The non-holographic version of Dusclops EX from the 2005 EX Emerald set commands prices ranging from $54.50 in damaged condition to $115.50 in near mint condition as of July 2026. This Psychic-type Stage 1 Pokémon-ex card (#94/106) represents a middle-tier collectible within the Emerald set—valuable enough to warrant serious collector attention but not at the extreme premium levels of the set’s most sought-after ultra-rares. The card’s price reflects both its age (over 20 years in circulation) and the illustration by renowned artist Mitsuhiro Arita, whose work commands recognition throughout the Pokémon TCG community.
The non-holo variant prices significantly undercut the holographic version, which starts at $50 for heavily played copies but commands much higher prices at better grades. This pricing structure reflects a common market dynamic: reverse-holographic and non-holographic cards from older sets occupy a middle ground where collectors seek playable condition copies without the investment required for gem-quality holographics. A heavily played non-holo Dusclops runs roughly $71.75, placing it within reach of budget-conscious set collectors while maintaining genuine scarcity.
Table of Contents
- How Condition Grades Impact the Price Range
- Market Variations and International Pricing Differences
- Holographic Versus Non-Holographic Dusclops EX Pricing
- Professional Grading and PSA Card Values
- Card Identification and Verification Concerns
- The Mitsuhiro Arita Illustrator Premium
- EX Emerald Set Age and Collector Demand Patterns
How Condition Grades Impact the Price Range
The difference between a damaged copy at $54.50 and a near mint copy at $115.50 exceeds 100 percent—a swing that fundamentally shapes how you should approach purchasing this card. Moderately played copies settle around $86.75, offering the sweet spot for collectors who want clear card legibility without the expense of investing in flawless examples. This condition ladder matters because even minor defects—light edge wear, slight centering issues, minor surface marks—can shift a card down one grade bracket and cost you $15 to $30 in resale value.
The heavily played tier at $71.75 captures cards with obvious play wear: rounded corners, visible wear on the holo pattern if present, or noticeable surface scratches. Lightly played copies at $104 represent the threshold where a card looks substantially better—sharp corners, minimal visible play, essentially collectible-grade condition. For someone building a master set of Emerald, jumping from heavily played to lightly played costs you about $32 more per card, yet you gain years of shelf stability and displayability. A practical example: if you’re assembling a set of 106 cards, choosing lightly played for key cards like Dusclops while settling for moderately played on bulk commons keeps your average per-card cost reasonable while preserving the showcase pieces.
Market Variations and International Pricing Differences
prices fluctuate across different marketplaces, with TCGPlayer establishing baseline reference points while European markets like Cardmarket operate with different currency and supply dynamics. The €9.80–€26.21 range on Cardmarket represents approximately $10.60–$28.30 USD (depending on exchange rates), which overlaps with but isn’t identical to the U.S. market prices. CardTrader and specialty retailers introduce additional variation, particularly for graded copies and high-end examples where individual seller premiums compound the price.
A limitation worth noting: international shipping costs can easily consume any savings you gain from purchasing overseas. A $20 card purchased on Cardmarket might require $8–$12 in shipping and potential customs fees, especially if ordering individually. Currency conversion timing also matters—the €9.80 entry price assumes favorable exchange rates that shift weekly. For non-holo bulk purchases (if you’re buying multiples for a set), international sources occasionally offer better volume pricing, but the per-card economics only work at scale.
Holographic Versus Non-Holographic Dusclops EX Pricing
The holographic version starts at $50.00 for heavily played copies on TCGPlayer, compared to $71.75 for the same condition in non-holo form, creating an apparent contradiction: why does the non-holo cost more? The answer reflects inventory and demand timing. Holographic copies, by nature rarer in active circulation and more subject to collecting interest, sometimes have flooded markets or buyer surplus at certain moments, dropping starter prices. The non-holo pricing you see may represent a specific point-in-time snapshot where heavily played holos are simply more available than non-holos.
As you move into better conditions, the holo premium reasserts itself dramatically. A lightly played non-holo lands around $104, while a lightly played holo would typically command $150–$200 or more depending on the exact listing. This 50-100% holo premium remains consistent across the pokémon TCG market: collectors fundamentally prefer the visual appeal and traditional definition of “rare” that a holographic finish provides. If you’re budget-conscious, the non-holo option delivers playable or near-playable condition at substantially lower entry cost.
Professional Grading and PSA Card Values
Professionally graded Dusclops EX cards command premium prices with PSA 9 copies recently trading at $128.79, though this represents a 50.3% decline over 30 days—a significant volatility warning for anyone considering grading. PSA 8 copies occupy the $77–$104.99 range, while PSA 7 (still respectable condition) sits around $42.01. The value proposition of grading deteriorates rapidly for non-holo copies: you invest $15–$30 in the grading service itself, plus shipping, plus waiting time, only to receive a card that may hold less premium value than the raw market commands at that moment.
The 50-point drop for PSA 9 in just 30 days reflects broader market conditions: either supply increased (more graded copies flooding the market), demand softened (collector interest shifted elsewhere), or the specific copy listed at $128.79 represented an outlier asking price that didn’t generate sales. Historical auction data from 50 total sales generates $7,705.13 in combined value, averaging roughly $154 per transaction—useful for understanding long-tail behavior but less relevant to current rapid pricing fluctuations. For a collector, raw ungraded copies in lightly played condition often represent better value than pursuing PSA certification.
Card Identification and Verification Concerns
The research data specifies Dusclops EX as card #94/106 from EX Emerald with no documented evidence of a card #32 position holding another non-holo Dusclops variant in this set. If you’re shopping for this card, verification matters because the wrong card number—whether due to misidentification by a seller or your own confusion—leads to purchasing an entirely different Pokémon. The EX Emerald set contains 106 total cards, and Dusclops occupies the #94 slot; any listing showing a different number requires careful inspection.
A practical warning: some older inventory descriptions conflate “reverse-holo” (a common parallel version in modern sets) with “non-holo” (the base non-rare version), and sellers occasionally mislabel or overstate condition. Before purchasing, cross-reference the listing image against official card databases or high-resolution photos of known authentic copies. The illustrator credit—Mitsuhiro Arita—appears on legitimate copies and can serve as a verification checkpoint if you’re examining a card in person.
The Mitsuhiro Arita Illustrator Premium
Mitsuhiro Arita’s signature on Dusclops EX adds collectible weight beyond the card’s mechanical rarity. Arita is one of the Pokémon TCG’s most prolific and respected artists, known for dynamic, detailed character work that appeals to both players and art-focused collectors. Cards bearing his illustration command recognition and often attract attention from artist specialists willing to pay premiums for complete Arita collections across sets.
On a $115 near-mint non-holo Dusclops, perhaps $10–$20 of that value attributable to knowing collectors specifically seek Arita’s work. This illustrator factor means that identical cards by different artists in the same set often trade at detectably different prices. A non-holo Dusclops by Arita will outprice the same card by a less-recognized artist, sometimes by 15-25% depending on collector sentiment that year.
EX Emerald Set Age and Collector Demand Patterns
EX Emerald released in May 2005, making it nearly 21 years old at the time of this article. Cards from this era occupy a specific market position: old enough to have genuine scarcity (many early copies lost to damage, moisture, or discard during childhood collecting phases), yet not so ancient as to command the extreme premiums of original Base Set or Jungle cards. The set remains actively collected by players of the Pokémon TCG Retro format and by nostalgic collectors from the mid-2000s era who view it as formative.
Dusclops itself, as a Stage 1 Pokémon-ex, was a legitimate competitive option during Emerald-era play but has no contemporary utility beyond casual or retro formats. This diminishes the “playability premium” some competitive cards carry, keeping prices driven almost entirely by collector demand and condition rarity rather than tournament demand. The historical 50-sale dataset generating $7,705.13 in total transaction value signals steady but not explosive interest—a reliable collectible with established market traction but without the speculative volatility surrounding breakout chase cards.
- —
