Popplio Rarity Tiers Explained in Pokémon TCG

In TCG ·

Popplio card art from Macdonald's Collection 2021

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Understanding rarity in the Pokémon TCG: Popplio and friends

The Pokémon Trading Card Game thrives on a simple yet thrilling tension: chase the rarer versions, trade for the foil finishes, and hunt those nostalgic motifs that transport you back to your first booster pack opening. When we zoom in on a single card—Popplio from the Macdonald's Collection 2021—we see how rarity interacts with design, gameplay, and collectibility in subtle, meaningful ways ⚡. This Water-type basic Pokémon brings a pocket-sized dose of strategy and charm to any deck or display case, with its own quirks that highlight why rarity matters beyond just flash and shine.

What rarity means in the modern game

  • Common, uncommon, and rare form the backbone of set distribution, guiding players on what to expect in a typical booster pull.
  • Foil treatments—like holo and reverse-holo—signal heightened desirability, especially when coupled with a striking illustration or a beloved Pokémon.
  • Promos and special-print runs (including those from family-friendly or event-focused sets) can complicate the picture: some prints don’t carry a traditional rarity symbol, or they differentiate through foil or packaging rather than star or circle marks.
  • For collectors, the presence of both normal and holo variants within the same print line can be a critical driver of value and display variety, even if core stats stay modest.

Popplio in Macdonald's Collection 2021: a practical snapshot

Popplio is a Basic Water-type Pokémon with 70 HP, drawn from the Macdonald's Collection 2021 set. The card features two low-cost attacks designed for early aggression or chip-damage in the opening turns. Its first attack, Pound, costs one Water energy and deals 10 damage, while the second, Water Gun, costs Water plus Colorless energy and deals 20 damage. These rudimentary moves embody Popplio’s hardworking nature and the learning curve many fans love about early-stage Pokémon—the power grows as you add energy, board presence, and synergy with other Water-types. In practice, this makes Popplio a friendly starter for new players while still earning a place in themed decks that celebrate water strategies 🔥.

The card’s Type is Water, and its Weakness to Grass ×2 makes it a straightforward pick against Grass-type opponents that often populate early game matchups. The Retreat Cost is 1, which aligns with a nimble, run-and-gun style in the early game. From a gameplay perspective, Popplio’s suite is modest but reliable enough to support a broader water-centric plan when combined with other water Pokémon, energy acceleration, and support cards that enable draw or healing. The illustration is credited to Kouki Saitou, whose soft coloring and approachable design blend well with Popplio’s cheerful, working-poorly vibe—perfect for fans who cherish both the gameplay and the character’s lore 🎨.

“This Pokémon snorts body fluids from its nose, blowing balloons to smash into its foes. It’s famous for being a hard worker.”

One notable printing detail for this Popplio is its rarity listing as None in the dataset. That quirk can occur in certain promotional or variant prints where the symbol isn’t printed in the standard spot or is omitted for the edition. In Macdonald’s Collection 2021, the card exists in normal and holo variants, with firstEdition false, underscoring how promos can coexist with regular production lines while still offering two collectible presentation options. Neither variant carries a modern standard or expanded legality tag in this dataset, which aligns with how some promotional lines drift in and out of standard play across eras. This makes the Popplio from this collection a charming curio for both casual fans and veteran collectors 🔎.

At-a-glance: reading the card and planning your collection

  • Name: Popplio
  • Set: Macdonald's Collection 2021 (Macdonald's Collection 2021)
  • HP: 70
  • Type: Water
  • Stage: Basic
  • Attacks: Pound (10), Water Gun (20)
  • Weakness: Grass ×2
  • Variants: Normal and holo available
  • Illustrator: Kouki Saitou
  • Rarity: None (quirk of this print) — not always a predictor of power, but a fun quirk for collectors

For collectors, the presence of holo variants often signals greater demand, but the true plaisir lies in the memory and the feel of the card. Kouki Saitou’s art for Popplio captures a sense of motion and buoyant whimsy that pairs beautifully with the water theme and the card’s modest power. The combination of 70 HP and two lightweight attacks reads as a primer for building a water-focused deck around status effects, energy acceleration, or synergy with other water Pokémon, while remaining approachable for newer players picking up the game’s basic mechanics ⚡🎴.

From a collector’s eye, the most relevant takeaways are the two main print variants and the absence of a universal rarity marker in this specific release. The normal print and the holo print give you two distinct display options: the holo shimmer often commands a premium in good condition, especially when paired with a beloved character and a storied set name. The Macdonald's Collection 2021 pin on this card also signals a limited-scope, promotional chapter in the broader TCG timeline—perfect for those who relish collecting with a story behind the card as much as the card itself 💎.

Custom Rectangular Mouse Pad 9.3x7.8 in Non-Slip

More from our network