Torkoal – Sword & Shield (#188)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Torkoal (#188) is a Rare Ultra card from Sword & Shield - Sword & Shield released in 2020. It showcases artwork by Ayaka Yoshida and the Combustion Pillar attack (90+ damage), Discard the top card of your deck. If that card is a Fire Energy card, this attack does 90 more damage.. TCGplayer market price sits around $3.79, Cardmarket average sale is €5.72, Floor listings start near €3.00.
- TCGplayer market price: $3.79
- Cardmarket trend price: €5.23
- Recent low listing: €3.00
Card Details
- Set
- Sword & Shield
- Card Number
- 188
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare Ultra
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Ayaka Yoshida
- HP
- 210
- Type
- 🔥 Fire
- Regulation Mark
- Regulation D ✓ Legal in Standard
- Weaknesses
- Water ×2
- Retreat Cost
- 4 (Colorless, Colorless, Colorless, Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Combustion Pillar
[Fire, Fire, Colorless]
— 90+
Discard the top card of your deck. If that card is a Fire Energy card, this attack does 90 more damage. -
Steam Crush
[Fire, Fire, Fire, Colorless]
— 120
Discard 2 Energy from your opponent's Active Pokémon.
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Torkoal from Sword & Shield (Rare Ultra) represents a premium addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2020, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Ayaka Yoshida.
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 Torkoal 188 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats. The card bears Regulation Mark D, indicating its current competitive viability.
Key Attack: Torkoal's Combustion Pillar deals 90+ damage for Fire + Fire + Colorless energy. Special effect: Discard the top card of your deck. If that card is a Fire Energy card, this attack does 90 more dama...
Stats Overview: 210 HP • Fire Type • Weak to Water ×2
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Torkoal Cards
Looking for other Torkoal cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword & Shield #188 ← Current | 210 | 2 attacks | Rare Ultra | $3.79 |
�📦 Sword & Shield Set Context
This Torkoal is part of the Sword & Shield expansion , released as part of the Sword & Shield series in 2020. As a Rare Ultra card, it represents one of the premium pulls from this set.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Ayaka Yoshida, 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 Torkoal 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 Sword & Shield are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Ayaka Yoshida resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Fire typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Torkoal 188 was released in 2020 in the Sword & Shield expansion. This set is part of the Sword & Shield series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Ayaka Yoshida. 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 Torkoal is among the premium chase cards from Sword & Shield. These premium versions typically hold value better than common printings.
Set Popularity: Sword & Shield represents a mid-era release that balances accessibility with collectibility.
Competitive History: Fire type Pokémon like Torkoal 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 Torkoal 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 Fire energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Torkoal works best in Fire type decks. With high HP, consider including healing and damage reduction cards to maximize survivability.