Digital Vault Wiki

Overview

Pikachu on the Ball is a Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) card from the Pokémon Futsal 2020 subset. The card presents a sports-themed interpretation of Pikachu, a staple Electric-type Pokémon, as a holo promotional card within a compact set that celebrates athletic and playful imagery. As a Basic Pokémon with a two-attack moveset, it is designed to offer both a lightweight early-game option and a powerful late-game finisher when sufficient energy is available, all while showcasing the distinctive holo treatment of the subset.

The Pokémon Futsal 2020 collection is a small, official print run featuring five cards in total. The set’s card count and branding indicate a niche, collectible release that emphasizes visual appeal and novelty more than standard tournament competitiveness. Pikachu on the Ball stands out within this set due to its holo variant and its combination of a modest early attack and a high-damage finisher attack that requires two Lightning Energy and one Colorless Energy.

Card Information

Name: Pikachu on the Ball
Dex ID: 25
Category: Pokémon
Set: Pokémon Futsal 2020 (fut2020)
Rarity: None
Illustrator: The Pokémon Company Art Team
Stage: Basic
HP: Not specified in the provided data
Attacks:

Tail Whap — Cost: Colorless; Damage: 10
Lightning Shot — Cost: Lightning, Lightning, Colorless; Damage: 120; Effect: Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.

Weakness: Fighting ×2
Retreat Cost: 1
Regulation Mark: D
Legal Formats: Expanded legal; Standard legality listed as False
Variations: holo variant confirmed; other variants not present in this card data
Evolution Line: Pikachu evolves from Pichu and evolves to Raichu in the broader Pokémon line
Set Details: The set consists of official cardCount: 5 (total and official), with branding and symbols provided by the Pokémon TCG ecosystem
Description: “Pikachu that can generate powerful electricity have cheek sacs that are extra soft and super stretchy.”
Last Updated: 2025-08-16T19:38:01Z
Pricing (availability): Card market and TCGPlayer data not provided in the card data

The card’s image, listed in the data as the primary art asset, is hosted at the following URL: https://assets.tcgdex.net/en/swsh/fut2020/1. The high-resolution image used for display in this article is available at the top of the page by URL: https://assets.tcgdex.net/en/swsh/fut2020/1/high.png. The card’s artwork reflects a sports-themed portrayal consistent with the set’s concept, and the holo treatment emphasizes its collectible status within the subset.

Gameplay and Strategy

As a Basic Electric-type Pokémon with two attacks, Pikachu on the Ball offers a straightforward gameplay path for players seeking a mid-to-late-game power spike. The first attack, Tail Whap, is a low-damage option that can help establish earlier board presence or contribute to a quick chip-damage plan in the early turns. With a retreat cost of 1, the card remains reasonably mobile on the bench, allowing players to reposition Pikachu on the Ball as needed to support evolving board states.

The second attack, Lightning Shot, delivers a potent 120 damage output but carries a high risk due to its coin-flip resolution: if the coin lands tails, the attack fails to deal damage. This introduces a risk-reward dynamic that makes the card highly sensitive to the player’s ability to set up reliable coin-flip outcomes or to mitigate the risk with support that grants re-flips, coin manipulation, or additional utility. In practice, Lightning Shot pairs well with energy acceleration strategies that enable the necessary three-energy cost (two Lightning and one Colorless) more consistently, increasing the probability of landing the 120-damage hit while potentially leveraging effects that reduce the chance of a tails outcome or compensate for a failed attack.

In terms of matchups, Pikachu on the Ball’s weakness to Fighting-type Pokémon ×2 creates a vulnerability against common Fighting-type decks. When integrating this card into a modern or expanded format deck, players commonly pair it with other Electric-type Pokémon that can pressure early trades, or with stadiums and items that broaden energy acceleration or sustain through tails results on Lightning Shot. Because the card is not standard-legal (per the provided regulation data) but is expanded-legal, it can find a place in formats that accommodate non-standard sets and limited-release promos, where its unique art and holo presentation can complement thematic ballast in a gamestate-focused decklist.

Deck archetypes that might leverage Pikachu on the Ball could emphasize a burst-damage strategy featuring high-variance, high-impact attacks balanced by defensive or coin-flip mitigation options. The presence of Tail Whap provides a safe on-turn option while charging the field for Lightning Shot, which may serve as a game-ending blow when the player secures the necessary energy and coin outcome. Combination with Trainer items that search for Energy or provide additional draws can enhance consistency and maximize the card’s offensive potential during mid-game windows.

Collector and Market Information

The card is marked with a rarity of None, indicating a non-typical rarity designation within the standard TCG rarity spectrum. This often corresponds to promotional or limited-release prints where the emphasis is on aesthetics and thematic appeal rather than distribution breadth. The holo variant, confirmed in the card’s detailed attributes, typically carries collector interest due to its visual appeal, especially within a sub-theme like football/futsal imagery that this set embraces.

Pricing and market data for this specific card are not provided within the card data. Collectors typically monitor the secondary market for expanded-legal, holo variants, especially those tied to niche sets like Pokémon Futsal 2020. Condition, edition status (first edition vs. non-first edition), and the broader context of the card’s availability influence price trends, alongside general market demand for Pikachu-themed collectibles and holo cards from limited-release sets.

As with many promotional and non-standard cards, grading considerations (e.g., PSA, BGS) can add value depending on the card’s condition and the collector’s interest in the specific holo variant from this subset. The absence of official pricing in the provided data means that interested collectors should consult reputable market trackers and grading services for current valuation and trend information.

Art and Lore

The card’s artwork, credited to The Pokémon Company Art Team, reflects a dynamic sports theme consistent with the Futbol/Futsal concept of the set. The illustration style emphasizes bright, energetic motion, with Pikachu reacting in a way that evokes athletic competition and playful energy. This aligns with the broader Pokémon universe’s tradition of pairing iconic Pokémon with diverse, thematic crossovers that broaden the visual language of the TCG while maintaining fidelity to character design and martial spirit within the Pokémon world.

From a lore perspective, Pikachu’s associated description—“Pikachu that can generate powerful electricity have cheek sacs that are extra soft and super stretchy.”—is a traditional Pokédex entry used to justify the Pokémon’s electrical capabilities. While the card itself presents a sports-centric aesthetic rather than narrative storytelling, it nonetheless reinforces Pikachu’s identity as an electrically charged, agile battler capable of agile movement and unexpected bursts of power.

Trivia

Notable details about this card include its holo variant and its placement within a small, five-card official print run that emphasizes set branding and collectible design. The card’s regulation mark (D) places it within Expanded-format eligibility, while explicitly noting standard-format ineligibility. The card’s update timestamp (2025-08-16T19:38:01Z) indicates a recent data refresh, ensuring that the card’s attributes align with the most current set information in the data source.

Additional points of interest include the card’s licensing and illustrator attribution to The Pokémon Company Art Team, which reflects the collaborative output of official artists across Pokémon media. The juxtaposition of a holo Pikachu against a futsal-themed backdrop offers a distinctive visual identity that appeals to both players and collectors who favor art-driven cards within niche sets.

CTA & NETWORK LINKS

Pikachu on the Ball

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