Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Ken Sugimori’s Snorlax Spotlight: Diamond & Pearl’s Sleepy Giant in Focus
Few artists have shaped the Pokémon TCG’s visual language as profoundly as Ken Sugimori. His Snorlax from the Diamond & Pearl era—card number dp1-37 in a vibrant holo finish—remains a beloved piece for collectors and players alike. With HP 100 and a sturdy, unflinching presence, this Basic Colorless-type monster embodies the era’s charm: bold silhouettes, gentle shading, and a warmth that invites both nostalgia and strategy-minded admiration.
The card’s illustration captures Snorlax mid-slumber in Sugimori’s signature, approachable style. You can almost feel the weight of the giant resting on a moonlit hillside, with soft gradients and a restrained background that puts the Pokémon center stage. This isn’t just a pretty picture; it’s playability made tangible through adventure-ready details. The holo variant—one of the three primary versions in dp1 alongside normal and reverse holo—gives collectors a sparkling reminder of the set’s ambition to blend utility with art. In Sugimori’s hands, Snorlax isn’t merely a stat line; it’s a character whose heft and serenity translate into timeless card design.
From a gameplay standpoint, this Snorlax is a textbook example of a midrange finisher that also supports stalling and tempo plays. The first attack, Block, costs a single Colorless energy and prevents the Defending Pokémon from retreating on your opponent’s next turn. It’s a simple—yet powerful—tool for controlling the battlefield: your opponent can’t easily reposition options while you set up the board. The second attack, Ease Up, is the real heart of the card’s tactical niche. For four Colorless energies, Snorlax deals 40 damage, and if the Snorlax in question was evolved from Munchlax, you add an extra 30 damage. That means potential damage output of 70 under the right conditions, which is nothing to sneeze at in a format where energy acceleration and textbook combos determine who takes the prize on a given day.
Statistically, Snorlax dp1-37 carries 100 HP and a single notable weakness to Fighting, marked with a +20 resistance to that fighting-type pressure. The card’s retreat cost sits at 4, which nudges players toward thoughtful energy management and perhaps a well-timed Switch or retreat-supporting trainer to avoid getting bogged down when the board becomes crowded. Its colorless typing makes it surprisingly versatile in mixed decks, especially in eras where colorless energy options were abundant. The card’s rarity is Rare, a badge of collectible value that tends to command attention from both long-time hobbyists and newer enthusiasts who appreciate Sugimori’s enduring influence on the franchise.
Diamond & Pearl (dp1) itself is a well-loved chapter in the Pokémon TCG’s history. The set’s design and symbol—along with a robust card count of 130 official cards—helped define the mid-2000s TCG experience. For Snorlax, that means a lore-driven backdrop where Sugimori’s art melds with reliable mechanics: a color palette that leans toward warm browns and blues, a restful posture, and a sense of contemplative power that resonates with players who remember the era’s slower, more deliberate pacing. And while dp1 cards aren’t typically legal in Standard or Expanded play today, the nostalgia and artistry hold strong in sleeves, binders, and showstopping display decks at local gatherings.
Collectors often weigh value not just in playability but in presentation. The dp1 Snorlax, with its holo variant, stands as a cornerstone for many Diamond & Pearl-era collections. The artwork’s legacy is as much about Sugimori’s enduring aesthetic as it is about Snorlax’s enduring popularity in the franchise. For fans of the character, the image of Snorlax laid out in luminous holo foil is a reminder of late-night deck-building sessions, epic gym battles, and a shared sense of wonder that defined Pokémon during that chapter of the card game’s story. ⚡🔥💎
Market snapshot and collector insights
- CardMarket (EUR): updated data shows an average around €2.13 with a low point near €0.10. The holo variant tracks similarly, with low around €2 and an observable upward trend in holo pricing. The trend indicator suggests steady interest among European collectors, especially for holo copies that showcase the Sugimori art in full glare. 🪙
- TCGPlayer (USD): for standard Normal copies, prices typically range from a low of about $3.06 to a high near $15, with a market price hovering around $7.66. For Reverse Holo copies, the numbers swing higher, with low prices around $32.63, midpoints near $46, and market prices landing around $54.34. That gap between normal and holo-reverse variants mirrors the broader market demand for shimmering art and collectible rarity. 📈
- The dp1-37 card is not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats, but its value as a nostalgic showpiece remains strong. For many collectors, a holo Snorlax dp1-37 is less about tournament viability and more about the joy of owning a quintessential Sugimori piece that captures the series’ enduring charm. 🔎
As a centerpiece of a Ken Sugimori-led lineup, Snorlax dp1-37 serves as a bridge between the art-forward spirit of the Diamond & Pearl era and the enduring mechanical flexibility of colorless-energy Pokémon. Its two attacks let players think about tempo: you can lock down retreats with Block, then threaten a decisive hit with Ease Up—especially if you’ve thoughtfully navigated energy evolution from Munchlax. The card’s standing as a Rare, combined with holo, normal, and reverse holo variants, makes it a compelling target for both display-worthy spines and competitive-minded collectors alike. 🎴
Whether you’re drawn by Sugimori’s iconic line work or by the strategic rhythm the card offers, Snorlax dp1-37 remains a cherished relic of the Diamond & Pearl era. It embodies a moment when art and gameplay danced together, inviting players to slow down, plan ahead, and savor the moment when a simple Block can shape the next turn’s fate. For fans of Snorlax, Ken Sugimori, or classic Pokémon TCG art, this card is more than a collectible—it’s a memory you can hold in your hands and a story you can revisit at every game night. 🎨🎮
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