Blastoise from Base Set: the Rain Dance card
In Japan, Blastoise is called Kamex, and its shell cannons can punch holes through thick steel.
- Collection: Pokémon TCG
- Set: Base Set (BS)
- Released: January 9, 1999
- Market price: $226.58
Indicative price of an ungraded copy (TCGplayer, October 14, 2026). Not buying advice.
Blastoise, card 2/102 of the Pokémon Trading Card Game's Base Set, is today's card. The Stage 2 Water Pokémon, drawn by Ken Sugimori, arrived with the set's printing in January 1999.
Fun fact
In Japan, Blastoise goes by the name Kamex. Pokédex entries describe cannons on its shell that fire water jets strong enough to punch holes through thick steel, and say it deliberately makes itself heavy so it can withstand the recoil.
Its story in Pokémon
Blastoise is Pokédex number 9, known as the Shellfish Pokémon and introduced in generation I. It is the final evolution of Squirtle, by way of Wartortle, and it was one of three final evolutions of the starter Pokémon in the first games, Pokémon Red and Blue, alongside Venusaur and Charizard. Blastoise even appears on the box art of Pokémon Blue. In the games it is found at the water's edge, and the Pokédex pictures it taking aim at an enemy and blasting out water with more force than a fire hose. Its flavor text on this card calls it a brutal Pokémon whose pressurized water jets power high-speed tackles.
Its legend among collectors
Blastoise has long been popular: it was among the most popular Pokémon action figures as of September 2000, and a Blastoise card has been counted among the most valuable in the Trading Card Game. This Base Set version is a Rare that pairs a first-generation icon with Sugimori's artwork.
In the game
Blastoise has the Rain Dance power, which lets a player attach Water Energy to their Water Pokémon as often as they like during a turn, on top of the normal one attachment. Its attack, Hydro Pump, hits harder the more spare Water Energy it carries.
Card data: TCGdex · prices: TCGplayer, Cardmarket.
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