Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Overview
The card depicts a basic Dragon-type Pokémon from the Dragon Vault expansion, a special-era release within the Pokémon Trading Card Game that highlighted Dragon-type creatures across its dv1 subset. The subject is a small, serpentine dragon with a straightforward stat line and a single, low-cost attack. Released as part of Dragon Vault’s dv1 set, this Dratini card is designated Rare in its print iteration, reflecting its relative scarcity within the release window. The artwork is credited to Masakazu Fukuda, and the card appears in multiple print variants, including normal, reverse holo, and holo foil versions. As an early example of Dragon Vault’s emphasis on dragon-pokemon lineage, the card provides a compact snapshot of the era’s design priorities: accessible energy costs, a straightforward tool for evolving toward more powerful dragon-typed Pokémon, and a collectible foil presentation that varied across print runs.
Card Information
- Name: Dratini
- Category: Pokémon
- Set: Dragon Vault (DV1)
- Card Number: dv1-1
- Rarity: Rare
- Dex/National Dex ID: 147
- Type: Dragon
- HP: 40
- Stage: Basic
- Attacks: Wrap — Cost: Grass, Lightning; Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is Paralyzed; Damage: 20
- Weakness: Dragon ×2
- Retreat Cost: 1
- Illustrator: Masakazu Fukuda
- Evolution: Evolves to Dragonair
- Variants: Normal, Reverse Holo, Holo
- Legal Formats: Expanded (Standard not legal)
- Variant Notes: First Edition was not issued for this dv1-1 card; holo, reverse holo, and normal prints exist within the Dragon Vault dv1 subset.
- Set Details: Dragon Vault (DV1) — Official card count: 20; Total printed: 21
Gameplay and Strategy
Dratini’s stock in the Dragon Vault dv1 release sits at the intersection of collectible appeal and functional utility for learning progression in the Pokémon TCG. With only 40 HP, the card is highly vulnerable to early knockouts by common Energy-costed attacks, and its Dragon-type weakness to Dragon-type opponents further compounds its risk profile in a vacuum. The sole attack, Wrap, requires two different Energy types (Grass and Lightning) and inflicts 20 damage, with a coin flip that can Paralyze the Defending Pokémon on heads. In practical terms, Dratini serves best as a developmental piece in a dragon-focused strategy or as a utility bench in a deck designed to accelerate to Dragonair and, subsequently, more formidable Dragon-type threats. - Developmental role: Dratini is a basic Pokémon that can evolve into Dragonair, enabling a progression path toward stronger dragons. In a Dragon Vault-themed deck, this evolution chain is thematically consistent and reinforces the player’s dragon-centric game plan. - Paralyzing potential: The chance to Paralyze the Defending Pokémon via Wrap provides stall-value in the early turns, buying time to set up evolutions or to assemble a more impactful responding attacker. However, the reliance on a coin flip introduces a significant variance element. - Energy considerations: The dual-energy cost for Wrap can influence deck-building choices, encouraging players to include both Grass and Lightning energy sources or to rely on DRAW and energy acceleration support to ensure strings of playable turns. - Meta relevance: In formats where Dragon-type strategies are viable, Dratini’s role is often limited by its fragile stats; in more casual or theme-driven builds, it can contribute to a cohesive Dragon Vault display while teaching players about evolving mechanics and type interactions. Notable synergies may include cards that support evolution pacing (to Dragonair and beyond), energy acceleration, or effects that reduce the risk of early KO blows. Conversely, Dratini is susceptible to rapid counters from faster, higher-HP Pokémon and from strategies that bypass initial resource commitments. Collectors and competitive players alike use Dratini primarily for its historical value within Dragon Vault and as a representative of early-Dragon-type support in the era’s card design language.
Collector and Market Information
Dratini from Dragon Vault is cataloged as a Rare within the dv1 subset, with dv1-1 serving as the initial entry in the dv1 card numbering. The expansion’s official card count is listed as 20 cards, with a total print count of 21 across all variants and editions. The card’s condition, print variant, and language can materially influence value, particularly for holo or reverse-holo copies.
Pricing data from major markets provide a snapshot of value ranges for this card as of late 2025. CardMarket reports an average price around €3.15 for standard (non-holo) copies, with a low around €0.14 and a rising trend indicated by a positive metric reading (roughly +3.39). For holofoil copies, CardMarket records an average near €3.50, with broader variance indicated by a holo-specific trend of approximately +2.13 and a high-low spread that includes notably higher values in certain listings. In U.S. markets, TCGPlayer’s holofoil pricing shows a low around $1.00 and a mid price around $2.36, with market and direct-low prices hovering around $2.33 and a high potential price near $15.90 for highly sought or heavily conditioned examples. Card pricing reflects both print availability and collector demand, with holo variants typically commanding premium pricing relative to non-holo copies, especially in well-preserved condition.
From a collection perspective, the card’s status as part of a limited-release subset contributes to its appeal for Dragon Vault enthusiasts and for collectors focused on early-Black & White era dragon-pokemon. The dv1-1 designation, along with multiple print variants, enhances the card’s display value for binder sets and holo-focused collections. The Expanded-legal status, in contrast to Standard-legal, situates this card within a specific competitive window that affects its value in tournament-centric contexts versus casual collection-focused markets.
Art and Lore
Masakazu Fukuda is credited as the illustrator for this Dratini card, contributing a line-art and rendering style that aligns with Dragon Vault’s polished, high-contrast dragon imagery. The Dragon Vault set is known for showcasing Dragon-type Pokémon across a range of generations, often presenting a bright, crisp illustration aesthetic intended to highlight the serpentine elegance and draconic traits of its subjects. Dratini’s appearance on this dv1-1 card follows the lineage tradition in the Pokémon TCG, emphasizing its status as a foundational dragon Pokémon—one that evolves into Dragonair and ultimately Dragonite in other media—within a structured, collectible card game ecosystem. The artwork’s presentation complements the card’s gameplay identity by providing a visually distinct, dragon-focused motif suitable for fans of the species within the broader Dragon Vault collection.
In lore terms, Dratini is frequently depicted as a Water- or Dragon-type creature that embodies the early-stage potential of dragon evolution in Pokémon media. While the card’s lore is primarily conveyed through gameplay mechanics and evolutionary trajectory, the illustration’s style and thematic emphasis reinforce the iconic narrative of a young dragon-in-training striving to reach its mature, formidable form.
Trivia
- The Dragon Vault dv1-1 card is one of the early dragon-focused entries in the dv1 subset, representing the first card in the dv1 numbering sequence.
- The card’s attack, Wrap, requires two different energy types (Grass and Lightning) to execute, dealing 20 damage with a potential Coin Flip effect that paralyzes the Defending Pokémon on heads.
- Variants of this card include normal, reverse holo, and holofoil printing, with first edition not issued for this dv1-1 entry.
- Dragon Vault’s official card count is listed as 20, with a total print count of 21 across all variants, reflecting the subset’s targeted design scope within the Black & White era.
- As of 2025, the card is Expanded-legal but not Standard-legal, aligning with Dragon Vault’s era-specific format eligibility and broader collector interest in Expanded-format Dragon-type cards.