A baby Pokémon is getting its firstPokémon Trading Card Gamecard in over 15 years.The Pokémon Company revealed over the weekendthat the upcomingTerastal Festivalset would feature a BudewPokémoncard. This marks the first time that Budew has received a Pokémon card since the 2008 setDiamond & Pearl: Stormfront.Before this card was announced, Budew had the longest drought of any Pokémon since they last appeared on aPokémoncard. 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 theTerastal Festivalset, which will be released internationallyasPrismatic 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 Evolutionswill not have individual booster packs for salebut will be sold in boxed products instead.Prismatic Evolutionswill be the first set released forPokémon TCGin 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 currentScarlet & Violetcycle,The PokémonTCGhas 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 latestScarlet & Violetsets 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 ofThePokémon TCGis 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 inThe 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 thePokémon Trading Card Game, especially if it’s featured in an Illustration Rare card.
