Blastoise ex vs Blastoise-EX
Blastoise ex (FireRed & LeafGreen) and Blastoise-EX (XY) are frequently compared because they share the same Pokémon identity across different printings. This page breaks down which one is the better buy right now.
Current TCGPlayer market prices put the two at $430.00 for Blastoise ex and $148.87 for Blastoise-EX — a gap of $281.13 (189%). Prices update daily, and the two charts below show how each has moved.
Stat comparison
| Market price | $430.00 | $148.87 |
| Set | FireRed & LeafGreen | XY |
| Number | #104 | #142 |
| HP | 150 | 180 |
| Type | Water | Water |
| Subtypes | Stage 2, ex | Basic, EX |
| Retreat cost | 3 | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare Holo EX | Rare Ultra |
Price history
Price History
Price History
Which should you buy?
When comparing Blastoise ex (FireRed & LeafGreen #104) against Blastoise-EX (XY #142), the most immediate difference is price. Blastoise ex currently trades at roughly $430.00 while Blastoise-EX sits near $148.87 — a gap of about $281.13 (189%). That spread alone is often the deciding factor for buyers weighing the two. On raw HP, Blastoise-EX edges the comparison at 180 to the other card's 150 — a meaningful margin for trading hits and surviving chip damage. Both are Water-type Pokémon, which means they compete for the same energy slots and archetype shells. Running both in the same deck is usually overkill unless the strategy specifically wants redundancy. Both are printings of the same character. One comes from FireRed & LeafGreen (2004/09/01) and the other from XY (2014/02/05). Competitive players usually pick whichever printing is currently legal in the format they play, while collectors often want both for visual variety. Rarity is another dividing line: Blastoise ex is Rare Holo EX while Blastoise-EX is Rare Ultra, which typically explains most of the price gap and signals different print volumes. For buyers, the practical question is usually about use-case. If you are chasing value or planning to flip, the cheaper card carries less downside risk. If you are building a deck, the shared-deck or evolution relationship matters more than the sticker price. And for collectors, the two printings or variants together tend to form a more complete set than either alone. Always check the live TCGPlayer and Amazon listings before buying, since prices move.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more expensive, Blastoise ex or Blastoise-EX?
Blastoise ex (FireRed & LeafGreen) is more expensive at $430.00, versus $148.87 for Blastoise-EX (XY) — a difference of $281.13 (189%). Prices refresh daily from TCGPlayer market data.
Are Blastoise ex and Blastoise-EX used in the same decks?
Not in the archetypes tracked on this site. They may still see play in rogue or tournament-specific builds that aren't listed here.
Which is more recent?
Blastoise ex comes from FireRed & LeafGreen (2004), while Blastoise-EX is from XY (2014). Newer printings are typically more likely to be legal in current rotation formats.
Where should I buy Blastoise ex or Blastoise-EX?
Both cards are typically available on TCGPlayer (the largest individual-card marketplace) and Amazon (where sealed product and bundles dominate). Use the buy links above to see live listings by condition and seller.