Sceptile – Lost Thunder (#196)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Sceptile (#196) is a Rare Ultra card from Sun & Moon - Lost Thunder released in 2018. It showcases artwork by Yoshinobu Saito and the Mach Cut attack (60 damage), Discard a Special Energy from your opponent's Active Pokémon.. TCGplayer market price sits around $10.32, Cardmarket average sale is €11.96, Floor listings start near €2.70.
- TCGplayer market price: $10.32
- Cardmarket trend price: €13.95
- Recent low listing: €2.70
Card Details
- Set
- Lost Thunder
- Card Number
- 196
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare Ultra
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Yoshinobu Saito
- HP
- 230
- Type
- 🌿 Grass
- Weaknesses
- Fire ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 1 (Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Mach Cut
[Grass]
— 60
Discard a Special Energy from your opponent's Active Pokémon.
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (60.0 per energy). -
Leaf Cyclone
[Grass, Grass]
— 130
Move a Grass Energy from this Pokémon to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (65.0 per energy). -
Jungle Heal-GX
[Grass]
Heal all damage from each of your Pokémon that has any Grass Energy attached to it. (You can't use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Sceptile from Lost Thunder (Rare Ultra) represents a premium addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2018, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Yoshinobu Saito.
Market Trends: Current market conditions show moderate interest in this card.
Investment Considerations: Mid-range TCG cards often provide balanced risk-reward profiles for collectors.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Sceptile 196 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
Key Attack: Sceptile's Mach Cut deals 60 damage for Grass energy. Special effect: Discard a Special Energy from your opponent's Active Pokémon.
Stats Overview: 230 HP • Grass Type • Weak to Fire ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Sceptile Cards
Looking for other Sceptile cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Thunder #196 ← Current | 230 | 3 attacks | Rare Ultra | $10.32 |
�📦 Lost Thunder Set Context
This Sceptile is part of the Lost Thunder expansion , released as part of the Sun & Moon series in 2018. As a Rare Ultra card, it represents one of the premium pulls from this set.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Yoshinobu Saito, 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 Sceptile card. Here's what you need to know:
Industry standard • Value multiplier: 3-6x
Best for: High-value cards, modern sets
Subgrades available • Value multiplier: 3-5x
Best for: Premium cards, perfect centering
Fast turnaround • Value multiplier: 2-4x
Best for: Budget-friendly option, bulk
💡 Should You Grade This Card?
- Yes, consider grading if: Premium rarity card in Near Mint+ 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 Ultra cards from Lost Thunder are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Yoshinobu Saito 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.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Sceptile 196 was released in 2018 in the Lost Thunder expansion. This set is part of the Sun & Moon series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Yoshinobu Saito. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Rarity & Collectibility: As a Rare Ultra card, this Sceptile is among the premium chase cards from Lost Thunder. These premium versions typically hold value better than common printings.
Set Popularity: Lost Thunder represents a mid-era release that balances accessibility with collectibility.
Competitive History: Grass type Pokémon like Sceptile with high HP make excellent tank options in competitive play, often serving as cornerstone Pokémon in control decks. Currently legal in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Sceptile card with these essential products:
- Penny sleeves: Basic protection
- Perfect fit sleeves: Pre-grading
- Top loaders: Display & storage
- Magnetic holders recommended
- 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: Sceptile works best in Grass type decks. With high HP, consider including healing and damage reduction cards to maximize survivability. Low energy cost attacks make this card great for aggressive early-game strategies.