Dodrio Card Art Collab: Illustrators and TCG Teams

Dodrio card art by Hajime Kusajima from the Emerald set (ex9-26)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Behind the Brush: Collaborations Between Illustrators and TCG Teams

In the Pokémon TCG, art is never just decoration. It is a bridge between the imaginative world of the illustrator and the tactical playground of the players. When Hajime Kusajima stepped into the Emerald-era design pipeline for the ex9-26 Dodrio, the collaboration became a textbook example of how a single artwork can amplify a card’s identity on the table. Dodrio, a Stage 1 Colorless line that evolves from Doduo, arrives with 70 HP and a posture that seems to sprint off the card and into your deck. The three heads, the sweeping motion lines, and the vibrant greens of Emerald all work in concert to communicate speed, agility, and a hint of mischief ⚡🔥.

From Doduo to Dodrio: Storytelling in Mechanics

The narrative of this card starts with its evolution from Doduo, a classic two-headed precursor whose own personality hints at rapid play. Kusajima’s Dodrio is a study in motion: a beak-and-feather blur that telegraphs not just danger but opportunity. The gameplay reflects that energy in two simple attacks. Smash Kick costs two Colorless energies and lands 30 damage, a straightforward burst that doesn’t require elaborate setup—perfect for a colorless deck that wants to keep options open. The second attack, Smash Turn, ramps up the tempo: three Colorless energies for 40 damage, with a compact but decisive catch—“After your attack, you may switch Dodrio with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.” In practice, that line translates into a tactical ebb and flow, a card that rewards smart sequencing and bench management as much as raw power.

Dodrio’sColorless typing and its modest 70 HP put it in the mid-to-late-game decision zone: you’re choosing when to press the Smash Turn pivot and how to position your bench to maximize value. The card’s vulnerability to Lightning (×2) and its Fighting-type resistance (−30) add another layer of strategic nuance. It’s not about brute force; it’s about tempo, positioning, and reading the board—elements that Kusajima’s art emphasizes through motion and contrast. The result is a piece of play that feels as fast as Dodrio’s namesake creature and as shiny as a holo variant under the stadium lights 🎴🎨.

Emerald’s Emerald: The Set, the Style, and the Collector’s Eye

Ex9, known as the Emerald expansion, carried 106 official cards with a total tally of 107 in its print run. This Dodrio—listed as Uncommon—embodies the era’s penchant for memorable creature moments paired with crisp, character-forward illustration. The card exists in multiple variants: normal, reverse holo, and holo, each telling a different story with Kusajima’s brushwork. The holo treatment, in particular, invites the eye to linger on the three heads and the implied wind-swept momentum, turning a strategic asset into a collectible centerpiece. The distinct combination of rarity and holo potential helps explain why this Dodrio can fetch notably different prices depending on its variant—a reminder that art and gameplay often walk hand in hand in the TCG market 🔎💎.

Value, Rarity, and Market Pulse

Rarity: Uncommon, with broader collector interest in holo and reverse holo copies depending on print run and condition.
Pricing snapshot:
- CardMarket (normal): avg around 0.5 EUR; low around 0.05 EUR; trend about 0.26
- TCGPlayer (normal): low around $0.74, mid around $1.41, high around $1.75; market price about $0.94
- TCGPlayer (reverse holo): low around $12.30, mid around $15.64, high around $17.67; market price around $16.25
Collector note: While the standard copy sits in an approachable price range, holo and reverse holo variants command a premium, reflecting both art quality and nostalgia for the Emerald era.

In collector circles, Kusajima’s Dodrio is often celebrated not only for its mechanical fit but for the sense of speed and whimsy the illustration conveys. The Emerald set’s triple-headed bird feels like a chess piece in motion, a nod to how illustrators must translate a creature’s temperament into a card’s silhouette and color—without overburdening the rules. For fans, this is a perfect reminder that the TCG’s vitality comes from artists who can fuse lore, design, and gameplay into one vivid frame 🔥🎴.

Artistic Craft and the Human Touch

Hajime Kusajima’s work on ex9-26 Dodrio stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between art and gameplay. The illustration avoids gimmick in favor of clarity: the heads’ expressions, the bird’s stance, and the dynamic line work all communicate a sense of speed and potential energy. In a world where some visuals drift toward heavy manga exaggeration, Kusajima anchors the design in a recognizably Pokémon aesthetic while ensuring it remains readable at gaming table distances. The collaboration between illustrator and TCG team shows that the best cards emerge when art direction and game design align—art that tells you who Dodrio is, and moves you to consider when and how to deploy its abilities ⚡🎨.

Product Spotlight: A Little Something for Your Desk

While you chase the next holo throwback or the first-edition glow, you can bring a touch of this collab into your everyday life with a practical tribute: a Custom Mouse Pad. Designed to keep your mouse steady and your workspace chic, this white cloth non-slip pad makes a perfect desk companion for late-night strategy sessions or weekend deck-building marathons. Check it out here:

Custom Mouse Pad 9.3x7.8 in White Cloth Non-Slip

As collectors and players continue to celebrate collaborations between illustrators and TCG teams, the Dodrio ex9-26 card remains a bright beacon of how art can illuminate strategy. Its three heads symbolize branching choices, its colorless energy demands flexible thinking, and Kusajima’s signature style invites fans to pause, appreciate, and plan their next big move with a smile. It’s not just a card; it’s a story you can carry from table to collection shelf, a reminder that in the Pokémon universe, art and battle are forever intertwined ⚡💎.