Entei in 2026: The Movie Promo, the Neo Holo, and Every Collector Entry Point
By Dexhaul Team · August 26, 2026
Entei is the only legendary beast with a starring film role, and that history shapes the entire collector market around it.
Entei is one of three legendary beasts from Johto, alongside Raikou and Suicune. While all three are collected, Entei occupies different cultural territory.
The 2001 film "Pokémon 3: The Movie" placed Entei at the center of the story, which tied a specific promotional card directly to the theatrical release. That card is still the first thing most collectors associate with Entei TCG collecting.
This guide walks through the full Entei catalogue: the WotC movie promo, the Neo Revelation holofoil, modern alternatives, plush, the Bandai model kit, and the Japanese grail at the top. All prices reflect live listings from independent shops.
The Card That Defined the Character
Most collectors first encounter Entei through a single card: WotC Black Star Promo #34.
This card was distributed with theatrical screenings of Pokémon 3: The Movie in the US in 2001, making it one of the few Pokémon TCG cards tied to a specific cinema release. The Wizards Black Star Promos series was a Wizards of the Coast exclusive run, and Entei's slot (#34 of 53) remains among the most recognized entries in the set.
Here is what the price range tells you. The same card runs $5.99 in played condition up to $30.24 for near-mint copies in the current catalogue. The reverse holofoil variant of the same promo print adds a shimmer layer and prices around $23.
Because these promos were handed out at movie theaters, they arrived in hands and pockets rather than protective sleeves. Near-mint copies are genuinely scarcer than they appear. The 5x spread between played and NM reflects how hard it is to find one stored properly from day one.
If you are building an Entei card collection from scratch, this promo is the natural starting point. It is the card with the strongest narrative connection to the character.
The Neo Holofoil: First Set Appearance
Neo Revelation (2001) introduced Entei to the main TCG sets as a holofoil rare at slot 6.
This was Entei's first appearance in a standard expansion. The unlimited holofoil print sits at $61.99 in the current catalogue.
Collectors who built sets during the Gen II era know this card as the natural companion to Raikou and Suicune from the same expansion. Completing the legendary beast trio from Neo Revelation is a defined goal for many collectors, and Entei is typically the most accessible of the three in terms of availability.
The artwork shows Entei leaping, with the volcano-orange energy field characteristic of its TCG art across eras. It is not a subtle card.
The Aquapolis set (2003) also has an Entei at slot 10/147, currently listed at $81.70. Aquapolis is a notoriously short-print E-Card era set with poor pack ratios, which explains why its cards price above the Neo holo despite arriving later.
For the deeper vintage track, Aquapolis is the next step. For the classic Gen II print, the Neo holo is the call.
Modern Singles Worth Knowing
Two modern cards give Entei strong full-art treatments without touching vintage pricing.
Entei V from Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery subset (GG36/GG70) is the better of the two from a pure artwork standpoint. The full-art illustration runs $43.50 at current listings. Crown Zenith was released in January 2023 and closed out the Sword and Shield era; the Galarian Gallery subset pulled together some of the strongest alternate-art cards from that full era.
Shining Legends (2017) produced an Entei GX at slot 074, as a Secret Rare, currently at $44.00. Shining Legends was a mini-set with a specific focus on Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. The Secret Rare treatment on this print has held value reasonably well for a non-Pikachu, non-Charizard card from that era.
At $43.50 and $44.00 respectively, these two modern cards sit in a useful middle ground: strong artwork, no vintage fragility, and no five-figure price risk.
Plush: Two Options, One Character
Entei plush options are narrow compared to Pikachu or Eevee, but both available lines are high quality Japanese imports.
The Kimi Ni Kimeta plush (shown in the hero image) comes from Joe's Japan Plushies at $48. The name references an iconic phrase from the Pokémon franchise, and the plush captures Entei's flowing cream mane in soft fabric. It is the more expressive of the two options in terms of face sculpt.
The Sanei plush at $42.99 is from a different Japanese manufacturer and produces a slightly more amber-toned version of the character. Both are officially licensed. The $5 price difference is negligible: choose based on which face sculpt you prefer in person.
The Model Kit: Lowest Entry Point in the Range
Bandai Spirits' Pokémon Plastic Model Collection No. 11 is an Entei pre-colored assembly kit, available at $13.55.
No glue is required, and the pre-coloring means no painting step. The result is a poseable Entei figure you build yourself, which is a different kind of engagement than purchasing a finished plush or graded card. For collectors who prefer process, or who want a desk figure without committing to plush pricing, this is the clearest option in the catalogue.
At $13.55 it sits well below any of the TCG singles or plush in this guide. If you are new to Entei collecting and want to start with something tactile and low-stakes, this is where most people should begin.
The Japanese Grail
One listing in the current catalogue stands apart from every other Entei item: the Japanese Neo Expansion Pack 3 "Old Back" card at $1,753.49.
The Old Back designation refers to the Japanese card back design used in the earliest Pokémon expansion sets before the back was standardized. This specific card predates the Western Neo Revelation release and carries the original Japanese Neo3 numbering (#244).
Copies in this condition are grail items for completionists who collect by country of origin and print run. The format is small, the printing is sharp, and there is effectively no entry-level version of this card.
For most collectors building an Entei focus, the Neo Revelation unlimited holo at $61.99 is the practical sweet spot. The Old Back exists to document that the top of this market is real, not hypothetical, and that Entei's collector ceiling is considerably higher than its floor.
Where Entei Fits in Your Collection
The Entei market in 2026 is well-structured. Every budget tier has a real option.
- Under $15: the Bandai Model kit
- Under $30: the WotC movie promo in played condition
- Under $50: the Neo Revelation holofoil, Crown Zenith Entei V or GX Secret Rare, and both plush
- Over $80: the Aquapolis holo
- At $1,753: the Japanese Old Back, documented grail
The film connection gives Entei collecting a narrative hook that Raikou and Suicune lack. Most people who pick up the WotC promo understand why they are picking up that specific card, not just the cheapest Entei available. That context makes the collection more than a set-completion exercise.
Browse the full range of Entei cards, plush, and figures from independent shops at DexHaul's Entei search. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, or any of the merchants listed.