CARD INFORMATION

SUBTYPES:
- Basic
HP: 90
TYPES:
- Water
WEAKNESSES:
- TYPE: Lightning
- VALUE: ×2
RETREATCOST:
- Colorless
RETREAT COST: 1
RARITY: Common
FLAVOR TEXT: Red and blue Basculin get along so poorly, they'll start fighting instantly. These Pokémon are very hostile.
REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

NAME: Bite
COST:
- Colorless
ENERGY COST: 1
DAMAGE: 10
DETAILS:

NAME: Bared Fangs
COST:
- Water
ENERGY COST: 1
DAMAGE: 50
DETAILS: If your opponent's Active Pokémon has no damage counters on it before this attack does damage, this attack does nothing.

MARKET PRICES FOR BASCULIN 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11

HIGH	4.99	USD
MID	0.07	USD	TREND
LOW	0.01	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Basculin from White Flare set brings its aggressive nature straight from the Pokédex to your deck.

This Water-type Basic Pokémon combines straightforward attacks with a conditional damage mechanic that rewards strategic play.

While it might not be a headline-grabbing powerhouse, its specific niche and low energy requirements deserve a closer examination for budget-conscious players.

Offensive rating: 4/10

Basculin's offensive capabilities are defined by its two attacks.

Bite deals a mere 10 damage for one Colorless energy, making it essentially a filler attack with minimal impact.

The real potential lies in Bared Fangs, which delivers 50 damage for just one Water energy - an impressive damage-to-energy ratio.

However, this attack comes with a significant restriction: it only works against Pokémon that already have damage counters on them.

This conditional mechanism severely limits Basculin's effectiveness as a primary attacker and forces it into a clean-up role.

Without supporting cards to place initial damage, Basculin can find itself completely neutered offensively against fresh Pokémon.

Survival rating: 3/10

With 90 HP, Basculin falls into the lower range for Basic Pokémon, making it vulnerable to being knocked out in a single attack by many meta-relevant cards.

Its Lightning weakness is particularly problematic in formats where Electric types see regular play.

The single retreat cost is manageable and represents one of Basculin's few defensive advantages, allowing for relatively easy switching when threatened.

Basculin lacks any inherent defensive abilities or effects that might mitigate damage or prevent attacks.

Without HP-boosting tools or protective effects from other cards, Basculin will rarely survive more than a single turn against established attackers in the current competitive landscape.

Versatility rating: 3/10

Basculin's versatility is severely constrained by its conditional attack mechanism.

It excels only in very specific scenarios - namely, when facing already-damaged Pokémon.

This makes it potentially useful as a secondary attacker or bench-sitter that can be brought up to finish off weakened opponents.

In Water-type decks, it might serve as an emergency attacker with minimal energy investment.

However, its inability to initiate damage against fresh targets significantly limits its role flexibility.

Basculin struggles to adapt to various matchups since its effectiveness depends entirely on whether opponents have damage counters placed on them, rather than on the specific Pokémon type or strategy being faced.

Speed/Setup rating: 7/10

Basculin's setup speed is one of its few redeeming qualities.

As a Basic Pokémon, it hits the field immediately without evolution requirements.

Its primary attack needs just a single Water energy, meaning it can be attacking as early as turn one with the right draw.

This minimal energy requirement makes Basculin relatively consistent in terms of setup.

However, its true effectiveness depends on having support cards in place that can place initial damage counters on opponent Pokémon.

Without this setup, Basculin's Bared Fangs attack becomes useless.

This dependency on supplementary damage placement creates an indirect setup requirement that significantly reduces its otherwise excellent speed rating.

Basculin demands teammates that can place damage counters strategically or deal initial damage before it can clean up.

Cards that spread damage across the opponent's field or place precise damage counters through abilities create the perfect setup for Basculin's conditional attack to shine in follow-up plays.

Perfect Partners examples:

Inteleon (Shining Fates)

Its Quick Shooting ability places 2 damage counters when played from hand, perfectly setting up Basculin's Bared Fangs attack against fresh Pokémon, creating an efficient damage sequence.

Galarian Zigzagoon (Sword & Shield)

When played from hand, its Headbutt Tantrum ability places 1 damage counter on an opponent's Pokémon, enabling Basculin's conditional attack and requiring minimal deck space for this utility.

Radiant Greninja

Its Concealed Cards ability places damage counters based on prize cards taken, providing consistent damage placement throughout the match while Basculin waits on the bench for cleanup opportunities.

Basculin occupies a challenging position in the current TCG landscape.

Its conditional attack mechanism creates significant limitations that prevent it from functioning as a standalone attacker.

To extract value from this card, players must build around its peculiar damage requirement, using supporting Pokémon that can place initial damage counters strategically.

In budget Water decks or specific damage-counter focused strategies, Basculin might find a role as a bench Pokémon that can be promoted to deliver surprising knockout blows against weakened targets.

The card's greatest strengths are its minimal energy requirements and immediate playability, but these advantages are overshadowed by its conditional damage output and fragile defensive profile.

Players interested in Basculin should view it as a specialized tool rather than a deck centerpiece - one that can occasionally deliver efficient knockouts, but only within a carefully constructed ecosystem of damage-placing companions.