By Anonymous
For collectors of Pokemon plush like myself, surely you’ve endured some grueling searchers for certain products. Whether one is a collector of a certain species or a certain generation, he or she will inevitably discover some out-of-the-way dolls in their own Pokemon journey. There are the well-known grails, of course, such as Espeon, but there are even some more rare that newer collectors aren’t even aware of. Before continuing, though, please take into account this article only pertains to regular sized Pokedolls, it does not include the DX or large sizes, so if you’ve begun reading thinking you know where this is going, time for your double-take.
It’s fair to say that all Pokemon fans at some point or another fans of the Eeveelution family. Whether it’s the diversity or just those adorable faces, they’re undeniable. This goes for both in game and for collectors of all sorts, of course. Figurine collectors may feverishly chase after kids and Tomy’s while plush collectors burn paychecks after the elusive Vaporeon Japanese Pokedoll. Of the lot of them, Leafeon and Glaceon hold their title of most elusive, though. The two get to be so bad that I even caved and just went for a bootleg Leafeon, courtesy of Hong Kong on eBay of course. For those who specialize in this family, you have my pity and support, especially for the successful of you.
While the Eeveelution die-hard collectors may have it tough, given the line has been around for more than a decade and counting, amounting to no small amount of merchandise to collect, there are a certain three dolls that have trumped them in rarity, despite the lower demand. With the release of the thirteenth Pokemon Movie Zorua Master of Illusions, the Japan Pokemon center released a limited number of shiny Pokemon dog Pokedolls, not available through any means besides lottery prizes and resale. The three dogs, the most rare being Suicune of course, are prizes worth bragging, as prices for just one can hover at four hundred dollars or more. Should you be one of the few collectors willing to fork out so much for a single Pokedoll, make haste and head over to http://www.pokevault.com, as they have but one Raikou and one Entei available. For the majority who want a deal, you may as well start stalking eBay, it seems like that’s your best chance to get one, assuming the reserve is indeed less than the list price. For Suicune fans, well, no such luck for you. If you’re dead set on getting one, it’ll be a tiresome endeavor, one that won’t end anytime soon. Surprisingly, although the shiny Pokedoll dogs were only released once and in such a limited fashion, I would not deem them to be the least common of Pokedolls. There are two more dolls that I have seen in even more fleeting quantities than these three, two that few would expect and fewer will believe.
Foremost, of the two questionably most rare Pokedolls, is one of the most common, “derpy”, unwanted, annoying Pokemon to date, and no, it’s not Lovedisc, though it certainly meets the conditions just mentioned. No, it’s Magikarp. To those who guessed, congratulations. To those who possess, kudos. In my time of collecting the Pokedolls, around eight years I believe, I’ve seen but two or three of the notorious fish available, none of them mint with or without tag. In comparison, though, I have seen the shiny dogs available, each mint, each with tag, and for that reason I consider Magikarp to be more scarcely available than any of the three, though comparable to a shiny Suicune. While I don’t personally feel the Magikarp Pokedoll is all that, to look at or to own, I can’t deny its value when considering supply and demand. The least common Pokedoll of all, though, is even more surprising to its second. While Magikarp’s position is laughable, worth making a joke of, I can’t say first has the same designation. In fact, it doesn’t make sense to me at all that a Wailord Pokedoll has the position of first. First of all, it’s such a standard, unremarkable Pokemon in itself, even if it does have a certain Internet meme in its honor, or maybe dishonor. Furthermore, it’s so plain, few features, simple design, almost boring in my own opinion. It is, undeniably though, the most scarcely available Pokedoll of them all. Of my time, I’ve seen but one available, in loved condition, and I believe it sold for somewhere around one hundred dollars, though don’t quote me on that.
Aspiring and beginning collectors, remember these names, and avoid them like the plague if you value your wallet. If you just can’t resist Eevee’s face or Magikarp’s stare, then be prepared at all times, as you never know when any of your grails may pop up!
Tags: Entei, Magikarp, Plush toys, Pokedolls, Raikou, Suicune, Wailord