Look, the Pokemon Trading Card Game is basically a fashion show at this point. Sure, you've got people trying to win Regional Championships with meta decks, but for most of us? We just want the pretty cards. And right now, everyone is losing their minds over Iono's Kilowattrel art rare.
It’s the kind of card that makes you stop scrolling.
Specifically, we're talking about the Illustration Rare from the Journey Together expansion (known as SV9 Battle Partners in Japan). It’s card number 163/159 in the English set. If you've been living under a Rock Tunnel, Iono is the electric-type Gym Leader from Levincia who also happens to be a massive influencer. Her Pokemon are part of her "brand," and this Kilowattrel card is the peak of that aesthetic.
Why Iono's Kilowattrel Art Rare is Actually Special
Most "Art Rare" cards (or Illustration Rares, as the West calls them) feature a Pokemon in its natural habitat. Maybe a Caterpie looking at a leaf. Cute, but whatever. Iono's Kilowattrel is different because it’s a "Character Rare" in spirit. It shows the bond between the streamer and her bird.
The artwork, done by the legendary GIDORA, is chaotic and vibrant.
It feels like a screen grab from one of Iono’s livestreams. You’ve got the bright neon colors, the motion blur, and that signature "Iono Zone" energy. It’s not just a bird. It’s a content creator's partner-in-crime.
The GIDORA Factor
If you don't know GIDORA, you haven't been paying attention to the best modern Pokemon art. They are known for high-energy compositions. In this card, Kilowattrel isn't just standing there. It's mid-flight, looking like it's about to dive-bomb a viewer's comments section. The lighting is harsh—in a good way—mimicking the ring lights and LED setups of a professional studio.
Is It Actually Good in the Game?
Honestly? It's okay.
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Nobody is saying this card is the next Charizard ex or anything that's going to break the format. But it has the Flashing Draw ability.
Flashing Draw: You must discard a Basic Lightning Energy from this Pokémon in order to use this Ability. (Then you draw 2 cards).
It’s a niche draw engine. If you're running a deck that can easily accelerate or recover Lightning energy—looking at you, Regieleki or Miraidon builds—it’s a solid inclusion. But let’s be real. You aren’t buying the Iono's Kilowattrel art rare for the 70-damage Mach Bolt attack. You’re buying it because it looks incredible in a binder next to the Iono Special Illustration Rare.
The Market Reality: Prices and Rarity
The price history of this card is a bit of a roller coaster. When Battle Partners first dropped in Japan in early 2025, the AR (Art Rare) version was a hot chase.
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By the time it hit the English Journey Together set, the hype had stabilized.
- Raw Near Mint copies: Usually hover around $6 to $15.
- PSA 10 Graded: Can jump up to $40 or $70 depending on the week.
- Japanese Version (104/100): Often carries a slight premium because the holo pattern on Japanese ARs is traditionally crisper.
It’s an affordable chase card. That’s the beauty of it. You don't have to sell a kidney like you do for a Moonbreon. It’s accessible for the average collector, which actually makes it more popular in the long run. Everyone can own a piece of the Iono hype.
What Most People Get Wrong
People keep confusing this with the standard Kilowattrel from Paldea Evolved. Don't do that.
The Paldea Evolved card is a regular Illustration Rare featuring a different art style entirely. It's more "National Geographic" and less "Twitch Stream." While that one is cool, it doesn't have Iono in the frame. In the world of TCG collecting, "Waifu tax" is a real thing. If a popular trainer is on the card—even if it's just in the background or implied by the name—the value and demand are naturally higher.
How to Spot a Fake
Because this card is part of the "Iono" ecosystem, the bootleggers are already on it.
- The Texture: Genuine Illustration Rares have a very subtle, almost matte-like finish with specific holographic layering. If the card is "glassy" or feels like a cheap sticker, it’s fake.
- The Font: Look at the "HP 120." Fakes often use a font that's slightly too thin or too bold.
- The Back: The blue swirl on the back of Pokemon cards is notoriously hard to replicate perfectly. Compare it to a common card from the same set.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to pick one up, don’t rush. This isn't a 1-of-1 historical artifact. There are plenty of copies circulating.
Watch the market on TCGPlayer or eBay for a week. You’ll notice the price fluctuates by a few bucks every day. Grab a copy when it dips under $10 for a raw NM (Near Mint) version. If you’re a grader, look for copies with perfect centering—the borders on the Journey Together set can be a bit wonky, and a "shifted" border will kill your chances of a PSA 10.
Put it in a color-matched yellow or light blue sleeve. It pops. Trust me.
Whether you’re a fan of the bird, the streamer, or just the high-voltage art style, this card is a definitive piece of the Scarlet & Violet era. It captures a very specific moment in Pokemon history where the digital world and the creature world finally collided.