She's Gathered Countless of Pokemon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.

The Pokémon Company introduced the world to the Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl expansion in the year 2007, including the Bonsly card. Within this depiction, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is shown by artist Midori Harada in a, shall we say, compromising situation. Here, Bonsly, which evolves into Sudowoodo appears knocked over and crying. Don't be fooled, though. Similar to its attack Fake Tears suggests, the little creature attempts to influence the other player's mood to reducing their damage output. Unforgettable artwork, right? Electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins certainly thinks so. She owns a collection book containing over 300 cards of Bonsly to show for it.

Her Complete Set Including Rare Finds

However, that's not the full extent also. She has acquired a score of reverse holographic editions featuring Bonsly, portraying the tyke with shiny foil all over except the primary illustration. The crown jewel, though, proves to be the professionally graded PSA 6 holo reverse Bonsly edition. Admittedly, it's not a top-graded original Charizard card. Yet, do you possess a goofy, close to mint Bonsly card maintained in its eternal glory? I thought as much.

The Start of the Obsession

She invested much of 2025 stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She first heard regarding this discontinued card at the start of the year, while talking about the notoriously odd cards among collectors with a worker in a nearby store. The weeping Omanyte was in the running, as was the forever alone Cubone on a park ride. However, the one that Crying Bonsly, also known as the seventeenth card, that caught Hopkins's attention.

The Design and Inspiration

Bonsly draws clear inspiration by bonsai plants, that are commonly placed in planters that have drainage holes. These holes are intended to aid growth, in fact enthusiasts advise one another to add holes on the bottom if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned on low dishes hole-free, known as suiban, and the retained water can help enthusiasts decorate their plants to mimic nature vistas. Bonsly represents the first type, thus the hole exists.

The Infamous Hole Card

Despite this logical explanation, however, The Pokémon Company looks a bit overly focused regarding the hole in Bonsly. Even merchandise such as Bonsly plush toys ensure they feature an empty space below of this plant Pokémon. Regardless if the illustration of Bonsly in question appears sad or content: It will display hole. The hole is a fundamental aspect of Bonsly's design. Card number 71 turned into an internet joke in collector circles because of the famous hole, as well as its rarity. Up until last year, this Bonsly card was the single type featuring Bonsly included in the series in which most Pokémon are typically depicted in multiple editions. For 16 years, should you desire a Bonsly card, you needed to accept with the hole version.

A Growing Obsession

"Upon noticing this card on the list of these cursed cards, I realized I had found my new favorite," Emily states in a message, noting that she was surprised to have missed it until then. She'll be the first to state her passion for this particular card serves no practical purpose, but it didn't matter. The appreciation became a major fixation, with Emily purchasing each available Bonsly card that she could get her hands on. She soon developed a routine of going to her favorite shop on a weekly basis, and was dubbed by workers as the Bonsly fan. The store began putting any new Bonsly #71 cards they obtained aside just for Hopkins. Typically, these cards cost between $1 and $3, she notes, estimating that her total expenditure is approximately four hundred dollars for the collection book.

Market Trends and Value

Currently, excellent this Bonsly card can cost up to $14.99. While that is a premium price, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards are often priced at four dollars or more. That price increase corresponds to when Hopkins started her collection in earnest, though there are likely several factors at play. Although this card is famous in the community, Emily's social media updates regarding the card have attracted millions of views. With information of its existence continues to spread to new fans, it is likely that the price of Bonsly #71 cards might increase even more. If nothing else, enthusiasts mention how TCG prices are soaring in 2025 across the board.

No Signs of Stopping

Emily remains undeterred, however.

"What's incredible is a few followers and viewers on social media have sent copies of Bonsly to Emily for her album, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," she declares. Rather than recoil in horror, viewers are impressed and inspired by her Bonsly binder.

"I've long desired to attempt something similar," an observer mentions. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card