2007 Empoleon Lv.X PSA 10 Sells for $21,167

2007 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Holo #120 Empoleon Lv.X PSA 10 Sells for $21,167

On May 18, 2026, Goldin closed a notable Pokémon sale: a 2007 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Holo #120 Empoleon Lv.X graded PSA GEM MT 10 realized $21,167.

For a mid-2000s non-Charizard, non-starter Pokémon, this is a meaningful number for collectors who follow early DP-era chase cards and the broader Lv.X market.

The card at a glance

• Card: Empoleon Lv.X
• Year: 2007
• Set: Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (English)
• Card number: #120
• Finish: Holo (Lv.X super rare)
• Character: Empoleon (final evolution of Piplup)
• Grading company: PSA
• Grade: GEM MT 10
• Auction house: Goldin
• Sale date (UTC): 2026-05-18
• Realized price: $21,167

This is not a rookie card in the sports sense, but it is one of Empoleon’s earliest and most important chase cards in the English TCG. Within the Diamond & Pearl era, Lv.X cards functioned like the era’s premium pulls—roughly analogous to modern Pokémon ex/GX/V/VMAX chase slots.

Why this Empoleon Lv.X matters

Early DP-era chase card

The 2007 Diamond & Pearl set kicked off the DP block in English. Lv.X cards from these first DP releases sit in an interesting pocket of the hobby:

• They are post‑WotC but pre‑Black & White, so they don’t have the same print volume as many modern sets.
• They feature a distinct border-breaking Lv.X layout, which has become nostalgic in its own right.
• They capture starter lines from Sinnoh, a generation that has built a loyal collector base as the kids who grew up with DS-era Pokémon now have adult wallets.

Empoleon Lv.X is a key representation of that era, especially for collectors who favor water starters or specifically chase Piplup/Empoleon lines.

Population and grading context

Public PSA population (the "pop report," i.e., how many copies exist in each grade in PSA holders) for early DP Lv.X cards is typically modest compared to modern ultra-modern sets. While exact population counts can change over time, several themes usually hold:

• Fewer submissions: DP-era cards were not mass submitted in the way modern chase cards are.
• Condition sensitivity: Silver borders and holo areas on Lv.X cards are prone to edge and surface wear, making PSA 10s significantly scarcer than raw copies.
• High-grade premiums: A true GEM MT 10 often captures a strong multiple over 9s and raw cards because it’s the highest readily attainable grade on the PSA scale.

Empoleon isn’t a flagship mascot like Charizard, but within its lane—Sinnoh starters and Lv.X collectors—it’s a clear key card for the character.

Market context: how does $21,167 fit in?

When collectors talk about “comps”, they mean recent comparable sales—same card, similar grade, and where helpful, similar auction format.

Exact, up-to-the-day private sales are not always publicly available, but looking across the market for this card and close relatives (other grades, other Lv.X starters) shows a few patterns:

• Historically, PSA 9 copies of DP Lv.X starter cards (like Empoleon, Infernape, Torterra) have tended to sit far below five figures, depending on character demand and timing.
• PSA 10s command substantial premiums over 9s due to tighter population counts.
• Within Lv.X starters, Empoleon is usually behind the very top-tier hobby darlings, but still trails only the most marquee names.

A realized price of $21,167 at Goldin in May 2026 therefore lands toward the upper end of what collectors typically associate with DP-era Lv.X cards of non-flagship characters in top grade. The number is not random; it reflects a combination of factors:

• A PSA GEM MT 10 example is visibly scarce compared to lower grades.
• Goldin’s platform is known for drawing serious bidders and consolidating demand into headline results.
• Sinnoh nostalgia has been increasingly evident across the hobby, aided by remakes, media attention, and maturing nostalgia cycles.

Even if some past private or smaller-house results have been lower, this Goldin sale establishes a fresh public reference point for the card in a top grade.

Collector significance

Key Empoleon card

Empoleon may not anchor the franchise like Pikachu or Charizard, but for:

• Sinnoh-focused collectors
• Water starter fans
• Piplup / Empoleon character collectors

…this Lv.X is one of the central cards on the checklist.

It checks several boxes:

• Early-era premium: One of the first big chase Empoleon cards in English.
• Distinctive design: The Lv.X layout, with the character breaking the top border, is strongly associated with 4th-generation nostalgia.
• Playable history: Lv.X cards had meaningful roles in the TCG metagame at the time, which adds another layer of historical interest for long-time players.

Era dynamics: mid‑2000s “bridge” period

The 2007 Diamond & Pearl release sits in what many consider a bridge era:

• Not as old or low-print as vintage WotC (Base through Neo, etc.).
• Not as overprinted or widely hoarded as later ultra-modern.

That middle ground often leads to:

• Moderate raw supply, but a relative shortage of clean, gradable copies.
• Tighter high-grade pops, which can magnify the impact of a strong PSA 10 auction result.

This helps explain why a card from 2007, featuring a non-headliner character, can still attract a five-figure result when the condition is top-tier and demand aggregates at a major venue.

What this sale may suggest (without predicting the future)

It’s important not to treat any single auction as a guarantee of where prices “should” go. That said, the $21,167 Goldin sale for a PSA 10 Empoleon Lv.X offers a few practical takeaways for collectors, sellers, and buyers.

For collectors holding DP-era Lv.X cards

• This result reinforces that high-grade DP Lv.X cards are firmly on the hobby’s radar, even beyond the most famous mascots.
• If you own raw Empoleon Lv.X copies that look very clean, it may be worth carefully evaluating whether they are strong grading candidates—centering, edges, corners, and surface are all critical.
• It also reminds collectors that character-focused lanes (like Empoleon and other Sinnoh favorites) can quietly build meaningful value over long periods.

For buyers considering this card

If you are looking to pick up an Empoleon Lv.X:

• Use this Goldin result as one data point rather than a rigid benchmark.
• Compare against:
  • Recent sales in lower grades (PSA 8, PSA 9, BGS equivalents).
  • Raw sales for clean-looking copies with good photos.
  • Other Empoleon chase cards (e.g., later full-art or alt-art cards) to understand where Lv.X currently sits in the character’s hierarchy.
• Pay attention to auction format and timing. Prime-time, widely marketed auctions often fetch different levels than low-visibility fixed-price listings.

For small sellers

If you handle mid‑2000s collections or buy raw DP-era lots:

• This result is a reminder to slow down and check Lv.X cards carefully—especially starter lines, legendaries, and fan-favorite species.
• Condition spreads matter: even a small defect can be the difference between a mid-grade holder and a potential PSA 10 chase, which in turn massively changes the price bracket.
• If you consign with major houses like Goldin, consider whether your copy truly presents at a top level. High-visibility venues often make the most sense when the card can realistically compete at the very top of the condition ladder.

How this Empoleon fits into the broader Lv.X landscape

Within the Pokémon TCG’s evolution, Lv.X cards occupy a niche between the e-Reader/EX era and the later EX/GX/V/alternate-art boom.

Some broader themes around Lv.X cards:

• Design nostalgia: Many collectors now in their 20s and 30s identify Lv.X as their childhood “premium” tier, leading to renewed interest.
• Moderate graded supply: Unlike modern alt-arts printed and graded in mass, many Lv.X cards remain underrepresented in slabs relative to their raw presence.
• Character stratification: Mascots (Charizard, Rayquaza, etc.) still lead, but starter lines and legendaries from DP have been catching more attention.

The 2007 Empoleon Lv.X PSA 10 sale at $21,167 helps underscore that starter lines from the DP era have graduated into serious collector territory, particularly in top grades and at major auction houses.

Final thoughts

The 2007 Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Holo #120 Empoleon Lv.X in PSA GEM MT 10 that sold for $21,167 at Goldin on May 18, 2026, is more than just a strong number:

• It highlights the maturing market for DP-era Lv.X cards.
• It reaffirms the importance of condition and grading for mid‑2000s chase cards.
• It shows that Sinnoh-era nostalgia has real weight in today’s Pokémon hobby.

For collectors, this sale is a useful reference point when evaluating their own DP-era cards, setting expectations for Empoleon Lv.X in various grades, and understanding how early Sinnoh chase cards are being respected in the modern market.

As always, treat this as context, not a forecast. The best use of results like this is to sharpen your eye for condition, understand where a card sits in its era and character hierarchy, and make collecting decisions that match your own interests and comfort level.