Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Overview
Bellossom is a Grass-type Pokémon card from the HeartGold & SoulSilver era, appearing in the Undaunted expansion. As a Stage 2 evolution of Gloom, Bellossom embodies the sun-loving floral motif that defines its line. The card features Rare Holo rarity and showcases Mitsuhiro Arita’s artwork, presenting Bellossom with a blossom-bright design that emphasizes its celebratory, dance-inspired nature. In gameplay terms, Bellossom offers a mix of bench utility through its Poke-Power Hustle Step and a high-variance attack, Dance ’til Dawn, which relies on coin flips to determine damage and imposes a self-inflicted Sleep condition. This combination creates a strategic profile characterized by risk-reward decision-making and the potential for strong late-game pressure when the coin outcomes align favorably.
The flavor text accompanying the card reads, “Bellossom gather at times and seem to dance. They say that the dance is a ritual to summon the sun.” This line reinforces the card’s thematic tie to sunlight and celebration, underscoring its place within the Grass-type lineage that centers on blossoming life and solar warmth. While the in-game mechanic details are the primary source of Bellossom’s utility, the flavor text helps situate the card within the broader lore of the Pokémon world, where Bellossom’s blooming is associated with seasonal transitions and sunny habitats.
Card Information
- Category: Pokémon
- Name: Bellossom
- HP: 110
- Type: Grass
- Stage: Stage 2
- Evolution: Gloom → Bellossom
- Dex: 182
- Rarity: Rare Holo
- Set: Undaunted (HGSS3)
- Illustrator: Mitsuhiro Arita
- Attacks: Dance ’til Dawn — costs Grass and Colorless; 30x damage; flip 3 coins; Bellossom is now Asleep
- Ability: Hustle Step (Poke-Power) — Once during your turn (before your attack), you may remove 1 damage counter from each of your Pokémon. This power can’t be used if Bellossom is affected by a Special Condition.
- Weakness: Fire ×2
- Resistance: Water −20
- Retreat: 1
- Flavor text: Bellossom gather at times and seem to dance. They say that the dance is a ritual to summon the sun.
- Legal formats: Standard: No; Expanded: No
Gameplay and Strategy
Bellossom occupies a nuanced role in its era’s gameplay environment. The Hustle Step Poke-Power provides a one-time per-turn means of removing a damage counter from each of your Pokémon before you attack, offering a compact, board-wide heal that can help offset incoming damage from an opponent’s attack or sustain your bench through a rough early game. This is particularly valuable for Grass-type decks that rely on a steady tempo and the ability to recover lost HP between turns.
The centerpiece attack, Dance ’til Dawn, is defined by three coin flips and a potential maximum of 90 damage (30 per head) at the cost of Bellossom becoming Sleep. The self-inflicted Sleep adds a significant risk element; players must weigh the immediate damage potential against the likelihood of Bellossom remaining inactive on subsequent turns. The randomness of coin flips makes the attack powerful when favorable outcomes occur, yet it can stall Bellossom’s tempo if Sleep persists across turns or if wake-up effects are unavailable in the deck.
Strategically, Bellossom benefits from supportive plays that mitigate the Sleep downside or accelerate recovery. Decks aiming to maintain board presence might incorporate healing and status-clear options, or use Bellossom in a hybrid approach where the timing of Hustle Step usage aligns with the opponent’s key threats. Additionally, Bellossom’s HP of 110 positions it as a fairly resilient option within its ecosystem, enabling it to endure multiple exchanges while the player leverages its healing ability to stabilize the board.
In terms of synergy, Bellossom pairs well with Grass-type Pokémon and Trainer cards that facilitate energy acceleration, healing, or late-game momentum. While its card text does not specify a direct energy acceleration mechanic, the combination of a robust HP pool and a healing Poke-Power supports boards that aim to weather early aggression and strike back with a high-damage, albeit probabilistic, payoff from Dance ’til Dawn.
Collector and Market Information
Rarity classification for this Bellossom card is Rare Holo, a designation that often translates to heightened collector interest, particularly among players who value hollow foils and set-specific variants. The Undaunted expansion (HGSS3) comprises 90 official cards with a total of 91 printed, situating Bellossom within a mid-sized print run and a relatively narrow window of availability as sets rotate in and out of standard legality in various formats.
The artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita contributes to its appeal, as Arita is renowned for shaping some of the most recognizable and enduring Pokémon card visuals. For collectors, the combination of a Stage 2 evolution, a Rare Holo foil, and a beloved sun-themed line elevates its desirability within a completed Undaunted collection or a Grass-type-themed subset.
Pricing snapshots provide a factual view of market values. Cardmarket (EUR) reports an average price around 2.06 EUR for non-holo copies, with holofoil variants averaging roughly 4.47 EUR. Low-end prices for non-holo copies are near 0.15 EUR, while holofoil copies can dip to about 0.20 EUR on the lower end. Trend indicators show positive movement, with recent trajectories around 1.96 for non-holo and 2.31 for holofoil cards. TCGPlayer (USD) data indicate holofoil pricing with a low around $1.00–$1.50 and a mid around $1.65, a high near $2.02, and reverse holofoil values ranging from approximately $1.89 to $10 in market examples, with a mid around $2.38. These figures reflect market activity as of late October 2025 and are subject to change with market demand, card condition, and print variations.
Regarding format legality, the card is listed as not legal in Standard or Expanded play under the provided data. This status reflects its historical release context within the Undaunted set and its status within current format rotation. Collectors and players should consult current official rulings or regional tournament guidelines for any updates or reprints that could affect legal play in future seasons.
Art and Lore
The Bellossom illustration in this release is by Mitsuhiro Arita, an artist whose portfolio includes many iconic Pokémon TCG artworks. The visual portrayal emphasizes Bellossom’s blooming, flower-laden form and its energetic, dance-inspired posture, aligning with the flavor text’s sun-summoning motif. Arita’s characteristic line work and color choices contribute to a vivid portrayal that captures the botanical elegance and celebratory spirit associated with Bellossom’s line. The artwork complements the card’s in-game theme of transformation from Gloom to a sun-drenched blossom, reinforcing the broader narrative of seasonal blooming and adaptation within the Grass-type family.
Beyond the image itself, Bellossom’s place in the broader Pokémon world centers on the idea of sunlight-driven evolution and the joy of blooming into a creature associated with warmth and vitality. The Undaunted era, represented by this card, is part of a transitional period in the TCG where expressive art and dynamic gameplay mechanics reflected evolving design philosophies while honoring classic lineage themes.
Trivia
- Bellossom is a Stage 2 evolution in the Gloom family, highlighting one of the later evolutions in the Grass-type line from the era.
- The Hustle Step Poke-Power provides a limited but potentially pivotal healing effect that can influence game tempo when used on the right turn.
- Dance ’til Dawn relies on three coin flips to determine damage, introducing a high-variance damage mechanic that can swing a match on favorable outcomes.
- The card’s illustrator, Mitsuhiro Arita, is a veteran artist whose work spans many foundational Pokémon TCG sets, contributing to the nostalgic appeal of this print.
- Undaunted (HGSS3) sits within the HeartGold & SoulSilver era, representing a period known for vibrant artwork and a robust mix of adversarial and defensive strategies in the TCG landscape.