Celebrate: The notorious ‘hole’ card from Pokémon is now available in TCG Pocket!

With all the buzz surrounding Pulsing Aura, the latest booster pack for Pokémon TCG Pocket, you might think that new cards like Lucario or the revamped missions and unlocks are the main attractions. However, the true star of the April 27 update is Bonsly, the adorable baby rock-type that resembles a tree.

Bonsly, first introduced in the fourth generation of Pokémon games, has garnered a bit of a cult following among fans of the trading card game. For an astonishing 16 years, the trading card game didn’t feature a new Bonsly card, making this absence quite notable, especially considering the design of the last Bonsly card released by The Pokémon Company.

Bonsly’s design includes a cavity at the bottom, mimicking the drainage holes found in real bonsai trees. Illustrator Midori Harada crafted Bonsly #71, which shows the tree-like baby toppled over and crying, with the cavity taking center stage. It’s hard to overlook this distinctive feature, leading fans to affectionately nickname it ‘Hole Bonsly.’

Over the years, Bonsly #71 has become a quirky collector’s item for trading card enthusiasts. In 2023, the Bonsly fanbase finally received a new card that broke the long-standing hole curse. Yet, just three years later, players are once again faced with Hole Bonsly in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

This iteration of Hole Bonsly differs from its cardboard predecessor, sporting a single move called Teary Attack. This move inflicts 10 damage while also reducing the damage dealt by your opponent’s defending Pokémon by 30. As noted by some gaming sources, this is a solid addition for fighting-type decks or any deck aiming for a stall strategy.

At least this time, TCG Pocket also features a rare illustrated version of Bonsly that is genuinely stunning. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that most players will gravitate towards the troll version of Bonsly.

The upcoming update promises gold frames, new missions, and even a leaf blower.