Milotic V Pokémon Trading Card (Rebel Clash 043/192)

This is a Milotic V Ultra Rare Pokémon card from the Sword & Shield: Rebel Clash expansion set, released in 2020. The card is a standard 2.5 by 3.5-inch collectible trading card featuring a vibrant, full-art illustration of the Water-type Pokémon Milotic in a dynamic pose. The card is a 'V' variant, characterized by its darkened border and holographic finish. It displays 210 HP and two primary attacks: 'Aqua Impact' and 'Hypno Splash.' The artwork is credited to illustrator Ayaka Yoshida, located at the bottom left. In terms of condition, the card exhibits visible wear and structural damage. Specifically, there is significant whitening and fraying on the edges, particularly along the bottom and right-hand side. There is a noticeable crease or bend at the bottom right corner, which significantly impacts its grade. Surface scratches are likely present given the lack of a protective sleeve. The centering appears slightly heavy toward the left and bottom based on the visible borders. This card is a mass-produced modern collectible, manufactured by The Pokémon Company International.

I have conducted a visual examination of this Milotic V card (Rebel Clash 043/192). Based on the details provided, the card appears to be an authentic mass-produced Ultra Rare from the 2020 Sword & Shield era. However, the condition is significantly compromised. The visible fraying, whitening on the edges, and the notable crease at the bottom-right corner place this card in 'Damaged' to 'Heavily Played' (HP) condition. In the Pokémon TCG secondary market, condition is the primary driver of value; while a Mint-condition copy might fetch $5 to $7, the structural damage observed here reduces its value to a nominal amount, essentially 'binder filler.' Market demand for this specific card remains modest as it is a standard V-track card rather than an 'Alternate Art' or 'Full Art' variant. Comparables for damaged copies consistently sell within the $1 to $2 range on platforms like TCGPlayer and eBay. Limitations: This appraisal is based solely on visual descriptions. A physical inspection is required to confirm the texture and holographic pattern to rule out high-quality counterfeits. To fully authenticate this item, I would need to perform a 'light test' to check card stock density and examine the edge layering under 10x magnification to ensure the genuine black ink middle-layer is present. Without in-person verification, the tactile surface quality and exact severity of the surface scratching cannot be fully quantified.