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Tropius card art from Eevee Grove set (A3b-001)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Tropius is a basic Grass-type Pokémon card from the Eevee Grove expansion, identified by the set code A3b. This card showcases Tropius as a sturdy early-game presence with a straightforward Grass-type offense and a three-energy, colorless-attacking requirement. Printed in multiple print variants — including hollow, reverse hollow, and normal — Tropius embodies the era’s emphasis on large-HP basic Pokémon that could sustain battles through consistent pressure. Its flavor text describes Tropius’s tropical habitat and distinctive neck fruit, reinforcing its identity as a jungle-dwelling Grass-type with practical feeding adaptations.

Card Information

Name: Tropius
Set: Eevee Grove (A3b)
Card Number: 001
Rarity: Two Diamond
Illustrator: Oswaldo KATO
HP: 100
Type: Grass
Stage: Basic
Attacks: Cutting Wind — costs three Colorless; Damage 60
Weaknesses: Fire (+20)
Retreat Cost: 2
Evolution: None (basic Pokémon)
Legal in formats (as of update): Standard – No; Expanded – No
Description (flavor text): “It lives in tropical jungles. The bunch of fruit around its neck is delicious. The fruit grows twice a year.”
Variants: Normal, Hollow, Reverse Hollow (first edition not indicated in this release)
Image: Available at https://assets.tcgdex.net/en/tcgp/A3b/001
Local ID: 001
Set Card Count: Official 69, Total 107

Gameplay and Strategy

In gameplay terms, Tropius represents a sturdy early-mid game option with a relatively simple energy requirement for its primary attack. Cutting Wind costs three Colorless energy and deals 60 damage, making it a straightforward if energy-intensive attacker. The 100 HP pool provides reasonable durability for a basic, but players must balance energy attachment with other Grass-type or colorless-energized attackers to maintain pressure against opponents’ lines.

Key strategic considerations include:

Energy Management: The three-colorless cost means players need a solid energy acceleration plan to consistently power Cutting Wind. Decks that tier Grass-type lines with additional energy acceleration can maximize Tropius’s damage output while maintaining board presence.
Attack Cost vs. Power: While 60 damage is respectable for a basic attack, it sits behind higher-damage options from evolved or special-attached Pokémon in many formats. Tropius is most effective in decks that leverage card draw, energy search, or trainer support to ensure timely attachments and to maximize uptime of the attack.
Matchup Considerations: Its Fire-type weakness is a common vulnerability for Grass decks, so opponents with Fire-focused strategies will favor Tropius’s susceptibility. Defensive play and retreat management (cost 2) allow Tropius to disengage when necessary while conserving resources for subsequent turns.
Role in a Deck: As a basic Grass-type with solid HP, Tropius can serve as an anchor for a slow, methodical tempo deck or as a value-option in broader Grass-synergy archetypes. It pairs with trainers that accelerate energy or draw to sustain pressure across multiple turns.

Additionally, the card’s non-legal status in standard and expanded formats (as indicated in the card data) places Tropius primarily in the realm of into-collection play and historical/past-format debates. In contemporary play, players seeking Grass-type aggression would typically rely on more current printings or evolved lines. Tropius remains relevant for collectors and for understanding the design logic of the Eevee Grove set’s basic Pokémon roster.

Collector and Market Information

The Tropius card from Eevee Grove carries the Two Diamond rarity designation, which denotes a relatively high rarity within this expansion. The card is printed in several print variants, including normal, holo, and reverse holo, with no first edition designation noted in the available data. The Eevee Grove set, identified by card count information (official 69, total 107), positions Tropius among other basic Pokémon in a larger collection that explores grass-type themes and jungle-inspired artwork.

Pricing data for this Tropius card shows card market and TCGPlayer values not available in the provided dataset. This absence indicates either limited market activity or data not captured in the referenced source. Collectors typically consider holo and reverse holo variants to have distinct value differences, with condition, print run, and population affecting pricing in secondary markets. Grading remains an important consideration for holo and reverse holo copies, as with most Pokémon TCG collectibles.

From a collecting standpoint, Tropius’s status as a basic Grass-type with a notable artwork attribution (Oswaldo KATO) and its place in a distinct set contributes to its appeal among players who favor Jungle-themed or tropical Pokémon, as well as collectors focusing on Eevee Grove completions. The card’s association with multiple print variants further enhances its desirability for set completion and display collections.

Art and Lore

The artwork for Tropius in this Eevee Grove release is attributed to Oswaldo KATO. Tropius, a Pokémon known for its tropical habitat and fruit-bearing neck, is depicted in line with Grass-type aesthetics: lush greens, vibrant foliage, and a design emphasizing natural resilience. The flavor text reinforces Tropius’s jungle living environment and the seasonal fruit yield around its neck, tying visual representation to in-universe behavior and ecology. The tropical theme resonates with the broader Eevee Grove identity, which centers on nature, vitality, and the diverse landscapes that Pokémon inhabit.

Illustrators for Pokémon TCG cards play a crucial role in shaping how players perceive each creature’s character within the game. Oswaldo KATO’s interpretation of Tropius contributes to a tropical, sun-soaked ambiance that aligns with Grass-type symbolism: growth, vitality, and resilience against environmental pressures. The card’s high-HP basic form also places Tropius as a sturdy, enduring presence within its era’s design language, emphasizing durability and the utility of basic Pokémon in early-game strategies.

Trivia

The Eevee Grove set (A3b) includes a variety of basic Pokémon with tropical or jungle-inspired aesthetics, and Tropius is one standout representative of the Grass-type line in this subset.
The card exists in multiple print variants—normal, holo, and reverse holo—without an indicated first edition release in the provided data. This aligns with how several later print runs expanded holographic options for popular basic Pokémon.
Tropius’s attack, Cutting Wind, requires three Colorless energy and deals 60 damage, reflecting a design choice for consistent, energy-intensive output common to certain base-stage moves in its era.
The card’s rarity designation, Two Diamond, signals a higher tier within the Eevee Grove set, contributing to its appeal for collectors seeking rare prints from this expansion.
The card’s notations indicate it was not legal in Standard or Expanded formats as of the provided data, underscoring how archival or historical cards may be preserved in collections even if they are not currently playable in modern competitive play.

CTA & NETWORK LINKS

Tropius - Eevee Grove Card

📘 Tropius — Pokémon TCG