one of the more recognizable Squirtle cards of the modern era, even though the base checklist number matches its plain Common counterpart. Blastoise ex sits at the RR tier as the set’s standard “ex” pull, with the SR and SAR chase versions numbered two slots higher in Japanese than in English — a common pattern across 151-era secret rares. For a full breakdown of how these pull rates work across the set, see our Pokemon 151 pull rates and best cards guide.
Collecting Squirtle: Smaller Market, Real Chase Cards
Squirtle doesn’t get the promo treatment Blastoise does — there’s no Squirtle equivalent of the Celebrations Classic Collection reprint or the Pokemon TCG Classic deck slot, at least not among the printings verified for this guide. Its collectible identity runs almost entirely through the 151 Illustration Rare above and its original 1996 Base Set Common.
That’s also why we don’t hold a graded Squirtle single in permanent stock the way we do with the two Blastoise promos. Demand for specific Squirtle prints — a high-grade Base Set copy, a 151 Illustration Rare in a particular PSA grade — comes in waves tied to what collectors are chasing that month, so we source those to order rather than warehousing a fixed graded copy. If you’re after a specific Squirtle card, the fastest way to get a quote is through Quick Order: tell us the set, number, and grade you want, and we’ll price it against the current Japanese secondary market.
Because Squirtle singles move through Quick Order rather than a standing catalog listing, pricing is quoted per request against the live Japanese market rather than posted as a fixed shelf price.
Which Squirtle or Blastoise Card Fits Your Collection
Working from everything above, here’s how the lineup breaks down by what you’re actually trying to own:
- Base Set nostalgia, graded, lower entry point — the PSA10 Blastoise from Pokemon TCG Classic (003/032) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) at ¥18,169. Same Hydro Pump artwork, sourced from a 2023 commemorative deck rather than the original 1996 print, at the lower of our two graded prices.
- Base Set nostalgia, 25th-anniversary framing — the PSA10 Celebrations Classic Collection Blastoise at ¥27,563, tied to Pokemon’s global 25th Anniversary celebration rather than a starter-deck release.
- Modern full-art Squirtle — the 151 Illustration Rare (170/165). Not held as a standing graded single; request current availability and grade options through Quick Order.
- True 1996 originals — raw or graded Base Set Blastoise (2/102) or Squirtle (63/102). Both are sourced to order given how condition-sensitive 30-year-old cards are; start with a Quick Order request specifying your target grade.
Completing the Kanto Starter Trio
Squirtle and Blastoise are one third of the original Kanto starter line, and each of the other two has its own reprint history worth knowing if you’re building a full trio. Bulbasaur and Venusaur went through their own set of Mega-era Japanese exclusives and 151-set reprints, covered in our Bulbasaur & Venusaur cards guide. Charmander’s line carries the heaviest collector premium of the three by a wide margin once you get to Charizard, which we break down separately in our Charmander cards guide and, further up the evolution chain, our top 10 Japanese Charizard cards ranked.
Of the three starters, Blastoise is the one that gets the most direct “classic reprint” treatment — two separate commemorative products in four years, both explicitly built to put the 1996 Base Set art back in circulation. Bulbasaur and Venusaur lean more toward brand-new Mega-era chase cards, and Charmander’s story is almost entirely about Charizard. If you’re deciding where to start a trio collection on a budget, Blastoise’s two in-stock PSA10 promos are the most straightforward entry point of the three starters right now.
Where to Buy Squirtle & Blastoise Cards from Japan
We ship graded singles and sealed Japanese product worldwide from Tokyo with tracked delivery. For the current graded Blastoise pair, both promos above ship directly from stock. For Squirtle singles, vintage Base Set copies, or any grade/print combination not listed here, Quick Order is the fastest way to get a priced quote.
Looking for other PSA10 graded Japanese cards beyond this pair? Browse our full PSA10 collection, or see our Japanese PSA10 Pokemon cards price guide for how grading tiers affect pricing across the whole catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the two PSA10 Blastoise promos in stock?
Both reprint the 1996 Base Set Blastoise artwork, but from different products. The Celebrations: Classic Collection Blastoise (officially numbered 002/025, released October 8, 2021) is priced at ¥27,563. The Pokemon TCG Classic Blastoise (003/032, from a 2023 premium Deck Kit) is priced at ¥18,169.
Is a Squirtle card valuable?
Squirtle’s collectible value concentrates in a small number of prints — the original 1996/1999 Base Set Common (63/102) and the 2023 151-set Illustration Rare (170/165) chief among them. It doesn’t carry the promo-reprint history that Blastoise does, so most Squirtle demand runs through specific graded singles rather than a wide product range.
Where can I buy a Squirtle card from Japan?
We source Squirtle singles, including graded copies, on request via our Quick Order page rather than holding a fixed graded single in permanent stock. Specify the set, card number, and grade you’re after for a current price.
Why does the Pokemon TCG Classic Blastoise use a different number in English?
The Japanese/Traditional Chinese/Korean version of the Blastoise & Suicune ex Deck numbers Blastoise as 003/032. The English-language version of the same deck numbers the identical card 003/034, because the English checklist includes two additional Trainer cards not present in the JP/TC/KR release.
What’s the difference between Base Set Blastoise and the 151 set Blastoise ex?
Base Set Blastoise (1996 JP / 1999 EN, #2/102) is the original single-Pokemon Rare Holo. Blastoise ex from the 2023 151 set is a newer “ex” mechanic card at 009/165 (Double Rare), with Ultra Rare and Special Illustration Rare secret-rare versions at higher numbers — a modern reinterpretation rather than a reprint of the original card.
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