The $500 Stylus: Why The 2005 Nintendo DS Mew Stylus Is The Rarest And Most Controversial Pokémon Accessory

As of December 2025, the world of retro gaming collectibles continues to see massive price surges, but few items hold the same bizarre cultural significance and value as the infamous 2005 Nintendo DS Mew Stylus. This tiny, seemingly insignificant piece of plastic is not just a rare accessory; it is a legendary piece of 'crappy design' internet lore that has driven its price into the stratosphere for dedicated Pokémon collectors and meme enthusiasts alike. Its story is a perfect blend of limited availability, Japanese exclusivity, and a design flaw so outrageous it became an instant classic.

Released nearly two decades ago, the stylus is intrinsically linked to the early days of the Nintendo DS Phat and the burgeoning global phenomenon of Pokémon merchandise. While most DS styluses are generic, the Mew version stands out as a unique, highly sought-after, and often missing component of one of the rarest handheld bundles ever released by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. Understanding its value requires diving deep into its controversial design and its exclusive distribution history.

The Infamous Design and Controversial 2005 Japan Release

The core of the 2005 Mew Stylus’s notoriety lies entirely in its physical appearance. The accessory was designed to feature the mythical Pokémon Mew, a fan favorite known for its playful and adorable characteristics.

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However, the execution was, by all accounts, highly unfortunate. The stylus features a small, plastic figurine of Mew attached to the top, which appears to be in a squatting or seated position.

When inserted into the stylus slot of the original Nintendo DS console, the placement of Mew’s head and body creates an optical illusion that led to it being widely ridiculed and shared across early internet forums and social media.

The design quickly earned the accessory the unofficial title of the 'controversial' or 'disturbing' Mew stylus, with many collectors and commentators suggesting it was one of the most universally despised pieces of official Pokémon merchandise ever released.

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• Release Date: 2005 (Specific date unconfirmed, but tied to the Mew Edition DS launch).
• Region: Exclusively released in Japan.
• Initial Intent: To celebrate the release of the Mew Edition Nintendo DS console and the associated Pokémon movie promotion.
• Collector Status: A prized item due to its 'crappy design' meme status and extreme scarcity.

The Scarcity: Mew Edition DS and Pokémon Center Exclusivity

The primary reason for the Mew Stylus's astronomical value is its direct link to an ultra-rare console: the Mew Edition Nintendo DS.

This console was a Pokémon Center limited product, meaning it was only available for purchase at official Pokémon Center retail locations in Japan.

The console itself featured a distinct pink color and a silhouette of the Pokémon Mew, making it a highly desirable collector's item in its own right.

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The Mew Stylus was either bundled exclusively with this limited-edition console or sold as a very limited promotional item alongside it.

Because the console was already a limited-run item, the accompanying stylus is exponentially rarer.

Over the years, many of the Mew Edition DS consoles have been resold, but the small, easily misplaced stylus is often missing, lost, or replaced with a generic stylus. This makes finding a complete-in-box (CIB) console with the original Mew Stylus a monumental task for collectors.

Why Collectors Are Paying a Premium for a Piece of Internet History

The value of the 2005 Mew Stylus is driven by a perfect storm of factors: extreme rarity, the infamous controversy, and the general explosive growth in retro Pokémon and Nintendo collectibles.

While an exact, sealed sale price for the stylus alone is difficult to pin down (due to its infrequency on the market), its value can be inferred by the price of the console it came with. A New-in-Box (NIB) Mew Edition Nintendo DS console has recently been listed and sold for well over $1,000 USD.

As a key, non-replaceable component of that highly-valued bundle, the stylus itself is estimated to command hundreds of dollars if sold separately in mint condition, making it one of the most expensive handheld gaming accessories of its time.

Topical Authority: The Ecosystem of Rare Pokémon DS Accessories

The Mew Stylus is part of a broader, highly collectible ecosystem of Nintendo DS Pokémon accessories and Limited Edition Consoles that command high prices on the secondary market. Its value is often compared to other rare, Japan-exclusive items from the same era, bolstering its topical authority among collectors:

• PokéPark Limited Blue DS: Released in 2005, this console is also an extremely rare Pokémon Center exclusive, with sealed copies fetching prices near $2,800 USD.
• Charizard Edition 3DS LL: A later, but equally rare Pokémon Center exclusive, often selling for thousands of dollars, demonstrating the consistent demand for dragon-type and starter-themed accessories.
• Pikachu Edition 3DS XL: Another sought-after handheld, proving that the Pikachu brand carries massive weight in the collectible market.
• Gengar Stylus/Charm: While not as infamous as the Mew version, other Pokémon like Gengar have dedicated accessories that are also highly sought after by collectors looking to complete their sets of Original Nintendo DS Accessories.
• Pokémon White Version 2: Even the associated games, like Pokémon White Version 2, retain high value, showcasing the strength of the Generation III and IV era merchandise.

The enduring appeal of the Mew Stylus is a testament to how an accidental design controversy can elevate a simple piece of plastic into a legendary, must-have collectible. It’s a perfect storm of Japan-exclusive distribution, the high demand for Mew merchandise, and the internet's love for a truly bizarre product. For those seeking to complete their Nintendo DS Phat collection, acquiring this tiny, controversial accessory remains the ultimate, and often most expensive, hurdle.