Maractus bw1-12 card art from Black & White set by Kouki Saitou

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Win Rate Dynamics for Maractus in Expanded Grass Decks

Maractus brings a quirky edge to the battlefield: a Basic Grass Pokémon with two very different approaches to dealing damage. Its first attack, Constant Rattle, is a mini-odds game that flips three coins to determine damage—ranging from a modest 10 up to a dramatic 60 if luck is on its side. Its second move, Giga Drain, trades raw damage for healing, letting Maractus claw back HP equal to the damage it lands. In a meta dominated by tempo, removal, and explosive combos, Maractus embodies the classic risk-and-reward calculation: if the coin gods smile, you can surge ahead; if they stall, you might fall behind before the midgame arrives. ⚡🔥

Card snapshot

Set / Card: Black & White (bw1) — bw1-12
Illustrator: Kouki Saitou
HP: 90
Type: Grass
Stage: Basic
Rarity: Rare
Weakness: Fire ×2
Resistance: Water −20
Retreat: 2
Legal: Expanded format only (not standard)

Attack mechanics in practice

Constant Rattle — Cost: Grass. Flip 3 coins. If 1 head appears, 10 damage; if 2 heads, 30 damage; if all 3 heads, 60 damage.
Giga Drain — Cost: Grass, Grass, Grass. Damage: 50. Heal Maractus for the same amount of damage dealt to the Defending Pokémon.

From a math stand-point, Constant Rattle presents a clear volatility hedge. With three independent coin flips, there are eight equally likely outcomes. Only one outcome yields the memorable 60-damage payoff (three heads), which occurs with probability 1/8 or 12.5%. The expected damage per use of Constant Rattle is 22.5 points (calculated as 0×1/8 + 10×3/8 + 30×3/8 + 60×1/8). In a typical matchup against a 90- to 120-HP foe, that means Maractus is either swinging a knockout or chipping away in small, risky increments. Meanwhile, Giga Drain offers a reliable 50 damage with an immediate, symmetric heal, enabling Maractus to outlast opponents that overcommit to early aggression. The combination of these two paths makes Maractus a deck-building puzzle: maximize the odds of landing the big hit, while ensuring enough healing and defense to survive a long game. 🎴

Why win rates vary in the current meta

Several practical factors influence how often Maractus breaks through in real games:

The 12.5% chance of landing 60 damage on Constant Rattle means most games will hinge on multiple coin-flip outcomes. In fast metas where opponents pressure early, Maractus may struggle to buy time for three successful flips.
Giga Drain can extend Maractus’s life, especially in decks that can rebuild energy attachments or stall the board. That healing aspect is a valuable edge in Extended-style play, where longer battles are common.
Fire-type foes that threaten Maractus with respectable one-shot damage can punish a slow start, while Water resistance helps—though it’s only −20, not a full shield. The balance of threats in the expanded environment shapes how often Maractus can safely set up its gambits.
Because Maractus is not standard-legal, its win-rate story is most visible in Expanded circles where older support and trainer dynamics still populate the field. That environment can both help and hinder, depending on which tools are available to support Grass strategies.

Deck-building implications and strategy tips

: Three Grass energy for Giga Drain means you want reliable energy acceleration or efficient fetch/search support to keep pace with faster decks. Every extra Grass you can attach before a critical clash raises your odds of triggering Giga Drain at a pivotal moment.
: Don’t rush Constant Rattle in isolation. Use it to pressure, then pivot to a defensive Giga Drain plan when the opponent overextends. If you can land the 60 damage, follow up with healing to stay in the fight for another turn.
: Because Maractus doesn’t brute-force kills, you’ll want auxiliary threats or a spread strategy to keep the opponent on their toes. A balanced approach that pauses for healing while threatening multiple lines can tilt matches in your favor.
: Typical Grass-leaning builds thrive on trainers that accelerate energy or retrieve it from the discard. In Expanded, search-and-attach tools amplify Maractus’s ability to reach the big hits more consistently, turning probability into more reliable board presence.

Market and collection insights

From a collector’s perspective, the BW-era Maractus is an affordable curiosity with some variability between non-holo and holo print runs. Market data reflects this mix of accessibility and nostalgia:

: avg around €0.17 for standard copies; holo variants command a modest premium but remain accessible.
TCGPlayer: normal (non-holo) copies commonly sit in the €0.25–€0.49 range, while more pristine copies can approach €4 in rare cases for standout listings.
Holo premium: holo versions trend higher, with holo averages around €0.8 and occasional spikes depending on condition and demand. In expanded player communities, holo versions can still excite collectors seeking a complete BW set.

For fans who relish the romance of RNG and the patience of healing cycles, Maractus offers a compelling narrative in the expanded ecosystem. Its art—Kouki Saitou’s work—plus the deck-building puzzle it presents, makes it a memorable footnote in the Black & White era and a friendly bridge between nostalgia and modern play. And if you’re exploring the gear you carry to the table, a Rugged Phone Case—Impact Resistant Dual Layer TPU PC Glossy can help protect your gear while you test out new Maractus builds on the go. 🔥💎

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Maractus

Set: Black & White | Card ID: bw1-12

Card Overview

Category: Pokemon
HP: 90
Type: Grass
Stage: Basic
Dex ID: 556
Rarity: Rare
Regulation Mark: —
Retreat Cost: 2
Legal (Standard): No
Legal (Expanded): Yes

Description

Attacks

Name	Cost	Damage
Constant Rattle	Grass
Giga Drain	Grass, Grass, Grass	50

Pricing (Cardmarket)

Average: €0.17
Low: €0.02
Trend: €0.32
7-Day Avg: €0.25
30-Day Avg: €0.22

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Maractus Win Rate Explained: Deck Builds and Meta Trends