📘 Venusaur — Pokémon TCG Card Profile

Category: Pokemon TCG · Created: · Updated:

Venusaur card art from Pokémon Rumble ru1 set in high resolution

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Venusaur is a Grass-type Pokémon card that appears as a Stage 2 evolution within the Pokémon TCG entry for the Pokémon Rumble set (ru1). As the culminating form in the classic Bulbasaur line, Venusaur in this release is distinguished by its sizable 140 HP and a multi-energy attack that emphasizes both offense and sustain. The card showcases the dual characteristics of mid- to late-series Grass interactions: a demanding energy cost for a potent attack and a built-in healing mechanic that aligns with Venusaur’s in-game lore as a resilient force in battles against Fire-type adversaries. In print runs associated with the ru1 set, Venusaur is represented across multiple variants, including Normal, Holo, and Reverse forms, reflecting the broader printer's practice of offering collectors several foil and non-foil options for popular Pokémon in a single set cycle.

Card Information

  • Category: Pokémon
  • Name: Venusaur
  • Dex/National Pokédex ID: 3
  • Set: Pokémon Rumble (ru1) — Official card count for the set: 16
  • Rarity: None
  • HP: 140
  • Type: Grass
  • Stage: Stage 2
  • Evolves From: Ivysaur
  • Attacks: Giga Drain — Cost: Grass, Grass, Colorless, Colorless; Damage: 50; Effect: Remove from Venusaur the number of damage counters equal to the damage you did to the Defending Pokémon.
  • Weakness: Fire ×2
  • Illustrator: Not listed in the provided data
  • Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse
  • Legal formats: Standard: No; Expanded: No
  • Set symbol: Pok é mon Rumble (ru1) — logos and symbol links provided in the set data

Gameplay and Strategy

In competitive play, Venusaur’s Giga Drain stands out for its self-healing component. By dealing 50 damage to the Defending Pokémon, the attacker can remove the same number of damage counters from Venusaur, effectively healing up to 50 damage if the attack connects without overkill. This mechanic incentivizes careful energy management and tempo control: players may aim to maximize damage while maintaining enough HP to weather opposing attacks, especially given Venusaur’s vulnerability to Fire-type threats with a ×2 weakness.

From a gameplay perspective, several strategic considerations arise:

  • Energy investment: The attack requires two Grass energy cards plus two Colorless energies. Building a deck around Venusaur typically involves acceleration strategies or energy-dense Grass lines to ensure a reliable four-energy requirement while maintaining board presence.
  • Healing uptime: The heal effect scales with the damage dealt by Giga Drain. In matchups where Venusaur can land multiple successful strikes, the card can sustain itself longer on the field, potentially outlasting foes that lack sustained pressure.
  • Weakness management: Fire-type decks pose a significant hazard due to the ×2 weakness. Successful Venusaur play often hinges on protecting the Pokémon from direct Fire-type aggression or leveraging attacker selection that minimizes exposure to a single-fire-dominant strategy.
  • Set and format context: The ru1 release is not listed as legal in Standard or Expanded formats, which means Venusaur’s play value is primarily in historical or Vintage contexts, as well as in casual play or dedicated collection-focused formats that recognize older sets.
  • Variant considerations: The presence of Normal, Holo, and Reverse variants can influence deck-building decisions and collection goals, as holo and reverse variants typically carry premium collector interest and distinct playability in non-rotating formats or special events.

Collector and Market Information

The Venusaur card from the Pokémon Rumble set is cataloged with a rarity designation of None in the provided data, which reflects how this particular entry is indexed within the source. The set ru1 consists of 16 official cards, and Venusaur occupies a prominent evolution role within that lineup as a Stage 2 Grass-type—an archetype that often appeals to players who favor bulkier, endurance-focused strategies or nostalgic lineages.

Market data included in the card profile shows active interest in the card through secondary markets. CardMarket’s EUR pricing data, updated in late 2025, indicates an average market value around 52.25 EUR, with observed low-end price points near 19.99 EUR. The trend metric—an indicator of price movement across recent periods—registers at approximately 32.83, signaling a moderate upward drift in general market valuation for this card. It is important to note that these figures reflect market dynamics and can vary by card condition (graded versus ungraded), variant (Normal, Holo, Reverse), and regional availability. The dataset also notes a holo-specific trend, though holo pricing data is not fully populated in this snapshot, suggesting variability in price data across print runs and markets.

For collectors, Venusaur in holo form often represents a key chase card in retro or niche sets, given Venusaur’s enduring popularity as a starter evolution and its strong visual appeal in holo foil. As with many older Pokémon TCG releases, the rarity and print history contribute to demand that is driven by both gameplay nostalgia and display value in collections. The absence of a confirmed official illustrator within the provided data does not necessarily affect collecting value, but it highlights that provenance details can vary across card databases and reprints.

Art and Lore

The image accompanying this entry depicts Venusaur in a design consistent with Grass-type starters and their evolution line within the broader Pokémon universe. While the specific illustrator credit is not included in the supplied card data, Venusaur’s artwork across many sets typically emphasizes lush botanical motifs, a robust hulking silhouette, and a sense of calm power characteristic of the species’ in-game and anime representations. The Pokémon Rumble set’s thematic framing places Venusaur within a lineup that celebrates the classic synergy of Bulbasaur’s evolutionary journey, from the earliest stages to full maturity as a formidable field combatant.

From a lore perspective, Venusaur’s identity as a seasoned, groundbound Grass-type aligns with strategic play that emphasizes durability and sustain. The Giga Drain attack echoes Venusaur’s in-game symbolism as a life-stealing, energy-absorbing creature capable of leveraging botanical energy to outlast opponents. Although the ru1 set is not part of the currently active competitive format, its artwork and card design contribute to the broader historical tapestry of the Pokémon TCG’s evolution and the enduring charm of the Grass-type archetype.

Trivia

  • The Venusaur card exists in multiple print variants within the ru1 set, including Normal, Holo, and Reverse forms, reflecting common printing practices for popular evolutions in this era.
  • The Giga Drain attack combines a multi-energy cost with a self-healing mechanic, a notable design choice that rewards players for successful trades and careful resource management.
  • The card’s official legality is limited to formats outside Standard and Expanded, highlighting its status as a collectible or historical piece rather than a current tournament staple.
  • The set symbol and official logo for Pokémon Rumble are provided within the data, offering context for collectors who map cards to specific expansions and print runs.
  • The Dex ID and evolution data place Venusaur squarely within the canonical Grass-type starter evolution chain, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the Bulbasaur family across multiple Pokémon TCG printings.

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