PSA 10JapanesePokemon Card 151 #171

Wartortle STANDARD PSA 10

Pokemon Card 151 · Japanese Print · Card #171

Our Price

$56

Live US PSA 10 market

2 slabs available now

Buy Now — $56 See all 2 offers

Set

Pokemon Card 151

Number

#171

PSA Pop

—

Wartortle STANDARD PSA 10 Gem Mint · sells at $56 USD · Pokemon Card 151. Cert-verified slab, sourced from Japan, ships SF Express HK + DHL worldwide.

2 PSA 10 Slabs Available

All slabs cert-verified. Payment held until we confirm your slab. SF Express 1-2 days (HK) · DHL Express 3-5 days international.

Japanese version

Primary

Japanese PSA 10 market

$56

Cert-verified PSA slabPayment held until confirmedSF Express 1-2 days (HK) · DHL 3-5 days international

Buy for $56

Card Background & Set Context

Pokemon Card 151 (sv2a) launched 16 June 2023, co-released with English Scarlet & Violet 151 under the Pokemon Company's 27th-anniversary Kanto tribute. Card #171 Wartortle Art Rare completes the middle evolution of the sv2a Squirtle line (#170 Squirtle, #171 Wartortle, #184 Blastoise ex). Artist Saki Hayashiro — who also drew Charizard ex SAR 201 and Mew ex SAR 205 in the same set — depicts Wartortle mid-swim in a Cerulean City canal, with Onix-shaped rock formations faintly visible in the background. Hayashiro's aquatic treatment is considered her signature sub-style, with fans citing Wartortle 171 as one of the most under-valued ARs in her sv2a catalog. Pokemon Center Japan released a 'Water Trio' sealed display in November 2023 containing sealed sv2a booster packs and a random AR pull, slightly lifting supply but within normal cycle expectations. Wartortle specifically benefits from Pokemon Anime Season 1 nostalgia (Misty's Squirtle subplot in Cerulean Gym) and Pokemon GO Gen 1 rotation cycles. Pull rate for AR rarity in sv2a booster packs is approximately 1:18, making Wartortle supply grow ~200-300 PSA 10 submissions per quarter.

Investment Analysis

Price stack: raw $68, PSA 9 $69 (essentially zero grade lift — PSA 9 Wartortle is a bad investment), PSA 10 $455 (6.7x raw, 6.6x PSA 9). The near-zero PSA 9 premium is highly unusual and reveals market logic: collectors who target Wartortle want PSA 10 specifically (gem mint trophy) or raw for building master sets — PSA 9 satisfies neither camp. Grade EV: $68 raw + $25 PSA JP + $12 ship = $105 cost; at ~38% gem rate → 38% × $455 + 57% × $69 + 5% × $35 = $214 EV, gross +$109 per submission. Positive EV but lower than Charizard or Mew SARs. Within-set comparables: sv2a 170 Squirtle AR PSA 10 $420 (-8% vs Wartortle — unusual, usually first-evolution is cheaper than middle); sv2a 184 Blastoise ex PSA 10 $320 (-30%, since Blastoise is standard Double Rare not Art Rare). Peer-pattern comparison: sv2a 179 Ivysaur AR PSA 10 $310, sv2a 185 Pikachu AR PSA 10 $680. Wartortle 171 is priced consistent with rarity + volume but slightly discounted vs its middle-evolution peers. Catalysts: (a) any Pokemon Anime Kanto rewatch event, (b) Pokemon GO Kanto spotlight rotation, (c) Pokemon Center sv2a single-card retirement Q4 2026. 12-month target $480-530 if pop stays stable and Pikachu-family doesn't absorb all Kanto demand. Risk of reprint 3 around PoGo 10-year materially expands supply and would retest $400 floor.

Risks to Watch

Wartortle 171 has moderate investment risk profile. Primary risk is pop inflation: PSA census grows ~100 per quarter, and crossing 3,000-3,500 PSA 10 would pressure price 15-20%. Secondary risk is reprint — Pokemon Company's pattern of reprinting sv2a to meet demand (two reprints already) means a 2026 third reprint would expand supply ~30%. Third risk is Blastoise-line demand cyclicality: when Charizard chase cards dominate market attention, Wartortle and Squirtle lines track 10-15% below. Fourth risk is macro — JPY reversion from 152 to 130 would trim USD pricing 15% mechanically. On the upside, if Pokemon Company avoids a third reprint and Pokemon GO Gen 1 rotation lands mid-2026, $500-530 target is achievable.

Global Market Comparison

PSA 10 · regional averages

Average PSA 10 sale price by region. All prices shown in USD.

Japan

$73

Our price

$455

Market (PSA 10)

$455

PSA Population

—

30d Volume

115

Raw

$68

PSA 9

$69

Price History (90 days)

Grade Price Spread

Grade	Price USD	Spread Vs PSA 10 %
Raw NM	68	-85.1
PSA 9	69	-84.8
PSA 10	455	0

Live prices in USD. Spread percentages relative to PSA 10 market.

Wartortle AR (Pokemon Card 151 sv2a 171) PSA 10 currently trades $455 USD with PSA 9 at just $69 and raw NM/M at $68 — a ~559% grade lift from PSA 9 to PSA 10 reveals sv2a's notoriously tight centering tolerance on Squirtle-line ARs. Released 16 June 2023 in the sv2a Pokemon Card 151 set, Wartortle #171 sits between Squirtle #170 and Blastoise ex #184 in the Kanto starter pipeline. The card saw 115 PSA 10 sales in 30 days, with 30 confirmed Snkrdunk JP transactions averaging $73 across all grades — a liquidity profile comparable to Charmander AR #169 despite Blastoise-line's smaller collector base vs Charizard.

Card Background & Set Context

Investment Analysis

Japanese vs English & Variants

Japanese sv2a 171 Wartortle AR has one direct English counterpart: Scarlet & Violet 151 #174 Wartortle Illustration Rare. EN #174 PSA 10 trades $240-290, about 40% below JP. The English print run was much larger — Pokemon Center US retail aggressively stocked 151 through 2024. Japanese collectors also prefer domestic print canon, which adds a 20-30% premium on all sv2a starter-line ARs. Within JP there is no Special Art Wartortle, no Pokemon Center stamped version, no promo variant — the AR #171 is Wartortle's only full-art treatment in sv2a. Korean sv2a #171 Wartortle AR exists at $260-290 PSA 10; print quality is similar to JP but grade census is smaller (1 in 3 supply relative to JP). Compare to other mid-evolution ARs in sv2a: Ivysaur 179 ($310), Kadabra 192 ($185) — Wartortle's Blastoise-line pipeline premium shows here. Historical AR middle-evolution precedent: sv1v Sprigatito middle Floragato AR traded 15% above base; sv2a Wartortle pattern aligns with that norm.

Authentication & Cert Verification

Wartortle AR fakes exist but less common than Charmander due to smaller counterfeiter attention. Check: (1) card weight 1.78-1.82g genuine; fakes test outside. (2) Cerulean blue background gradient on genuine blends teal-to-aqua across 5 color steps; fakes show banded 3-color stripes. (3) 'AR' rarity stamp bottom-right has silver foil embossing; fakes are flat-printed. (4) Saki Hayashiro illustrator credit in 4pt font; fakes frequently omit or misspell. (5) Water splash texture in center of art has fine holographic cross-hatching under 10x loupe; fakes show uniform glitter. (6) Back-of-card prismatic blue Pokeball seal; fakes show flat metallic. PSA Tokyo opens June 2024 has graded 650+ sv2a 171 — verify cert via PSA lookup. Poke10 sources only from Japan dealers with PSA-authenticated supply chain.

Risks to Watch

Frequently Asked Questions

Background reading: general FAQ · how Poke10 sources · shipping & duties · all sets

What is current PSA 10 price for Wartortle AR sv2a 171?

Wartortle AR Pokemon 151 (sv2a #171) PSA 10 trades $455 USD on Poke10's Japan live index. Snkrdunk JP 30-day data shows 30 confirmed transactions averaging $73 across all grades; the PSA 10 slab premium captures the remaining $382 grading lift.

Why is PSA 9 Wartortle 171 priced equal to raw?

Unusual market dynamic: collectors targeting Wartortle want either PSA 10 (trophy gem mint) or raw (master-set builders) — PSA 9 satisfies neither demand. This compresses PSA 9 demand to zero-premium and concentrates liquidity entirely in raw and PSA 10.

Is Japanese Wartortle AR more valuable than English?

Yes. JP sv2a 171 PSA 10 at $455 trades approximately 40% above EN Scarlet & Violet 151 #174 ($240-290). JP print run was smaller and Japanese collectors prefer domestic print canon.

What is the illustrator of Wartortle AR sv2a 171?

Illustrated by Saki Hayashiro, the same artist as Charizard ex SAR 201 and Mew ex SAR 205. Hayashiro's aquatic-theme work (Wartortle being one of her signature pieces) is considered under-valued relative to her more famous fire-type prints.

How does Wartortle AR compare to Squirtle AR sv2a 170?

Wartortle AR ($455) trades 8% above Squirtle AR ($420). Unusual for middle-evolution to command more than first-evolution — but Wartortle 171 has higher PSA 10 30-day volume (115 vs Squirtle's 95) suggesting deeper collector targeting for middle evolution.

What's the grade EV on raw Wartortle AR?

Raw cost $68 + $25 PSA JP + $12 ship = $105 total. At 38% gem rate: 38% × $455 + 57% × $69 + 5% × $35 = $214 EV, for +$109 gross profit per graded submission.

Is there a Pokemon Center Wartortle AR stamped variant?

No. sv2a 171 Wartortle AR has no Pokemon Center stamp, no Championship promo, no sealed-product exclusive. The base AR print is the only version.

How many Wartortle AR PSA 10 are in circulation?

PSA population estimate ~2,500-3,000 as of Q2 2026, growing ~100 per quarter via PSA Tokyo grading throughput. Pop is less inflated than Charmander due to Charizard-line attention skewing Charmander submissions higher.

How do I authenticate Wartortle AR sv2a 171?

Verify PSA cert online, weigh card (1.78-1.82g genuine), inspect Cerulean blue background gradient (5-color blend, not banded), confirm 'Saki Hayashiro' illustrator credit, check water splash holo cross-hatching under 10x loupe, and validate back-of-card prismatic Pokeball seal.

Will Wartortle AR sv2a 171 appreciate?

12-month price target $480-530 contingent on no third sv2a reprint and Pokemon GO Gen 1 rotation landing mid-2026. Principal downside risk: reprint around PoGo 10-year and Charizard-chase cooling dragging Blastoise-line demand.

What is the sv2a AR pull rate?

Approximately 1 in 18 booster packs yields an Art Rare card in sv2a Japanese print. Per booster box (30 packs) expect 1-2 AR pulls. Probability of Wartortle specifically is ~1/10 of ARs (one of ~10 AR characters per sv2a print).

Is Wartortle AR a good long-term hold?

Moderate hold thesis. Smaller collector base than Charizard-family and Mew ARs, but tight liquidity, proven Saki Hayashiro illustrator premium, and Blastoise-line pipeline pull-through mean $420-480 floor should hold 24-month barring reprint event.