Walrein ex from the 2007 EX Power Keepers set commands a solid price range that depends heavily on card condition. Recent market data shows this Stage 2 Water-type Ultra Rare selling between $8 and $80, with most Near Mint copies trading around $37 to $50. The non-holographic variant you may be searching for is actually quite rare or may not exist as a standard printed version—the primary Walrein ex from Power Keepers (card #99/108) is the holographic Ultra Rare, and that’s the card driving most of the current pricing.
The card’s value reflects its playability history and collectibility. As a 150 HP Stage 2 Pokémon with the useful Chilling Breath Poké-Power (which blocks opponent Trainer cards after evolution), Walrein ex saw moderate tournament play in 2007 and 2008, making it a recognized card in the competitive era. However, it’s neither among the most sought-after Power Keepers cards nor priced at the extreme high end, which means it occupies a middle ground where condition becomes the primary value driver.
Table of Contents
- What Is Walrein EX from Power Keepers?
- Condition Grading and Price Breakdown
- Market Demand and Collecting Context
- How to Determine Walrein EX Value for Your Copy
- Print Defects and Common Issues in EX Power Keepers
- Stage 2 Evolution Line Considerations
- Reverse Holo and Variant Printing Details
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Walrein EX from Power Keepers?
Walrein ex sits as the Stage 2 evolution of Sealeo in the EX power Keepers set. It evolved from Spheal and requires two Trainer cards to build the line, making it a commitment in deck construction. The card features 150 HP, a solid durability stat for Stage 2 Pokémon from that era. The Chilling Breath Poké-Power activates when Walrein evolves and disables opponent Trainer cards during their next turn—a defensive effect that gave it niche value in control decks.
The card’s attack, Icy Wind, deals 50 damage for two Water energy and two Colorless energy, freezing the opponent’s Active Pokémon unless they flip heads. This combination made Walrein playable but not dominant. Collectors and players still seek it today because EX Power Keepers remains one of the most collected early 2000s sets. The set’s limited print run compared to modern expansions and the natural attrition of cards over 17+ years have made surviving copies increasingly valuable, especially in higher grades.
Condition Grading and Price Breakdown
The pricing spread for Walrein ex is dramatic when you compare conditions side by side. A Heavily Played copy—with visible wear, creasing, or corner/edge damage—might cost you $8 to $10. Moderately Played copies with light play wear but no major flaws average around $17 to $18. Lightly Played cards with minimal visible defects typically start at $20 and climb higher depending on the specific card’s appearance. The jump from Lightly Played to Near Mint is substantial.
A Near Mint Walrein ex, with sharp corners, clean edges, excellent centering, and minimal print defects, can easily exceed $35 to $40. The highest recent sale data shows $37.48 for a Near Mint specimen, though graded examples from professional authentication services (PSA, BGS, CGC) routinely command $80 to $100+ for high grades. The wide $20.24–$80.97 range you’ll find on retail platforms reflects this condition-driven volatility. A buyer paying $80 for a Near Mint card is essentially paying for a card that looks near-pristine, not for raw power or set rarity. This means the actual condition of the card matters far more than the card’s game mechanics. Two identical Walrein ex cards can have a price difference of 300–400% based purely on whether corners are sharp or rounded, whether there’s light wear on edges, or whether the centering is perfect or slightly off-center.
Market Demand and Collecting Context
Walrein ex occupies a middle tier in Power Keepers demand. It’s not a chase card like Rayquaza ex or Mewtwo ex from that set—those command far higher prices. It’s also not a bulk filler—genuine demand exists from players who ran it in decks, collectors building complete sets, and Pokémon Water-type collectors filling out their binders. This moderate demand keeps it liquid but not aggressively volatile. The set was printed in 2007 at a time when print runs were significantly lower than modern standards, but higher than first editions and promos.
This means supply is stable but not unlimited. You won’t struggle to find a copy for sale on TCGPlayer or eBay, but you also won’t find dozens of Near Mint copies flooding the market at once. The secondary market for EX Power Keepers has matured over two decades, with most remaining copies now in the hands of collectors rather than bulk sellers, which typically supports stable pricing. Stage 2 Pokémon collect more slowly than Stage 1s or Basic Pokémon because building a full three-card evolution line requires more deck space and more card investment. This means Walrein ex buyers are often completionists or set builders rather than casual singles buyers, a factor that keeps its demand somewhat reserved compared to high-impact Basic Pokémon from the same set.
How to Determine Walrein EX Value for Your Copy
Grading your card yourself is the first step, though it’s surprisingly difficult without professional experience. Use the PSA or BGS condition guides as reference—examine corners under bright light for wear, look at the centering (is the border even on all four sides?), check edges for whitening or roughness, and assess the surface for scratches or print defects. If your corners are sharp and the card looks crisp in hand, you likely have a Lightly Played or better copy. If you see obvious corner rounding, edge whitening, or creasing, you’re probably looking at Moderately Played or Heavily Played territory. Listing your card on TCGPlayer or comparing sold listings on eBay gives you real-time market data.
TCGPlayer’s price guide averages recent sales, so checking that site first gives you a realistic benchmark. From there, adjust based on your card’s specific condition and the grain of the market at that moment. If multiple Near Mint copies are sitting unsold at $45 while your card has one soft corner, pricing yours at $28–$32 keeps it competitive without underselling. A common mistake is comparing your raw card to graded, slabbed examples. A PSA 9 (Mint condition) from a professional grader is worth substantially more than a raw card you think looks like a 9, because the slab itself is an authentication certificate. If you’re considering professional grading for a $37 Near Mint card, the cost ($10–$20 per card from most services) needs to be worth it—typically, grading makes sense only if you think the card will grade high enough that the slab increases perceived value beyond the grading fee.
Print Defects and Common Issues in EX Power Keepers
Power Keepers-era cards frequently exhibit centering issues—the image and border are slightly off-center, more pronounced than modern printing. This was a printing norm for the era but still depresses values compared to perfectly centered copies. Many Walrein ex cards sit slightly off-center, which is why even “mint-looking” raw copies might grade as PSA 8 (Very Good–Mint) rather than 9 or 10. The off-center flaw alone can mean a $10–$15 price difference between a slightly off-center card and a perfectly centered one. Another issue common to Water-type cards from this era is ink spotting or light print discoloration, especially on the blue portions of the card.
Some copies show faint, almost imperceptible streaks or spots in the background image. These are factory defects rather than wear and typically don’t show up as obvious flaws in hand but are visible under magnification or in direct comparison. A card with light print spotting might receive a PSA 7 (Near Mint-Mint) instead of an 8, even if it otherwise looks pristine. Creasing is a hard floor—if a card has any crease, fold, or major bend, it’s generally considered damaged and will rarely command more than $10–$15 regardless of the card’s other attributes. EX Power Keepers cards are old enough that checking for subtle creasing is essential before pricing a copy. Hold the card at an angle under good light to catch even light creases that are hard to see straight-on.
Stage 2 Evolution Line Considerations
Walrein ex is only valuable as a standalone single—the full evolution line (Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein ex) has limited demand outside of set builders or competitive reconstruction projects. If you’re selling this card individually, you’re making the right call; Walrein ex alone has a genuine market. However, if you’re building or selling a collection and own copies of all three cards, selling them as a complete line might not increase total value and could actually slow down sales, since the Sealeo and Spheal from Power Keepers typically sell for $1–$3 each while Walrein ex is $20+.
The Stage 2 nature also means Walrein ex appeals to a narrower buyer base than Basic Pokémon ex from the same set. Collectors who focus on Basic Pokémon ex (such as Cloyster ex or other Water-types) won’t be interested. This is why Stage 2 Pokémon ex cards often lag behind Basic or Stage 1 ex cards from the same era in price appreciation, even when the card was competitively useful.
Reverse Holo and Variant Printing Details
Your search for a “non-holo” version suggests you may have encountered a reverse holographic or other variant variant. The standard Walrein ex #99/108 is the holographic Ultra Rare. Power Keepers did print reverse holographic versions of non-holo cards, but Walrein ex, being an ex (Ultra Rare), does not have a reverse holo version—only the regular holo.
If you’ve found a card listing describing a non-holo Walrein ex, it’s either a misidentification, a listing error, or a card from a different set or product variant. The only other Walrein cards from Power Keepers are the non-ex holo Walrein (if it exists in that set’s common/uncommon/rare slots), which would have completely different art and much lower value. Double-check the card’s number and title on the card itself—if it says “Walrein ex” and shows the specific art and HP listed above, you have the holo Ultra Rare, and pricing should align with the $20–$80 range depending on condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the non-holographic Walrein ex from Power Keepers valuable?
The standard Walrein ex #99/108 from Power Keepers is holographic only. There is no official non-holographic Walrein ex from this set. If you’re looking for a non-holo Water-type Pokémon from Power Keepers, you may be thinking of a different card.
What’s the difference between $8 Walrein ex and $80 Walrein ex?
Condition. The $8 copy is Heavily Played with visible wear and damage. The $80 copy is professionally graded Near Mint or Mint condition, with sharp corners, clean edges, perfect centering, and no print defects.
Should I grade my Walrein ex?
Only if you believe it will grade PSA 8 or higher. Grading costs $10–$20 per card, so the slab’s added value must exceed the grading fee. For a $30–$40 card, grading is usually not cost-effective unless you’re building a high-end collection.
Does Walrein ex hold its value compared to other Power Keepers cards?
Moderately. It’s not a chase card like Rayquaza ex, so it appreciates more slowly. However, as a Stage 2 with competitive play history, it holds value better than most common or uncommon Power Keepers cards.
How can I tell if my copy is Lightly Played or Near Mint?
Check for corner wear (sharp vs. rounded), edge whitening, centering (are the borders even?), and surface scratches. Near Mint has minimal visible flaws in hand; Lightly Played shows light wear but no major damage.
Can I find Walrein ex for cheaper than market value?
Occasionally on eBay auctions or smaller card shops if the seller underpriced it. However, TCGPlayer’s price guide reflects true market rate, so significantly cheaper copies are rare unless the card has undisclosed condition issues.
