How Memes Boosted Floatzel GL’s Pokémon TCG Popularity

In TCG ·

Floatzel GL card art from Rising Rivals set, illustrated by Midori Harada

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Memes, Strategy, and the Ripple Effect: Floatzel GL’s Rise in Pokémon TCG

In the world of Pokémon TCG fandom, memes aren’t just jokes — they’re social signals that boost visibility, spark nostalgia, and nudge players toward trying new cards. Floatzel GL, a Basic Water-type from the Rising Rivals set (PL2), became a prime example of how a playful moment online translated into real-world interest for a specific card. With its striking holo appeal and a couple of practical tricks tucked into its text, Floatzel GL evolved from a wallflower in the binder to a meme-fueled favorite for collectors and casual players alike. ⚡🔥

Floatzel GL is a Rare Holo from Rising Rivals, illustrated by Midori Harada. Its card design—glossy holo over a sleek Water-type sprite—made it visually memorable even before fans parsed its abilities. The card sits at 80 HP and remains a Basic Pokémon, making it accessible for players starting out or for those building casual Water-focused decks. The combination of accessible entry and striking artwork is a perfect recipe for meme culture to latch onto, and that cultural moment helped push Floatzel GL into conversations beyond pure card power.

In gameplay terms, Floatzel GL offers two distinct tools. Its Incite attack lets you search your discard pile for up to two Supporter cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. This ability rewards deck-building creativity: you can curate a discard-ready stack of powerful Supporters and then reveal them at just the right moment to swing a match. The Giant Wave attack, costing Water and Water, deals 50 damage but comes with a caveat: Floatzel GL can’t use Giant Wave during your next turn. That caveat creates a tempo decision you’re likely to see memed about in strategy threads—the risk-reward calculus of unleashing a strong attack now versus preserving resources for a comeback next turn. The combination of a clever discard-strategy tool and a big-but-tempered finisher is exactly the kind of gameplay detail that fans love to discuss and meme about when a card pops up in a meme-rich context.

The meme-driven popularity surge around Floatzel GL also ties into its collector’s appeal. In the collector market, holo cards from early 2010s sets like Rising Rivals remain sought after for their nostalgia factor and visual appeal. The card’s rarity (Rare Holo) ensures a holo foil that shimmers in photos and in person, a trait often amplified by social media posts that celebrate the gleam of holo artworks. As the online community shared memes featuring Floatzel GL’s art and imagined quirky playlines, more players noticed the card’s illustrator credits and the distinctive aesthetic of Midori Harada’s artwork. The net effect: more people opened packs they hadn’t considered in years, or searched their bins for this holo gem to add to collections and display binders. 🎴

“When a meme catches fire around a card that is both playable in theory and gorgeous in art, you get a spike in attention that isn’t just about power—it's about storytelling and shared moments.”

From a market perspective, Floatzel GL sits outside the current standard and expanded formats, with legality noted as false for both. That means it isn’t eligible for most official tournaments today, but that restriction often fuels collector-driven narratives. For many fans, the card embodies a particular era of the TCG, where a combination of deck-building curiosity and social buzz could propel a card from obscurity to “talk of the forums” in a matter of weeks. The price picture on platforms tracked by TCGPlayer (for holofoil copies) shows a healthy spread: low around $2.45, mid roughly $4.30, and highs approaching $9.00 for competitive holo copies, with market price around $3.72. The reverse-holofoil variant sits at a similar rage, underscoring how scarcity and nostalgia impact value differently from current, playable sets. These numbers remind collectors that memes can translate into real-world demand, even for cards that aren’t tournament staples. 💎

Strategically, Floatzel GL shines as a mid-range utility Pokémon. Its Incite ability is the heart of its appeal: you can tailor your turn to dig into the discard for two important Supporter cards. In a deck that leans on Supporters—think draw and consolidation tools—the potential to “set up” multiple turns ahead is compelling. The Giant Wave attack adds an aggressive option when you have the water energy to spare, but the turn-skipping drawback invites careful planning: you need to manage your tempo so you don’t lose momentum after delivering 50 damage. This tension—between immediate power and future availability—gives Floatzel GL a memorable play pattern that fans love to puzzle out in threads, videos, and meme-laden comment sections. When fans started pairing Floatzel GL with meme-driven deck ideas or “unexpected Supporter fetch” combos, the card’s reputation grew beyond mere rarity. ⚡🎨

Artistic impact matters here as well. Midori Harada’s illustration contributes to Floatzel GL’s enduring charm: the glossy holo finish, the sheen of water, and the dynamic motion captured in the artwork invite fans to photograph, share, and discuss. The visuals complement the card’s thematic meme potential, making it a favorite for display-worthy spreads in photo-heavy posts. In the broader context of collector culture, the combination of aesthetic appeal, playable-but-quirky mechanics, and meme-driven buzz helps Floatzel GL carve out a distinctive niche in the Rising Rivals era. 🔥

For fans building or revisiting Water-type decks, Floatzel GL is a reminder that memorable cards aren’t solely defined by raw damage output. The power of a good meme can elevate a card’s profile, leading to more in-depth discussions about niche interactions, discard-pile layering, and the joy of discovering a solid two-Card Supporter fetch tool in a single card. When you pair Incite’s strategic options with Giant Wave’s splashy appeal, Floatzel GL becomes a symbol of how community culture shapes what players seek—whether they’re chasing a sharp meta line or a cherished holo from their youth. 🎴🎮

Key card data at a glance

  • Name: Floatzel GL
  • Set: Rising Rivals (PL2)
  • Rarity: Rare Holo
  • Type: Water
  • Stage: Basic
  • HP: 80
  • Attacks: Incite — Search your discard pile for up to 2 Supporter cards, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Giant Wave — Water Water, 50 damage (Floatzel can’t use Giant Wave during your next turn).
  • Weakness: Lightning ×2
  • Retreat: 1
  • Illustrator: Midori Harada
  • Legal (as of 2025-08-16): Standard: No; Expanded: No
MagSafe Phone Case with Card Holder – Impact Resistant Polycarbonate

Explore the fusion of play, art, and community culture—Floatzel GL’s story is a small lens into how memes can elevate a card’s profile long after its tournament relevance fades. And as fans continue to share their favorite Floatzel GL moments, you can expect more conversations about how a single card can become a beacon for a shared, celebratory moment in the Pokémon TCG community. 💎🎴

More from our network