Wartortle · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Wartortle card
Wartortle sits at #92 in Expedition Base Set, the thirteenth of the Wizards of the Coast print runs. Illustration by Atsuko Nishida. In the games, Wartortle evolves from Squirtle, which makes it a late-stage card in the line.
About Wartortle in the Pokémon world
The Squirtle middle stage. Longer ears, tail-feathers, and a more aggressive posture than Squirtle. Almost exclusively bought as part of a complete water starter line. Standalone demand is modest.
Print variants and how to spot them
Expedition shipped in Standard and Reverse Holo prints. The defining feature is the dot-code strip printed on the bottom of each card, designed to be scanned with the Nintendo e-Reader peripheral for bonus minigames. Functional collector value of the dot codes is minimal today, but they make Expedition cards visually distinct.
Grading and condition
Uncommons grade more forgivingly than Rare Holos but the same centering and edge requirements apply. Raw copies in pack-fresh condition are easy to find. A PSA 10 submission on a clean Uncommon is a low-cost way to learn how the grading process scores Wizards-era cardstock.
If you are buying this card
Raw copies of this card are inexpensive enough that the grading math rarely justifies submission unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completionists, picking up a clean raw copy and sleeving it is the practical move.
