Digital Vault Wiki

Dialga DP1-1 card art from Diamond & Pearl (high resolution)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Dialga is a basic Metal-type Pokémon card from the Diamond & Pearl era, released as part of the dp1 set within the Pokémon Trading Card Game catalog. Classified as Rare Holo, this variant carries the distinctive holographic treatment that highlights the legendary creature’s metallic body and regal presence. In the card's original release, Dialga is presented as a straightforward, no-evolution staple for its era, offering a blend of card-drawing utility and a disruptive attack that interacts with an opponent’s active Pokémon. As a foundational element of the Diamond & Pearl wave, this Dialga frequently appears in discussions of early-2000s TCG strategy, collectible presentation, and print variation history.

The card showcases the twin facets of Dialga’s theme in the TCG: resource acceleration via card draw and battlefield control through a decisive tempo swing. The design reflects the era’s emphasis on straightforward mechanics paired with occasional strategic complications, such as altering an opponent’s evolution line. While not a modern-legal card in standard or expanded formats, dp1-1 remains a notable artifact from the Diamond & Pearl collection for both gameplay reminiscence and collector interest.

Card Information

Name: Dialga
Dex Id: 483
Set: Diamond & Pearl (dp1)
Card Number: dp1-1
Rarity: Rare Holo
Type: Metal
HP: 90
Stage: Basic
Attacks:

Time Bellow — Metal mana cost; deals 10 damage. Effect: Draw a card.
Flash Cannon — Metal, Metal, Colorless mana cost; deals 40 damage. Effect: You may return all Energy cards attached to Dialga to your hand. If you do, remove the highest Stage Evolution card from the Defending Pokémon and shuffle that card into your opponent's deck.

Weakness: Fire (+20)
Resistance: Psychic (−20)
Retreat Cost: 2
Illustrator: Nakaoka
Evolutionary Line: None (Basic)
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse (First Edition: False)
Availability: Printings span holo, normal, and reverse variants within dp1; not legal in Standard or Expanded formats as of 2025

Gameplay and Strategy

In its era, Dialga’s card combined a low-commitment draw engine with a disruptive late-attack option. Time Bellow provides a reliable, low-cost means to cycle through your deck, aiding setup for future turns or reloading key resources after a favorably timed Flash Cannon. The 10-damage, energy-neutral draw helps smooth out early turns, especially in decks aiming to accelerate through the early game while keeping options open for midgame pressure.

Flash Cannon, the more impactful attack, serves a dual purpose. First, it provides a straightforward 40 damage threat. Second, and more uniquely, its effect can disrupt an opponent’s development by returning all Energy attached to Dialga to your hand and then removing the highest Stage Evolution from the Defending Pokémon, shuffling that card into the opponent’s deck. This is a potent form of tempo disruption, potentially forcing a player to delay their evolution progress or disrupt a planned power-up sequence. The requirement to move all Energy from Dialga introduces a strategic trade-off between immediate offensive potential and long-term resource management.

From a tactical perspective, Dialga works best in a deck that can leverage both card draw and disruption without over-reliance on a single engine. Potential synergies include: - Energy recycling strategies that minimize the penalty of returning Energy to hand, enabling continued pressure in subsequent turns. - Defensive plans that protect Dialga while allowing the disruption effect to influence the opponent’s reliance on higher-stage evolutions. - Support from other Metal-type Pokémon and trainers that can encourage tempo swings or provide additional draw or energy acceleration. However, the card’s vulnerability to Fire-types, combined with its relatively modest HP and a retreat cost of 2, means it benefits from efficient protection and cost-efficient attackers in the same deck archetype.

In modern play environments, dp1-1 is not legal in Standard or Expanded formats. For historical analysis, it remains a reference point for discussing how early trainers balanced draw power against battlefield disruption and how holofoil prints affected pricing and collectability during the Diamond & Pearl era.

Collector and Market Information

The dial of rarity and collectability for dp1-1 reflects its status as a Rare Holo in the Diamond & Pearl set. The dp1 collection was a 130-card expansion, and Dialga’s dp1-1 position as a holo-foil print contributed to sustained interest among collectors and completionists seeking holo variations from early 2000s era sets. The holo treatment generally commands a modest premium relative to non-holo prints, influenced by availability, condition, and market demand across multiple marketplaces.

Pricing data from major market trackers provides a snapshot of market values across both holo and non-holo formats, illustrating the variability common to older, non-rotating sets:

— Overall average price around 3.52 EUR for non-holo copies, with holo variants averaging approximately 2.17 EUR for holo copies on typical listings; observed price trends show modest fluctuations with occasional spikes based on supply and collector interest. Specific metrics include a 1-day to 30-day horizon showing averages around 3.00–3.90 EUR for non-holo and 3.14–3.58 EUR for holo variants, depending on listing quality and condition.
TCGPlayer (USD) — Holofoil copies show a broader price spectrum, with low prices near 3.89 USD, mid-values near 9.99 USD, and highs approaching 18.50 USD for standard holo printings. Market price reports for holo copies average in the mid-to-high teens, reflecting collector demand for holo Diamond & Pearl era cards. Reverse-holo copies can be more variable, with low prices around 6.32 USD and mid-to-high values surging into the 30–217 USD range in peak markets, driven by rarity and print condition.

These data points illustrate typical market behavior for older holo cards: price sensitivity to condition, the presence of multiple print variants (normal, holo, reverse), and the enduring interest in Diamond & Pearl era staples. For collectors, condition, centering, and clear holo surfaces significantly influence value, with holo versions usually attracting greater attention than non-holo equivalents.

Art and Lore

The card’s illustration is credited to Nakaoka, an artist who contributed to several Diamond & Pearl era cards. The artwork emphasizes Dialga’s metallic form with a stark, chrome-like sheen befitting its control over time and steel-like endurance. In the broader Pokémon world, Dialga embodies temporal regulatory power, a concept that resonates with the era’s fascination with legendary and pseudo-legendary figures whose presence shapes ecosystems and histories. While the Pokémon TCG card itself focuses on gameplay simplicity for this particular print run, the art reflects the character’s mythic aura—an aura that has contributed to the legend’s lasting appeal among fans and collectors alike.

Trivia

Dialga dp1-1 is part of the Diamond & Pearl expansion, which introduced the Sinnoh region’s legendary trio and a new era of game mechanics and card design.
The card’s two attacks—Time Bellow and Flash Cannon—offer a blend of card draw and strategic disruption, a hallmark of early metallic-type cards in this era.
Notable printings include normal, holo, and reverse variations, with the first edition marking not present for this specific DP1 print in most listings.
Despite its rarity designation as Rare Holo, market values for holo copies can vary widely by condition and listing, reflecting the broader trends in vintage Pokémon card markets.
Dialga’s status as a basic Pokémon in this dp1 printing means it does not require any prior evolutionary stage to be played, aligning with the era’s design philosophy of accessible starter options in core sets.

📘 Dialga — Pokémon TCG