Budew’s Itchy Pollen and Its Impact on the Pokémon Meta

Prismatic Evolutions has been the hottest set that the Pokémon TCG has ever seen, but that's been more from a collectors standpoint. Having $2000 USD chase cards, like Umbreon ex [Prismatic Evolutions], has made this set fly off the shelves. But what about the other cards in the set? You know, like the competitive ones… 

There are less than I would hope, but the few competitive cards in the set are more impactful than most initially thought. Those two cards are Budew [Prismatic Evolutions], and Regigigas [Primatic Evolutions], and are actually going to be the theme of my next two Ultimate Guard blogs. In this blog, I’ll be covering Budew, why it's impactful, and a few decklists that utilize this card quite well! Let’s jump into it.

Understanding Budew

One of the most playable cards in the set having 30 HP is almost laughable, but many aren’t laughing as soon as Budew uses its Itchy Pollen attack. Many decks are slotting in one or two Budew to slow down their opponent at the start of the game while they take some time to set up. Even decks that haven’t seen much success before, like Dragapult ex [Twilight Masquerade], are now able to slow down the game enough to be truly successful. And it's so much more than just using it in the first few turns, it can be played towards the end of a game too! 

Decks like Gardevoir ex [Scarlet and Violet] are able to late game Iono [Paldea Evolved], Counter Catcher [Paradox Rift] up a non-attacking Pokémon, use Munkidori [Twilight Masquerade] to move damage counters, and then use Itchy Pollen. That can mean a few turns to rebuild a board, stopping your opponent from using Items, ruining their hand, setting up KOs with Munkidori, and they likely aren’t able to retreat either. Item lock hurts everyone! No Ultra Ball [Scarlet and Violet], no Nest Ball [Paldean Fates], and that adds up. Budew can be the cornerstone of setup, making a comeback, or just some interesting plays in general! I’ve crafted a few lists playing Budew that utilize the card differently, so let’s check them out!

Dragapult ex Dusknoir Deck

Dragapult ex decks focus on setting up Drakloak [Twilight Masquerade] with Lance [Silver Tempest] to have an army of Pokémon that draw cards. It might take a few turns to manually Evolve your Dreepy [Twilight Masquerade], so that's when you want to bring out the Budew to abuse Itchy Pollen. As your opponent runs out of options due to Item lock, you can build up your board, and maybe even set up a Dusclops [Shrouded Fable], and Dusknoir [Shrouded Fable] in the background. When you’re ready to strike, you want to use Cursed Blast (even twice), and then use Phantom Dive to board-wipe your opponent. If you can’t board-wipe all of the valuable Pokémon off of your opponent’s board, you might need to hold off on Dusknoir’s Cursed Blast, and set up a multi-Prize Card turn with Phantom Dive for another turn. Let’s check out my latest decklist

Looking for a sweet deck box to hold your new Dragapult ex / Dusknoir deck? The Rhodonite Boulder Deck Box matches the aesthetic of your ACE SPEC, and stands out when compared to other deck boxes available. Learn more about it here.

Klawf / Terapagos ex Deck

Klawf [Paradox Rift] and Terapagos ex [Stellar Crown] have been partners for a few months now, but this deck can utilize Budew differently than most decks. You can pair Budew with Brute Bonnet [Paradox Rift], Binding Mochi [Shrouded Fable], and Radiant Hisuian Sneasler [Lost Origin] to do 40 damage + 30 damage from Poison in between turns. Since your opponent can’t play Switch [Scarlet and Violet], it might just stick. It might be easier to OHKO something with Klawf, Terapagos ex, or even Pecharunt [Scarlet and Violet Promos] - only you will be able to decide. Having the option to early game Item lock shouldn’t be overlooked, and that's what this deck is all about. At the time of this writing, players are undecided on the inclusion of Hisuian Electrode V [Sword and Shield Promos], and the second Klawf, but I went with a traditional list since the metagame is so new! Let’s check it out!

I love to highlight certain cards in the deck with my sleeves, and I like how the Jade Garden Katana Sleeves complement Hisuian Electrode V [Sword and Shield Promo] - learn more about them here.

Gardevoir ex

Gardevoir ex [Scarlet and Violet] has been a staple deck in our format since the release of Scarlet and Violet, but this older deck has learned a new trick: Budew’s Itchy Pollen! Being able to slow down the pace of a game by using Item lock, or even going for a mid-game Item lock + Unfair Stamp [Twilight Masquerade] + Counter Catcher [Paradox Rift] + Munkidori [Twilight Masquerade]. The combos are unlimited, and Gardevoir ex is the right come-from-behind deck that ends up making a solid case for adding Budew to the standard decklist. Let’s check out my most recent take on the archetype!

Looking for some sleeves to match the Psychic-type playstyle? The Radiant Plum Katana Sleeves match the aesthetic of Gardevoir ex perfectly! Learn more about them here.

Watching Our New Metagame Grow

The Prismatic Evolutions metagame is actually exciting because Budew has added layers of depth into the game, and it has actively shaken up which decks you might face. Even top decks, like Regidrago VSTAR [Silver Tempest], have taken a step back - Budew blocks Energy Switch [Scarlet and Violet]. There are many upcoming events in this format, all across the world, so I’m going to sit back, and enjoy the metagame. I’ll be playing in the 2025 European International Championships in London, United Kingdom, hopefully I'll be able to figure out the best deck for that event. I’ll be sure to keep all of you Ultimate Guard readers up to date on my Pokémon TCG adventures! Until next time, Zach Lesage.