📘 Lillipup — Pokémon TCG

Category: Pokemon TCG · Created: · Updated:

Lillipup card art from BW Trainer Kit (Excadrill) holo variant

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Lillipup is a basic Colorless-type Pokémon card that appears in early printings associated with the BW trainer Kit (Excadrill) set. In the context of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Lillipup provides a modest engine for cycling Item cards from the discard pile back into the player's hand, alongside a simple secondary attack for direct damage. The card emphasizes a straightforward, low-cost presence on the bench and in active play, reflecting its in-game flavor as a cautious, courageous, yet sometimes flight-prone canine Pokémon when outmatched.

Originally released as part of a Trainer Kit pairing, Lillipup's print run includes multiple variants—normal, holo, and reverse holo—while not carrying a formal rarity designation. The card's illustrated artwork is credited to Mosakazu Fukuda, and its flavor text reinforces the Pokémon’s characteristic blend of bravery and retreat when facing stronger opponents. The card is not listed as legal in standard or expanded play formats under the provided data, highlighting its status as a historic or special-set card rather than a current competitive staple.

Card Information

  • Name: Lillipup
  • Set: BW trainer Kit (Excadrill) — Card Count official: 30, total: 30
  • Dex Number: 506
  • Type: Colorless
  • HP: 50
  • Stage: Basic
  • Illustrator: Mosakazu Fukuda
  • Weakness: Fighting ×2
  • Retreat Cost: 1
  • Attacks:
    • Pickup — Colorless: Put an Item card from your discard pile into your hand.
    • Bite — Colorless: 10 damage.
  • Evolution: Lillipup → Herdier → Stoutland (evolution line)
  • Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse; First Edition: False; WWII Promo: False
  • Rarity: None
  • Legal formats: Standard: False, Expanded: False
  • Description: "It faces strong opponents with great courage. But, when at a disadvantage in a fight, this intelligent Pokémon flees."
  • Updated: 2025-05-04T00:37:30+02:00
  • Pricing: CardMarket: None; TCGPlayer: None

Gameplay and Strategy

The Lillipup card presents a compact, utility-oriented option for decks that rely on recurring Item-cards through discard-pile mechanics. Its primary function—Pickup—enables the player to reclaim an Item card from the discard pile, potentially restoring a critical tool or resource that can influence the pace of the game. This makes Lillipup valuable in build-arounds where Item-based effects drive early tempo or set up later plays, even though the attack itself deals modest direct damage with Bite for a small 10-damage output.

In practice, Lillipup's effectiveness hinges on the presence of Item-focused strategies within the deck. Players might leverage Item-replenishment synergy to sustain pressure or to recycle essential tools, such as a Trainer or search-based Item, to accelerate draws or remove obstacles on the opponent's field. The Colorless typing and low HP mean Lillipup remains vulnerable to faster, stronger foes, particularly those with Fighting-type power, which two-times its HP against typical lines of play. As a Basic Pokémon with a retreat cost of 1, Lillipup can be deployed early and shuffled back into the bench or removed from danger with conservative retreat decisions when opponents pressure the active slot.

From a strategic perspective, Lillipup is most effective when integrated into a broader archetype that emphasizes item recursion and resource efficiency. In practice, players should weigh the value of reusing discard-pile resources against the risk of leaving the bench under threat by aggressive—often Fighting-type—opponents. The card’s flavor of mobility and prudent retreat aligns with a cautious playstyle, where preservation of resources and timely pickups can create incremental advantages across multiple turns.

Collector and Market Information

The card is documented with a rarity designation of None, reflecting its status within the BW trainer Kit lineup rather than a traditional rare or holo print in standard collectible sets. The existence of holo and reverse variants indicates the card’s distribution across different print runs and aesthetic treatments, typical of trainer kits that later receive alternate foiling options. The lack of current listing data on major market platforms (CardMarket and TCGPlayer) suggests limited recent activity or a collector subset focused on historical trainer-kit releases rather than modern, widely traded staples. The card’s age, combined with its non-standard legality in contemporary formats, contributes to a niche interest among collectors who focus on historical sets or variant foiling. The presence of multiple print variants (normal, holo, reverse) can influence perceived value for collectors who seek complete variant sets from trainer kits. However, the absence of official current pricing data means market trends should be monitored through established catalogues and auction histories specific to BW trainer Kit releases and related print runs.

Art and Lore

The Lillipup artwork is attributed to Mosakazu Fukuda, a creator recognized for contributions to various Pokémon TCG illustrations. The artwork typically captures the quizzical charm and modest stature of Lillipup, aligned with its in-game description as a courageous yet occasionally treacherous creature when outmatched. The flavor text reinforces the card’s in-world personality, portraying a Pokémon that is intelligent and brave but inclined to retreat when the odds are unfavorable. The aesthetic presentation—especially in holo variants—emphasizes the character’s friendly appearance while conveying a sense of motion and readiness for swift action in the heat of battle.

Within the broader lore of the BW trainer Kit, Lillipup sits among a group of basic Pokémon that provide practical utility for players experimenting with item- and trainer-focused strategies. While the kit emphasizes training and practical play rather than narrative storytelling, the character’s portrayal remains consistent with its canonical traits across the Pokémon universe: a loyal, pack-oriented creature whose early-life decisions balance courage with caution.

Trivia

  • The card exists in multiple print variants (normal, holo, reverse) with no associated first-edition designation, reflecting its role in trainer-kit distribution rather than a traditional booster-uncharted release.
  • The card’s legality status indicates it is not current in standard or expanded play formats, marking it as a historical or collector-oriented print rather than a staple of modern competitive decks.
  • The evolution line for Lillipup is commonly known as Lillipup → Herdier → Stoutland, illustrating its place within a typical Gen V canine evolution path.
  • TheAttack Pickup uniquely enables returning an Item card from the discard pile to the hand, a mechanic that can enable resource planning when paired with Item-heavy strategies.
  • Illustration credit goes to Mosakazu Fukuda, whose work appears across various Pokémon TCG releases and contributes to the visual identity of early BW trainer-kit entries.
Lillipup — Pokémon TCG

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