Budget Wurmple Decks in Scarlet & Violet: A Player's Guide

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Wurmple BW6-6 card art from Dragons Exalted illustrated by Kouki Saitou

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Building a Pocket Budget Wurmple Strategy in Scarlet & Violet

Pokémon TCG trainers always love a good underdog — a card so affordable it fits into a tight budget, yet still capable of delivering meaningful surprises on the table. Wurmple, a Grass-type Basic from the Dragons Exalted line, embodies that spirit. With a modest 60 HP, a single Colorless energy attack, and a classic evolution line, this little Gumdrop of a Pokémon invites players to craft lean, clever decks that rely on timing, card selection, and a dash of luck. The artwork by Kouki Saitou captures a gentle, botanical mood that matches Wurmple’s unassuming presence, but in practice, this is a card that can swing momentum when used with patience and precision. ⚡🔥💎

Meet the card: Wurmple in Dragons Exalted

  • Category: Pokémon
  • Set: Dragons Exalted (bw6) — with a distinctive dragon-edge theme and a variety of critters that reward evolving lines
  • Name: Wurmple
  • HP: 60
  • Type: Grass
  • Stage: Basic
  • Rarity: Common
  • Illustrator: Kouki Saitou
  • Attacks: Sleep Poison (Cost: Colorless). Effect — Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep and Poisoned.
  • Weakness: Fire ×2
  • Retreat Cost: 1
  • Legal in formats: Expanded (Standard currently not legal for this card)

The Sleep Poison attack is a quintessential budget engine: you’re not swinging for heavy damage, but you’re forcing your opponent into a coin-flip dilemma that can stall them while you assemble the rest of your plan. In Dragons Exalted, Wurmple sits in a well-constructed evolutionary line that can grow into Silcoon and then Beautifly, granting access to stronger attacks and broader deck synergy as you progress. The art by Kouki Saitou anchors the card in a vivid, nature-inspired world, a reminder that even modest staples can carry a sense of wonder alongside practical play value. 🎴🎨

Why Wurmple fits a budget deck in Scarlet & Violet environments

Scarlet & Violet era players prize accessibility: you want a deck that can compete without breaking the bank, and Wurmple’s core economics deliver just that. The card’s rarity and format status make it an especially friendly pick for budget builders who want to assemble a cohesive Grass-themed strategy from inexpensive staples. The 60 HP barrier is modest, so you lean into the evolving line to keep pressure on the opponent while you manage resources and tempo. The Shadow of a global meta doesn’t loom as large when your primary goal is to disrupt the opponent’s timing with Sleep and Poison, then pivot into a stronger late-game from your evolution line. ⚡🔥

From a collector’s angle, the value is equally compelling. Non-holo copies have hovered in the sub-€0.20 range on major marketplaces, while holo variants trend higher in the market, reflecting broader collectability rather than power alone. This makes Wurmple an attractive entry point for new players who are collecting toward a playable, value-conscious build, and for seasoned players who enjoy drafting flexible strategies without over-spending. The card’s expansion-era status also means it can pair nicely with revived or concurrent Grass-focused archetypes that emphasize bench pressure and status effects. 💎

Deck blueprint: a practical, budget-friendly Wurmple shell

Here’s a conceptual skeleton you can adapt for local play or casual tournaments where Expanded formats are in use. The focus is on establishing a solid, low-cost core with Wurmple leading into a modest evolution line and supporting draws, energy acceleration, and disruption.

  • 3x Wurmple (bw6-6) — the foundation of your stall-and-transition game
  • 2x Silcoon and 2x Beautifly (evolution line) — keep the tempo by evolving when possible to access improved offense and larger threats
  • 10–12x Grass Energy (optimized for a lean tempo deck)
  • 4x Rare Candy or other evolution accelerants (where legal) — to reach Beautifly more rapidly in a compact budget build
  • Supporters and Draw: focus on low-cost, high-card-draw options available in the Scarlet & Violet era to keep the engine running between turns
  • 4x Professor’s Research-like draw cards (or equivalents) — to replenish hand and find key pieces
  • 4x Switch/Reset-type tools and 2x Healing items — to keep Wurmple active and resilient against early aggression
  • Bench protection and disruption: look for cheap tech that slows the opponent or clears troublesome threats

Playstyle-wise, you’re aiming to capitalize on the Sleep/Poison setup while your Evolutions begin to threaten more significant returns. Use Wurmple to stall a turn or two, then crown the field with Beautifly’s capabilities and any transitional attackers you’ve included. The coin flip nature of Sleep Poison also introduces an element of tension and returns in your favor when the odds tilt in your direction, which is exactly the kind of spark a budget deck loves to find. 🎮

Market lens: value and what to watch for

For price-aware players, Wurmple’s core copy sits at a modest price point on Card Market and other outlets, with averages around €0.14 to €0.20 for non-holo examples (as of mid-October 2025). The holo variants can climb into the low-to-mid range of a few EUR, especially when the card appears in a broader booster-craft set or within a popular theme deck. TCGPlayer data shows low-price ranges near $0.10 and mid-price around $0.25 for the standard print, with reverse holo variants peaking higher (market price around $5–$6 in recent trends). These numbers are in flux with card rotations and reprints, but they illustrate the value proposition: a budget staple that remains accessible while still offering meaningful nostalgia and play options. If you’re building on a budget, seek condition-appropriate copies and watch for reprint cycles that can temper price pressure. 📈💳

“A well-timed Sleep Poison can buy a whole game when your evolutions begin to unfold.”

The Dragons Exalted lineage gives Wurmple a nostalgic through-line for collectors and players who love the early-2000s era of Pokémon TCG, even as you build toward modern Scarlet & Violet tactics. The art by Kouki Saitou complements the card’s gentle vigor, reminding us that strategy and storytelling can walk hand in hand. And if you’re shopping for a practical edge, pairing this budget core with affordable, compatible cards gives you a surprisingly resilient deck that’s easy to upgrade as your collection grows. ⚡🎴

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