CARD INFORMATION

SUBTYPES:
- Basic
HP: 60
TYPES:
- Fire
EVOLVES TO:
- Combusken
WEAKNESSES:
- TYPE: Water
- VALUE: ×2
RETREATCOST:
- Colorless
RETREAT COST: 1
RARITY: Common
FLAVOR TEXT: In its belly, it has a sac filled with burning fire, meaning that Torchic feels as warm as a hot-water bottle if you hug it.
REGULATIONMARK: H

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

NAME: Scratch
COST:
- Fire
- Colorless
ENERGY COST: 2
DAMAGE: 30
DETAILS:

MARKET PRICES FOR TORCHIC 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11

HIGH	4.99	USD
MID	0.09	USD	TREND
LOW	0.01	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Torchic (sv9-22) enters the TCG landscape as a basic Fire-type with modest stats but significant evolutionary potential.

This adorable starter Pokémon might seem underwhelming at first glance, but its true value lies in what it can become rather than what it currently is.

Let's examine how this fiery chick measures up in the competitive arena.

Offensive rating: 2/10

Torchic's offensive capabilities are extremely limited with just a single attack option.

Scratch requires two energy (one Fire, one Colorless) to deal a mere 30 damage.

This damage output is inefficient by modern standards, offering just 15 damage per energy invested with no additional effects or bonuses.

There's no ability to bypass defenses, no status conditions, and no synergy with other cards in its base form.

As a standalone attacker, Torchic simply can't compete with the power level of today's meta.

Even in the early game, this attack will rarely secure meaningful knockouts against anything but the weakest Pokémon.

Survival rating: 3/10

With just 60 HP, Torchic is extremely fragile by modern standards.

It will fall to most attacks from established attackers, often resulting in easy prize card opportunities for opponents.

Its Water weakness is particularly problematic in a meta where Water-type attackers are common, making it vulnerable to one-hit knockouts from even modest Water attacks.

The single retreat cost is the one small bright spot in Torchic's survival profile, allowing for reasonable mobility if you need to switch to a different attacker.

However, this marginal benefit doesn't compensate for its glaring durability issues, making Torchic a liability that will rarely survive beyond the turn it's played.

Versatility rating: 3/10

Torchic's versatility stems almost entirely from its evolutionary potential rather than its own merits.

As a Basic Pokémon that evolves into Combusken (and eventually Blaziken), it serves as the essential foundation for a potentially powerful evolution line.

However, as a standalone card, its versatility is severely limited.

It can't fill multiple roles, doesn't counter any specific meta threats, and lacks any utility abilities or effects.

The card's only flexibility comes from its single Colorless energy requirement, allowing it to fit into any deck that can provide Fire energy.

But given its poor stats and minimal impact, Torchic is essentially a one-dimensional card waiting to evolve.

Speed/Setup rating: 5/10

Torchic earns slightly higher marks for setup speed simply because, as a Basic Pokémon, it can be played immediately.

There's no prerequisite for getting it onto the field, and its single attack requires just two energy attachments to use.

Additionally, as a Fire-type Pokémon, it can benefit from energy acceleration effects common to the type.

However, the card lacks any built-in mechanism to accelerate its own development or aid consistency.

When used as intended (as evolution fodder), Torchic requires subsequent turns to reach its evolved forms, slowing down its overall strategy.

The card doesn't offer any intrinsic search capabilities or setup advantages beyond being a Basic Pokémon.

Torchic truly shines when paired with its evolutionary line and support cards that accelerate its development.

Energy acceleration, evolution support, and protective items form the backbone of any successful Torchic-based strategy, compensating for its inherent weaknesses while fast-tracking it to more powerful forms.

Perfect Partners examples:

Rare Candy

Bypasses Combusken to evolve directly into Blaziken, accelerating the evolution line and helping overcome Torchic's inherent weaknesses faster. This speed boost is critical for minimizing the vulnerability window where Torchic is exposed.

Magma Basin

This Stadium card allows you to attach an extra Fire energy to your Pokémon each turn, helping power up Torchic's evolution line more quickly and enabling faster access to the more powerful attacks of its evolved forms.

Scoop Up Net

Allows you to return Torchic to your hand if it's in danger, preserving your evolution potential while preventing prize card losses. This protection is vital given Torchic's low HP and vulnerability to knockouts.

Torchic serves primarily as an evolutionary stepping stone rather than a standalone competitive card.

Its low HP, mediocre attack, and lack of abilities make it vulnerable on the field, but its value comes from being the foundation of a potentially powerful Blaziken line.

When building a deck around this card, focus on rapid evolution strategies and protective measures to minimize the time Torchic spends exposed.

Energy acceleration and evolution support cards are essential companions to maximize its effectiveness.

While not impressive in isolation, Torchic's role in the bigger evolutionary picture makes it a necessary inclusion for Fire-type strategies centered on its evolved forms.

Players should view this card as an investment that pays dividends only when the evolution chain is completed, requiring patience and protective strategy until its full potential is realized.