Wartortle · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Wartortle card
Wartortle is card 92 of 165 in Expedition Base Set, released in September 2002, an Uncommon. It is a Stage 1 Water-type with 80 HP.
As a Stage 1, it evolves from Squirtle, which places Wartortle deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and many Gen 1 Pokémon, and her card work has a soft, rounded warmth that suits the friendlier creatures.
About Wartortle in the Pokémon world
The Squirtle middle stage. Longer ears, tail-feathers, and a more aggressive posture than Squirtle. Almost exclusively bought as part of a complete water starter line. Standalone demand is modest.
What is Wartortle worth?
Wartortle is an Uncommon, so raw copies are inexpensive and easy to find. The value is in condition: a genuine PSA 10, especially 1st Edition, can still reach a surprising figure for an otherwise common card. The live price above breaks it down by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Wartortle before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Wartortle grades forgivingly, but the same centering and edge standards apply. Pack-fresh raw copies are easy to find, which makes a clean PSA 10 submission a low-cost way to learn how the cardstock behaves under grading.
If you are collecting Wartortle
Raw copies of Wartortle are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Wartortle is the practical move.
