Digital Vault Wiki

Paras card XY Breakthrough (XY8-1) artwork by Hajime Kusajima

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Paras is a Grass-type Pokémon card from the XY Breakthrough expansion. This tokenized representation captures a basic Paras with modest vitality and a single, utility-focused attack. The card emphasizes a simple damage and sustain mechanic rather than high offensive power, reflecting its role as an inexpensive, early-game asset in decks built around Grass-type strategies. As a Basic Pokémon with 60 HP, Paras is readily playable on its first turn, providing a platform for evolving into Parasect in the broader Pokémon TCG evolution line.

Card Information

Name: Paras
Dex ID: 46
Type: Grass
Stage: Basic
HP: 60
Attack: Blot — Cost: Colorless; Effect: Heal 10 damage from this Pokémon. Damage: 10
Weakness: Fire ×2
Retreat Cost: 1
Illustrator: Hajime Kusajima
Set: Breakthrough (XY8)
Rarity: Common
Card Number: XY8-1
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse Holo
Legal Formats: Expanded legal; Standard not legal (as of the latest update in 2025)
Set Card Count: Official 162 / Total 165
Evolution: Evolves from Paras when used in the broader evolution line to Parasect

The Breakthrough expansion introduces Paras as part of a diverse Grass-type roster. The XY8 set logo and symbol provide context for the card’s release window and print run, while the card number XY8-1 designates its position within the set's facing. The art by Hajime Kusajima reflects the period's stylistic tendencies, with Paras depicted in a natural, forest-like setting consistent with its habitat in the Pokémon world.

Gameplay and Strategy

Paras functions primarily as a low-cost, early-game Grass-type Basic. Its HP of 60 makes it vulnerable to many pre-existing threats, but the Blot attack offers a small but practical advantage: it both deals 10 damage and heals the same amount from Paras. This healing effect allows Paras to slightly extend its presence on the bench, potentially enabling a smoother transition toward Parasect during the game’s mid-to-late turns. The attack’s colorless cost means it can be activated with any single energy, keeping its resource requirements minimal in decks that rely on flexibility in energy acceleration.

In practical terms, Paras serves as a utility piece in broader Grass-type or stall-oriented strategies. Its basic status ensures it can be deployed on turn one in many decks, while its evolution into Parasect (in the standard evolutionary line) is where Paras typically contributes to more robust attacker and support roles. Because of its relatively low HP and modest damage output, Paras is best used in decks that emphasize board presence through evolving stages, or in archetypes that prioritize healing or stall elements to outlast opponents during the early game before Parasect or other Grass Pokémon come online.

Deck builders may consider Paras in conjunction with support elements that help sustain a Pokémon on the field, such as healing-focused effects and energy management strategies. Its Fire weakness is a vulnerability to be managed within a matchup framework that considers Fire-type threats commonly present in various formats. While Paras does not carry high-impact tempo moves, its role as a stepping stone toward Parasect fits into evolutionary-based strategies that rely on gradual value accumulation rather than burst damage.

Collector and Market Information

Rarity-wise, Paras is categorized as Common, making standard printings relatively accessible to collectors. The Breakthrough print variety was issued in multiple finishes, including Normal, Holo, and Reverse Holo variants, which is reflected in the card’s listing and pricing dynamics. Market data from major outlets provides a snapshot of collectible value and price volatility for this card and its holo counterparts.

avg 0.07 EUR; low 0.02 EUR; holo variant average 0.38 EUR; holo low 0.09 EUR; price trends show modest activity.
TCGPlayer (USD): Normal variant low 0.02 USD; mid 0.16 USD; high 1.49 USD; market price 0.16 USD; Reverse Holo variant low 0.20 USD; mid 0.33 USD; high 1.69 USD; market price 0.33 USD.

Prices are subject to change with market demand, print runs, and grading variances. The data above reflects reported values as of late 2025 and should be consulted directly on market trackers for current figures. Grading and holo vs. non-holo condition can significantly affect value, particularly for collectors seeking pristine examples or complete set collections.

Art and Lore

The artwork for this Paras card is credited to Hajime Kusajima, a prolific illustrator whose work spans multiple Pokémon TCG sets. Kusajima’s style often emphasizes clear character silhouettes and approachable, nature-inspired environments that suit Paras’s Bug/Grass typing. The card’s art places Paras amid a natural setting, with the Mushroom-like growths typical of Paras’s biology, thereby reinforcing its in-game identity as a parasitic organism that thrives in moist, forested habitats. This visual treatment aligns with the broader thematic presentation of Paras in the Pokémon universe, where it is commonly depicted in environments that highlight its symbiotic relationship with mushrooms.

Within the game’s lore, Paras is a low-HP, early-stage Pokémon that serves as a practical stepping stone toward Parasect. The Breakthrough printing situates Paras in a period of the Pokémon TCG where evolving lines and resource management were central to deck-building philosophy, encouraging players to balance immediate-play value with long-term development through evolution.

Trivia

The XY Breakthrough card XY8-1 marks Paras’s entry as the first numbered card in its set for this expansion, reflecting its position as a common starter in the Breakthrough lineup.
Paras’s attack, Blot, intentionally emphasizes healing as a core mechanic to sustain the Pokémon on the field, a thematic complement to its parasitic biology and its role in evolving into Parasect in the broader game context.
The card exists in multiple prints (Normal, Holo, Reverse Holo), illustrating common printing variants used in the XY era to cater to both gameplay and collector interest.
Legal status notes indicate Expanded format eligibility, while Standard format eligibility is not applicable for this particular print in the listed update period. This reflects the ongoing changes in card legality across formats as new sets rotate in and out of competitive play.
Typical market activity for common Grass-type basics from older sets shows relatively stable prices, with holo variants generally commanding a modest premium due to aesthetic appeal and collector demand in complete set collections.

References and Data Sources

Card data is compiled from official Pokémon TCG resources and market-tracking services that document set composition, card text, and legal formats. Citations reflect the Breakthrough set details, card text for Paras, and pricing indicators from CardMarket and TCGPlayer as of late 2025. The image and credit line reference TCGdex.net for card imagery and attribution.

📘 Paras — Pokémon TCG