Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Rarity and Pull Rates: A Practical Look at Metapod
In the world of Pokémon TCG, the dance between rarity and pull rate is a mix of probability, playstyle, and a pinch of nostalgia. The Metapod card from Rebel Clash—an Uncommon Grass-type with a humble 80 HP—serves as a microcosm for how players think about value in booster packs and how collectors weigh a card’s place in a growing binder. ⚡🔥 While it’s not a flashy rarity, its potential impact on early-game tempo can outsize its sticker price in the right deck, making it a thoughtful pick for builders and dreamers alike. 💎
Card snapshot: what Metapod brings to the table
- Name: Metapod
- Set: Rebel Clash (swsh2)
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Caterpie)
- HP: 80
- Type: Grass
- Ability: Adaptive Evolution — This Pokémon can evolve during your first turn or the turn you play it.
- Attack: Ram — 20 damage for the cost of Colorless and Colorless
- Weakness: Fire ×2
- Retreat: 3
- Illustrator: Asako Ito
- Regulation: D; Legal in Expanded, not Standard
Adaptive Evolution is the star here. “This Pokémon can evolve during your first turn or the turn you play it.” That line changes how you plan your bench on opening turns and how quickly you can access a more resilient stage that can weather early aggression. Metapod’s role isn’t to crush on the first exchange—it’s to stabilize, buy you one more turn of growth, and set up future evolution into a Butterfree-led finish.
In the Rebel Clash era, Metapod’s Uncommon status signals that it won’t flood random booster pulls, but it will appear often enough to be a meaningful inclusion for Grass-focused or mixed strategies that prize early evolution and tempo. Its HP of 80 is serviceable for a Stage 1 from that time, and Ram’s 20 damage, while modest, can chip away while you set up bigger threats. Its Fire-type weakness is a vulnerability to watch in meta matchups, especially against popular Fire decks that lean on quick, high-damage attackers. ⚡🎴
Gameplay angle: turning rarity into strategic advantage
Metapod’s true value lies in tempo and evolution acceleration. A typical line with Caterpie on the bench can become a turn-1 evolution into Metapod, thanks to Adaptive Evolution, allowing you to pivot toward a midgame plan without sacrificing early board presence. This is especially potent in Grass-centered or colorless-leaning lists that want to mount a defensive front while waiting for Butterfree’s potential support tools. The combination of Ram’s direct damage and the ability to transition into stronger threats on a quicker timeline can surprise opponents who expect you to lag behind in the early turns.
From a collection and pricing perspective, the card’s Uncommon rarity helps it stay accessible for players who are building complete Rebel Clash-themed decks or hunting for the full set. For players evaluating pull rate, the practical takeaway is that Uncommons like Metapod tend to appear more frequently than rares or holo rares in booster packs, offering reliable but incremental value. The goal isn’t always to chase the rarest card, but to assemble a cohesive, well-timed strategy that makes the most of what you pull on any given opening round. 🎨🎮
Market snapshot: what collectors are seeing today
Metapod swsh2-2 sits as an Uncommon grass-type card in Rebel Clash. Its market trajectory reflects typical patterns for a non-holo, non-full-art Uncommon from an earlier Sword & Shield set. Here’s a concise view of the data you’ll see when you price-check:
- average around €0.14, with lows near €0.02; holo versions run slightly higher, around €0.25 on average, depending on listing and condition.
- TCGPlayer (non-holo): low around $0.05, mid around $0.23, high listings up to $4.99; market price typically near $0.18.
These figures illustrate a reality many players and collectors recognize: common, non-foil, or uncommon cards from modern sets seldom command high sticker prices unless they are central to a highly competitive strategy, a popular deck archetype, or part of a cherished collection. Rebel Clash itself numbers among sets that casual collectors track for completionism and nostalgia, rather than for dramatic market spikes. Still, a well-placed Metapod in a Grass-themed deck can be a practical, affordable piece that keeps a player’s board presence steady while other, more powerful evolutions come online. 💎
Collector perspective: assembly, completeness, and nostalgia
With the Rebel Clash set containing 192 official cards (209 total with all variants), Metapod finds its place as a competent piece for binder hoards and casual play collections. The card’s illustrated artwork by Asako Ito—capturing that classic Metapod calm before an inevitable evolution—adds a touch of artful nostalgia to any deck binder. For players who enjoy the narrative of evolution across the Pokémon line, Metapod represents a pivotal moment: the transition from a still Caterpie to a more formidable stage that sets up the even more iconic Butterfree. The emotional and archival value of such cards often outweighs short-term price fluctuations, especially for long-time fans who relish a complete, well-rounded Rebel Clash collection. 🎴🎨
As a practical note for collectors and traders, keep an eye on market-wide shifts and list timing. The CardMarket holo and non-holo variants illustrate how even subtle demand can nudge prices, while TCGPlayer’s listings show how a fence-sitting price can entice buyers who are price-conscious yet eager to complete a set. The journey of a card like Metapod—modest in power, steady in presence—embodies the charm of the Pokémon TCG: strategy, story, and a little bit of luck in every pull. ⚡🔥
For fans who want to blend function with form, this card makes a compelling case for including early-stage evolutions in deck-builds, while also serving as a gateway card to discuss pull-rate dynamics with fellow players who enjoy data-driven insights into why some cards land in your binder—and how often they show up in booster packs.
Polycarbonate Card Holder with MagSafeNeed a safe home for your growing Metapod collection? This polycarbonate card holder with MagSafe keeps cards pristine while you plan your next evolution line. ⚡🎒
More from our network
- https://blog.zero-static.xyz/blog/post/ml-driven-wall-of-tears-deck-optimization-for-blue-control/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/tracing-cinderbones-flavor-and-lore-across-mtg-cards/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/predictive-analytics-transforming-graven-dominator-set-design/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/mastering-responsive-design-principles-for-seamless-ux/
- https://transparent-paper.shop/blog/post/photometric-window-into-a-hot-blue-stellar-atmosphere/