Altaria – Great Encounters (#12)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Altaria (#12) is a Rare card from Diamond & Pearl - Great Encounters released in 2008. It showcases artwork by Kagemaru Himeno and the Dragonbreath attack (40 damage), Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.. TCGplayer market price sits around $2.20, Cardmarket average sale is €1.01, Floor listings start near €0.25.
- TCGplayer market price: $2.20
- Cardmarket trend price: €1.32
- Recent low listing: €0.25
Card Details
- Set
- Great Encounters
- Card Number
- 12
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Kagemaru Himeno
- HP
- 80
- Type
- ⭐ Colorless
- Weaknesses
- Colorless +20
- Resistances
- Fighting -20
- Retreat Cost
- 1 (Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Dragonbreath
[Colorless]
— 40
Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (40.0 per energy). -
Cotton Cloud
[Colorless, Colorless, Colorless]
— 60
During your opponent's next turn, any damage done to Altaria by attacks from your opponent's Evolved Pokémon is reduced by 30 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Altaria from Great Encounters (Rare) represents a solid addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2008, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Kagemaru Himeno.
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 Altaria 12 is legal for tournament play in Unlimited format.
Key Attack: Altaria's Dragonbreath deals 40 damage for Colorless energy. Special effect: Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
Stats Overview: 80 HP • Colorless Type • Weak to Colorless +20 • Resistant to Fighting -20
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Altaria Cards
Looking for other Altaria cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Encounters #12 ← Current | 80 | 2 attacks | Rare | $2.20 |
�📦 Great Encounters Set Context
This Altaria is part of the Great Encounters expansion , released as part of the Diamond & Pearl series in 2008.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Kagemaru Himeno, 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 Altaria 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 Great Encounters are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Kagemaru Himeno resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Colorless typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Altaria 12 was released in 2008 in the Great Encounters expansion. This set is part of the Diamond & Pearl series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Kagemaru Himeno. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Set Popularity: Great Encounters is a vintage set that has gained significant collector interest over time, with sealed product and individual cards showing strong appreciation.
Competitive History: Colorless type Pokémon like Altaria with versatile attack options provide flexibility in deck building and can adapt to different matchups. Currently legal in Unlimited format.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Altaria 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 Colorless energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Altaria works best in Colorless type decks. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.