Carnivine – Dark Explorers (#5)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Carnivine (#5) is a Rare card from Black & White - Dark Explorers released in 2012. It showcases artwork by Yukiko Baba and the Lure Poison attack, Switch the Defending Pokémon with 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. The new Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.. TCGplayer market price sits around $1.31, Cardmarket average sale is €1.66, Floor listings start near €0.10.
- TCGplayer market price: $1.31
- Cardmarket trend price: €1.21
- Recent low listing: €0.10
Card Details
- Set
- Dark Explorers
- Card Number
- 5
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Yukiko Baba
- HP
- 90
- Type
- 🌿 Grass
- Weaknesses
- Fire ×2
- Resistances
- Water -20
- Retreat Cost
- 2 (Colorless, Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Lure Poison
[Grass]
Switch the Defending Pokémon with 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. The new Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. -
Spit Squall
[Grass, Grass, Colorless]
Your opponent puts the Defending Pokémon and all cards attached to it into his or her hand.
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Carnivine from Dark Explorers (Rare) represents a solid addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2012, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Yukiko Baba.
Market Trends: Current market conditions show moderate interest in this card.
Investment Considerations: Vintage cards from this era have shown strong long-term appreciation potential.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Carnivine 5 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
Key Attack: Carnivine's Lure Poison for Grass energy. Special effect: Switch the Defending Pokémon with 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. The new Defending Pokémon is...
Stats Overview: 90 HP • Grass Type • Weak to Fire ×2 • Resistant to Water -20
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Carnivine Cards
Looking for other Carnivine cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Explorers #5 ← Current | 90 | 2 attacks | Rare | $1.31 |
�📦 Dark Explorers Set Context
This Carnivine is part of the Dark Explorers expansion , released as part of the Black & White series in 2012.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Yukiko Baba, whose distinctive illustration style has made their cards highly collectible. Explore more cards illustrated by this artist to discover similar art styles and collecting themes.
💎 Professional Grading Guide
Professional grading can significantly increase the value of your Carnivine card. Here's what you need to know:
Industry standard • Value multiplier: 2-4x
Best for: High-value cards, modern sets
Subgrades available • Value multiplier: 2-3x
Best for: Premium cards, perfect centering
Fast turnaround • Value multiplier: 1.5-3x
Best for: Budget-friendly option, bulk
💡 Should You Grade This Card?
- Yes, consider grading if: Card value exceeds $20 and is in excellent condition
- Grading cost: $20-100+ per card (depending on service level)
- Break-even point: Card should be worth $50+ raw to justify grading costs
- Turnaround time: 2 weeks to 6 months depending on service
Collector Notes
- Rare cards from Dark Explorers are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Yukiko Baba resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Grass typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
More from Dark Explorers
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Carnivine 5 was released in 2012 in the Dark Explorers expansion. This set is part of the Black & White series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Yukiko Baba. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Set Popularity: Dark Explorers is a vintage set that has gained significant collector interest over time, with sealed product and individual cards showing strong appreciation.
Competitive History: Grass type Pokémon like Carnivine with versatile attack options provide flexibility in deck building and can adapt to different matchups. Currently legal in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Carnivine card with these essential products:
- Penny sleeves: Basic protection
- Perfect fit sleeves: Pre-grading
- Top loaders: Display & storage
- Binders with side-loading pages
- Storage boxes (800-count)
- ETB (Elite Trainer Box) storage
- Premium display cases
- Pair with Grass energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Carnivine works best in Grass type decks. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.