AI Clustering Vulpix Cards by Ability Similarity in Pokémon TCG

In TCG ·

Vulpix card art from Champion's Path set

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Clustering Vulpix: Mapping Ability Similarity Across Pokémon TCG

In the vibrant ecosystem of Pokémon TCG, AI-driven clustering helps players and collectors see patterns that the eye alone might miss. By analyzing ability similarities—attack costs, effects, HP ranges, and-stage progression—machines can group cards across sets into meaningful families. Today we zoom in on a classic Fire-type staple: Vulpix from Champion's Path (swsh3.5). With its modest 60 HP, basic stature, and two distinctly different attacks, this little fox becomes a surprisingly rich data point for a taxonomy of fiery abilities ⚡🔥.

Card at a glance

  • Name: Vulpix
  • Set: Champion's Path (swsh3.5)
  • Rarity: Common
  • Type: Fire
  • Stage: Basic
  • HP: 60
  • Attacks:
    • Gnaw — Cost: Colorless, Damage: 10
    • Singe — Cost: Fire + Colorless, Effect: Your opponent's Active Pokémon is Burned
  • Weakness: Water ×2
  • Retreat: 1
  • Illustrator: Shibuzoh.
  • Regulation: Marked D; Expanded legal, Standard not allowed by current rotation (as of 2025).

In the AI clustering exercise, Vulpix serves as a prime example of how an ability set can be parsed into common patterns. Its Gnaw attack represents a simple, low-cost neutral option, while Singe introduces a utility effect—burning the opponent—that can synergize with other Fire-type cards or with status-focused control arms in a deck. The duality of a straightforward, early-game damage option and a control-oriented burn effect makes Vulpix a natural anchor for a cluster focused on “basic attackers with added status effects.” The artwork by Shibuzoh. captures a nimble, youthful phoenix-like creature with a six-tailed silhouette—an ideal symbol for a card that blends raw aggression and tempering flame with strategic nuance 🎴🎨.

From a gameplay perspective, clustering around ability similarity yields practical insights. For instance, a cluster might group Fire-type basics that rely on colorless energy alongside at least one fire energy to enable a stronger attack like Singe. This mirrors how players think about energy acceleration and board tempo: a single Fire symbol plus Colorless in the same turn allows you to reach Singe more quickly, turning an otherwise modest 60 HP body into a budding threat in the right matchup. AI sorts by energy costs, then by effects, then by niche roles—so Vulpix helps illuminate how a “burn” mechanic tends to ripple through a deck’s turns, especially against Water-types that double-damage vulnerability can punish later in the game 🔥💎.

Strategic takeaways for players

  • Early pressure with Singe: The Burn effect turns Vulpix into more than a one-shot pester. If your opponent’s Active pivots to a less-protected option, Singe can help you push toward a status-based win condition while you assemble more burn or disruption cards.
  • Positioning in a Fire-centric curve: With a low HP ceiling, Vulpix wants to pair with supporting Pokémon or stadiums that poke for tempo rather than raw brute force. Clustering shows where this “cost-efficient burn” profile fits in a typical Fire deck’s curve.
  • Weakness management: Facing Water decks can be rough—Vulpix’s ×2 weakness is a reminder to rotate it in with a revive or with heal support to keep its momentum alive while your main attackers do the heavy lifting.
  • Evolution potential and scope: Though this card is Basic, it sits inside a broader Fire family in Champion's Path and beyond. AI clustering often highlights how basic cards become value anchors in evolving lineups, guiding players to consider compatible evolutions or synergy with support Pokémon that speed up damage or add resilience.

Collector insights and market perspective

From a collector’s lens, the Vulpix swsh3.5-6 entry is a neat example of common rarity that often features in budget decks or as a foundation for completing a Champion's Path collection. Pricing signals reflect a balance between playability and nostalgia. On CardMarket, the typical price sits around €0.08 on average, with occasional dips to ~€0.02 and holo variants trading a bit higher at ~€0.25 for related holo options in the same family. On TCGPlayer, the non-holo normal variant tracks around $0.12 market price, with a low around $0.03 and a mid around $0.15; high examples can stretch toward the $1.49 range for copies that are near-perfect condition or in a strategic bundle with complementary cards.

These numbers tell a story about demand and supply within a cluster-focused lens: affordable, accessible, and a small but steady interest from casual collectors and players building entry-level Fire strategies. For ai-driven collectors, Vulpix is a stable node in a broader Fire-type network, where the presence of an ability that can cause status effects adds a layer of desirability to the set and to modern reprints that might reference its flame-tailed origins 🔥💎.

Art, lore, and the human touch

Beyond the numbers, the card’s lore ties into the charm of early-generation visuals. Vulpix’s line—“While young, it has six gorgeous tails. When it grows, several new tails are sprouted.”—evokes a timeless image that fans adore. Shibuzoh.’s illustration captures a spirited creature poised between playfulness and focus, a reminder that even the most approachable cards carry a storied heritage. In AI terms, that blend of evocative art and compact mechanical identity is precisely what makes clustering by ability similarity so engaging: it’s not just data; it’s a narrative you can see, touch, and collect ⚡🎴.

If you’re exploring this card as part of a broader AI-driven project, Champion's Path offers a window into how modern sets balance basic and evolved strategies, bridging classic vibes with contemporary play patterns. Vulpix is a friendly ambassador for that conversation, a tiny beacon at the start of a fiery journey.

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