Kingdra 31/147 Holo Rare (Burning Shadows) – Anime Lore, Card Value & TCG Strategy
If you enjoy Sun & Moon–era holos, the Kingdra 31/147 Holo Rare from Burning Shadows (2017) is a great intersection of anime nostalgia, playable design, and affordable collecting.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about this specific card – including the exact eBay listing that appears to offer it in Near Mint condition – from the perspective of collectors, anime fans, and competitive-minded players.
Quick Card Overview
| Card Name | Kingdra |
|---|---|
| Set | Sun & Moon: Burning Shadows |
| Card Number | 31/147 |
| Rarity | Holo Rare |
| Type | Water |
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Condition (this listing) | Ungraded – appears to be Near Mint (NM) |
| Artist | Mitsuhiro Arita (per set database information) |
The product you shared is titled “KINGDRA 31/147 Holo HOLO Rare Burning Shadows NM Pokemon” and is listed as Ungraded on eBay. Based on the title, it appears the seller is describing the card as Near Mint (NM), which is important for both collectors and players who care about condition.
Kingdra in the Pokémon World and Anime
From Horsea to a Sea Dragon Powerhouse
Kingdra is the final evolution of Horsea → Seadra → Kingdra, originally introduced in the Johto era as a dual Water/Dragon-type Pokémon. In the games, its Dragon typing removes the classic Grass/Electric weaknesses of pure Water-types, giving it a unique place in competitive play.
Design-wise, Kingdra resembles a large, blue seadragon with curled snout, branch-like horns, and a coiled tail. The Burning Shadows artwork leans into this regal, deep-sea aesthetic, showing Kingdra in a powerful pose with a subtle holo pattern that catches the light without overwhelming the line art.
Kingdra’s Anime Moments
While not the most frequently featured Pokémon in the anime, Kingdra has made several notable appearances, often as a sign that a trainer is serious business:
- Gym Leader and Elite-level trainers have used Kingdra in various arcs, highlighting its role as a tough, high-ranking battler.
- In the anime’s battle sequences, Kingdra is often portrayed using powerful water- and dragon-based attacks, blasting opponents with spiraling torrents or high-pressure jets.
The Burning Shadows Kingdra card leans into that battle-ready personality. Its attacks reference the idea of striking damaged enemies and whipping up destructive water currents, which matches how Kingdra tends to be used in animated battles: not always the main star, but a dangerous closer that punishes weakened foes.
Card Details: Attacks, Stats & Holo Pattern
Key Stats (from Burning Shadows database info)
According to official card databases, Kingdra 31/147 has:
- HP: 140
- Type: Water
- Stage: Stage 2 (evolves from Seadra)
It’s a hefty Stage 2 with enough HP to survive a hit or two in Sun & Moon–era formats, especially when paired with healing or damage reduction.
Attack Breakdown
Exact wording can vary slightly by source, but Bulbapedia and TCG databases summarize Kingdra’s main attack as a powerful snipe-style move:
- Tornado Shot – A Water-type attack that hits an opponent’s Active Pokémon for solid damage and also spreads damage to one of their Benched Pokémon, especially if they already have damage counters on them.
One database notes that Tornado Shot does 90 damage to an opponent’s Pokémon that already has damage counters, which fits perfectly into decks that chip away at the board and then clean up with targeted snipes.
From a gameplay perspective, this means Kingdra isn’t just a blunt-force attacker; it rewards careful sequencing and focus-fire strategies. You soften targets first, then let Kingdra rain down the finishing blows.
Artwork & Holo Appeal for Collectors
Mitsuhiro Arita’s Take on Kingdra
The Burning Shadows Kingdra is illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, one of the most iconic Pokémon TCG artists (best known for the original Base Set Charizard, among many others). Having Arita’s name on the card immediately gives it extra appeal for some collectors.
His style here emphasizes:
- A strong, dynamic pose that makes Kingdra feel like it’s in the middle of a swirling current.
- Layered shading that works nicely with the holofoil, especially around the body and fins.
- A deep, aquatic color palette that stands out among other Water-type cards.
Holo Pattern & Display Potential
The Holo Rare treatment in Sun & Moon: Burning Shadows is relatively subtle compared to older Wizards-era foils, but on Kingdra 31/147 the effect complements the art well:
- The holo layer tends to highlight the water and background effects more than Kingdra’s body, keeping the Pokémon readable.
- Under angled light, the foil looks like refracted light underwater, which matches the theme perfectly.
For binders, this is one of those cards that looks best in a blue or teal sleeve on a water- or dragon-themed page. It pairs nicely with other Water-type Holo Rares from the same era.
Condition & Pricing: Is This Kingdra a Good Buy?
What “Ungraded – NM” Really Means
The listing you provided is marked Ungraded but described in the title as NM (Near Mint). That typically means:
- The card has not been sent to PSA, CGC, BGS, etc. for a numeric grade.
- The seller believes it meets Near Mint standards: minimal edge wear, clean surface, and no major scratches or bends.
Because it’s ungraded, there can be a bit of variation in what any individual seller calls “Near Mint,” so it’s always smart to zoom in on the listing photos and check edges, corners, and holo surface for whitening or scuffing.
Market Value Snapshot
Price tracking sites show that Kingdra 31/147 Burning Shadows usually sells in the low single-digit USD range for raw Near Mint copies. The specific product you shared is priced at $2.99 USD, which is consistent with an affordable holo from the Sun & Moon era.
This isn’t a high-end chase card, but that’s actually an advantage for:
- Budget collectors who want nice holos without spending a lot.
- Players who want to use the card in decks without worrying about dinging an expensive ultra-rare.
Collecting Kingdra 31/147: Long-Term Appeal
Why Burning Shadows Kingdra Is Worth Picking Up
Even though Kingdra 31/147 isn’t a flagship chase like Charizard-GX from the same set, it still has several things going for it:
- Sun & Moon era nostalgia – As the years pass, more players who started in Sun & Moon are going back to pick up their favorite holos.
- Popular evolution line – Horsea/Seadra/Kingdra has been loved since the Johto days, especially by fans of Dragon and Water archetypes.
- Mitsuhiro Arita artwork – Always a collecting plus.
- Playable design – Cards that had at least some competitive relevance tend to age better than pure bulk.
If you’re building a binder page of Water-type holo rares or focusing on Dragon-related Pokémon, this Kingdra slots in nicely without requiring a big budget.
Raw vs. Graded Copies
Right now, most graded Kingdra 31/147 copies do not command a large premium over raw cards unless they hit extremely high grades (PSA 10, BGS 9.5/10, etc.). Because grading itself costs money, many collectors stick with ungraded Near Mint Pokémon cards for Sun & Moon holos unless they are personal favorites.
If you’re interested in graded cards, a reasonable strategy is:
- Pick up a cheap raw Near Mint copy now.
- If the art really grows on you, later hunt for a graded copy or grade your best specimen.
For raw Pokémon TCG singles at similar price points, you can browse the seller’s other listings or search within their collectible Pokémon cards to fill out a binder page in one order.
TCG Strategy: How to Use Kingdra (Burning Shadows) in Decks
Role in Water Decks
In its original Standard era, Kingdra 31/147 was more of a secondary attacker or tech piece than a main deck engine, but it still had interesting uses:
- Stage 2, 140 HP – Bulky enough to survive, but requires evolving through Horsea and Seadra.
- Tornado Shot-style attack – Rewards decks that spread damage early, then use Kingdra to pick off damaged threats.
Modern formats have power-crept past cards like this for top-tier play, but in casual, theme, or budget formats, Kingdra can still be powerful and fun.
Synergies and Combos
Kingdra from Burning Shadows particularly likes decks that:
- Place damage counters or chip damage across the opponent’s board (via spread attackers or abilities).
- Can consistently supply Water Energy to keep attacks flowing.
Some synergy ideas for casual or expanded-style play:
- Spread attackers – Any Pokémon that hits multiple targets for light damage makes it easier to fully leverage Kingdra’s attack text that punishes already-damaged foes.
- Energy acceleration – Cards that attach extra Water Energy per turn can offset discarding energy costs (if your version of Kingdra’s attack requires discarding Water Energy, as some databases note).
- Damage manipulation – Abilities or Trainer cards that move damage counters help set up the perfect KO ranges for Tornado Shot-style sniping.
For players who like methodical, tactical gameplay rather than just swinging for maximum damage, Kingdra 31/147 offers a rewarding line to pilot.
For Anime Fans: Building a Kingdra-Themed Collection
Linking the Card to Kingdra’s On-Screen Personality
Anime fans who love Kingdra for its appearances as a powerful, often intimidating sea dragon can easily use this card as a centerpiece for a mini-collection.
The Burning Shadows holo captures Kingdra’s persona as:
- A specialized “closer” that appears when battles get serious.
- A deep-sea ruler with a stoic expression, fitting for a rare evolved form.
In a binder page, you could combine:
- Burning Shadows Kingdra 31/147 (this card).
- Other Kingdra prints from different eras.
- Horsea and Seadra cards that reference similar water- or storm-themed art.
Anime-Inspired Deck Building
If you like building decks that feel like they could belong to anime trainers, consider:
- Running Kingdra as a late-game sweeper that comes in after weaker Pokémon soften the field.
- Adding Trainer cards that evoke aquatic or storm-based themes.
- Using other Water/Dragon-style cards to echo the vibe of a specialized Water Gym Leader deck.
This card fits nicely in those collections because it’s affordable, holo, and visually thematic, while still being a real, playable Stage 2.
Why Near Mint Matters (Especially for Holo Rares)
Holo Surface Wear
Holo cards like this Kingdra are much more sensitive to surface scratches, print lines, and edge chipping than non-holo rares. A card that looks fine at arm’s length can reveal small imperfections when tilted under light.
A Near Mint holo should generally have:
- Very minimal whitening on edges and corners.
- No major creases or bends.
- Only light surface wear, if any, that doesn’t distract from the holo shine.
That’s why the “NM” mention in the listing title is important, even if the card is ungraded.
Binder vs. Play Condition
If you’re mostly a collector, you’ll want your Burning Shadows Kingdra to be as close to pack fresh as possible. For players who expect to shuffle and play with the card, a slightly lower condition (like Lightly Played) can be acceptable.
Since this listing appears to be Near Mint at a budget price, it actually works well for both groups:
- Collectors can sleeve it and display it.
- Players can double-sleeve and play with it confidently.
If you’re aiming to pick up multiple near mint Pokémon cards in one order, you can search the seller’s Pokémon TCG singles to combine shipping and build out your Water or Dragon pages.
Pros & Cons of Picking Up Kingdra 31/147 Now
Pros
- Affordable entry price – Around $2.99 for a holo rare is budget-friendly.
- Solid artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita – Great for binders and display.
- Playable design – Fun in casual or budget decks; good teaching tool for Stage 2 evolution lines and damage spread strategies.
- Sun & Moon nostalgia factor – As Burning Shadows ages, more interest tends to come back to set holos.
Cons
- Not a high-end chase card – Don’t expect large short-term value spikes.
- Stage 2 setup – Slower and more fragile than modern top-tier archetypes in competitive formats.
- Ungraded – Condition is based on seller description and photos rather than a PSA/CGC/BGS label.
Taken together, Kingdra 31/147 is best seen as a fun, low-risk pickup for fans of the Pokémon line, the Sun & Moon era, or Water-type decks.
Final Thoughts
The Kingdra 31/147 Holo Rare from Burning Shadows sits in a sweet spot:
- It carries recognizable anime and game lore as the final Horsea evolution.
- It features strong, thematic artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita.
- It offers a tactical, spread-based attack pattern that makes casual decks more interesting.
- It remains very affordable, even in what appears to be Near Mint condition.
If you’re a collector who loves Sun & Moon foils, a Water/Dragon fan, or a player building a budget deck with personality, this is an easy card to recommend. The eBay listing you referenced appears to provide a solid, ungraded copy at a price that makes it simple to add to your collection or deck without hesitation.
FAQ: Kingdra 31/147 Burning Shadows
Is Kingdra 31/147 from Burning Shadows valuable?
In raw Near Mint condition, Kingdra 31/147 is generally a low single-digit USD card, making it more of an affordable holo than a high-end investment piece. Its value lies more in artwork, nostalgia, and playability than in raw price.
Is this Kingdra card good in competitive play?
During its original Standard-legal period, Kingdra saw niche or casual play thanks to its spread-synergy attack. In modern top-tier formats, it’s outpaced by newer cards, but it’s still fun and strategic in local, casual, or budget metagames, especially if you enjoy Stage 2 decks.
What makes this version of Kingdra interesting for collectors?
Several things:
- It’s a Holo Rare from the popular Burning Shadows set (2017).
- It features art by Mitsuhiro Arita, a highly respected TCG artist.
- It represents the fully evolved form of a classic line (Horsea/Seadra/Kingdra).
Combined with the low price, that makes it an appealing addition to Water, Dragon, or Sun & Moon–themed collections.
Should I grade Kingdra 31/147?
For most collectors, it’s usually better to keep this card ungraded unless:
- It’s a personal favorite and you want it slabbed for display.
- Your copy looks extremely clean and you’re aiming for a high grade for your collection.
Financially, grading costs often exceed the card’s market value, so grading makes the most sense for personal enjoyment rather than profit.
How can I safely store this Kingdra card?
To preserve condition:
- Place the card in a penny sleeve (soft sleeve).
- Then insert it into a toploader or a snug-fit binder pocket.
- Keep it away from moisture, direct sunlight, and heavy pressure.
This is especially important for holo rares, whose surfaces can scratch more easily than non-holo cards.
Where can I find more Burning Shadows singles?
If you’re looking to expand your Burning Shadows collection beyond Kingdra 31/147, you can browse additional Pokémon TCG singles and collectible Pokémon cards from the same seller. This can help you complete playsets, build themed decks, or flesh out your binder pages while keeping shipping simple.
