
| HIGH | 4.99 | USD | |
| MID | 0.08 | USD | TREND![]() |
| LOW | 0.02 | USD |
Gastrodon emerges as a fascinating Fighting-type contender in the Pokémon TCG scene.
This Stage 1 evolution from Shellos packs a serious punch with its devastating Earthquake attack, while offering surprising sustainability through its Recover ability.
With 130 HP and a unique attack-recovery balance, Gastrodon presents an intriguing option for players looking to incorporate resilient attackers into their Fighting decks.
Offensive rating: 8/10Gastrodon's offensive capability centers around its Earthquake attack, which delivers a substantial 170 damage for three energy (two Fighting, one Colorless).
This attack efficiency translates to approximately 57 damage per energy, making it quite cost-effective for a Stage 1 Pokémon.
The 170 damage threshold is particularly relevant in the current meta, allowing it to knock out many popular Basic Pokémon and even some V Pokémon in a single hit.
However, this power comes with a significant drawback - Earthquake inflicts 20 damage to each of your Benched Pokémon, creating a strategic trade-off that requires careful board management.
This self-damage penalty prevents Gastrodon from reaching higher offensive scores despite its impressive raw damage output.
Survival rating: 9/10Where Gastrodon truly shines is in its survival capabilities.
With 130 HP, it has above-average durability for a Stage 1 Pokémon.
What elevates its survivability, however, is the exceptional Recover attack.
For just one Colorless energy, Gastrodon can heal all damage from itself by discarding an energy.
This creates a potential healing loop that opponents must overcome with one-hit knockouts.
The ability to repeatedly restore to full health for minimal energy investment makes Gastrodon surprisingly resilient in prolonged matches.
Its only significant defensive weaknesses are its 2x Grass vulnerability and heavy three-energy retreat cost, which can leave it stranded in unfavorable matchups if proper switching cards aren't available.
Versatility rating: 7/10Gastrodon demonstrates moderate versatility in competitive play.
Its Fighting typing provides advantageous matchups against popular Dark, Lightning, and Normal types, while its Recover attack gives it flexibility as both an attacker and a stall option.
The card can function effectively in various roles - as a primary attacker in Fighting-focused builds, a secondary attacker in multi-type decks, or even as a tech card against certain matchups.
However, its versatility is constrained by several factors: reliance on energy attachment, vulnerability to popular Grass attackers, and the self-damage mechanic that complicates board development.
Gastrodon is most effective in specific deck archetypes rather than being a universally splashable option across the meta.
Speed/Setup rating: 7/10Gastrodon's setup requirements present both advantages and challenges.
As a Stage 1, it requires finding both Shellos and Gastrodon, adding a layer of complexity compared to Basic Pokémon.
The three-energy cost for its main attack means Gastrodon typically needs 2-3 turns to reach full offensive potential, even with energy acceleration support.
However, its Recover attack is immediately accessible with just one energy attachment, providing early-game utility while building toward Earthquake.
The card benefits significantly from energy acceleration tools like Turbo Patch or type-specific support.
Its relatively straightforward evolution line and attack requirements make it consistent once the initial pieces are assembled, but the multi-turn setup does leave it vulnerable to disruption strategies.
To maximize Gastrodon's effectiveness, pair it with energy acceleration cards to power up Earthquake quickly, healing support to complement Recover, and switching options to overcome its heavy retreat cost.
Fighting-type support cards can amplify its damage output, while protective effects can shield your bench from Earthquake's collateral damage.
This Supporter card accelerates Fighting energy attachment and can boost damage output, helping Gastrodon reach its attacking potential a turn earlier while potentially increasing its damage ceiling.
Its Ability prevents damage to Benched Pokémon, completely neutralizing Earthquakes drawback of dealing 20 damage to your own Bench, making Gastrodon a much more reliable attacker.
Addresses Gastrodon's heavy retreat cost by providing essential mobility, allowing you to pivot between attacking with Earthquake and falling back to Recover as needed throughout the match.
Gastrodon carves out a unique niche in the Pokémon TCG as a resilient Fighting-type attacker with surprising staying power.
Its greatest strength lies in the combination of substantial damage output and self-healing capability, creating a persistent threat that opponents must address.
While its setup time and self-damage drawback require thoughtful deck construction, savvy players can mitigate these weaknesses through proper support cards and strategic play.
Gastrodon performs best in Fighting-focused decks with energy acceleration and bench protection, where it can repeatedly cycle between dealing significant damage and healing itself.
Though not a format-defining powerhouse, Gastrodon offers a solid attacking option with above-average sustainability, making it a worthwhile consideration for players looking to outlast opponents while maintaining consistent pressure.
In the right hands, this seemingly unassuming slug Pokémon can frustrate opponents with its remarkable resilience.
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