Wartortle
Quick take
- Mid-evolution slot in the Squirtle-Wartortle-Blastoise 151 IR chain
- Day-one English market around $63, second tier of 151 IR pricing
- Pairs with Squirtle IR (#170) for the early Water starter evolution arc
- Same artistic series as the headline starter IRs
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Scarlet & Violet 151
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 171/165 · $59.91 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Bridge Card in the 151 Water Starter Chain
Wartortle has always been the middle evolution that collectors mostly skip. Squirtle is the cute beginning and the most-collected Water starter. Blastoise is the powerful final form and the legendary chase card of the Base Set. Wartortle exists primarily as the step between them. Across 25+ years of Pokemon TCG history, Wartortle cards have traded at fractions of their evolutionary neighbours.
“Mid-evolution slot in the Squirtle-Wartortle-Blastoise 151 IR chain”
The 151 set's Illustration Rare treatment gives Wartortle a moment of standalone attention. Mitsuhiro Arita's illustration places the Pokemon in the same artistic series as the Iwamoto coffee-mug starters, lifestyle-aesthetic composition, calm pose, warm palette. The card sits at $63 raw, comfortably above the second-tier 151 IRs but clearly below the headline Squirtle IR at $100 and below Bulbasaur and Charmander IRs.
For collectors building the Squirtle-Wartortle-Blastoise evolutionary chain in 151 set IRs, Wartortle is the bridge card. Squirtle IR ($100) plus Wartortle IR ($63) plus Blastoise ex Ultra Rare (~$45) covers the full Water starter line in matched 151 set illustrations. The trio runs about $208 and tells the complete Gen I Water starter story.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Around $63 raw on TCGPlayer at last sync. Second tier of the 151 set's Illustration Rare lineup. Below the starter trio (Charmander $108, Squirtle $100, Bulbasaur $85) and Pikachu IR ($83). Comparable to Charmeleon IR ($79) and other mid-evolution IRs.
Has held the $55-70 range for 18+ months since the 151 set's 2023 release. The 151 set's longer print window moderated speculation. Wartortle's collector pool is narrower than the headline IRs, but the master set demand and starter chain completion pressure keeps the floor firm.
Stable. Wartortle IR's narrower demand pool caps upside but provides a firm floor. The card works as a master-set or evolutionary-line completion piece rather than a speculative play. PSA 10 graded copies are workable for committed collectors building the Water starter chain graded.
PSA 10 around 1.4-1.8x raw, $90-115. Submission economics are tighter than on Squirtle IR but still positive for clean copies.
Community 168-pack sample data puts IR at roughly 1 in 9 packs across all Illustration Rare slots. Per-specific Wartortle, roughly 1 in 90+ packs depending on the set's IR count.
Second tier of the 151 set's IR lineup. Below the starter trio (Squirtle, Charmander, Bulbasaur) and Pikachu IR. Above Ivysaur, Psyduck, Dragonair IRs at $52-58.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Mitsuhiro Arita is the original Pokemon TCG illustrator behind most of the Base Set's most iconic cards including Blastoise. His work has defined the visual identity of the early TCG for 25+ years. The 151 set's Wartortle IR is one of the more recent Arita contributions, fitting the lifestyle-illustration aesthetic established by the broader 151 IR lineup.
Wartortle in a lifestyle-composition pose consistent with the other 151 starter line IRs. The Pokemon's blue-and-white colouring with the iconic ear tufts is rendered against a warm palette background. Pose is grounded and calm rather than mid-attack. Background suggests environment through gradient rather than explicit landscape.
Illustration Rare with full-bleed textured holofoil. Texture follows Wartortle's body contours and the soft palette gradient. The blue and tan palette interacts with the holofoil in a way that emphasises the natural aesthetic.
Mitsuhiro Arita illustrated the original 1999 Base Set Blastoise. Having him illustrate the 151 set's Wartortle creates a coherent through-line in the Squirtle-Wartortle-Blastoise evolutionary chain across 25+ years of Pokemon TCG history. The card serves as both a contemporary IR and a tribute to the original Base Set lineage.
BackgroundAbout Wartortle
Wartortle debuted in Pokemon Red and Green (1996) as the mid-evolution of the Water-type starter line. National Pokedex #008. Evolves from Squirtle at level 16 and into Blastoise at level 36. Generation I Water-type final destination via Blastoise is one of the franchise's most-iconic evolutionary paths. Wartortle itself has limited standalone presence in marketing relative to its evolutionary neighbours.
- ›Mid-evolution of the Generation I Water starter line
- ›Bridge card for collectors completing the Squirtle-Wartortle-Blastoise chain
- ›Generation I origin, automatic legacy status
- ›Modest standalone fanbase among Wartortle-specific collectors
- ›Mitsuhiro Arita illustration ties to the original Base Set lineage
- ›Generation I in Pokemon Red/Green/Blue (1996-1998)
- ›Pokemon Stadium / Stadium 2 prominent feature
- ›Multiple anime appearances
- ›Pokemon GO release in 2016
- ›Featured in most Generation I tribute releases
Wartortle has minimal competitive presence outside of Little Cup play. Blastoise inherits the competitive utility. The 151 set TCG IR has playable stats for the standard format but is universally a display piece at this price.
Own it wellCollector guide
The warm palette is forgiving on centering. The ear-tuft details must remain pristine, surface marks on those elements grade harshly. Centering drift on the vertical axis is the most common 151 print issue.
Grade clean copies. PSA 10 premium runs 1.4-1.8x raw, $90-115. Submission economics work but are tighter than on the headline starter IRs. Only submit copies with strong centering. Pair with Squirtle IR and Blastoise ex for graded Water-starter chain display sets. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve on pull, top loader or magnetic case for raw. Climate-controlled storage is sufficient. See the storage guide →
TCGPlayer Direct for raw, eBay's PSA market for graded. Wartortle IR is best bought alongside Squirtle IR (#170) for the early Water starter evolution arc. Together with a Blastoise ex from the 151 set, the trio runs about $208 and completes the matched-set Gen I Water chain. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Positive but quieter. Wartortle IR rarely makes 'best of' lists, it sits in the middle tier where it competes with no specific narrative beyond evolutionary-line completion. Collectors who appreciate Wartortle as a Pokemon (rather than just a step toward Blastoise) gravitate here.
- ›Recent TCGPlayer market around $63 raw
- ›PSA 10 graded comps in the $90-130 range
Moderate. Less visibility than the headline starter IRs but features in 'complete 151 IR set' discussions and 'Squirtle to Blastoise evolutionary chain' collector content. Mitsuhiro Arita's involvement adds artist-collector interest.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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