Neglected Pokmon Is Finally Getting Its First TCG Card In Over 15 Years

5 days ago 6

Pokémon Trading Card Game

Baby Pokemon including Budew, Pichu, and Igglybuff

A baby Pokémon is getting its first Pokémon Trading Card Game card in over 15 years. The Pokémon Company revealed over the weekend that the upcoming Terastal Festival set would feature a Budew Pokémon card. This marks the first time that Budew has received a Pokémon card since the 2008 set Diamond & Pearl: Stormfront. Before this card was announced, Budew had the longest drought of any Pokémon since they last appeared on a Pokémon card. Interestingly, Budew may see some play in competitive decks, thanks to its zero energy attack that prevents players from using item cards on their next turn.

Budew will be featured in the Terastal Festival set, which will be released internationally as Prismatic Evolutions. The new "special set" will focus on Stellar Tera Pokémon ex versions of Eevee and its various evolutions, but obviously, the set will feature a few other special surprises as well. As a special set, Prismatic Evolutions will not have individual booster packs for sale but will be sold in boxed products instead. Prismatic Evolutions will be the first set released for Pokémon TCG in 2025.

Baby Pokémon Are Making A Comeback In Pokémon TCG

Several "Missing" Baby Pokémon Have Gotten Their First Pokémon Cards In Decades

As part of the current Scarlet & Violet cycle, The PokémonTCG has brought back several baby Pokémon that haven't received a new card in a decade or longer. Baby Pokémon exist in a weird spot for the trading card game, as they all evolve into Pokémon, defined as "Basic Pokémon." All Baby Pokémon had abilities that allowed them to evolve into their next forms during earlier sets, but more recent generations of cards simply skipped over them as unnecessary. Some baby Pokémon appeared in the Sun & Moon cycle of card sets, but others have not appeared since the Diamond & Pearl cycle or longer.

The latest Scarlet & Violet sets have provided baby Pokémon with a unique mechanic. Each baby Pokémon has a zero energy move of some kind, which typically helps Pokémon in the early part of a match. Cleffa, for instance, allows players to draw cards until they have seven cards in their hands, while Mime Jr. copies an opponent's Pokémon's attacks. While Baby Pokémon still have low HP, they have no retreat cost, so a player can switch them out quickly once a stronger Pokémon is ready to enter play.

Screen Rant's Take: Baby Pokémon Can Fill A Niche In Pokémon TCG

Baby Pokémon Have A Unique Mechanic In Pokémon TCG

One of the strengths of The Pokémon TCG is its ability to put the spotlight on neglected Pokémon. That's why it's a bit strange that the game has avoided Baby Pokémon for so long. However, cards like Budew and Cleffa seem to have a niche in The Pokémon TCG, with intriguing "free" moves that make them viable in a lot of different deck types.

While Budew is a Grass-type Pokémon, its move has no energy cost so it can be thrown into any deck to help harass opponents that rely on item cards to get set up. We're looking forward to Budew's return to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, especially if it's featured in an Illustration Rare card.

Source: PokeBeach