Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Charmeleon: A Flame-Hued Icon by Midori Harada
For many Pokémon TCG fans, a single card can crystallize a moment in the franchise’s history. Midori Harada’s art on Charmeleon, featured in the Power Keepers set (ex16), embodies that spark: a dynamic blend of heat, motion, and attitude that makes this Stage 1 Fire-type standout a perennial favorite for collectors. The illustration captures Charmeleon mid-terracotta blaze, claws flashing, eyes narrowed with intent — a perfect visual to accompany a creature that evolves from Charmander and unsettles the battlefield with a well-timed advantage. 🔥
Beyond the art, Harada’s work on this card shows how the artwork and mechanics can align to create a memorable moment in a player's journey. Charmeleon’s presence in Power Keepers slides between nostalgia for the original starter line and the tactical flavor of an era when trainers balanced disruption and straightforward aggression. The card’s evolution line—Charmander to Charmeleon to the iconic Charizard—is a thread many players follow, and this Charmeleon stands out as a hinge point in that storyline.
Art, rarity, and the collector’s perspective
In Power Keepers, Charmeleon is printed as an Uncommon. This rarity, paired with three known variants (normal, holo, and reverse holo), makes the card a frequent sight in both collections and competitive decks of the day’s vintage format. The ex16-28 card is part of a set that boasted 108 cards in total, with a distinct Power Keepers aesthetic that hobbyists still chase today. The holo version, especially, remains a favorite for display thanks to the foil sheen that catches the eye in sunlight and on shelf corners alike.
From a collecting standpoint, the convergence of authentic illustration by Midori Harada and the nostalgic Charmeleon evolution line is irresistible. Harada’s signature lines and color choices breathe life into Charmeleon’s ferocity, emphasizing a sense of motion and heat that transcends the card’s numeric values. It’s not just about raw power; it’s about capturing a moment when a trainer might pivot the battle in their favor by leveraging a single well-timed attack or a crucial flip of the coin on Scary Face. ⚡
Gameplay snapshot: Scary Face and Flame Tail in a vintage frame
- HP: 70
- Type: Fire
- Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Charmander)
- Attacks:
- Scary Face — Cost: Colorless. Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon can't attack or retreat during your opponent's next turn.
- Flame Tail — Cost: Fire, Fire, Colorless. Damage: 50.
- Weakness: Water ×2
- Illustrator: Midori Harada
- Set: Power Keepers (ex16) — 108 cards in the official set
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Evolution From: Charmander
- Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse Holo
In today’s broader landscape, Scary Face endows Charmeleon with late-game stall potential, while Flame Tail delivers respectable damage for a 2-fire, 1-colorless cost. The combination invites thoughtful deck-building: players might weave in trainer cards that accelerate evolution or help manipulate the opponent’s retreat options to maximize the disruption element of Scary Face. In the grand arc of Charmeleon’s journey, this card embodies a transitional toolkit—enough bite to threaten early losses, enough control to tilt later turns in your favor.
Market trends and what collectors are chasing
Market data from CardMarket and TCGPlayer reflects that holo and reverse holo variants carry the premium among Charmeleon ex16-28 copies. On CardMarket, the base (non-holo) copy has historically traded with a broad swing: average around €0.72, with occasional ultra-low listings around €0.02 and a general upward drift for nicer copies. For holo and reverse holo versions, values rise notably. The holo’s average sits around €8.44, with a typical spread that shows genuine collector interest beyond casual play copies. Reverse holo foils fetch even stronger price signals, ranging from single-digit euro values into the upper teens and beyond, with market snapshots as of mid-2025 showing notable demand and resilient premiums for pristine examples.
TCGPlayer’s data paints a complementary picture. For standard non-holo versions, typical listings hover near the €0.25–€0.85 range (roughly $0.25–$0.85 USD), with market prices around $1.13. The reverse holofoil path is where the wall of price rises most sharply: the typical range spans roughly $15–$40, with market prices around $19.23 and high-end listings climbing higher as collectors seek pristine examples for display or graded submissions. In other words, if you’re chasing a Charmeleon ex16-28 as a centerpiece, the holo and reverse holo are likely the most rewarding paths—both aesthetically and financially. 🔎💎
What this means for the modern collector is twofold. First, the art stands on its own as a keepsake — Midori Harada’s dynamic execution remains a selling point regardless of the card’s playable status. Second, the rarity structure in Power Keepers means that the path to a complete Charmeleon journey via holo and reverse holo is a classic chase in the vintage market. Even as the game evolves, these versions preserve a snapshot of the era’s balance between artwork, rarity, and nostalgia. 🎴
A note on accessibility and collecting ethics
While it’s exciting to discuss price floors and high-water marks, every collector deserves to approach the hobby with care. Seek reputable sellers, verify card condition, and be mindful of counterfeit risks in the vintage market. The Power Keepers card you’re admiring here features authentic artistry by Midori Harada, with a consistent print run that ensures a shared lineage among copies from the set. Owning a Charmeleon with Harada’s flame-tanged gaze is not just about value—it’s about owning a piece of the Pokémon TCG’s evolving story. 🔥🎨
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