Absol in 2026: A Collector's Look at Every Era, From EX Dragon to Obsidian Flames
By Dexhaul Team · August 28, 2026
Absol's collector appeal comes from somewhere specific. It is not the most popular Pokémon, it never anchored a competitive meta for long, and it is not a starter.
Yet its TCG presence spans more than two decades, from a near-number-one holo in 2003 through a Mega Evolution era and into modern Scarlet and Violet sets. Each era left something behind that collectors still chase.
This is a walk through those eras: what each produced, why certain cards hold value, and where the plush and figure market sits in 2026.
The EX Dragon holo: where it started
Absol 1/97 from EX Dragon (November 2003) is the card most Absol collectors mention first. Being listed at number 1 in a set named after dragons, for a Disaster Pokémon with no Dragon typing, is an odd placement. That oddity is part of what makes it memorable: Absol's card number one in a dragon-themed set is a coincidence the community noticed early.
The holo version carries a black-and-white reverse-galaxy holofoil treatment that has aged well. Raw near-mint copies move between $60 and $200 depending on condition and seller. The reverse-holo variant, which carries the same number, is a distinct target for completionists.
EX Holon Phantoms (2006) gave Absol another holo slot: card 18/110. It sees less attention than EX Dragon but completes the early-era picture for collectors building a full Absol binder.
The Diamond and Pearl years: a competitive moment
Absol SW (Stormfront, card 1/100) had a brief competitive window in 2008. Its Raid attack let players discard cards from the opponent's hand before the first turn even ended, making it a useful disruption opener in certain formats.
That meta role is gone, but it established Absol as a card that had actual competitive use rather than pure collector appeal. Collectors who care about the historical side of the game often chase this card for that reason.
The BW era produced Absol Prime from Triumphant (card 91/102, 2010). Prime cards occupy a specific place in Pokémon TCG history: they were the era's premium rarity tier before EX cards returned. Absol Prime has a clean dark-sky illustration, and raw copies currently list between $82 and $128.
The Mega Evolution era: a new silhouette
Mega Absol ex appeared in the Japanese Mega Evolution set (2015) and was later reprinted in the English Mega Evolution product line. The design shifted Absol's look dramatically: the white crescent horn extends and curves, framing what looks like a scythe formation around the head. It was distinctive enough to become the basis for the Pokémon Center's Mega Absol plush line, which persists as a collector item today.
The English Mega Absol ex card (086/132) was a Double Rare in the Mega Evolution set. It is accessible: raw copies of non-mint examples have sold below a dollar, while near-mint copies list around $5 to $11. The CGC-graded Pristine 10 of the Japanese special art variant commands around $200, showing the ceiling for the era when condition and grade are pushed.
The Mega Absol plush has been produced in several sizes and sold through multiple importers. The 10.5-inch Pokémon Center version lists between $55 and $75 from different US and Japan-import sellers. A used Pokémon Center-exclusive Absol Pokedoll (pre-Mega, small format) sits at the high end of the collectibles range at close to $945 for a sealed copy, reflecting how the older, limited plush lines appreciate over time.
Scarlet and Violet: the modern card
Absol ex appears in Obsidian Flames (SV03) as card 214/197, a secret rare illustration rare. The art shows Absol mid-movement against a dark backdrop with sharp ink-line detail that fits the current SV art direction. Raw copies of the standard ex version list from $3, while a PSA or CGC Gem Mint example can push into the $40 to $50 range.
One pattern worth noting across Absol's TCG history: it tends to appear in sets with a dark or supernatural theme. EX Dragon, Stormfront, Triumphant, Obsidian Flames. That is not accidental.
The Disaster Pokémon classification steers which set designers reach for it. Collectors who track Absol across eras often cite this thematic consistency as part of the appeal.
Figures and the Funko entry point
The figure side of Absol collecting is accessible.
The Takara Tomy Moncolle MS-46 Absol (2-inch standard format) lists at $4.99 to $11.99 depending on seller and condition. The Mega Absol Moncolle variant runs $13 to $35. Both are officially licensed and widely available through Japanese importers.
Funko POP #1090 is one of the cleaner Absol figure options: the sculpt captures the horn proportions without the usual Funko distortion issues that affect some Pokémon entries in the line. It lists around $12, making it a low-commitment starting point for the casual side of the collection.
The plush landscape in 2026
Three plush lines dominate the Absol market in 2026. The Pokémon Fit (small format, $17 from importers) is the most widely stocked, available through Pokémon Center Japan and authorized resellers.
The All Star Collection from San-ei ($36) offers a larger format with more detailed stitching. The Banpresto Color Selection variant ($45) uses a slightly off-white colorway that reads differently from the standard design.
The Mega Absol plush is the most consequential product in the line for serious collectors. Multiple Pokémon Center print runs exist, and distinguishing them by tag and color tone matters when buying secondhand.
New-in-tag copies from 2026 import sellers list between $55 and $75. Used copies vary widely depending on condition of the horn: the extended white crescent is the most vulnerable structural element.
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Where to start
The entry point depends on what appeals most.
For TCG collectors who want a meaningful first piece, the Obsidian Flames Absol ex at $3 raw gets you the current-era card without committing much. The EX Dragon holo at $60 is the category reference card and the one most collectors recognize immediately.
For merchandise collectors, the Pokémon Fit plush at $17 is the practical starting point: small, accurate to the design, and widely available without import uncertainty. The Mega Absol plush is the centrepiece for anyone who wants to commit.
Absol sits in a collector space that rewards patience. The EX Dragon holo has held a price floor for years because the print run was not enormous and the card number and era combination are genuinely unusual.
The Mega era cards are accessible now. Whether that changes over the next decade depends on how the XY era as a whole ages in the collector market, which is an open question for any card from that period.
Search for Absol cards, plush, and figures at DexHaul to see what independent shops have in stock right now across all eras and formats.