The search for pricing on a non-holographic Banette from the EX Crystal Guardians set reveals an important distinction that catches many collectors off guard. The most commonly referenced Banette from this set—card #1/100—is actually a Rare Holo card, not a non-holo. However, an Uncommon non-holographic variant does exist within the set, and as of July 2026, it trades for approximately $0.43 according to PokeScreener pricing data.
If you’re specifically hunting for the non-holo version, this sub-dollar price point makes it an affordable addition to a collection, though it requires careful searching to distinguish it from the far more valuable Rare Holo version that commands prices between $3.40 and $8.45 depending on condition. The EX Crystal Guardians set, released on August 1, 2006, features Banette across multiple print variants, and understanding which version you’re actually pursuing is essential before committing to a purchase. The price gap between a non-holo uncommon at 43 cents and a Rare Holo in Near Mint condition at $8.45 is substantial enough that many sellers list these separately, yet casual searches can easily conflate them. This article walks through the real pricing landscape for the non-holo Banette specifically, what drives those prices, and what collectors should know about sourcing this particular card.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the EX Crystal Guardians Banette Variants
- Current Market Pricing for the Non-Holo Variant
- Availability and Where to Find the Non-Holo Banette
- Comparing Non-Holo to Rare Holo Pricing and Conditions
- Grading Services and Non-Holo Considerations
- The Broader EX Crystal Guardians Set Context
- Investment and Collection Strategy for the Non-Holo Card
Understanding the EX Crystal Guardians Banette Variants
The EX crystal Guardians set contains not one but several versions of Banette, and the print variant designation directly impacts both availability and price. card #1/100, the primary listed card, carries a Rare Holo designation, making it the flagship version of the card for the set. The non-holographic version sits lower in the set’s numbering and carries an Uncommon rarity classification, which explains why it’s significantly less expensive and less commonly sought after by collectors focused on holo cards. Many modern Pokémon sets reserve the most visually striking artwork for their rare holographic prints, and Crystal Guardians follows this pattern.
When researching on pricing databases like PokeScreener or TCGPlayer, the Uncommon non-holo Banette appears under separate listings from the Rare Holo version, often in a different tab or filter category. This separation exists precisely because the two cards have entirely different market dynamics. The non-holo version appeals primarily to set completion buyers who need every card in a set, or to budget-conscious collectors filling out binders without concern for condition or print type. The rarity classification of “Uncommon” on the non-holo versus “Rare Holo” on #1/100 reflects both the original print run distribution and collector demand decades later.
Current Market Pricing for the Non-Holo Variant
As of July 2026, the Uncommon non-holographic Banette from EX Crystal Guardians is priced at $0.43 on PokeScreener, which represents the current market rate for this card in typical played condition. This price point is consistent with how bulk uncommons from older sets typically trade—low enough that serious collectors often overlook them, yet high enough that singles sellers factor in handling and shipping costs. The sub-dollar pricing means you’re paying more for shipping and transaction overhead than for the card itself in most cases, which is why many collectors batch-purchase multiple low-value uncommons to justify shipping costs.
One critical limitation of non-holo uncommons from sets this old is that condition grading becomes less relevant to pricing. Unlike the Rare Holo version, where grading from Heavily Played ($4.25) up to Near Mint ($8.45) creates meaningful price tiers, the uncommon non-holo rarely experiences pricing variation based on condition. A Lightly Played copy and a Moderately Played copy of the uncommon both typically settle near that 43-cent mark, because the potential buyer pool is too small to support grading premiums. This is an important limitation if you’re holding onto a mint condition copy expecting condition to drive value—the non-holo variant simply doesn’t reward pristine condition the way holographic cards do.
Availability and Where to Find the Non-Holo Banette
Sourcing the specific non-holographic Banette requires more deliberate searching than the Rare Holo version, since sellers and platforms prioritize the higher-value cards in their listings. TCGPlayer remains one of the most reliable sources for locating this card, as it allows filtering by rarity (Uncommon) and print type (non-holo), separating it cleanly from the Rare Holo that most search results surface first. eBay listings exist as well, though you must be careful to read card descriptions and photo evidence to avoid accidentally purchasing the Rare Holo thinking you’ve found a bargain.
PokeCardValues UK and other regional pricing databases provide additional confirmation of market rates, though prices can vary slightly by geography and seller inventory levels. The low absolute price means this card cycles through inventory slowly on most platforms—a seller might list one copy and not restock for months, since the profit margin barely justifies shelf space. This scarcity at retail isn’t because the card is rare in the original print run (it’s an Uncommon, so millions were printed), but rather because so few collectors specifically want this card that sellers don’t prioritize stocking it.
Comparing Non-Holo to Rare Holo Pricing and Conditions
The Rare Holo version of Banette #1/100 demonstrates how dramatically print type and rarity classification affect price in the secondary market. That card ranges from $3.40 in Damaged condition up to $8.45 in Near Mint, creating a clear condition-based pricing ladder that reflects collector demand and card scarcity. The non-holo at $0.43 sits roughly 8 to 20 times lower in price depending on which condition tier of the holo you’re comparing against.
Even the Damaged condition holo at $3.40 is nearly 8 times the price of a pristine non-holo, a tradeoff that illustrates why many collectors prioritize holographic cards—the visual appeal and scarcity justify the cost. A practical consideration for collectors deciding between variants: if you’re building a set, the choice between paying $8.45 for a Near Mint non-holo versus $0.43 for a Near Mint non-holo is easy. But if you already own a Rare Holo Banette and are debating whether to add the non-holo for set completion, you’re weighing an additional 43 cents against the value of having “all versions” of the card. Most advanced collectors pursue this completionist approach, though it requires patience and realistic expectations about resale value, since the non-holo will never command more than a few dollars even in perfect condition.
Grading Services and Non-Holo Considerations
One of the most important limitations of non-holographic uncommons from older sets is that professional grading services like PSA or BGS rarely see these cards submitted for grading. The cost of grading (typically $10–$20 per card) instantly makes a $0.43 card economically irrational to grade, since the professional certification will never add back that investment. This creates a two-tier market: graded copies of expensive holos (which might exist but are rare), and raw non-holos, which comprise the entire market for cards like this one.
This absence of grading data means you have no third-party condition verification when purchasing a non-holo Banette online. You’re relying entirely on seller descriptions and photos, which introduces risk—a card described as “Lightly Played” by one seller might look “Moderately Played” to another. This is a significant warning for buyers: inspect photos carefully, ask for close-ups of wear on the front and back, and understand that you’re making a judgment call without professional grading to back up the condition claim. Many collectors simply accept light play or moderate play on uncommons as a cost of collecting, since the card’s low value doesn’t justify perfectionism.
The Broader EX Crystal Guardians Set Context
EX Crystal Guardians, released August 1, 2006, occupies a specific era in Pokémon card history when the game was transitioning through the EX-era sets of the mid-2000s. The set contains 112 cards (including secret rares), and like most sets of that size, it includes a full range of commons, uncommons, rares, and holos distributed across the numbering scheme.
Banette’s inclusion as an Uncommon non-holo at a different card number than the Rare Holo version reflects the standard practice of that era, where a single Pokémon species might appear multiple times in a set with different rarity levels and artwork. The set’s age (now 20 years old as of 2026) means that finding mint condition copies of any card from EX Crystal Guardians is increasingly difficult, though commons and uncommons tend to have survived in better condition than rares simply because they were pulled and opened in higher volumes. The non-holo Banette, as an uncommon, benefited from this higher print rate, which is why a bulk copy remains readily available and affordable even two decades later.
Investment and Collection Strategy for the Non-Holo Card
From an investment standpoint, the non-holographic Banette at $0.43 represents essentially zero appreciation potential and minimal downside risk, making it a neutral addition from a financial perspective. You’re not buying it with any expectation of value growth; you’re buying it to complete a set or fill a specific slot in a binder. This realistic framing is important because it distinguishes this card from holos in the same set that might appreciate if the Pokémon or set gains collector attention.
The non-holo serves a functional role, not an investment role. For collectors actively building a complete EX Crystal Guardians set, purchasing the non-holo Banette alongside its Rare Holo counterpart makes sense as part of a comprehensive acquisition strategy. The combined cost of both versions—roughly $0.43 for the non-holo plus between $3.40 and $8.45 for the holo depending on your target condition—amounts to a modest total investment that represents the full Banette representation in the set. The non-holo contributes to completion in a way that nothing else can; it’s the only way to claim ownership of the Uncommon variant, even if its market value remains negligible compared to its holographic sibling.
