Skitty 71/109 Reverse Holo Pokémon EX Ruby & Sapphire Raw

Pokémon: Skitty

Series: EX

Set: Ruby & Sapphire

Card Number: 71

Rarity: R

Condition: N/A

Grade: Raw

Year: 2004

Illustrator:  Atsuko Nishida

Type: Fire

The Skitty 71/109 is a Common Colorless-type Basic Pokémon card from EX Ruby & Sapphire, released on March 1, 2004 by The Pokémon Company and illustrated by Atsuko Nishida, the beloved Japanese artist whose soft, rounded linework and warm pastel palettes made her illustrations some of the most recognizable and collectible in the entire Pokémon TCG catalog. As a 50 HP "Kitten" Pokémon with a Weakness to Fighting-type attacks (×2), no Resistance, and a Retreat Cost of one Colorless Energy, it occupies a deceptively simple but strategically valuable position within the 109-card master set. The "Reverse Holo" variant is distinguished by the holographic foil being applied to the back of the card rather than the artwork window—a production choice that gives the card a shimmering, iridescent reverse side while the front retains its clean, matte finish, making it a visually distinct chase target for collectors who differentiate between the standard and reverse treatments.

In terms of decks and strategy, Skitty's two attacks make it one of the most tactically efficient Common Colorless Pokémon in the EX era. Tackle costs a single Colorless Energy and deals a flat 10 damage—a cheap, reliable strike that requires minimal investment, making Skitty a functional turn-one attacker in any Colorless-compatible deck. Lunge costs two Colorless Energy, deals 30 damage, but requires a coin flip: if tails, the attack does nothing at all. This risk-reward design created a fascinating strategic tension—players had to weigh the 50% chance of dealing no damage against the reliable 30-damage output on a heads—making Skitty a disciplined, calculated attacker rather than a consistent damage dealer. In 2004–2006 competitive formats, Skitty found utility in Colorless and hybrid decks as a cheap, fast body that could apply early pressure while its single Colorless Retreat Cost gave it exceptional mobility as a bench presence. Its role as the pre-evolution of Delcatty and Absol in later sets made it a natural building block in any Colorless evolution line, and its Fighting Weakness (×2) made it a natural counter to Fighting-heavy strategies by incentivizing opponents to keep their Fighting attackers benched.

Collectors love the Reverse Holo Skitty for its unique position as one of the most charming Common Pokémon in the entire EX era, a card whose simple, reliable dual-attack design created a satisfying early-game rhythm that rewarded disciplined play over raw aggression. Atsuko Nishida's illustration—depicting Skitty in a playful, mid-trot pose with its small, expressive eyes gazing forward and its fluffy tail curling behind it in her signature soft, rounded style—captures the raw, kitten-like innocence of the species in a way that stands out among the more aggressive and dramatic artwork of the set's Holographic Rares like Groudon ex and Kyogre ex. The Reverse Holo treatment elevates an otherwise common card into a genuine visual chase, as the iridescent foil on the back catches light at different angles to reveal a subtle, shifting rainbow pattern that no standard printing can replicate. As a Basic Pokémon that can be played directly from the hand on turn one, Skitty occupies a structurally important position within the set's early-game options, and its permanently fixed supply—combined with over 20 years of natural wear from the population of EX Ruby & Sapphire cards that were opened, played, and traded in the mid-2000s—ensures that quality raw Reverse Holo copies remain a steady target for both set completionists and players of Unlimited format tournaments who still appreciate the creative early-game pressure mechanics of the EX era's most lovable Colorless-type Pokémon.

Product Details

Card Number / Rarity:71/109 / Common

Card Type / HP / Stage:Colorless / 50 / Basic

Attack 1:[1] Tackle (10)

Attack 2:[2] Lunge (30)
Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.

Weakness / Resistance / Retreat Cost:F / None / 1

Stock Image(s) Shown.

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