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Blastoise GX - Sun & Moon: Unbroken Bonds (Full Art) [35/234]

Full Art Blastoise GX Pokemon card from the Unbroken Bonds set, number 35/234, held in a hand showing textured holographic finish.

Estimated value

$15 - $35

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

Category

Trading Cards

Brand

Pokémon

Era

2019

Origin

🇺🇸 United States

Artist / Creator

sadaji

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
51

BLASTOISE GX - SUN & MOON: UNBROKEN BONDS (FULL ART) [35/234]: IDENTIFICATION

This is a Full Art Ultra Rare Blastoise GX from the Sun & Moon: Unbroken Bonds expansion. The card features a dynamic, textured holographic illustration of Blastoise surfacing from water, utilizing its signature hydro cannons. As a Stage 2 GX card, it boasts 240 HP and a specialized 'Solid Shell' ability. The holofoil pattern is a vertical rainbow streak typical of the late Sun & Moon era, extending across the entire surface of the card including the borders.

Compare with other trading cards in the archive: Cavallone Tropicale (Tropical Tidal Wave) - Italian 2006 World Championships Promo #36, Vegeta - Dramatic Art (Ultra God Mission 5) [UGM5-020 DA], Magikarp - Pokémon Card 151 (Special Art Rare) [080/165].

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Japanese MythologyEdo Period

Blastoise echoes the 'Minogame', a turtle with a tail made of seaweed representing longevity and water mastery.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Modern 'Booster Box Openings' where fans hunt for specific high-rarity variants of childhood favorites.

Meaning Through Time

Late 1990s

A powerhouse of childhood competitive play and status.

Modern Era

An 'alt-art' or 'full-art' asset representing nostalgia and artistic appreciation of the franchise's heritage.

SET RELEASE & PRINT RUN

Released in May 2019, 'Unbroken Bonds' (known as 'Double Blaze' in Japan) was the tenth main expansion of the Sun & Moon Series. This specific Blastoise GX was a chase card for collectors of the original Kanto starters. Historically, Blastoise has always held a 'Big Three' status alongside ...
Released in May 2019, 'Unbroken Bonds' (known as 'Double Blaze' in Japan) was the tenth main expansion of the Sun & Moon Series. This specific Blastoise GX was a chase card for collectors of the original Kanto starters. Historically, Blastoise has always held a 'Big Three' status alongside Charizard and Venusaur, ensuring consistent demand regardless of its competitive viability in the TCG meta at the time of release.

COLLECTOR INTEL

1

This card's 'Giant Geyser GX' attack is a thematic nod to Blastoise's role as a 'Rain Dance' energy accelerator, a mechanic that has defined Blastoise cards since the Base Set in 1999.

SCARCITY

Uncommon70-80%
CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Rarity 5/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 76 trading cards items at rarity 5 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Limited production
  • Named makers
  • Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

  • Correct micro-texture pattern visible on the surface
  • Typography and font kerning match authentic Sun & Moon era prints
  • Holographic bleed and light refraction are consistent with original production
How does authenticity detection work?

GRADING EXPERT'S TAKE

Trading Card Market Analyst

Card Specialist

Identification is near-certain due to high-quality visual confirmation of the card's unique texturing and set-specific markers.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Full Art 'Texture': The visible etching on the surface is the primary identifier of a genuine Ultra Rare.
  • 2Set Symbol: The double-flame 'Unbroken Bonds' icon in the bottom left corner.
  • 3Card Number: 35/234 identifies it as the standard Full Art variant within the set checklist.
  • 4Border Quality: Clean silver-foil borders without the dull gray flat finish often seen on counterfeits.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide a high-resolution photo of the card back to check for whitening or 'corner nicks'.
  • →Photograph the card at a 45-degree angle to confirm the depth of the texture etching.
  • →Inspect the top edge for 'factory whitening' common in 2019 print runs.

CONDITION & GRADE

PSA 8-9

Grading breakdown

Centering appears approximately 60/40 toward the top-right. Surface clarity is high with no visible scratches, though a back-side inspection for whitening is required for a more precise grade.

Condition

The card appears to be in Near Mint condition based on the front-facing image. Edges look crisp with no immediate signs of silvering or chipping, and the centering appears slightly biased toward the top/right.

TRADING CARD MARKET VALUE

$15 - $35

Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Who buys this

Kanto-era nostalgia collectors and completionist 'Master Set' builders for the Unbroken Bonds expansion.

What increases value

  • •Popularity of Blastoise as a legacy character
  • •Surface texture integrity (lack of scratches)
  • •Market demand for 'Full Art' vs standard 'GX' versions

What lowers value

  • •Whitening on the dark blue card back frequently lowers technical grades
  • •Market volatility in modern 'Rainbow' vs 'Full Art' preferences

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Perfect 50/50 centering on both front and back
  • •Absence of print lines (vertical or horizontal faint lines from the rollers)

Grade & condition

Centering, corner sharpness, and back-side edge whitening.

Rarity & demand

UncommonModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar trading cards objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

MO

Momofthecircus
The Connoisseur•91 items

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