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CARD INFORMATION

  • SUBTYPES:
    • Stage 2
  • HP: 130
  • TYPES:
    • Psychic
  • EVOLVES FROM: Team Rocket's Dottler
  • WEAKNESSES:
    • TYPE: Darkness
    • VALUE: ×2
  • RESISTANCES:
    • TYPE: Fighting
    • VALUE: -30
  • RETREATCOST:
    • Colorless
    • Colorless
  • RETREAT COST: 2
  • RARITY: Illustration Rare
  • FLAVOR TEXT: It emits psychic energy to observe and study what's around it—and what's around it can include things over six miles away.
  • REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

  • NAME: Rocket Brain
  • DETAILS: As often as you like during your turn, you may move 1 damage counter from 1 of your Team Rocket's Pokémon to another of your Pokémon.
  • TYPE: Ability

CARD ATTACKS

  • NAME: Psychic
  • COST:
    • Psychic
    • Colorless
    • Colorless
  • ENERGY COST: 3
  • DAMAGE: 40+
  • DETAILS: This attack does 40 more damage for each Energy attached to your opponent's Active Pokémon.

MARKET PRICES FOR TEAM ROCKET'S ORBEETLE 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11
HIGH

9999.00

USD
MID

3.72

USDTREND
LOW

2.37

USD

Check the latest prices on:
Tcgplayer
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Pokechange
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Team Rocket's Orbeetle emerges as a strategic damage manipulator in the current meta.

This Psychic-type Stage 2 Pokémon combines a powerful ability with a potentially devastating attack that scales with your opponent's energy commitment, making it a thoughtful addition to Team Rocket-themed builds and beyond.




Offensive Score Image Offensive rating: 7/10

Team Rocket's Orbeetle's Psychic attack starts with a modest 40 base damage for three energy, but the scaling potential is where it shines.

The attack adds 40 more damage for each energy on the opponent's active Pokémon, potentially reaching 160+ damage against energy-heavy attackers.

This punishes opponents who overcommit resources and creates interesting counterplay opportunities.

The damage calculation becomes particularly effective against Pokémon VMAX or similar cards that often require 3-4 energy attachments, where Orbeetle can potentially one-shot them for just three energy.

However, against low-energy attackers or decks using special energy acceleration, its offensive output can be significantly reduced.




Survival Score Image Survival rating: 6/10

With 130 HP, Team Rocket's Orbeetle sits at a moderate survival threshold for a Stage 2 Pokémon.

Its Fighting resistance (-30) provides valuable protection against popular Fighting-type attackers, potentially allowing it to survive hits that would otherwise knock it out.

However, its Darkness weakness (×2) is problematic in the current meta where Dark-type attackers are prevalent.

The Rocket Brain ability indirectly contributes to survival by allowing you to redistribute damage counters from your Team Rocket's Pokémon to less valuable Pokémon on your bench, essentially giving your key attackers a form of pseudo-healing.

The two-energy retreat cost is manageable but still requires planning for efficient board management.




Versatility Score Image Versatility rating: 7/10

Team Rocket's Orbeetle offers considerable versatility through its Rocket Brain ability, functioning as both a damage manipulator and potential attacker.

The ability to move damage counters as often as you like during your turn creates strategic depth, allowing you to protect key Pokémon while setting up others for knockout.

This damage redistribution synergizes with cards that benefit from damage placement or removal.

However, its versatility is somewhat constrained by the Team Rocket's requirement in its ability, limiting its application to specific deck archetypes.

The scaling attack provides matchup flexibility, performing better against energy-heavy opponents while struggling against conservative energy strategies or decks featuring Special Energy acceleration.




setup Score Image Speed/Setup rating: 5/10

As a Stage 2 Pokémon, Team Rocket's Orbeetle faces significant setup challenges.

You'll need to evolve through Team Rocket's Dottler from a basic Pokémon, requiring at least two turns under normal circumstances.

This evolution chain demands deck space for all three stages plus potential search cards.

The three-energy attack cost further slows its battle readiness, typically requiring multiple turns of energy attachment unless acceleration support is available.

Its Rocket Brain ability becomes active immediately upon evolution, providing utility even before attacking.

Evolution acceleration cards like Rare Candy can help bypass the Stage 1 requirement, but you'll still need to dedicate significant resources to consistently get Orbeetle into play early enough to make an impact.




Team Rocket's Orbeetle thrives in a deck focused on damage manipulation and Team Rocket's Pokémon synergy.

Cards that facilitate quick evolution, accelerate energy attachment, or benefit from strategic damage placement create the optimal environment for Orbeetle to reach its full potential in competitive play.

Perfect Partners examples:

Accelerates Orbeetle's setup by evolving directly from the Basic Pokémon to Stage 2, bypassing Team Rocket's Dottler entirely. This significantly improves Orbeetle's speed issue and helps get its Rocket Brain ability online faster.

A Team Rocket's Basic Pokémon that benefits from Orbeetle's ability to redirect damage, creating a synergistic damage manipulation engine. Its attacks can gain additional effects based on damage counters, making the redistribution mechanic valuable.

Cards like Raihan or Melony help address Orbeetle's three-energy attack requirement, allowing it to power up more quickly and become battle-ready in fewer turns while maintaining board presence through its ability.




Team Rocket's Orbeetle carves out a niche as a tactical damage manipulator with scaling offensive potential.

Its greatest strength lies in the Rocket Brain ability, offering unlimited damage counter movement to protect key Pokémon and set up strategic plays.

While its Psychic attack can deliver impressive damage against energy-heavy opponents, the three-energy cost and Stage 2 evolution line create notable tempo challenges.

Success with Orbeetle demands thoughtful deck construction, focusing on evolution acceleration, energy attachment, and Team Rocket's Pokémon synergies.

In the right build, Orbeetle serves as both a utility engine and potential closer, rewarding players who can navigate its setup requirements and maximize its damage manipulation capabilities.

Consider it for Team Rocket themed decks where its ability to redistribute damage creates powerful tactical options that skilled players can leverage for competitive advantage.



POWER INDEX

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