Swellow 45/97 Reverse Holo Pokémon EX Dragon Raw

Pokémon: Swellow

Series: EX

Set: Dragon

Card Number: 45

Rarity: UC

Condition: N/A

Grade: Raw

Year: 2005

Illustrator:  Atsuko Nishida

Type: Colorless

The Swellow 45/97 is a Common Flying-type Stage 1 Pokémon card from EX Dragon, released on November 24, 2003 by The Pokémon Company and illustrated by Atsuko Nishida, the beloved Japanese artist whose soft, rounded linework and cool-toned palettes made her illustrations some of the most recognizable and collectible in the entire Pokémon TCG catalog. As a 70 HP Pokémon that evolves from Wingull, it carries a Weakness to Lightning-type attacks (×2), no Resistance, and a Retreat Cost of one Colorless Energy. EX Dragon was the third expansion of the EX Series and the first English set to introduce Colorless as a possible Weakness type, featuring a 97-card base checklist plus 3 secret rares and headlined by Rayquaza ex, Dragonite ex, and Latias ex.

In terms of decks and strategy, Swellow's two attacks make it one of the most tactically efficient Common Flying Pokémon in the entire EX era. Wing Attack costs a single Colorless Energy and deals a flat 20 damage—a cheap, reliable strike that requires minimal investment, making Swellow a functional early-turn attacker in any Colorless-compatible deck. Gust costs one Flying Energy, deals 10 damage, and allows the player to move a Basic Pokémon from the opponent's Active position to their Bench—a powerful forced-bench effect that could pull a stalled or unevolved attacker back to the Bench, derailing an opponent's evolution strategy or exposing a vulnerable Basic to a follow-up hit. In 2003–2005 competitive formats, Swellow found utility in Flying-type and hybrid decks as a cheap, fast body that could apply consistent pressure through Wing Attack or disrupt an opponent's board state through Gust, and its single Colorless Retreat Cost gave it exceptional mobility as a bench presence. Its role as the Stage 1 evolution of Wingull made it a natural building block in any Flying evolution line, and its Lightning Weakness (×2) made it a natural counter to Zapdos-heavy and Lightning-type strategies by incentivizing opponents to keep their Lightning attackers benched.

Collectors love the EX Dragon Swellow for its unique position as one of the most charming and mechanically complete Common Flying Pokémon in the entire EX era, a card whose dual-attack design of reliable damage plus forced-bench disruption created a satisfying strategic rhythm that rewarded disciplined play over raw aggression. Atsuko Nishida's illustration—depicting Swellow in a dynamic, mid-flight pose with its sleek body streamlined for speed and its small, focused eyes locked forward in her signature soft, rounded style—captures the raw, agile grace of the species in a way that stands out among the more aggressive and dramatic artwork of the set's Holographic Rares like Rayquaza ex, Dragonite ex, and Latias ex. As a Stage 1 that evolves from Wingull, Swellow occupies a structurally important position within the set's evolution ecosystem, and its permanently fixed supply—combined with over 20 years of natural wear from the population of EX Dragon cards that were opened, played, and traded in the early 2000s—ensures that quality raw copies remain a steady target for both set completionists and players of Unlimited format tournaments who still appreciate the creative forced-bench disruption mechanics of one of the EX era's most agile Flying-type Pokémon.

Product Details

Card Number / Rarity:45/97 / Uncommon

Card Type / HP / Stage:Colorless / 70 / Stage 1

Attack 1:[1] Clutch (10)
The Defending Pokemon can't retreat until the end of your opponent's next turn.

Attack 2:[2] Quick Dive
Flip a coin. If heads, choose 1 of your opponent's Pokemon. This attack does 50 damage to that Pokemon. This attack's damage isn't affected by Weakness or Resistance.

Weakness / Resistance / Retreat Cost:L / F / 0

Stock Image(s) Shown.

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