Digital Vault Wiki

Servine holo card art from Macdonald's Collection 2012 (2012bw-1)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Servine is a Grass-type Pokémon TCG card featured in Macdonald's Collection 2012, a set designated by the collector-friendly code 2012bw. This release presents Servine as a Stage 1 Pokémon, indicating it evolves from Snivy and precedes Serperior in the traditional evolution line. The card is illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno and is noted in the dataset as holo-variant, reflecting a foil treatment that enhances its visual appeal on the battlefield and to collectors alike. The set information shows a relatively compact official print run, with a total card count of 12 in the collection, emphasizing its place within a curated, nostalgic snapshot of the era.

The card text and flavor describe Servine’s behavioral traits in battle—defensively avoiding direct attacks by slipping into foliage shadows and returning with physical whip-like strikes. This thematic pairing of stealth movement and counterattack aligns with the Pokémon’s in-game depiction and provides a flavor narrative that complements the card’s mechanical capabilities on the table.

Card Information

Category: Pokémon
Name: Servine
Set: Macdonald's Collection 2012
Set ID: 2012bw
Card Number in Set: 1 (localId 1)
Rarity: None
Type: Grass
HP: 80
Stage: Stage 1
Illustrator: Kagemaru Himeno
Weakness: Not listed in the provided data
Evolution: Evolves from Snivy; evolves to Serperior
Attacks:
- Wrap — 20 damage. Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
- Tackle — 30 damage.
Illustration Variant: holo (as per variants_detailed)
Legal Formats: Standard: False, Expanded: False
Description (Flavor Text): "They avoid attacks by sinking into the shadows of thick foliage. They retaliate with masterful whipping techniques."
Official Set Card Count: Official 12, Total 12

Gameplay and Strategy

In the Pokémon TCG, Servine functions as a mid-game Grass-type attacker with moderate HP and two straightforward attacks. Its strategic value hinges on two primary considerations: the potential to apply paralysis via Wrap, and the reliability of a solid but modest base attack with Tackle. The Wrap move introduces a variable element—paralysis can prevent opposing threats from attacking on subsequent turns, creating space to accumulate energy, set up stronger threats, or disrupt an opponent’s plan. However, paralysis depends on a coin flip, introducing an element of chance that players must weigh when building a deck around Servine.

The card’s Stage 1 status means Servine is typically used after evolving from Snivy, or within a deck that employs evolution support to maximize one’s board presence mid-game. With 80 HP, Servine is reasonably durable for a Stage 1 Grass-type, but it is not among the most resilient options in modern formats. The {Wrap + paralysis risk} pairing can be leveraged in conjunction with other status-controlling tools common to Grass and multi-type archetypes, particularly those that benefit from stalling or setting up a superior field presence in the mid-game.

Notably, the dataset marks this card as not legal in Standard or Expanded formats, which reflects its historical context and the era of its release. In practice, Servine’s usability in contemporary competitive play would be absent due to format restrictions, but its value may be anchored in collector interest, nostalgia, and the holo variant’s appeal. When constructing a themed deck or an archival collection, players might consider alignment with the broader Snivy–Serperior evolutionary line and how Stage 1 Grass Pokémon contributed to early-2010s strategies.

Collector and Market Information

The card’s market data indicates holofoil availability within the Macdonald's Collection 2012 set. As of the most recent updates, TCGPlayer pricing for the holofoil variant is recorded with a low price of 3.25 USD, a mid price of 3.25 USD, and a high price of 4.25 USD. The market price is listed at 4.80 USD, reflecting collector demand for holo versions of cards from this set. The absence of a CardMarket listing in the provided data suggests limited or non-uniform availability across markets for this particular print run. Price data is subject to change as collectors, retailers, and market dynamics evolve.

Rarity is listed as None in the official card data, which can influence perceived scarcity and pricing in some contexts. The holo variant, however, often carries additional visual and collectible appeal that can affect resale value beyond raw rarity indicators. For researchers and collectors, these figures provide a snapshot of the card’s economic footprint within the broader Pokémon TCG secondary market as of late 2025.

Additionally, the card’s print status confirms that it is not designated as a standard or expanded legal card in modern formats, consistent with its historical release in a non-rotating collection. This contextualizes price and rarity within the scope of vintage or specialty print runs rather than current competitive play.

Art and Lore

The artwork for Servine is credited to Kagemaru Himeno, an illustrator recognized for his contributions to the Pokémon TCG across multiple sets. Himeno’s style often features vibrant greens and fluid linework, which suits Grass-type Pokémon and emphasizes their natural, plant-like motifs. The holo treatment in this release enhances the serpentine lines and foliage textures, lending a sense of depth and sheen that resonates with the card’s theme of camouflage within dense vegetation.

The flavor text—"They avoid attacks by sinking into the shadows of thick foliage. They retaliate with masterful whipping techniques."—connects Servine’s in-game behavior to a battlefield persona: a cautious, responsive predator that leverages concealment to position counterattacks. While flavor text does not affect gameplay, it enriches lore by tying Servine’s identity to the broader ecosystem of Pokémon with similar stealth-and-strike characteristics.

Trivia

The card is listed with no explicit rarity, which is notable in sets where holo variants are common for charmed or rare cards.
Its print is identified as holo for the set Macdonald's Collection 2012 (2012bw), and its first edition status is false, indicating it was produced in a later wave rather than an early release in the year.
Despite being a Stage 1 Pokémon, the card’s legality is marked as not valid for Standard or Expanded formats, reflecting its role within a specific historical collection rather than continuous, modern play.
The card’s illustration by Kagemaru Himeno is part of a broader body of Grass-type artwork from the era, contributing to the visual identity of Servine within the TCG.
The set’s official card count (12 total) places it among smaller, collectible print runs of the period, often targeted by completionists and enthusiasts of early-2010s Pokémon TCG releases.

Notes on Card Data and Source References

The information presented here is drawn from the card’s data, including the set identifier 2012bw for Macdonald's Collection 2012, the holo variant confirmation, attack details (Wrap and Tackle), and the flavor text. Currency-related market data is drawn from TCGPlayer pricing with listed values updated as of late 2025. The legal format statuses reflect the provided dataset’s specification, noting that this Servine card is not currently sanctioned for Standard or Expanded play in official formats.

📘 Servine — Pokémon TCG