Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo (Steam Siege) – Anime Charm, Budget Collectible & Playable Tech
If you love cute Grass-types, budget-friendly collectibles, or filling out your XY-era binder, the Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo from XY—Steam Siege is a surprisingly fun card to own. This guide walks through its place in the Pokémon anime, its role in the Pokémon TCG, and what collectors should know about near mint reverse holo copies like the one in this listing.
Card Overview – Hoppip Steam Siege Reverse Holo
| Card Name | Hoppip |
|---|---|
| Set | XY—Steam Siege |
| Card Number | 3/114 |
| Rarity | Common (Reverse Holofoil version) |
| Type | Grass |
| HP | 40 HP |
| Stage | Basic Pokémon |
| Attack | Splash – [C] 10 damage (Colorless Energy) |
| Weakness | Fire ×2 |
| Retreat Cost | 1 Colorless |
| Illustrator | Mina Nakai (per official TCG database) |
| Finish | Reverse Holographic |
| Condition (listing) | Appears to be Near Mint, ungraded |
The XY—Steam Siege expansion released in 2016 and covered a mix of dual-type Pokémon, Steel and Fire themes, and a variety of Grass-types including this charming Hoppip. While it’s only a common card, the reverse holo version gives it extra visual appeal and a small bump in collectability over the regular non-holo common.
The specific eBay listing you’re reading about features a reverse holo Hoppip 3/114 described as Near Mint and ungraded. As with any single card purchase, it’s wise to inspect the photos and description carefully, but for most collectors this kind of listing is an ideal way to grab a clean copy for a binder or casual deck.
Before looking at value and deck ideas, let’s place this Hoppip in the broader world of Pokémon: the anime, games, and TCG history all give this tiny puffball some real personality.
Hoppip may look fragile, but its role as an early Grass-type in both the video games and the TCG makes it a nostalgic favorite for Johto fans and XY-era collectors alike. Having a shiny reverse holo version is a simple way to spotlight that nostalgia on your page of Grass-types.
Hoppip in the Pokémon Anime and Lore
A Familiar Face from the Johto Era
Hoppip debuted in the Johto region, and anime fans will likely remember it from several episodes where it’s getting tossed around by the wind or being lovingly cared for by trainers. While the Steam Siege card art doesn’t reference a specific episode, it captures the same light, airy energy that Hoppip is known for in the series.
The Pokédex entries across the games describe Hoppip as a Pokémon so light that it needs to grab onto others to avoid being blown away. That quirky trait shows up time and again in the anime: you’ll often see Hoppip floating, spinning, or drifting in big gusts of wind, emphasizing its Grass/Flying-inspired design and personality.
In the context of this card, you’re not just getting a piece of cardboard with an attack called Splash—you’re picking up a slice of Johto nostalgia. For anime-first fans who later moved into the TCG, this is a perfect low-cost card that still feels deeply connected to those early adventures with Ash in the Johto region.
For collectors building anime-themed pages or region-based binders, a reverse holo Steam Siege Hoppip fits nicely on a Johto Grass-type page, especially alongside other Hoppip, Skiploom, and Jumpluff cards from different sets and eras.
Art Style and Theme
The official Pokémon.com database credits Mina Nakai as the illustrator of this Hoppip. The artwork matches the lighter, almost storybook-style aesthetic that some XY-era commons became known for. The pose and background emphasize Hoppip’s playful and floaty nature rather than combat, aligning more with its anime portrayal as a gentle, drifting Grass-type.
Because this is a reverse holo common, the holo pattern covers the card’s border and text box area rather than the artwork itself. For many collectors, this gives a nice balance: the art remains clear and matte, while the edges shimmer, making the card stand out when you flip through a binder.
This type of card is also popular among players who prefer aesthetically coordinated decks. A full deck built around holo Grass basics and evolutions looks fantastic sleeved up on the table, and Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo is an easy and inexpensive component of that style.
From a lore perspective, Hoppip isn’t a powerhouse, but it is a world-building Pokémon: it makes the regions feel alive. Adding its reverse holo card to your collection is a way to acknowledge those smaller, quieter Pokémon that make the Pokémon world feel complete.
For collectors seeking more collectible Pokémon cards from the XY era, pairing this Hoppip with other common reverse holos from Steam Siege creates a colorful and affordable mini set within your binder.
Card Details & Gameplay Potential
Stats and Attack Breakdown
According to the official TCG data and sites like TCGplayer and Bulbapedia, the Steam Siege Hoppip (3/114) has the following game stats:
- Type: Grass
- HP: 40
- Stage: Basic
- Attack – Splash: For 1 Colorless Energy, deal 10 damage.
- Weakness: Fire ×2
- Retreat Cost: 1 Colorless
The attack Splash is simple, cheap, and flexible. Because it only needs a single Colorless Energy, any deck that runs Grass or even off-type support could theoretically splash it in (no pun intended). Of course, in competitive play Hoppip is not a centerpiece attacker, but in teaching decks, themed decks, and kids’ casual decks, it’s a perfectly serviceable starting Pokémon.
The 40 HP is on the low end even for a Basic, which fits Hoppip’s fragile flavor from the games and anime. This fragility means you generally don’t plan to keep it active for long in serious matches. Instead, it’s ideal as a stepping stone to evolutions or as a temporary opener while you set up your real threats on the Bench.
Role in Evolution Lines and Casual Decks
Where Hoppip really matters in gameplay is as the first step in a Hoppip → Skiploom → Jumpluff evolution line. Steam Siege includes evolutions for this line, and other sets throughout the TCG history have printed Jumpluff cards with notable spread or swarming attacks.
If you’re trying to play a Jumpluff-based deck for fun in XY-era or older Standard/Expanded formats, you need reliable Hoppip basics to get your engine going. This Steam Siege version can serve that role, and upgrading to reverse holo copies is a nice cosmetic upgrade without changing deck costs dramatically.
In cube drafts or custom format play, Hoppip can also function as a low-commitment, low-damage attacker that lets newer players experience evolutions without being overwhelmed by complex text. For that reason, many cube builders deliberately use commons like this one to keep power levels manageable while still looking visually appealing.
From a budget perspective, Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo is ideal. You get a holographic Pokémon card that is fully legal for kitchen-table play and still thematically tied to Johto and Grass strategies, without having to spend the kind of money a chase ultra rare demands.
Teaching New Players With Simple Basics
Because Hoppip only has one easy-to-understand attack, it’s a great card for introducing younger players to the game. You can explain the basics of:
- Attaching Energy (any type, since Splash uses Colorless)
- Weakness (why Fire decks hit Hoppip harder)
- Retreating (one Energy retreat cost is very manageable)
If you’re building a custom starter deck for kids or for friends new to Pokémon TCG, including a few cute, reverse holo basics like this Hoppip can make the deck feel more special. Even if the card isn’t powerful, the holofoil finish gives it the “wow” factor that many new players love when opening or playing with cards for the first time.
In this context, the near mint condition of the card in the listing is important. Clean surfaces, sharp corners, and minimal whitening mean the card will look good in a sleeve and withstand shuffling reasonably well, especially when you’re handing the deck to less experienced players.
For those building a supply of Pokémon TCG singles to swap in and out of family decks, grabbing multiple inexpensive near mint basics like this can be a very practical strategy.
Collecting Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo – Value & Rarity
How Rare Is This Card?
Hoppip 3/114 from Steam Siege is officially a common. However, the card exists in two primary finishes:
- Regular non-holo common
- Reverse holo common (the version in this listing)
Reverse holos are typically pulled less frequently than their non-holo counterparts because each pack usually contains just one reverse holo card of any rarity. That means a reverse holo Hoppip is mildly scarcer than the non-holo, though both are widely available on the secondary market.
For serious investors, this isn’t a grail card. But for set collectors and binder enthusiasts, finishing Steam Siege with the full reverse holo set can be an enjoyable long-term project. In that context, finding a clean near mint copy is exactly what you want, since condition is what separates a casual filler from a satisfying completion piece.
Price Trends and Market Interest
Public price trackers such as PriceCharting and Sports Card Investor list Hoppip 2016 XY: Steam Siege #003/114 Reverse Holo in the very affordable range, often around a couple of dollars in Raw (Near Mint) condition. One site notes that the raw near mint value has seen occasional short-term percentage swings, which is common for low-dollar cards when a few sales happen in a row.
Because Steam Siege was printed during the XY era and is not considered one of the rarest sets, sealed product and singles remain accessible. That keeps prices lower, which is great news if you’re a collector building out full pages of reverse holos or theme-based binders around Grass-type or Johto-region Pokémon.
The listing this article references has the card priced around $1.99 USD at the time of writing, which aligns with typical market expectations for a reverse holo common in Near Mint, ungraded condition. As always, prices can move over time, but this is firmly in the budget-friendly category.
Why Near Mint Ungraded Can Be Ideal
For a lower-value card like Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo, professional grading usually doesn’t make financial sense. The cost of the grading service typically exceeds the value of the card, even in a high grade. That’s why most copies on the market are raw, ungraded singles.
A Near Mint ungraded copy, however, gets you almost all the benefits of a high-grade card without the slab and service fee:
- Sharp corners and edges
- Clean, glossy surfaces with minimal scratching
- No major whitening, creasing, or dents
This is particularly important for reverse holos, since the holofoil border and text area can show scratches or scuffing more easily. A near mint copy with a clean reverse holo pattern looks significantly better in a collection than one that’s heavily played.
For binder collections, upgrading key basics like Hoppip to near mint reverse holo versions is a subtle way to raise the visual quality of your pages. It’s also helpful if you eventually decide to sell or trade your set, since complete near mint reverse holo pages are more attractive to other collectors.
If you’re browsing for more near mint Pokémon cards, it’s worth checking if other XY—Steam Siege reverse holos are available from the same seller so you can combine shipping and build a stronger collection at once.
Who Should Buy This Hoppip Card?
1. Set and Master Set Collectors
If you’re working on a Steam Siege master set, you’ll eventually need both the non-holo and reverse holo version of each common. Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo is a straightforward box to check—easy to find, inexpensive, and not particularly contentious when it comes to centering or print quality compared to higher-rarity cards.
Because Steam Siege has 114 cards in its main set (not counting secret rares), a full reverse holo master set is a substantial but realistic goal for many collectors. Commons like Hoppip are the backbone of that project; picking them up in near mint condition is crucial if you want your final set to look cohesive and clean.
2. Hoppip / Jumpluff Fans
Some collectors specialize by Pokémon line rather than by set. If you’re a fan of Hoppip, Skiploom, or Jumpluff, then grabbing each printed version over time is a satisfying way to focus your collection. The Steam Siege reverse holo Hoppip is a nice addition because it contrasts nicely with other art styles from earlier generations like Neo Discovery or later reprints.
In a Hoppip-focused binder page, mixing Japanese and English prints, non-holos, reverse holos, and any special themed prints can give you a visually rich spread. The Steam Siege reverse holo fits nicely as an XY-era representation with a modern holofoil look.
3. Casual Players and Teaching Deck Builders
If your priority is playing rather than purely collecting, this card still has a role. For casual or family formats, adding a few reverse holo basics like Hoppip into Grass-themed decks can:
- Make decks feel more special, even if they’re budget builds
- Give newer players the enjoyment of playing with shiny cards
- Offer a simple, low-text Basic to learn on
Because the attack uses Colorless Energy, Hoppip can slip into multi-type casual decks where Energy lines might not be fully optimized. It’s also a fun inclusion if you’re building region-themed decks (like “Johto Grass” or “Windy Meadow” style themes) for friendly events.
4. Anime and Nostalgia Collectors
For people whose main entry point to Pokémon is the anime, Hoppip is one of those background Pokémon that makes the world feel charming and carefree. Collecting cards of anime-favorite species—even when they’re commons—is a valid and enjoyable goal.
A reverse holo Hoppip from Steam Siege can sit alongside other anime-connected cards such as:
- Chikorita and Bayleef cards for Johto Grass teams
- Weather or wind-themed Pokémon to recall certain episodes
- Other small Grass-types that appear in early-route anime scenes
Because this card is inexpensive, it’s a low-risk way to dabble in the TCG side of the franchise if you mainly watch the show but want a physical collectible that represents a favorite species.
Buying Tips for Hoppip Steam Siege Reverse Holo
What to Look for in Near Mint Condition
When a listing describes a card as Near Mint and ungraded, here are the key things you should check in the photos and description:
- Front surface: Minimal to no visible scratches on the holofoil area; no dents or obvious indents.
- Edges and corners: Very light or no whitening; corners should be mostly sharp, not heavily rounded or chipped.
- Back surface: Clean blue background without major scuffs or discoloration.
- Centering: Slightly off-center is common and usually acceptable for Near Mint, as long as borders aren’t extremely uneven.
For a reverse holo common, a tiny bit of edge wear or a faint surface mark is still compatible with Near Mint in many sellers’ grading scales, but anything like creases, significant whitening, or heavy scratches would push it into Lightly Played or worse.
Ungraded vs Graded for Low-Value Cards
As mentioned earlier, grading doesn’t usually make economic sense for a card in this price range. Ungraded singles can be excellent pickups if you:
- Trust the seller’s condition rating
- Review clear photos
- Are realistic about minor factory imperfections (print lines, slight centering issues, etc.)
This particular listing appears to present the Hoppip as Near Mint, ungraded, which is exactly how most collectors want to buy reverse holo commons: in a sleeve or top loader, ready to go straight into a binder or deck.
If you’re browsing a dedicated store like Pokeferh on eBay, it’s also worth checking seller feedback and how they grade other cards. Consistent, conservative grading is a big plus when you’re ordering multiple low-value cards at once.
Frequently Asked Questions – Hoppip 3/114 Steam Siege Reverse Holo
Is Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo from Steam Siege valuable?
In strict monetary terms, no, it’s not a high-value card. It’s a reverse holo common that typically sells around a couple of dollars in near mint condition. Its value lies more in set completion, aesthetic appeal, and personal nostalgia than in investment potential.
Is the Steam Siege Hoppip legal in current Standard play?
Steam Siege is an older XY-era set and is no longer legal in current Standard format. However, the card can still be used in Expanded format (where allowed) and in any casual, house, or fan formats where older sets are permitted.
Is this card good in competitive decks?
Hoppip 3/114 is generally not a competitive card by itself. It has low HP and a simple 10-damage attack. Its main role is as a Basic in evolution lines (like Jumpluff decks) for fun or lower-power formats, or as a teaching tool in beginner decks.
Why buy a Near Mint copy instead of a cheaper played one?
For a small price difference, a Near Mint reverse holo will:
- Look much better in a binder or display
- Shuffle more smoothly without catching on sleeves
- Hold its modest value better over time if you ever decide to sell or trade
Since reverse holo surfaces can scratch easily, starting with a near mint copy helps preserve that shine for longer.
How does the reverse holo differ from the regular Hoppip 3/114?
The non-holo common has a regular matte finish, while the reverse holo version features a holographic effect across the card’s background and border areas, leaving the artwork itself mostly non-holo. Functionally, they are identical in gameplay; the difference is purely aesthetic and collectability-related.
Is this a good card for an anime-themed collection?
Yes. Hoppip is recognizable from Johto-era anime episodes and later background cameos, so adding this reverse holo card is a nice nod to the show. It’s especially fitting in pages themed around Grass-types, Johto species, or “peaceful meadow” style Pokémon.
Should I grade my Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo?
For most people, grading this card isn’t necessary. The grading fee would likely exceed the graded card’s value, even at a high grade. Unless you’re assembling a very specific graded Steam Siege project for personal reasons, it makes more sense to keep this card in a quality binder or top loader ungraded.
Where can I find more Steam Siege reverse holos?
You can search dedicated sellers who specialize in Pokémon TCG singles and older XY-era sets. Online stores and marketplaces often have categories for XY—Steam Siege and reverse holos specifically, so you can gradually build out your collection.
Whether you’re a Johto anime fan, a set collector chasing every reverse holo from Steam Siege, or a casual player who just loves shiny Grass-types, the Hoppip 3/114 Reverse Holo Near Mint is a charming, low-cost addition to your collection. Its blend of nostalgic artwork, simple gameplay, and bright holofoil finish makes it a small but meaningful card to own.
