Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Camerupt in Focus: Usage Across Multiple Pokémon TCG Sets
In the sprawling history of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, certain cards quietly thread through the meta, offering bite-sized power without demanding the space of a mega attacker. Camerupt, a Fire-type Stage 1 that evolves from Numel, is one of those cards that shines brightest when you study its usage across sets rather than in a single screenshot of victory. This ex3-24 card from the Dragon set embodies a grounded, mid-game threat: a reliable 80 HP, a dual-attack package, and an era-specific charm that collectors still chase. The illustration by Naoyo Kimura captures the molten, eruptive spirit of Camerupt, adding a splash of mythic warmth to the table that fans still adore 🔥.
Across multiple formats and eras, Camerupt’s deployment has always balanced its cost against its outcomes. With two attacks—Super Singe and Ram—the card prioritizes immediate board presence and damage output, while its Burn chance from Super Singe injects a secondary pressure mechanic onto games that can hinge on coin flips and status effects. The era-specific legality matters too: this card is not legal in standard or expanded today, which nudges it toward older-rotation play, casual matches, and collector-focused displays. The dynamics of a Stage 1 Fire attacker in older sets often revolved around efficient energy acceleration and the timing of Ram’s 50-damage spike, making Camerupt a nuanced choice in retro decks and themed builds 🃏.
Key card details at a glance
- Name: Camerupt
- Set: Dragon (ex3) — symbolized by the Dragon set emblem
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Numel)
- HP: 80
- Type: Fire
- Illustrator: Naoyo Kimura
- Attacks:
- Super Singe — Cost: Fire, Colorless. Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is Burned. Damage: 20.
- Ram — Cost: Fire, Colorless, Colorless. Damage: 50.
- Weakness: Water ×2
- Evolution information: Evolves from Numel
What makes Camerupt a compelling study for usage stats is how its numbers line up with its role. The 80 HP is modest by today’s standards, which can invite quick trades or put it on the back foot against higher-HP fire-breathers. The Ram attack delivers a solid 50 for three energy, while Super Singe adds a dice-roll element that can swing a close match if a Burn lands. In sets where energy acceleration is reliable and “burn” strategies exist, Camerupt earns a niche but memorable place in the deckbuilder’s toolkit ⚡.
Playstyle considerations: building around a burn-and-burst option
For players exploring retro formats or nostalgia-driven builds, Camerupt rewards leaner, more measured gameplay. Use Ram to threaten consistent damage while leveraging Numel’s potential in earlier turns to get a timely evolution. The Burn chance from Super Singe, though reliant on a coin flip, introduces a pressure dynamic that can tilt late-game exchanges in your favor—especially when paired with follow-up Fire attacks from supporting Pokémon or Stadium cards that help manage energy speed. Fire-type decks of this era often relied on a mix of quick hits and status effects, and Camerupt fits neatly into that blueprint when the right matchups appear 🔥🎯.
Format viability and market context
As recorded in pricing data, ex3 Camerupt lives more in the collector and vintage playful space than in modern competitive play. CardMarket data paints a low-floor, wide-variance picture for non-holo copies, with averages hovering around EUR 0.29 and occasional dips toward the very low end (low around 0.02 EUR). The holo variant, when present, climbs relative to non-holo copies, though it remains a modest niche interest. On TCGPlayer, non-holo copies trace around USD 0.49 on average, with market prices near $0.51 for standard listings, while reverse-holofoil versions command noticeably higher numbers at a typical mid-price around $4.85 and a high around $6.50. These numbers reflect Camerupt’s status as a charming but low-velocity collectable—pleasing for display and for players who enjoy retro decks but not driving price spikes 💎.
Snowballing trivia: Camerupt’s Dragon set symbol, subtle in the corner of the card, hints at a broader era where Dragon-type elements shaped the collectible landscape just as much as actual type matchups did on the table.
The card’s restricted modern legality also shapes its audience. With standard and expanded formats not including ex3, contemporary players won’t situate Camerupt in current competitive calendars. Yet for collectors, Vintage-themed nights, and nostalgia-driven deck challenges, Camerupt remains a vivid example of early-2000s design—a time when “stage 1, two attacks, a coin flip burn” could still disrupt a match and spark lively conversations about card power curves 🔥🗓️.
Art, lore, and the hand that drew Camerupt
Naoyo Kimura’s artwork brings Camerupt to life with molten color and volcanic energy that fans recognize across the early ex era. The Dragon set itself carried a particular aesthetic—bold, dramatic, and saturated with fantasy-fire—that Koichi-style illustration helped define. The Uncommon status belies a memorable presence whenever Camerupt hits the table, especially in display cases where the card’s border, holographic treatment, and Numel-evolution line tell a compact story of growth and resilience. The combination of gameplay function and artful storytelling is a hallmark of why this card remains a favorite among long-time collectors 👁️🗨️.
To collectors and players alike, Camerupt’s legacy is less about raw power in modern meta and more about its place in the lineage of Fire strategies and the evolving language of the Dragon set. It’s a reminder that Pokémon TCG history isn’t only about the strongest rares; it’s also about the quiet standouts that helped define how players thought about energy curves, board pressure, and the art of a well-timed Burn.
Want a desk upgrade while you hunt for vintage Camerupt memories? Check out this Neon Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7 – Custom Neoprene with Stitched Edges to accompany long gaming sessions and retro card night marathons.
Neon Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7 - Custom Neoprene with Stitched EdgesMore from our network
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/red-tinged-photometry-maps-star-formation-history-in-aquila/
- https://crypto-acolytes.xyz/blog/post/discover-minecrafts-hidden-easter-eggs-you-missed/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/earthbending-student-midrange-mtg-deck-mastery/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/tracking-wildwood-escorts-power-curve-across-mtg-sets/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/mana-curve-simulation-results-for-tempted-by-the-oriq/