
| HIGH | 4.99 | USD | |
| MID | 0.08 | USD | TREND![]() |
| LOW | 0.02 | USD |
Swinub, the tiny ground pig Pokémon, might look unassuming with its modest 70 HP, but don't let its appearance fool you.
This Basic Fighting-type card from the Journey Together set packs surprising utility with its Call for Family ability, making it a potential cornerstone for bench-building strategies in the current TCG format.
Offensive rating: 2/10Swinub's offensive capabilities are quite limited.
Its only attacking move, Lunge Out, deals a mere 10 damage for one Fighting energy, which is extremely underwhelming by modern standards.
The damage output-to-energy ratio is poor, offering no additional effects or bonuses that might compensate for the low damage.
In the current meta where many Basic Pokémon can hit for 30+ damage with a single energy, Swinub falls significantly short.
This card clearly isn't designed as an attacker, and trying to use it as one would be inefficient in competitive play.
Survival rating: 3/10With just 70 HP, Swinub sits at the lower end of the durability spectrum, even for a Basic Pokémon.
Its Grass weakness is particularly problematic in a meta where Grass-type attackers are fairly common.
The two-energy retreat cost is also hefty for such a small Pokémon, reducing its mobility and potentially leaving it stranded in the active position.
Without any defensive abilities or effects that could mitigate damage or prevent knockouts, Swinub is extremely vulnerable.
Most meta attackers can easily one-shot it, making its survival prospects quite poor in competitive matchups.
Versatility rating: 8/10Despite its offensive and defensive shortcomings, Swinub shines in versatility thanks to its Call for Family attack.
For just one Colorless energy, it can search your deck for up to two Basic Pokémon and place them directly onto your Bench.
This powerful effect provides outstanding board development potential, helping you set up evolution lines or utility Pokémon without using your Supporter card for the turn.
This flexibility makes Swinub a viable tech inclusion in various deck archetypes, particularly those that rely on quickly establishing a strong bench presence or specific evolution chains.
The ability to fetch any two Basics gives it remarkable adaptability.
Speed/Setup rating: 9/10Swinub excels in the setup category.
Call for Family requires just one Colorless energy, meaning any energy type will work, making it incredibly accessible in virtually any deck.
This attack can be used on your first turn going second, providing immediate board development.
The ability to search for two Basic Pokémon in one action offers exceptional acceleration for evolution-based strategies.
While Swinub itself doesn't have complex setup requirements, its true value lies in how it facilitates the setup of other Pokémon.
It essentially functions as a playable Item card that also puts a body in play, giving it remarkable efficiency in the early game.
Swinub works best in decks that benefit from rapid board development, particularly evolution-focused strategies or those requiring specific Basic Pokémon combinations.
Pairing it with recovery cards like Ordinary Rod ensures you can reuse its effect.
Energy acceleration cards also complement Swinub by enabling it to attack immediately while setting up stronger attackers.
Swinub's Call for Family can set up Stage 1 Pokémon that you can immediately evolve with Rare Candy, bypassing evolution waiting times and creating powerful Stage 2 Pokémon much faster than normal.
This Supporter can search out Swinub plus a Water energy, allowing you to immediately use Call for Family on your first turn, kickstarting your board development strategy with exceptional consistency.
As Swinub's evolution, Piloswine benefits directly from Call for Family. Setting up multiple Swinub simultaneously allows for faster evolution chains and applying pressure through Piloswine's stronger attacks.
Swinub is a classic example of a card that isn't designed to win games through raw power, but rather through enabling strategic advantages.
Its Call for Family attack provides exceptional board development potential that can accelerate your game plan significantly.
While it suffers from poor offensive output and limited survivability, these weaknesses are offset by its ability to quickly populate your bench with exactly the Basic Pokémon you need.
In tournament play, Swinub serves best as an early-game setup tool that can fetch key pieces of your strategy before transitioning to more powerful attackers.
For players building evolution-heavy decks or strategies requiring specific Basic Pokémon combinations, this unassuming pig Pokémon deserves serious consideration as a technical inclusion that can improve consistency and early-game development.
![]() | 43 |
The card has been added!
You can find it in the MY CARDS section
The card has been removed!
Our free website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.