Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
In the Paradox Rift era, Orthworm arrives as a sturdy Metal Basic with a surprising toolkit for players who love careful deck construction as much as precise gameplay. With 140 HP, a two-attack horizon, and an illustrator credit to Pani Kobayashi that fans will recognize for its sharp, tactile art, Orthworm invites you to build a deck that leverages thinning, timing, and disciplined resource management. The card sits at Uncommon rarity, firmly in the “below the wall-of-pantheon” tier that rewards thoughtful sub-architectures rather than brute-force aggression. This is the kind of Pokémon that rewards players who plan several turns ahead while keeping a little room for improvisation as the board evolves ⚡🎴.
Card snapshot: Orthworm at a glance
- Set: Paradox Rift (sv04) — Regulation Mark G
- Dex ID: 968
- Type: Metal
- Stage: Basic
- Rarity: Uncommon
- HP: 140
- Attacks:
- Punch and Draw — Metal cost; 20 damage. Draw 2 cards.
- Crunch-Time Rush — Metal + Colorless + Colorless; 90+ damage. If there are 3 or fewer cards in your deck, this attack does 150 more damage.
- Retreat: 3
- Illustrator: Pani Kobayashi
Art that captures Orthworm’s armored, determined spirit is a key part of the card’s charm, and the flavor text—paired with Kobayashi’s crisp lines—translates into a deck-building approach that prizes reliability and a measured tempo. The card’s bluff-free ceiling, where Crunch-Time Rush can explode to 240 damage on a deck-thinning turn, makes Orthworm both a reliable early-game stabilizer and a dramatic finisher when the clock is right 🔥💎.
Core strategy: thinning to unleash Crunch-Time Rush
Orthworm’s centerpiece is the Crunch-Time Rush attack, which clocks in at 90 base damage and blossoms to 240 if your deck has been pruned to three or fewer cards. In practical terms, your goal is to set up Orthworm, attach energy consistently, and weave in card-drawing effects to compress your deck toward that critical threshold—without running out of cards yourself. The mechanic rewards a careful cadence: attach one Metal energy each turn, add a second (or third) Energy as needed, and use early draws to accelerate toward the point where Crunch-Time Rush becomes a one-shot finisher on key threats.
To maximize this approach, your game plan emphasizes two axes: draw power and deck search/consumption efficiency. On the draw side, you want to sequence turns so that you’re thinning with intent rather than reckless card discard. The build can incorporate steady draw support—whether through direct card drawing or through effects that cycle cards and retrieve energies. On the search side, you lean into Metal-energy acceleration and flexible search that doesn’t over-depend on any single card. The payoff is a moment where Orthworm hits for a heavy hit set that can swing a game in your favor—often on Turn 4 or 5, once you’ve whittled the deck toward that three-card-or-fewer sweet spot ⚡🎮.
Deck architecture: how to pair Orthworm with energy and draw
A practical Orthworm deck leans into two simple pillars: reliable energy attachment and smart card-drawing leverage. Because Crunch-Time Rush costs one Metal plus two Colorless energies, your energy mix should ensure you can meet that cost regardless of the order you draw. Colorless requirements are forgiving—any energy type can cover those slots—so you can blend Metal energy with other types you might already play for defense or utility. A disciplined approach is to run enough Metal energy to reliably fuel Punch and Draw while keeping a buffer for Crunch-Time Rush on turns when you’re actively thinning the deck. A handful of flexible draw engines (cards that let you draw 2 or 3 cards without sacrificing your tempo) helps you walk the line between accelerating toward victory and avoiding a deck-out scenario.
In terms of bench setup and tempo, Orthworm’s Retreat cost of 3 means you’ll want to keep it ready to re-enter the active field with minimal disruption. A simple plan is to pair Orthworm with one or two on-theme support Pokémon or tools that help you manage Energy attachment or speed up the transition between turns. The math is favorable: you get to apply consistent pressure with Orbiting draws, and when Crunch-Time Rush lands, the board state often flips in your favor in a single, decisive strike.
Matchups and practical tips
Against fast, aggressive decks, Orthworm-based builds excel when you stabilize early and begin thinning with purpose. The 140 HP keeps Orthworm reasonably durable for a few turns, and the threat of 240 damage on Crunch-Time Rush compels opponents to respect your damage ceiling while you peel through the deck. In longer matchups, your ability to draw and search with intent becomes the deciding factor; the more consistently you hit the deck-thinning line, the sooner Crunch-Time Rush can close the game. In practice, you’ll want to balance aggression with patience—set up the board, accumulate energy, and wait for the precise moment when your deck is three or fewer cards to unleash maximum impact. The “draw and draw again” mindset is a hallmark of Orthworm decks that can outpace slower rivals while avoiding hand clog.
Collectors’ note: value, rarity, and art
As an Uncommon Metal Basic, Orthworm lands in a slot that’s accessible to players building a competitive list without committing to ultra-rare staples. The Paradox Rift set, bearing the sv04 designation, features a broad lineup that supports varied strategies, and Orthworm’s 140 HP and two-attack package make it a compelling choice for theme-dependent shells. Market signals from CardMarket show a very modest price curve for non-holo copies (avg around 0.03 EUR, low around 0.02 EUR) with holo variants often carrying higher numbers where applicable (avg-holo around 0.14 EUR). These numbers reflect Orthworm’s position as a niche but reliable piece in a well-tuned Metal deck. The art by Pani Kobayashi gives the card a tactile feel that many collectors savor, and the “G” regulation mark keeps the card legal across standard and expanded formats, broadening its appeal for both casual players and tournament-minded fans ⚡💎.
Whether you’re chasing a strategic core that leans into deck thinning and big payoff turns, or you simply enjoy the satisfying cadence of a plan coming together turn after turn, Orthworm offers a sturdy canvas for creativity. Its practical attack costs, combined with a design that rewards careful resource management, makes it a memorable piece in any Paradox Rift lineup. The dual draw-then-detonate blueprint is a reminder that in Pokémon TCG, sometimes the most thrilling plays come from discipline and timing rather than sheer brute force 🎴🎨.
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