Why Is Base Set Wartortle Still Going Up With Blastoise?
If you track Pokemon card prices daily, you have noticed something odd. The original Base Set Wartortle, that uncommon stage one from the very first expansion, keeps climbing in value. Listings on major sites show it starting at just $2.49 with over 120 copies available, yet it topped the biggest price spikes list as recently as mid-December 2025.[1] At the same time, Blastoise from the same set sits steady as a high-end chase card in modern reprints like Scarlet and Violet 151, holding around $78 for its special illustration rare version.[4] Why does this middle evolution card keep rising when its final form already has so much hype?
First, think about supply and demand basics. Base Set came out in 1999, and most copies from that era got played hard or tossed aside. Shadowless versions, printed early with no shadow on the art, are extra tough to find in good shape. Wartortle as card 042/102 fits right in that rare air. It spiked hard recently because fresh collectors hunt complete Base Set runs, and this one fills a gap without breaking the bank like Blastoise holos do.[1]
Blastoise gets all the glory as the tanky final evo with massive attack power in the game. Its modern cards in sets like 151 pull big numbers from new players.[4] But Wartortle? It rides that wave without the same spotlight. You need it to evolve your Squirtle line, so anyone building a vintage deck or display grabs it. Prices stay low enough for impulse buys, which drives volume and pushes values up steady.
Error hunters add fuel too. Some Base Set 2 Wartortle promos, like the W stamped ones from Top Deck Magazine, have tiny printing glitches such as a smaller water energy symbol next to the HP box.[6] These quirks make collectors geek out, and even regular Base Set Wartortle benefits from the buzz around Squirtle line oddities. A non-holo promo version hit over nine pounds near mint recently, showing demand spills over.[2]
Custom and bundle sales help too. Listings pop up bundling Wartortle with Blastoise and Squirtle from Base or Base Set 2, often as metal art or pick-your-condition lots.[3][5] This keeps eyes on Wartortle, especially for 1st edition fans who want the full evolution chain without chasing ultra-rares.
Market timing plays in. December 2025 sees older WOTC cards like Base Set heat up as holiday gifts and year-end flips. Wartortle offers entry-level value growth, up from sub-two dollars months ago, while Blastoise modern variants stabilize.[1][4] Smart flippers stock it now before it hits five bucks raw.
Pokemon fans love the starter trio story. Blastoise dominates headlines, but Wartortle quietly builds steam as the reliable bridge card. Watch auctions close; this trend looks set to continue into 2026.
