The Diamond and Pearl Combee card (79/130) trades at an average of $2.63 USD, though most copies of this Common Grass-type sell for significantly less—typically between $0.79 and $1.49 depending on condition and whether you’re buying the standard version or the Reverse Holo variant. For a Common-rarity basic Pokémon from the early 2000s era, this modest pricing reflects its abundance in the secondary market; thousands of players opened Diamond and Pearl booster boxes during its original print run, flooding the market with copies. If you’re building a complete Diamond and Pearl set or filling out a Pokedex collection, you’ll find Combee among the cheapest cards to acquire in the set, often bundled with other low-value Commons from bulk sellers.
The price range does vary significantly by condition and listing platform. Raw, lightly played copies hover around $1–$3, while pristine copies graded by professional services like PSA or BGS can push into double digits. The highest recorded sale was $38.34, but this represents an exceptional outlier—likely a near-mint or specially authenticated version. For practical purposes, most collectors expecting to spend under $5 on a single Combee will have options available at any of the major Pokemon card retailers or secondary platforms like TCGPlayer, Troll and Toad, or local card shops.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Combee 79/130 So Inexpensive Compared to Other Diamond and Pearl Cards?
- Card Specifications and Combat Mechanics
- Reverse Holo Variants and Condition-Based Pricing
- Comparing Prices Across Major Retail Platforms
- Market Volatility and the Risk of Diamond and Pearl Set Declines
- Grading and Authentication in the Combee Market
- Acquiring Combee for Set Completion Versus Speculation
Why Is Combee 79/130 So Inexpensive Compared to Other Diamond and Pearl Cards?
Combee’s low price stems directly from its Common rarity designation and marginal competitive utility. Commons were printed in far greater quantities than Rare or Holographic versions, and Diamond and Pearl’s extended print run in the mid-2000s ensured millions of these cards entered circulation. Unlike Charizard, Blastoise, or other set staples that saw heavy tournament play or collector demand, Combee never filled a critical role in competitive decks; its 50 HP and modest attack options (Soliciting Nectar for one Grass energy and 20 damage from Gust) positioned it as filler rather than a feature card.
Many collections contain multiple copies simply because booster packs contained more Commons than any other rarity. The broader Diamond and Pearl set has appreciated 584.2% all-time according to market analysis, yet individual Commons like Combee have not followed that trajectory uniformly. The entire set’s year-to-date decline of 33.7% has affected lower-rarity cards particularly hard, since collector focus gravitates toward the harder-to-find holos and secret rares that drive set valuations. Combee remains the entry-level card for players completing their Diamond and Pearl collections, priced to move rather than to hold significant speculative value.
Card Specifications and Combat Mechanics
The card itself depicts Combee as Pokédex #415, a Tiny Bee Pokémon standing 1’00” tall and weighing 12.1 pounds. It’s a Basic Grass-type with 50 HP—relatively fragile even for Commons from this era. The card features two attacks: Soliciting Nectar costs one Grass energy and allows you to switch one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon, a utility effect that sees occasional use in casual play but rarely warrants building around. Gust, the second attack, costs two Colorless energy and deals a flat 20 damage—a slow, unimpressive output that underscores Combee’s role as an expendable card in limited or draft formats rather than a constructed-play staple.
Combee carries a Fire-type weakness of +10, meaning Fire-type attacks deal an additional 10 damage. This weakness can matter in casual play against common Fire-type threats but rarely determines tournament outcomes. The lack of Retreat Cost listed on the card (or a minimal cost, standard for Diamond and Pearl Commons) makes Combee easy to swap out if it draws an unfavorable matchup, but this flexibility doesn’t translate to demand. Collectors and casual players treat Combee as a placeholder—necessary to complete a set, but not a card anyone prioritizes hunting in premium condition.
Reverse Holo Variants and Condition-Based Pricing
The Reverse Holo version of Combee 79/130 commands a modest premium, typically priced around $1.49 compared to $0.79 for the regular Common. Reverse Holos swap the visual treatment of the card—the background remains holographic while the Pokémon illustration stays matte—creating a subtle aesthetic that appeals to collectors seeking variation without the cost of full-art or Alternate Art versions. For Combee specifically, the Reverse Holo remains affordable because demand for Common-rarity variants is limited; most players seeking Combee want only one copy for set completion and don’t chase variants. Condition dramatically affects what you’ll actually pay.
A lightly played Combee might sell for $0.79 to $1.50, while Mint or Near Mint raw copies can reach $3–$5. Once graded by professional services, the floor rises: a PSA 7 (Near Mint condition) Combee might sell for $8–$12, and a PSA 9 or 10 could push toward the $20–$38 range depending on buyer appetite. The leap in price is justified by rarity—very few Combee cards receive high grades, since most were opened casually and stored poorly. However, this pricing tier matters primarily to serious graded-set completionists, not casual buyers.
Comparing Prices Across Major Retail Platforms
Different marketplaces price Combee inconsistently. TCGPlayer, the aggregator for competitive pricing, lists near-average market rates reflecting multiple seller listings. Troll and Toad, a bulk vendor, typically offers the lowest floor prices, moving inventory quickly with Commons priced for rapid turnover—$0.79 fits this model. Collector’s Cache, emphasizing condition and variant availability, prices the Reverse Holo at $1.49, reflecting slightly higher overhead.
Local card shops often charge more ($2–$3) to account for physical storefront costs, but you avoid shipping delays and can inspect the card before buying. The tradeoff is simple: lowest price means accepting minimal condition standards and no returns; higher prices from specialized retailers include quality guarantees and condition descriptions. For a Common like Combee, paying for a graded version only makes sense if you’re completing a high-end graded set where every card is professionally authenticated and encased. Most collectors simply buy raw copies from bulk retailers and accept minor wear as the cost of affordability. Bulk lots—bundles of 50 or 100 Commons from various sets—often include Combee at $0.01–$0.10 per card, the true floor for anyone willing to sort through hundreds of duplicates.
Market Volatility and the Risk of Diamond and Pearl Set Declines
Diamond and Pearl cards have appreciated significantly all-time, but recent performance tells a cautionary tale for buyers timing purchases. The set gained 584.2% over its entire lifespan, reflecting nostalgia-driven demand and the set’s foundational role in competitive play during the mid-2000s. However, the year-to-date decline of 33.7% signals cooling interest or profit-taking by earlier buyers. Over the past 30 days, the set recovered slightly with a 3.7% gain, suggesting stabilization, but this volatility affects even Commons like Combee.
If you’re holding Combee as a speculative investment expecting future appreciation, the 33.7% year-to-date loss warns that common-rarity cards rarely outpace broader set appreciation. Commons often decline further than rare cards during downturns because retail focus shifts toward the scarcer, higher-value pieces. The practical implication: buy Combee only if you genuinely need it for set completion or casual play. Don’t expect $0.79 spent today to become $2.63 next year; speculative positioning is better reserved for cards with genuine scarcity and demand.
Grading and Authentication in the Combee Market
Professional grading services like PSA, BGS, and CGC authenticate and condition-grade Combee cards, assigning numerical scores from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). A PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint) Combee might sell for $10–$15, while a PSA 9 commands $20–$30 and a perfect PSA 10 approaches the $38.34 ceiling. Grading costs $15–$50 depending on service and turnaround speed, meaning you’ll spend more to grade a $0.79 Common than the card is worth.
Authentication becomes meaningful only for high-value variants or when building a premium graded collection where every card’s condition is verified and displayed in a protective slab. Most Combee purchases bypass professional grading entirely. Buyers accept raw cards, inspect photos for obvious defects, and rely on seller feedback ratings as informal authentication. If you’re acquiring a $0.79 Combee for a binder, authentication is irrelevant; if you’re seeking a show-quality piece for a graded set display, expect to invest $40–$50 total (card plus grading fee) for a Mint-condition example.
Acquiring Combee for Set Completion Versus Speculation
Collectors pursuing a complete Diamond and Pearl set treat Combee as a checkbox: needed, inexpensive, and available in quantity. Set-completion buyers purchase one copy (or occasionally a Reverse Holo variant for aesthetic variety) and move on. The $2.63 average or $0.79 common-price represents the true market value from a collector’s perspective—what most participants actually pay when filling out their sets. This stability makes Combee one of the most reliably priced Commons in the set, unlikely to spike unpredictably.
Speculators should avoid Combee entirely. The card has no competitive relevance in modern formats, no Alternate Art or premium variant generating collector demand, and no scarcity to support price appreciation. The data confirms this: while the Diamond and Pearl set overall is up all-time, Commons like Combee have trended sideways to downward in recent years. Your capital is better deployed in rare holos, secret rares, or certified high-grade examples of set staples. Combee’s role in the market is functional, not speculative—it exists to be found, purchased cheaply, and inserted into collections without fanfare.
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