I’m currently in the process of collecting Dragonite cards and thought to catalogue my journey here!
Why collect Dragonite? Simple, it’s my favourite Pokemon! As a kid, I remember one cold winter morning, getting up early before school started. I was battling the elite four in Pokemon Blue and was about to face Lance. My team was ready and I launched into battle. Much to my dismay, it seemed I could barely damage his Dragonites, they were so tough! My beloved Venusaur struggled and before long I only had Articuno left with barely any health. Without much hope and with the low health warning beeping at me, I used Blizzard and then, PSHH, I heard the super effective noise! I couldn’t believe it. Dragonite was weak to Ice type moves! While nervously tapping my makeshift cardboard battery cover (the plastic cover broke long ago), I managed to sweep the rest of his team and then revived/full restored/restored PP on my team before saving my game and going to school.
That experience, alongside Lance ruining Team Rocket’s day in Gold elevated Dragonite to easily become my favourite Pokemon.
Sob story over, here is my current (and ongoing) collection!
Awesome collection start. I love when new species collectors join the forum. Obtaining each new addition to your goal is very satisfying, what’s next on your list?
Well due to the constraints on this collection, I only have 23 cards in total that I want to collect. That might grow over time as more Dragonites are released. The exact list is:
Language
Card
Set
Japanese
Dragonite 149 Holo
Mystery of the Fossils
Japanese
Dark Dragonite 149 Holo
Rocket Gang
Japanese
Dragonite 149
Game Boy Promo
English
Dragonite 5
Promo
Japanese
Light Dragonite 149 Holo
Neo 4
Japanese
Dragonite 126/128 Holofoil
Expedition
Japanese
Dragonite 018/T
Japanese Promo
English
Dragonite ex 90/97 Holo
EX Dragon
Japanese
Dark Dragonite 014/020 1st edition
Silver Deck Kit
English
Dragonite 91/101 Holo
EX Dragon Frontiers
Japanese
Dragonite DPBP#180 Holo
Cry from the Mysterious
English
Dragonite 56/147 Crosshatch holo
Surpreme Victors
English
Dragonite 5/20 Cosmos holo
Dragon Vault
English
Dragonite 83/116 Cosmos holo
Plasma Freeze
Japanese
Dragonite 108/096 1st edition
Rising Fist
English
Dragonite 52/108 Cosmos holo
Roaring Skies
English
Dragonite EX 72/108
Evolutions
English
Dragonite EX 106/108
Evolutions
English
Dragonite GX 152/236
Unified Minds
English
Dragonite V 192/203
Evolving Skies
English
Dragonite V SWSH154
Sword & Shield Promos
Japanese
Dragonite VSTAR 086/071
Pokemon Go
Japanese
Dragonite V 292 S/P
Sword & Shield Promos
I’d love to have all of these in a PSA 10, but that might be hard as a number of them are Pop 0 Also my budget isn’t large enough. Even though there are PSA 10 listings right now for some of them on eBay for example, I couldn’t actually just buy them so I’ll need to be patient I guess.
I’ve based this list on 1. The artworks I enjoy the most 2. My preferred card design 3. Not having duplicate artworks 4. Within a reasonable cost.
Nothing wrong with being patient if you can’t afford it. You buy what you can and usually that’s good enough. I’ve got cards on my list I know I’ll never be able to afford.
Great collection though. The early Dragonite artwork is amazing. So much potential for the happy dragon.
Yeah Dragonite has definitely been spoilt with amazing art!
The cards I want which are Pop 0 for PSA 10 are from Triumphant, Dragon Vault, Plasma Freeze and Roaring Skies. I’m actually considering dropping the Triumphant Reverse Holo… it’s the card I’m least into on my list. And the others are quite hard to find raw mint! But I can be patient.
Also my OCD wouldn’t allow any non PSA labels lol. So I’d crack slabs and get things regraded if needed.
Great story and collection, thanks for sharing! I think we can all relate to that story of trying to get to a good stopping point and save the game before we were forced off to school
Extremely versatile sets in the GBA games, high intelligence, the Lv 30 - Lv 55 grind needed to get Dragonite, pseudo-legendary status are why I love Dragonite. Everything you need in a dragon. I’m not so into MtG dragons, they have a different flavor.
I stick to WoTC mainly as this is what I grew up with but for Dragonite you’re pushing me to look at those ex’s. Beautiful arts
Yeah the grind of a weaker Pokemon turning into one of the strongest is so rewarding. Magikarp is the short, quick version of that but Dragonair is similar.
And you definitely should! Dragonite has been spoilt with nice art in every era basically. So glad it got a really nice alt art in Evolving Skies / Blue Sky Stream.
That’s a great story on why you are a Dragonite collector! I will always remember the scene in the original Pokémon movie when Dragonite is sent to deliver the invitation to Ash and Team Rocket stops him mid flight with a frying pan! Good times!
Side note, it’s not on your list but I have a PSA 9 Expedition reverse holo. HMU if you’re interesting in adding it to the collection!
Just a small update: These came in the mail today. I’m swapping out the English cards I had for the JP versions! I particularly like the cosmos pattern for the Dragonite and have a personal preference for the cosmos holofoil over the starlight holofoil. There’s a small swirl under the wing and lots of holo going on in the Fossil card. The colours are eye poppin’ too!
Also a funny PSA mislabel on the year of the Rocket Dragonite. It should be 1997, not 1998. I really don’t understand how they make this mistake?
I’ve also adjusted my collection goal. I’ve removed the Triumphant Dragonite (it really didn’t resonate with me) and removed the Legendary Collection reverse holo. It’s an art duplicate of Rocket which I have in a 10 and it’s also… really expensive lol. I’m happy to drop that from my collection goal… at least for now
Japanese
English
Also my budget isn’t large enough. Even though there are PSA 10 listings right now for some of them on eBay for example, I couldn’t actually just buy them so I’ll need to be patient I guess.
