Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Inclusion Rates Across Deck Archetypes: Spritzee’s Quiet Footprint in the Expanded Meta
In the Pokémon TCG, every card carries its own story about where it fits in a deck’s ecosystem. Spritzee, a humble Basic Fairy from the XY era, is a fascinating case study for inclusion rate across deck archetypes. With 50 HP, a dependable healing option in Sweet Scent, and a straightforward damage option with Flop, Spritzee embodies the kind of card that can thread through multiple strategies—if the format and archetype call for it. Its expanded-legal status (not standard-legal) places it in a niche where older archetypes still breathe, while newer players may overlook it in favor of flashier attackers. Let’s unpack how Spritzee tends to appear in different deck archetypes and what that means for collectors and players alike. ⚡🔥
Card snapshot — Spritzee is a Common Fairy Basic from the XY set (card ID XY1-92) illustrated by 5ban Graphics. It carries 50 HP, a retreat cost of 1, and a weakness to Metal (×2) with a slight resistance to Darkness (-20). Its two attacks are deliberately simple: Sweet Scent costs a single Fairy energy and heals 20 damage from one of your Pokémon, while Flop costs two Colorless energies and deals 20 damage. In practice, Spritzee’s value isn’t in raw firepower, but in its potential to smooth the game state—especially in decks that prize longevity and bench resilience. The set’s firstEdition status is false, but holo and reverse holo variants exist, making Spritzee a small yet real collectible target for budget-focused players and hobbyists.
Why Spritzee tends to show up in multiple archetypes
- Bench-preserving healing support: In archetypes that aim to stall or slowly grind opponents down, Spritzee’s Sweet Scent offers a reliable way to recover a wounded front-line Pokémon. In Expanded formats, where game plans can hinge on bringing fragile attackers back from the brink, this healing option helps stabilize the bench without consuming precious trainer draws.
- Low commitment, easy inclusion: As a Basic Fairy with modest HP, Spritzee slots into a deck with minimal cost. It can occupy a single bench slot while other, bigger Pokémon do the heavy lifting, making it attractive for “fill-in” strategies that want to maintain a diverse energy base and flexible retreat options.
- Fairy-family synergy: The XY era is rich with Fairy-type support lines, and Spritzee often sits near Aromatisse’s evolutionary line. While Aromatisse typically brings stronger healing or benched synergy, Spritzee serves as the patient precursor that can enable a longer game plan. This makes it a practical inclusion for decks exploring Fairy synergy across basic-to-stage evolution pathways in Expanded.
- Budget-friendly collector appeal: The card’s Common rarity and the presence of holo/reverse holo variants keep Spritzee relevant for budget collectors who enjoy building complete sets from the XY era.
Deck archetypes where Spritzee tends to appear
- Healing-centric control decks — In Expanded, Spritzee’s healing utility supports a tempo that avoids over-expending resources. Players can use Spritzee to extend rounds when their attacker lineup is reliable but fragile, weaving in defensive plays while energies remain available for other threats.
- Fairy-support lines — Within Fairy-themed shells, Spritzee acts as a tempo-friendly bench option. Its resilience is not enough to win games solo, but it can be a credible pivot between bigger attackers, especially when paired with stage evolutions that add staying power.
- Budget experimentation decks — Spritzee’s affordability makes it a convenient test-bed for new strategies in Expanded. Players can explore how small healing margins influence late-game decisions without risking a high-cost lineup.
- Hybrid stall-tin builds — Some decks blend stall tactics with quick damage output. Spritzee’s heals complement these plans by mitigating chip damage, enabling a smoother bench transition from turn to turn.
From a strategic vantage, Spritzee’s two attacks demand careful energy budgeting. Sweet Scent requires a single Fairy energy and provides a soft form of sustain, while Flop hinges on two Colorless energies for a modest 20 damage—a reachy but non-committal option for closing early-game gaps. The card’s Metal weakness is a reminder to avoid Metallic-heavy matchups in lean setups, but resilience can be built by pairing Spritzee with energy acceleration and healing tools that keep the bench healthy as the game unfolds. 💎🎴
Market value trends and collector insights
Pricing data offers a practical lens on how often Spritzee appears in decks and how much players value it in practice. CardMarket shows an average price of approximately €0.15 for the normal variant, with lows around €0.02 and a trend nudging upward around 0.19 in some windows. The holo variant is predictably pricier, with an average near €0.30 and a notable trend spike to around 0.59 for holo listings. The reverse-holo form can fetch higher prices, peaking near €4.49 in extreme cases, which reflects collector interest beyond pure gameplay. On TCGPlayer, the normal copy sits in the low-price to mid-price range (roughly $0.05–$0.21; market price around $0.19), while the reverse holo offers more variance (highs around $4.49 with midpoints near $0.75). This pricing pattern underscores Spritzee’s role as a budget option with occasional flips in collector demand for holo collectibles. 💎🔥
For players, these figures suggest Spritzee remains a sensible pickup for Expanded-themed collections but isn’t a cornerstone of modern play. It’s the kind of card you might grab during a casual weekend event to test Fairy synergy, or to complete a XY-era set without breaking the bank. For collectors, the holo and reverse-holo variants provide a whisper of long-term potential—especially for fans who appreciate the XY artwork and the character’s gentle, pastel charm. The artist behind Spritzee, 5ban Graphics, lends a soft, approachable aesthetic that resonates with nostalgic players and new collectors alike. 🎨
As a bridge between basic utility and mid-game evolution, Spritzee teaches a broader lesson about inclusion rates in deck design: not every card screams power, but many cards offer strategic value when paired with the right partners. In Expanded formats, where aging mechanics mingle with modern staples, Spritzee finds a home in rooms where healing, versatility, and budget-conscious building matter just as much as raw damage output. In your next deck-building session, consider how a small healing pocket like Spritzee might reshape your late-game decisions, especially if you’re exploring Fairy-type synergies or simply experimenting with a lean, resilient bench. ⚡🎮
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