She's Collected Hundreds of Pokémon Drainage Hole Cards, and You Can't Stop Her.

Pokémon creators introduced the world to the trading card game DP edition back in 2007, showcasing the Bonsly card. On this artwork, the fourth generation Rock Pokémon is portrayed by designer the talented Harada in a somewhat awkward pose. On the card, the predecessor to Sudowoodo can be seen knocked over and crying. However, don't mistake this, however. As its move the move Fake Tears, the little creature aims to manipulate the other player's mood in the hopes of lowering their damage output. Iconic piece, isn't it? Harp player Emily is a firm believer. And she's got a collection book with 305 Bonsly illustrations as evidence.

The Entire Assortment Including Rare Finds

That's not the full extent as well. She obtained twenty holo reverse editions of the Bonsly card, which depicts the little guy with metallic accents covering everything except the central artwork. The prized possession, though, turns out to be the PSA 6-rated holo reverse Bonsly edition. Certainly, it's far from a mint-condition Charizard from the base set. Yet, do you possess a goofy, nearly pristine card of Bonsly maintained forever immortalized? I thought as much.

How It All Began

Emily dedicated much of 2025 stockpiling all available Bonsly cards from that year available on the market. She first heard regarding this discontinued card in recent months, while debating the most infamous cards in the compendium with a worker in a nearby store. Omanyte in tears was in the running, as was Cubone by itself at the theme park. But it was Crying Bonsly, or card number 17, that grabbed Hopkins's attention.

Behind Bonsly's Look

Bonsly draws clear inspiration from miniature trees, which are often grown in pots that have drainage holes. These are meant to support healthy development, in fact fans advise one another to drill holes on the bottom if they don't already have one. They can also be positioned in shallow containers lacking drainage, referred to as suiban, and the collected moisture could aid enthusiasts decorate their plants to resemble natural landscapes. Bonsly is the former, hence the hole.

The Infamous Hole Card

Although this makes sense, however, Pokémon's creators looks a bit a little too concerned with Bonsly's hole. Also, products like Bonsly plushes make sure to include a cavity below of the tree-like Pokémon. Regardless if the depiction of the Pokémon is crying or calm: It features hole. The opening is a key element of how Bonsly looks. Bonsly #71 became a meme among fans both due to the famous hole, as well as its status. Until recently, the card was the single type of Bonsly card included in the series where numerous creatures are typically depicted in various forms. For sixteen years, were you seeking this Pokémon card, you needed to accept with the hole version.

A Growing Obsession

"When I saw Bonsly in the list of these cursed cards, I realized I had found the one for me," Emily states over email, mentioning how she felt astonished that she hadn't encountered it earlier. She is quick to inform you her love of Bonsly #71 is completely useless, but it didn't matter. The appreciation evolved into a full-blown obsession, as Hopkins bought each available Bonsly card she could possibly find. She quickly got into a habit of stopping by her favorite shop on a weekly basis, and was dubbed to the employees as the Bonsly collector. The shop started putting any new Bonsly #71 cards that came in aside just for Hopkins. Most of these cards are priced at one to three dollars, she notes, approximating she's spent approximately four hundred dollars just on the binder alone.

The Financial Side

Currently, mint-condition Bonsly #71 cards might be valued at $14.99. Although that is expensive, ordinary Bonsly #71 cards usually go for $4 and above. The upward trend roughly aligns with when Hopkins started collecting seriously, although there are probably several factors at play. Even though the card is notorious in the community, her online content about it have received millions of views. With information about this card continues to spread among more people, it's possible that their market price might increase even more. At the very least, investors mention how TCG prices are skyrocketing in 2025 across the board.

No Signs of Stopping

Nothing can halt her, yet.

"The amazing thing is that certain fans and enthusiasts on social media have shipped their Bonsly cards to me for her album, and she is preserving them secure indefinitely," she declares. Rather than recoil in horror, the audience are impressed and inspired by this project.

"For years, I wished to attempt something similar," a viewer notes. "Acquire all of a common card|every copy of a common card