Wartortle [1st Edition] - Pokemon Base Set #42
Menu
Wartortle [1st Edition]
No listings for Raw NM
Price History
Loading price history...
Market Prices
Loading sales data...
Wartortle [1st Edition] Card Facts & History
5 facts about this card
Card History
Wartortle #42 is part of the original English Base Set, the very first main expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which gives this 1st Edition copy a direct link to the hobby’s 1999 beginning.
Artist
This card was illustrated by Ken Sugimori, the original Pokémon character designer, so the artwork carries the same foundational visual style that defined early Pokémon games and merchandise.
In-Game
Wartortle is Pokédex #0008 from Generation I, and official Pokédex references highlight its signature trait of using its furry ears and tail to keep balance while swimming fast, a detail echoed in this card’s flavor text.
Set Lore
English Base Set cards were released in multiple print variations, and 1st Edition cards like this one belong to the earliest English print run, making them especially iconic for vintage collectors.
Card History
Its simple early-TCG attack pair of Withdraw and Bite captures how Base Set cards translated video game identity into straightforward battle mechanics, with Withdraw feeling especially thematic for a shell-armored Stage 1 Water Pokémon.