2019 Pokemon Japanese SM Promo Extra Battle Day Full Art Lillie #397 PSA 10 GEM

A hidden hierarchy exists within the Pokémon community. The formulas transcend the laws of logic and sway between the lines of controversy and acceptance. Collectors, fans, and trading card game players have dubbed this complex phenomenon as the “Waifu Tax.” Fan-favorite Lillie falls into this category. Depicted in both the games and animated series as one of the main protagonists’ allies, Lillie has established herself as one of the most beloved characters in the Pokémon universe. Brought to life by legendary artist Naoki Saito, this Extra Battle Day example of Lillie’s card continues to rise through the ranks as one of the Pokémon community’s most coveted offerings. Extra Battle Day was a limited event held during October and November 2019. Players had to enter a lottery to participate in a tournament, and the winners earned a chance to win a chance of pulling this card. Tournament organizers ranked the participants on the parameters of the number of matches won, the difference between prize cards taken and the number of prize cards taken by their opponents, the number of prize cards taken over three matches, and head-to-head records from the event. Finally, players also competed in a game of rock-paper-scissors. The winner earned a rare booster pack that afforded them a chance to pull one of three Full Art cards, and collectors found Lillie’s card the hardest to obtain. More Extra Battle Day events were scheduled for February and March 2020, but the pandemic caused their cancellation. Between the uphill battle to pull this card and the sheer luck needed to participate in an Extra Battle Day event, this Full Art Lillie has high collector demand—especially when encapsulated with a PSA 10 assessment. And even as this example becomes available in this month’s Premier Auction, collectors will likely still have an uphill battle to acquire it as others descend upon the bidding. In the Pokémon series, Lillie helped save the galaxy with her trusty friends, Solgaleo and Lunala, and for collectors, one of the best partners for improving their collection has arrived in the form of this offering.