Everyone raving about Pokemon TCG Pocket’s latest Pulsing Aura booster pack is focused on the flashy new Lucario ex or the mission changes, but they are missing the real star of the April 27 update. The true headline is the glorious, controversial return of ‘Hole Bonsly,’ a card so notoriously memed by the physical TCG community that its arrival in digital form is a masterclass in fan service and trolling. This isn’t just another card addition; it’s the revival of a 16-year-old inside joke, now re-engineered with a surprisingly viable battle move called Teary Attack.
The Legend of Hole Bonsly and Its 16-Year Curse
The Bonsly card making waves in Pocket is a direct descendant of a quirky piece of Pokemon TCG history. Introduced in the fourth generation of games, Bonsly’s design has always featured a cavity at its base, mimicking the drainage holes of real bonsai pots. Illustrator Midori Harada’s take for the original card, Bonsly #71, famously positioned the toppled, crying Pokemon so that this “hole” became the undeniable focal point. The fandom instantly dubbed it ‘Hole Bonsly,’ and the card became a cult collector’s item for its unintentionally humorous anatomy.
What cemented its legend was the astonishing drought that followed. The Pokemon Company did not release a new Bonsly card for 16 consecutive years, making the original hole-centric artwork the sole representation for over a decade and a half. This streak was only broken in 2023 with a new physical card, but the legacy was already set in stone. For the digital Pulsing Aura set to deliberately revive this specific, meme-worthy artwork is a brilliant nod to the game’s entrenched fanbase, proving Pokemon TCG Pocket understands its community’s history and humor.
Teary Attack: From Meme to Meta Viability
This digital Hole Bonsly is far more than a visual gag, however. The developers have equipped it with a single, clever move that could see it slot into competitive decks. Teary Attack deals a modest 10 damage, but its secondary effect is the real prize: it reduces damage dealt by the opponent’s defending Pokemon by 30. This creates a disruptive tempo play, allowing a player to soften up a threat or protect a more valuable Pokemon setting up on the bench.
As analysts have noted, this utility makes Bonsly a solid tech card for Fighting-type decks seeking additional stall options or for any strategy built around buying time. While it won’t be a central attacker, its ability to strategically blunt an opponent’s assault gives it a niche role. The move transforms Bonsly from a pure joke into a card with legitimate strategic value, a design choice that rewards players who look beyond the surface-level meme.
A Rare Illustration Reward for the Discerning Collector
For collectors and players who prefer their cards aesthetically pristine, the Pulsing Aura set hasn’t forgotten them. Alongside the infamous common Hole Bonsly, the update includes a rare, full-art Illustration Rare version of Bonsly. This card features genuinely beautiful artwork, a stark and intentional contrast to the meme-worthy common version. This duality is a smart move by the Pocket team, catering to both the segment of the audience that appreciates high-end digital art and the segment that lives for the community’s shared jokes.
This dual offering encapsulates modern collectible culture. Players can chase the prestigious, visually stunning rare card for their showcase, while also having immediate access to the historically funny version for their active deck and social media posts. It’s a win-win that acknowledges the multiple ways players engage with a digital TCG—as a competitive game, an art collection, and a social platform.
The inclusion of Hole Bonsly in Pokemon TCG Pocket is a perfect example of how a digital platform can leverage deep community lore. It demonstrates a confident, self-aware design philosophy that values levity alongside competition. While players open packs hoping for the powerful Mega Lucario ex, many will find greater joy in pulling a piece of living history, now equipped to actually contribute to a win. The hole has been filled, not with another 16 years of silence, but with strategic potential and a knowing wink to the fans who never forgot.
