Character info
The character
Empoleon is the final evolution of the Piplup line, a Water and Steel type penguin Pokémon known for the trident-like horns on its head and its regal, commanding presence. It is recognized as the leader among penguin colonies and is noted for its strength in battle and its sharp, metal wings. Empoleon has appeared across the Pokémon games and animated series as a powerful evolution tied to the Sinnoh region.
This card
This is Empoleon ex, card 070 out of 94 from the Phantasmal Flames set, printed in 2025 as a holofoil card with RR rarity. The artwork, illustrated by 5ban Graphics, depicts Empoleon in an icy, shard-filled environment with a dynamic, dramatic pose emphasizing its steel wings and horn. The card is a Stage 2 Pokémon that evolves from Prinplup.
How it plays
This Stage 2 Pokémon has 320 HP, is weak to Fire for double damage, resists Grass by 30, and has a retreat cost of two. Its ability, Emperor's Stance, prevents all effects (not damage) of attacks used by the opponent's Pokémon against it. Its attack, Iron Feathers, costs two Water Energy and one Colorless Energy, deals 210 damage, and causes this Pokémon to take 60 less damage from attacks during the opponent's next turn, applied after Weakness and Resistance. As a Pokémon ex, when it is knocked out the opponent takes two Prize cards.
Written with AI from the card and its catalogue entry, and checked by WinnTCG.
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An image of the graded card, sized for eBay and social posts. The grade, the certificate number and the verification link travel with it.
Card details confirmed
A card with this name and number exists in the public card catalogue, in Phantasmal Flames, a set of 94 cards, rarity RR. The details on this certificate match it.
Illustrated by 5ban Graphics and published 2025-11-14. Both come from the public catalogue, not from WinnTCG.
A catalogue match is not the authenticity check. It confirms the card is the card it claims to be. Whether it is genuine was checked separately, on the card itself; see Authenticity below.
About this card
#395 in the National Pokédex · a Generation IV Pokémon · 119 different cards of it exist · it evolves from Prinplup.
From the card and the public catalogue, not written by WinnTCG.
Authenticity
WinnTCG authenticated this card in hand, on the bench, against genuine Pokémon cards. It was checked four ways: light shone through it to check the core, its weight on a scale, its thickness measured, and its print pattern and surface texture under magnification.
How this card was graded
WinnTCG graded this card in hand, on the bench. The card was in our hands, and we sealed the case ourselves. We photographed it here under controlled light to show which card is in the case and where anything we marked sits on it.
If you are buying this slab: the grade is WinnTCG’s judgement of the card that was in front of us, and WinnTCG sealed this case. The photographs above are of that card. Compare them against what you can see through the case, because a case can be opened by anyone who has held it since.
The working behind this grade
Every grade here is published with its reasoning. The report states what each measurement returned, what the model proposed on each axis, where the grader disagreed with it, and every defect marked on the photographs above.