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CARD INFORMATION

  • SUBTYPES:
    • Basic
  • HP: 100
  • TYPES:
    • Grass
  • WEAKNESSES:
    • TYPE: Fire
    • VALUE: ×2
  • RETREATCOST:
    • Colorless
  • RETREAT COST: 1
  • RARITY: Common
  • FLAVOR TEXT: It uses an up-tempo song and dance to drive away the bird Pokémon that prey on its flower seeds.
  • REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

  • NAME: Lively Needles
  • COST:
    • Grass
  • ENERGY COST: 1
  • DAMAGE: 20+
  • DETAILS: If this Pokémon was healed during this turn, this attack does 100 more damage.
  • NAME: Pierce
  • COST:
    • Grass
    • Colorless
  • ENERGY COST: 2
  • DAMAGE: 50
  • DETAILS:

MARKET PRICES FOR MARACTUS 💰

Last updated: 2026/02/26
HIGH

2.17

USD
MID

0.07

USDTREND
LOW

0.03

USD

Check the latest prices on:
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Maractus brings an interesting tactical option to Grass-type decks with its damage-boosting potential.

This prickly performer combines a modest energy cost with a powerful conditional attack that rewards strategic healing plays.

Whether you're looking for an efficient secondary attacker or a surprise powerhouse, this dancing cactus might just deserve a spot in your next tournament deck.




Offensive Score Image Offensive rating: 7/10

Maractus offers two attacking options with varying efficiency.

Lively Needles costs just one Grass Energy for 20 base damage, but the real sting comes when activated with healing effects—jumping to an impressive 120 damage.

This 1:120 damage-to-energy ratio is exceptionally efficient when properly triggered.

However, without healing support, it falls to a mediocre 1:20 ratio.

The secondary Pierce attack delivers a straightforward 50 damage for two energy, offering a decent 1:25 ratio when Lively Needles cannot be optimized.

Overall, Maractus has high damage ceiling for minimal investment but requires specific deck construction to maximize its offensive potential consistently.




Survival Score Image Survival rating: 5/10

With 100 HP, Maractus sits in a vulnerable middle ground for a Basic Pokémon.

Its Fire weakness is particularly problematic in metas where Fire-type attackers are prevalent, potentially leading to one-hit knockouts from moderately powered Fire attacks.

The single colorless retreat cost is a bright spot, allowing for relatively easy pivoting when needed.

However, Maractus lacks any inherent defensive abilities or mechanics that would help it withstand attacks.

Its survival strategy ultimately depends on external support cards like healing options that would simultaneously power up its primary attack.

Without built-in protection, Maractus remains quite fragile on the battlefield.




Versatility Score Image Versatility rating: 6/10

Maractus shows moderate versatility with its damage-conditional mechanic that creates interesting synergies with healing cards.

This gives it a unique role in Grass decks focused on recovery strategies.

It works as both a secondary attacker and a potential surprise threat that opponents might underestimate.

However, its effectiveness is heavily tied to specific support cards, limiting its standalone versatility.

The card cannot easily flex between different roles beyond its damage-dealing capacity.

While it offers reasonable type coverage against Water and Ground types, its Fire weakness remains problematic in many competitive matchups.

Maractus performs best in specialized deck builds rather than as a universal tech option.




setup Score Image Speed/Setup rating: 8/10

Maractus shines in the setup department with immediate attack readiness.

As a Basic Pokémon requiring just one Grass Energy for its primary attack, it can start applying pressure from turn one with the right energy attachment.

The true challenge comes in coordinating healing effects to maximize Lively Needles damage output.

This requires additional card resources and possibly a turn of setup to arrange both energy and healing triggers.

The consistency of this setup depends heavily on your deck's ability to reliably access healing cards when needed.

With appropriate support structures in place, Maractus offers impressive speed—but its peak performance requires careful timing and resource management.




To maximize Maractus's potential, focus on cards that provide healing effects that can be triggered on demand.

Energy acceleration can help power up multiple Maractus in succession.

Consider including search cards to consistently find both Maractus and its healing partners when needed, along with cards that can recover it from the discard pile for repeated use after knockouts.

Perfect Partners examples:

This Supporter card heals 120 damage and lets you switch your Active Pokémon, perfect for triggering Lively Needles while providing tactical flexibility to protect your Maractus from threatening matchups.

Heals all damage from all your Evolved Pokémon (at the cost of discarding energy), but works perfectly with Maractus as a Basic that keeps its single Energy attachment while gaining the full attack boost.

Shuffles two Pokémon, two Energy cards, or one of each from your discard pile into your deck, providing sustainability for your Maractus strategy over longer games after knockouts.




Maractus represents a specialized tactical option that excels in decks built to capitalize on its healing-triggered damage boost.

Its strength lies in efficient energy usage and surprising burst damage potential rather than raw power or durability.

In tournament play, position Maractus as a secondary attacker that can swing momentum when supported properly with healing effects.

The card performs best when opponents underestimate its damage ceiling or when used as part of a broader Grass-type strategy.

While not a format-defining powerhouse, Maractus offers a unique attack mechanism that rewards thoughtful deckbuilding and precise timing.

Players looking for efficient attackers with technical upside should consider adding this dancing cactus to their competitive arsenal, especially in environments where its Fire weakness isn't overly exploited.



POWER INDEX

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59

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