Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Drilbur and the Question of Inclusion Across Deck Archetypes
In Pokémon TCG, the question of whether a card should be included in a deck is about more than raw power — it’s about how reliably it contributes to a strategy over the course of a match and across lists. Drilbur, a Basic Fighting Pokémon from the Cosmic Eclipse era (SM12), sparkles as a microcase study in inclusion rate. With 70 HP, a straightforward two-attack kit, and a treatment that rewards thoughtful discard-pile management, Drilbur sits at the crossroads of accessibility and utility. For players building on a budget or exploring toolbox archetypes, its presence in a deck often comes down to how effectively Rototiller can recycle a needed card from the discard pile. ⚡🔥
From a collector and pricing perspective, Drilbur is a Common rarity, which typically translates to broad accessibility in the market. The card’s simplicity — Rototiller and Mud-Slap — makes it a reliable addition in decks that want a steady early-game engine without expending precious trainer-slots on higher-utility Pokémon. The art by Suwama Chiaki adds a charming contrast to the practical value of the card, inviting players to appreciate the little moments in a match as much as the big plays. The Collector’s draw is clear: a common, consistently printed card that shows up in many reprint cycles, particularly in the non-holo and reverse-holo variants that keep it affordable for newer collectors. 🎨
Snapshot: Drilbur at a Glance
- Name: Drilbur
- Set: Cosmic Eclipse (SM12)
- Rarity: Common
- Type: Fighting
- Stage: Basic
- HP: 70
- Attacks: Rototiller (Cost: Colorless) — Shuffle a card from your discard pile into your deck. Mud-Slap (Cost: Fighting) — 10 damage
- Weakness: Grass ×2
- Retreat: 2
- Illustrator: Suwama Chiaki
- Evolution: Evolves into Excadrill
- Legal: Standard: false; Expanded: true
- Card ID: sm12-114
In practice, these attributes push Drilbur into a familiar role: a lightweight starter that helps keep a deck’s engine running without stealing focus from bigger attackers. The Rototiller move is the real star here, offering a flexible method to refresh a crucial card from your discard pile — be that a trainer, a basic energy, or a strategic utility Pokémon you drew into early but used earlier in the game. That flexibility is valuable for archetypes that rely on discard-pile recursion or on keeping a tight cycle of resources in play. As a basic with modest offense, Drilbur isn’t the primary attacker in most lists, but its ability to renew resources can compound into a steady trickle of advantage as the game unfolds. 🎴
Inclusion Patterns: Which Archetypes Benefit Most?
Forecasting inclusion across deck archetypes requires a mix of theory and observation. In the case of Drilbur, the archetypes most likely to include it are those that prize resilience and resource management over raw damage output. Some tendencies you’ll notice among players who favor Drilbur include:
- Budget Fighting Toolbox: A common place for Drilbur, where the goal is to assemble a lean, consistent engine rather than a heavy, high-pressured lineup. One copy in the early turns helps keep the engine moving without crowding the bench.
- Discard-Recursion Oriented Decks: If a deck features cards that shuffle or discard resources into the deck, Rototiller becomes a natural fit. Drilbur acts as a flexible enabler for recurring draws and plays that rely on the discard pile’s contents.
- Energy Management Strategies: Teams that lean on cycling energy and retracing lost resources may slot Drilbur to ensure a steady supply of cards returning to the deck, reducing the clunkiness of hand-drawn resources late in the game.
- Hybrid or Toolbox Meta: In formats where players value flexible answers, a single Drilbur can slot into a toolbox build as a 1-of or 2-of to shore up early-game options without over-committing bench space.
Of course, Drilbur’s relatively low HP and modest damage output mean it’s not a core staple in the most aggressive or top-tier lists. Its inclusion rate tends to be modest, with counts that hover around one or two copies depending on the deck’s overall speed and the player’s risk tolerance. The market reality—its status as a common card with low price points—helps keep it accessible for budget-conscious players who want to experiment with discard-based synergies. The dataset reflected in Cardmarket and TCGPlayer shows a healthy spread around a few cents to a dollar for non-holo versions, with holo and reverse-holo variants commanding higher mild premiums, but still within reach for casual collectors. The numbers tell a story of steady, if not flashy, demand across multiple print runs. 💎
Strategic Play: How to Make Drilbur Work
When you slot Drilbur into a list, the trick is to maximize Rototiller’s potential. Here are practical tips to get the most from this little fighter:
- Early-Game Retooling: Use Rototiller to recycle key cards you discarded earlier in the match. If your deck leans on a pivotal trainer or a critical energy, pulling it back can reset your tempo and keep pressure on your opponent.
- Positioning with Mud-Slap: While Mud-Slap deals a modest 10 damage, it helps you establish early pressure and prevents your opponent from stalling unchecked. Pair Drilbur with other low-energy attackers to string together a continuous stream of damage.
- Evolutive Synergy: Plan for Excadrill to come online as the game progresses. Drilbur’s evolution provides a natural upgrade path, allowing you to convert a steady early game into a mid-game offensive presence when you draw into Excadrill and support cards.
- Weakness Awareness: Against Grass-type meta decks, keep your rotations tight and avoid exposing Drilbur to unfavorable matchups where your attackers aren’t ready to switch in effectively.
Collector-focused readers will appreciate the art and the Cosmic Eclipse flavor. Suwama Chiaki’s illustration brings a playful, energetic vibe to a card that’s often overlooked in the meta. The creature’s simple lines and expressive style fit nicely with the set’s broader aesthetic, making the card a small but welcome piece in any Cosmiс Eclipse collection. 🎨
Market Pulse: What the Numbers Tell Us
Pricing data paints a practical picture of inclusion rates in the real world. Cardmarket shows an average around 0.05 EUR for non-holo Drilbur copies, with a low around 0.02 EUR. Holo and reverse-holo variants see higher values, reflecting collector interest rather than gameplay impact alone. On TCGPlayer, normal copies hover in the low-cent range for low-demand printings, with a mid-price around 0.15 USD and a high near 10 USD only for rare circumstances or unusual market spikes. The reverse-holo foil typically sits a step above standard, with mid-prices in the 0.27 USD region and occasional spikes toward the higher end in limited print runs. These figures align with Drilbur’s role as a dependable, affordable staple for flexible deck-building rather than a marquee collectible. 📈
For players and collectors alike, Drilbur offers an approachable entry point into strategic discarding and recycling concepts. It also provides a steady, aesthetically pleasing card that complements the broader Cosmic Eclipse lineup. If you’re curious to integrate Drilbur into a personal deck archetype, you’ll find the path is as much about deck-building philosophy as it is about raw math — a reminder that sometimes the smallest figures drive the cleverest plays. ⚡🎴
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