• ℹ️ CARD INFORMATION
• ✨ ABILITIES
• ⚔️ ATTACKS
• 💰 LATEST PRICES

CARD INFORMATION

• SUBTYPES:
  • Basic
• HP: 80
• TYPES:
  • Darkness
• EVOLVES TO:
  • Whirlipede
• WEAKNESSES:
  • TYPE: Fighting
  • VALUE: ×2
• RETREATCOST:
  • Colorless
  • Colorless
  • Colorless
• RETREAT COST: 3
• RARITY: Illustration Rare
• FLAVOR TEXT: Its bite injects a potent poison, enough to paralyze large bird Pokémon that try to prey on it.
• REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

• NAME: Poison Spray
• COST:
  • Colorless
• ENERGY COST: 1
• DAMAGE:
• DETAILS: Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Poisoned.

MARKET PRICES FOR VENIPEDE 💰

Last updated: 2025/11/21

HIGH	19.99	USD
MID	4.77	USD	TREND
LOW	4.20	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Venipede slithers into the TCG battlefield with a simple yet potentially devastating poison strategy.

As a Basic Darkness-type Pokémon with 80 HP, this unassuming bug might seem like mere evolution fodder at first glance.

But smart players know that consistent poison damage can be the key to victory, especially in longer matches where every damage counter matters.

Offensive rating: 4/10

Venipede's Poison Spray attack requires just one Colorless Energy and automatically poisons the opponent's Active Pokémon without dealing direct damage.

While this might appear underwhelming at first, consistent poison damage (10 damage between turns) can accumulate significantly over time.

The true value comes from how energy-efficient this poison application is, requiring minimal setup and investment.

However, the lack of direct damage output severely limits Venipede's ability to secure knockouts on its own, making it dependent on poison acceleration effects or switching strategies to maximize its effectiveness.

The poison status is reliable but slow compared to direct damage dealers in the current meta.

Survival rating: 3/10

With 80 HP, Venipede sits on the lower end of durability for Basic Pokémon.

Its Fighting weakness is particularly concerning in formats where Fighting-type attackers are prevalent, essentially halving its effective HP against these matchups.

The heavy three-energy retreat cost is another significant drawback, often trapping Venipede in the active position when you'd prefer to switch to a stronger attacker.

Without any built-in defensive abilities or HP-sustaining effects, Venipede is highly vulnerable to being knocked out in a single attack by most competent attackers in the mid-to-late game.

Even early game pressure can quickly remove Venipede before it delivers meaningful poison damage.

Versatility rating: 4/10

Venipede's versatility comes primarily from its typing and evolutionary potential rather than its standalone capabilities.

As a Darkness-type Pokémon, it can potentially exploit weaknesses against Psychic-types, though its attack doesn't leverage this type advantage.

Its value increases in poison-focused strategies or decks that benefit from status conditions.

Venipede can evolve into Whirlipede, potentially opening up stronger poison synergies in the right deck.

While it functions as a tech option against decks vulnerable to poison accumulation, its limited attack options and poor defensive stats restrict its versatility across different matchups.

It performs best in specific poison-centric deck archetypes rather than as a general inclusion.

Speed/Setup rating: 7/10

Venipede earns points for its immediate playability - drop it down and apply poison with just one energy of any type.

This low energy investment means Venipede can be operational from turn one, applying consistent pressure through poison damage.

However, the card lacks any built-in mechanics to accelerate its own setup or enhance its effectiveness.

The prohibitive three-energy retreat cost becomes a significant drawback if Venipede gets stuck in the active position.

While the initial setup is quick, Venipede provides little payoff beyond the basic poison effect, making it a card that's easy to get started but limited in scaling potential as the game progresses.

To maximize Venipede's effectiveness, pair it with cards that enhance poison damage, provide switching options to overcome its heavy retreat cost, or leverage its Darkness typing.

Cards that double poison damage or add extra damage counters between turns transform Venipede from a minor nuisance into a serious threat.

Energy acceleration and retrieval effects help manage its high retreat cost, while evolution support helps transition to its potentially stronger evolved forms.

Perfect Partners examples:

Venipede represents a low-investment, slow-burn strategy in the Pokémon TCG.

While its poison application is energy-efficient and guaranteed, the card struggles with poor survivability, a crippling retreat cost, and limited offensive output beyond the status condition.

Its greatest strengths lie in its immediate playability and potential role in dedicated poison strategies, particularly when paired with cards that enhance poison damage or provide switching options.

Most competitive players will view Venipede as either evolution material or a niche tech option rather than a standalone threat.

For newer players, it demonstrates the strategic value of status conditions, even when direct damage isn't part of the equation.

In the right deck with proper support, Venipede can contribute to a war of attrition, slowly wearing down opponents through consistent poison pressure while your main attackers prepare to close out the game.

POWER INDEX

35