Digital Vault Wiki

Ethan's Pinsir card art from Destined Rivals SV10

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Ethan's Pinsir is a Grass-type, basic Pokémon card that appears in the Destined Rivals expansion (set code SV10). With 120 HP, this card represents a compact, early-game attacker designed to function within a themed subset of the release that highlights “Ethan’s” Pokémon as part of a rival-themed narrative. The card’s rarity is Uncommon, indicating it sits between the most frequently printed cards and the rarer, more sought-after holo and ultra-rare prints. The name itself signals a sub-theme in the set, where multiple Pokémon are printed with the prefix “Ethan’s” to emphasize a narrative link to a character or deck archetype. The card exists in at least two print variants—standard (normal) and reverse holo—while the dataset notes no first-edition or holo-only printing for this specific card. In terms of competitive eligibility, the card is legal in both Standard and Expanded formats, reflecting its inclusion in sets that remain part of contemporary play pools alongside other cards from the era. The combination of a solid HP pool and two attacks provides a balanced profile for players seeking consistent early momentum while maintaining a potential power spike via a conditional attack.

Card Information

Card name: Ethan's Pinsir
Pokémon type: Grass
HP: 120
Stage: Basic
Dex entry: 127
Set: Destined Rivals (SV10)
Rarity: Uncommon
Attacks:
- Vise Grip — Cost: Grass; Damage: 20
- Rallying Horn — Cost: Colorless, Colorless, Colorless; Damage: 70+; Effect: If any of your Ethan's Pokémon were Knocked Out by damage from an attack during your opponent's last turn, this attack does 100 more damage.
Retreat cost: 2
Regulation mark: I
Legal formats: Standard, Expanded
Variants: Normal and Reverse; First Edition: Not indicated in the provided data
Illustrator: Not specified in the provided data
Evolution: Basic (no listed evolution line in this data)
Weakness / Resistance: Not listed in the provided data
Artwork notes: The available data confirms the card art is associated with the Destined Rivals subset, but an explicit illustrator credit is not included here

Gameplay and Strategy

As a basic Grass-type Pokémon with 120 HP, Ethan's Pinsir serves as a sturdy early-game attacker within a deck that can leverage the “Ethan’s” sub-theme. Vise Grip, the first attack, requires a single Grass-energy and inflicts a modest 20 damage. This makes it suitable for establishing beatdown pressure in the early turns, especially when aiming to accumulate damage counters on the opponent’s side while preserving energy for later plays.

The second attack, Rallying Horn, demands three Colorless energies and delivers 70 base damage, with a significant conditional damage boost. The ability text states that if any of your Ethan's Pokémon were Knocked Out by damage from an opponent's attack during the previous turn, Rallying Horn deals 100 more damage, effectively making it a potential 170-damage swing when the condition is met. In practice, this mechanic encourages a tempo where players leverage the “Ethan’s” subset to absorb targeted knockouts on their own side or topressure the opponent into favorable trades that trigger the boost on Rallying Horn. It is important to consider energy acceleration plans in the deck, as three Colorless energies can be costly to ramp consistently, especially in a format where faster options exist.\n

Strategically, Ethan's Pinsir fits best in decks that can reliably satisfy the Rallying Horn condition. This often involves sequencing attacks and attacks-per-turn to maximize the payoff from the conditional effect. Because the attack demands a relatively high energy investment (three Colorless energies), it is prudent to include energy acceleration or search mechanisms that help reach the required total without sacrificing tempo. Additionally, the card’s moderate Retreat Cost of 2 encourages players to plan properly for repositioning or retreating to safer attackers when the opponent applies pressure. In matchups where the opponent relies on several smaller threats, Pinsir can capitalize on delayed damage to deliver a substantial blow via Rallying Horn, potentially turning a neutral exchange into a knockout that sways the game in the player’s favor.\n

In broader play, the card’s Grass type can interact with common Grass- and Fighting-type meta threats in ways that require careful consideration of type matchups and built-in weaknesses. While the dataset does not list specific weaknesses or resistances, players should pay attention to typical mechanics in the surrounding set and standard-format rotations that influence when and how to deploy this card most effectively. The ability to threaten a knockout with Rallying Horn can be a decisive factor in mid-game planning, particularly when combined with other Ethan’s Pokémon to maximize consistency and trigger the conditional boost at the right moment.

Collector and Market Information

The card sits in the Uncommon rarity tier within the Destined Rivals set. Its print history includes at least a normal print and a reverse holo variant, with no explicit first-edition or holo-only versions listed within the provided data. The Destined Rivals set, identified by SV10, comprises a broader roster of cards—reportedly 244 total prints, with 182 officially counted as part of the core set. This context helps collectors gauge relative rarity within print pools and informs expectation about potential market availability between standard and reverse-foil variants. The dataset notes that pricing data from Card Market or TCGPlayer is not provided for this card, so market values should be sourced from current marketplace listings or primary holdings databases for the most accurate and up-to-date figures. Collectors often value the combination of a named variant (Ethan’s) and its reverse-foil print, especially when paired with other cards in the same thematic subset.

From a grading perspective, the absence of a first-edition print and holo-foil on the provided data means that common grading considerations would focus on the standard or reverse-foil stock and the condition of the card’s edge, centering, and surface. As with many non-holo cards, authenticating rarity and set connection relies on the card’s back design, symbol, and the associated set indicators, which in this case point to the Destined Rivals SV10 printing. For collectors aiming to assemble a complete Ethan’s sub-theme, acquiring both the normal and reverse-foil variants is often a priority, though availability and price fluctuate with supply and demand in the broader market.

Art and Lore

The Destined Rivals subset, which includes Ethan's Pinsir, is thematically linked to rivalries and character-based storylines within the Pokémon TCG universe. While the provided data do not list the illustrator, the card’s artwork is part of a broader artistic program that explores dynamic action shots and character-focused scenes common to the era’s expansion art. The “Ethan’s” designation signals a narrative tie to a character-centered deck style, reflecting a broader trend in which certain Pokémon receive bespoke variants tied to particular figures or thematic duos. In lore terms, Pinsir has a storied presence in the Pokémon world as a Bug-type Pokémon known for its horns and pinching attacks; the card’s name and variant alignment with a named figure reinforce the cross-media storytelling approach that TCG developers employ to enhance collectability and thematic depth around a given set release. The artwork and its specific styling are part of this larger creative program, even when explicit illustrator credits are not included in the dataset here.

Trivia

The Rallying Horn attack’s conditional damage boost creates a potential 170-damage output when the triggering condition is met, highlighting the card’s synergy with other Ethan’s Pokémon and the expected flow of the match.
The card’s print history includes normal and reverse variants, with no first-edition or holo-only printing noted in the provided data.
Destined Rivals, the SV10 set, positions Ethan's Pinsir within a narrative-focused subset that emphasizes rival-themed gameplay and character-driven card design.
Dex number 127 places this Pinsir within the broader Pinsir family, aligning with established Pokémon lore for fans tracking evolutionary lines, though this card itself is labeled as Basic with no listed evolution path in the dataset.
The card’s rarity and format eligibility—Uncommon, Standard and Expanded—mean it remains a plausible collectible for players and builders who favor niche subsets and themed decks rather than only the highest-rarity releases.

📘 Ethan's Pinsir