Krookodile TCG Performance Compared to Similar Pokémon

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Krookodile card art from Vivid Voltage (SWSh4-109) illustrated by Ryuta Fuse

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Shadow and Sand: How Krookodile Stacks Up Against Dark‑Type Contenders in Vivid Voltage

In the sprawling ecosystem of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Krookodile enters the fray as a late‑game heavyweight in the Vivid Voltage era, a rare Stage 2 Dark‑type that evolves from Krokorok. With a solid 150 HP and a design that leans into the predator ethos of the desert, Krookodile isn’t just a collector’s centerpiece—it's a tactical tool. The artwork by Ryuta Fuse captures that brazen, cunning stance, a reminder that this true sand‑stalker isn’t content to wait for a perfect moment; it makes its own window of opportunity. Its flavor text about concealing in sandstorms Flygon whips up sets the mood for a deck built around disruption, patience, and a thunderous finisher. ⚡🔥

From a gameplay perspective, Krookodile’s two attacks tell a story about risk and payoff. Dredge Up costs two Colorless and lets you discard the top three cards of your opponent’s deck. This is not just damage; it’s deck disruption. In the Expanded format, where the length of a match often hinges on what the opponent can draw and play, removing three top cards can tilt the late game in Krookodile’s favor by thinning options and pressuring clocked strategies. It turns the clock on your opponent early, forcing them to adapt to a smaller, faster deck—one that you control with your tempo. The second attack, Tantrum, is the sledgehammer: Darkness plus three Colorless for 180 damage, but it comes with a caveat—the Pokémon becomes Confused after the attack. That trade‑off is quintessential Krookodile: a brutal finish available, but one you must manage, lest the recoil of confusion costs you the board state you’re trying to overwhelm. This duality—ballast in disruption, thunder in punishment—helps Krookodile shine in Expanded decks that lean into mid‑range pressure and deliberate setup. 🌀

Strategically, building around Krookodile means embracing the energy requirements and the risk of self‑inflicted confusion. You’ll want to plan turns that stabilize the board while you charge toward Tantrum’s big payoff. Since Dredge Up only requires Colorless energy, it can slot into a broad lineup of Darkness and multi‑type supports, enabling you to lag longer while depriving your opponent of key draws. A typical line might see you setting Krookodile up with early Krokorok (the predecessor in the Evolution line) and conserving energies for a decisive Tantrum turn when your opponent is low on options or juggling board states. The 150 HP provides a reasonable cushion in many matchups, but you’ll still be mindful of Grass‑type threats, as Krookodile carries a Grass weakness that can punish a misstep if you’re not careful with retreat costs and board control. Retreat cost is 3, so you’ll want to pair Krookodile with the right retreat enablers or energy attachments to avoid being left stranded when you need to push forward. 💎

Comparing Krookodile to Its Dark‑Type Peers

In the broader Dark‑type space of Vivid Voltage and the Expanded window, Krookodile’s rounded HP, disruptive Dredge Up, and explosive Tantrum position it as a transitional power—tough enough to threaten late‑game backs against slower builds, yet flexible enough to slot into decks that are not strictly “Dark only.” Other high‑HP attackers of the era often rely on direct damage or special conditions; Krookodile’s disruption plus a high‑damage finisher offers an alternative route to victory. Its 150 HP keeps it in the mid‑to‑upper range for non‑EX, non‑V cards in many Expanded lists, making it a credible threat that can weather a few blows while you weave in top‑deck disruption. And because it’s a Rare from a popular set, it holds a nice balance between playability and collectability, especially for players who enjoy tactical playstyles that reward careful timing over sheer burst. ⚔️

When you pit Krookodile against other Stage 2 Darkness attackers in Expanded—cards that demand rapid energy acceleration, project multi‑turn pressure, or leverage other disruption effects—the natural advantage goes to Krookodile’s ability to shape the stack of cards your opponent will draw next. Dredge Up creates a friction point that can force an opponent into awkward plays, and Tantrum, if you land it cleanly, can swing a game in a single, brutal moment. The key is to time Tantrum to hit a window when your opponent has limited bench options and few direct answers to a big, clean hit. In decks that prize mid‑range stability and gradual deck control, Krookodile shines as a bridge between early disruption and late‑game acceleration. 🎯

Market Pulse: Collectors and Card Value

From a collector’s standpoint, Krookodile SWSh4‑109 lands in the rare category and is typically sought after by players who love Dark‑type archetypes and those chasing the complete Vivid Voltage collection. Market data from late 2025 shows a modest price band for standard non‑holo copies, with CardMarket placing an average around €0.20 and low fluctuations dipping to €0.02, reflecting its more accessible status. On TCGPlayer, standard copies sit around a mid price of roughly $0.22 and a market price near $0.18, with a wide range from a few pennies to a couple dollars depending on condition, rarity markings, and whether a reverse‑holos pool is involved. For reverse‑holo variants, values can rise modestly, with mid prices hovering around the $0.28 range and occasional spikes toward $2 in the high end. These numbers paint Krookodile as a budget‑friendly, nostalgia‑driven pick for players who admire the era and its relentless, mid‑range tempo. It’s not the centerpiece of top‑tier decks in modern formats, but in Expanded, it remains a credible, time‑tested option for those who relish the strategy of deck disruption. 💎

For collectors, this is also a reminder of the art’s enduring appeal. Ryuta Fuse’s depiction sits well with fans who appreciate the darker, desert‑themed aesthetics of the Dark type in this era. The card’s non‑holo treatment keeps prices reasonable, which often makes it a good entry point for new collectors who want to build a compatible Dark deck without breaking the bank, while still chasing a few key staples. The balance of playability and affordability makes Krookodile a noteworthy addition to an Expanded‑era binder, especially for players who enjoy the tactile pleasure of assembling a deck that relies on strategic disruption as much as raw power. ⚡🎨

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Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

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