# Empoleon #29/108 — Dark Explorers

## Summary

Empoleon is the Sinnoh starter that Diamond and Pearl fans still defend, and this Dark Explorers version earned a place in Black & White-era lists through Diving Draw, a hand-smoothing engine that suited Water decks. A standard Rare, it sat mid-tier in the set, so demand comes from players and Sinnoh loyalists. The modelled guide sits at $6.18, down 4% over 30 days on 13 copies traded, with 68 days of inventory on the board; PSA does not split this card’s population by finish, so no gem rate can be read for it.

## Identity

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Set | Dark Explorers |
| Number | 29/108 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Era | BW |
| Illustrator | Naoki Saito |
| Release date | 2012-05-09 |
| Image | Unavailable |

## Card details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Card type | POKEMON |
| Stage | Stage2 |
| Evolves from | Prinplup |
| HP | 140 |
| Types | Water |
| Ability: Diving Draw | Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard a card from your hand. If you do, draw 2 cards. |
| Attack: Attack Command | cost Water — damage 10 — Does 10 damage times the number of Pokémon in play (both yours and your opponent's). |
| Weakness | Lightning ×2 |
| Retreat | 2 |
| Legal | Standard no · Expanded yes |
| Pokédex entry | [Empoleon #395](https://cardboardalpha.com/pokemon/pokedex/empoleon) |
| Finishes | Holo, Reverse Holo |
| Languages | EN |

## Current stats

- Headline price: **$6.18** (ITEM_MEDIAN; modelled guide price) — as of 2026-10-25T23:15:38.598Z
- Headline basis: MODELLED_GUIDE — The venue’s published daily market guide, which the venue itself declares MODELLED. Nothing is confirmed to have traded at it, no copy is listed at it, and it is not our estimate — it is theirs.
- 24h change: n/a · 7d change: -9.00% — as of 2026-10-25T23:15:38.598Z
- Floor delivered ask: $8.50 — as of 2026-10-25T23:15:38.598Z
- Quant score: 15/100, regime FALLING — as of 2026-10-25T23:15:38.598Z — 5 of 11 inputs · 55% weight · -22% confidence

## Provenance

- Catalog — observed 2012-05-09T00:00:00Z, confidence 98%
- Live ask — observed 2026-10-22T22:19:13.996Z, confidence 90%
- Guide price (modelled) — observed 2026-10-26T00:00:00.000Z, confidence 90%
- Price statistic — observed 2026-10-22T22:19:12.510Z, confidence 90%
- Confirmed sale — observed 2026-10-21T18:46:22.620Z, confidence 85%
- Inventory count — observed 2026-10-22T22:19:12.510Z, confidence 70%
- Population census — observed 2026-09-10T01:58:22.551Z, confidence 60%

## Links

- [View on Cardboard Alpha](https://cardboardalpha.com/pokemon/dark-explorers/empoleon-29)
- [JSON snapshot](https://cardboardalpha.com/api/terminal/raw~tcgdex%3Abw5-29%3AEN%3AHOLO~NM)