CARD INFORMATION

SUBTYPES:
- Stage 1
HP: 100
TYPES:
- Darkness
EVOLVES FROM: Venipede
EVOLVES TO:
- Scolipede
WEAKNESSES:
- TYPE: Fighting
- VALUE: ×2
RETREATCOST:
- Colorless
- Colorless
- Colorless
RETREAT COST: 3
RARITY: Illustration Rare
FLAVOR TEXT: Protected by a hard shell, it spins its body like a wheel and crashes furiously into its enemies.
REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

NAME: Venoshock
COST:
- Colorless
ENERGY COST: 1
DAMAGE: 30+
DETAILS: If your opponent's Active Pokémon is Poisoned, this attack does 60 more damage.

MARKET PRICES FOR WHIRLIPEDE 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/12

HIGH	49.00	USD
MID	4.40	USD	TREND
LOW	3.50	USD

Check the latest prices on:

Tcgplayer
(link)

Cardmarket
(link)

Pokechange
(link)

Whirlipede emerges as a tactical poison specialist in the Black Bolt set, presenting players with a potentially devastating attack that punishes poisoned opponents.

This Stage 1 Darkness-type might look unassuming at first glance, but its specialized attack mechanic could be the ace up your sleeve in the right deck build.

Offensive rating: 7/10

Whirlipede comes equipped with Venoshock, a single Colorless energy attack that deals a base 30 damage.

However, this attack truly shines when facing a poisoned Active Pokémon, delivering a substantial 90 damage total.

This conditional boost represents a 200% damage increase for minimal energy investment.

The efficiency here is remarkable when the condition is met, offering excellent damage-per-energy value.

However, without poison support, Venoshock remains underwhelming.

This dependency creates a ceiling for its offensive potential, as the card lacks any secondary attack options or built-in poison-inflicting abilities.

Survival rating: 4/10

With 100 HP, Whirlipede sits at the lower end of the durability spectrum for a Stage 1 Pokémon.

This modest health pool makes it vulnerable to being knocked out by many common attackers in a single hit.

Its Fighting weakness further compounds survival issues, making it particularly fragile against popular Fighting-type attackers.

The heavy three-energy retreat cost is another significant liability, potentially leaving Whirlipede stranded in the active position.

The card offers no inherent defensive abilities, healing mechanisms, or damage reduction techniques to offset these vulnerabilities, making its survival prospects quite limited in competitive play.

Versatility rating: 5/10

Whirlipede displays limited versatility, functioning primarily as a specialist attacker within poison-focused strategies.

Outside this niche, its utility drops significantly.

The card does benefit from requiring only a single Colorless energy to attack, allowing it to fit into various energy-type decks, but always with the poison support requirement.

Whirlipede can evolve into Scolipede, offering an evolution pathway that might provide strategic depth.

However, its rigid dependency on poison conditions, combined with a single attack option and no supportive abilities, constrains its flexibility across different matchups and deck archetypes.

It performs one role well but struggles to adapt beyond that specialized function.

Speed/Setup rating: 6/10

Whirlipede offers reasonable setup speed in terms of energy attachment, requiring just one Colorless energy to attack - achievable on your first turn with this card in play.

However, as a Stage 1 Pokémon evolving from Venipede, it demands at least one turn of preparation unless acceleration cards are employed.

The real setup challenge comes from establishing poison conditions on the opponent's Active Pokémon, which requires additional cards and resources.

This dependency creates a two-pronged setup requirement: evolving Whirlipede itself and establishing the poison condition to maximize damage output.

This dual dependency reduces its operational efficiency in the critical early game turns.

To maximize Whirlipede's potential, your deck needs reliable poison-inflicting companions.

Cards that can consistently apply poison status while providing additional utility would be ideal teammates, creating the conditions for Whirlipede to unleash its full damage potential while covering its defensive weaknesses.

Perfect Partners examples:

Crobat V

This powerhouse can place 3 damage counters when played from hand, enabling powerful combos with poison effects. Its ability to apply pressure while setting up poison conditions makes it an excellent partner for Whirlipede's conditional attack boost.

Seviper

Its Poison Pals ability increases poison damage between turns, creating stronger poison effects that synergize perfectly with Whirlipedes attack strategy while applying consistent pressure on opponents.

Galarian Slowking V

Its Psychic ability can move damage counters and has a powerful Poisonous Bytes attack that inflicts poison. This provides the status condition Whirlipede needs while offering additional control options.

Whirlipede represents a specialized tactical option for players looking to capitalize on poison strategies.

Its single-energy Venoshock attack delivers impressive value when conditions are met, potentially dealing 90 damage for just one Colorless energy.

However, this power comes with clear limitations - dependency on poison effects, mediocre HP, and a punishing retreat cost.

Success with Whirlipede demands deliberate deck construction focused on reliable poison application and possibly evolution into Scolipede for greater impact.

In the current meta, its effectiveness varies dramatically based on matchups and support cards.

Players should view Whirlipede not as a standalone powerhouse but as a specialized component in a broader poison-focused strategy.

When properly supported, it can deliver surprising value, but without the right companions, it struggles to make a meaningful impact on the battlefield.