Digital Vault Wiki

Pineco card art from Scarlet & Violet sv01-001

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

The Pokémon Trading Card Game entry discussed here represents a Basic Grass-type Pokémon card from the Scarlet & Violet expansion, released as part of the sv01 subset. The card carries the official designation sv01-001 and is classified as Common in rarity. With 60 Hit Points (HP) and a straightforward two‑colorless energy cost for its single attack, this card is designed to function as a compact, early‑game presence in Grass‑type decks. The artwork is credited to Shigenori Negishi, a designer whose contributions to the TCG span multiple sets and exemplify the crisp, stylized visuals characteristic of the Scarlet & Violet era. The card’s evolution line runs from Pineco to Forretress, aligning with the long‑standing Bug type lineage in the Pokémon franchise. While the card is introductory in nature, its Guard Press ability offers a defensive option that can influence tempo and sequencing during matches.

Within the broader Scarlet & Violet set, sv01 contributes to the early‑print distribution and showcases a mix of common, uncommon, and rare cards designed to establish a diverse foundation for new and returning players. The official set information notes a total card count of 198 in the official release, with 258 total cards across various print runs, illustrating the ongoing expansion and revisiting of classic Pokémon through alternate arts, reprints, and variant formats.

Card Information

Name: Pineco
Set: Scarlet & Violet (sv01)
Card Number: sv01-001
Dex Number: 204
Type: Grass
Stage: Basic
HP: 60
Rarity: Common
Illustrator: Shigenori Negishi
Attack: Guard Press
Attack Cost: Colorless, Colorless
Attack Effect: During your opponent's next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
Attack Damage: 10
Retreat Cost: 2
Weakness: Not listed in the provided data
Resistance: Not listed in the provided data
Regulation Mark: G
Legal in: Standard and Expanded
Evolution: Evolves to Forretress
Variants: Normal and Reverse holo versions are noted in the dataset; first edition: False; holo: False; promo: False
Illustration: The card features artwork by Shigenori Negishi, a recurring contributor to the Pokémon TCG who frequently emphasizes clean linework and vibrant natural imagery.

Gameplay and Strategy

As a Basic Grass-type with modest HP, Pineco is typically deployed early in a match to set the tempo while its trainer prepares the board for mid‑game acceleration or evolution. The sole attack, Guard Press, provides a built‑in defensive utility by reducing damage taken on the opponent’s next turn by 30 (after applying weaknesses and resistances). This effect can offer meaningful protection against a single high‑damage attack, potentially allowing Pineco to remain on the field long enough to evolve into a more threatening stage creature in the same turn or subsequent turns.

Strategically, Guard Press supports a stall‑or‑set‑up approach. Players may use Pineco to buy a turn or two of board presence, especially when bench space is constrained or when key energies and evolution cards need sequencing. The 60 HP baseline makes Pineco vulnerable to faster, more powerful attackers, so its value often comes from how it interacts with the draw and search engine of the deck to maximize the odds of drawing Forretress or another stronger Grass option as soon as feasible.

Deck construction considerations for this card typically emphasize balance between speed and protection. Since the retreat cost is 2, it is prudent to include means of retreating Pineco when needed, or to stack with bench riders that pressure the opponent’s options. The ability to evolve into Forretress—an upgrade with its own strategic implications—encourages players to structure their turns to ensure a smooth evolutionary line while safeguarding the bench from single‑hit knockouts.

Collector and Market Information

Rarity and print status influence collectability and pricing. The sv01 Pineco is categorized as Common, reflecting wide distribution across printings and relatively high availability compared with higher‑rarity counterparts. The card’s market presence is shaped by the Scarlet & Violet sv01 subset, which features a substantial number of cards and variants. Notable data from CardMarket, current as of late October 2025, indicate a non‑holo non‑promo version with an average price around €0.05 and a typical low of about €0.02. Price trends for the non‑holo listing show modest fluctuations (approximately €0.06 in short‑term windows). For holo variants, the dataset provides a separate, higher price frame, suggesting limited or absent holo printings for this exact sv01‑001 listing within the provided data; the holo metrics show a higher average when present, reflecting rarity differentials between holo and non‑holo copies in other cards, though not necessarily applicable to this specific sv01-001 card.

In terms of regulation and playability, Pineco sv01-001 is legal in both Standard and Expanded formats as indicated by its regulation mark (G) and official listing. The card’s market data underscore its role as a low‑cost entry point for players collecting the Scarlet & Violet set, as well as a potential low‑risk inclusion for collectors seeking to complete sv01 print runs.

Art and Lore

The card’s illustration is credited to Shigenori Negishi, whose work on the Scarlet & Violet era emphasizes clean, accessible visuals with a focus on character silhouettes against natural environments. While Pineco’s realworld lore is minimal within the trading card context, the art typically anchors the Pokémon in a terrestrial, forested setting that aligns with its Bug/Grass lineage in the broader franchise. Negishi’s approach on this piece is consistent with the period’s emphasis on approachable, family‑friendly artwork that remains faithful to the creature’s in‑game personality and ecological role.

Beyond the card’s image, Scarlet & Violet as a set explores a more expansive regional and thematic storytelling approach within the TCG, weaving new mechanics and evolving card design while maintaining connections to classic Pokémon species. Pineco’s place within this framework reflects its status as a basic, early game presence whose evolution into Forretress ties into the ongoing narrative of growth and adaptation visible across the collection.

Trivia

The sv01-001 listing identifies this Pineco as the first numbered card in the Scarlet & Violet sv01 subset.
Despite its Grass typing in this dataset, Pineco’s emblematic role in the franchise is that of a small, pinecone‑like bug that evolves into Forretress, a partnership mirrored in many card sets through evolution lines.
The sole attack, Guard Press, emphasizes a defensive mechanic designed to mitigate a single incoming threat, illustrating how even basic Pokémon contribute to tempo and control in modern formats.
Regulation mark G places the card within a general era of the Pokémon TCG where these marks are used to indicate its eligibility across standard rotation cycles.
The card’s rarity, up‑to‑date legality, and relatively low market price exemplify typical asset characteristics of Common basic Pokémon within a large, ongoing expansion cycle.

📘 Pineco — Pokémon TCG