Budew: Zero Energy with Item Lock!
Today, we’re diving into Budew’s powerful item-lock strategy and showcasing the best cards to counter it! Budew is a card even beginners will quickly recognize as incredibly strong. It can use its attack with zero energy and prevents the opponent from using items during their next turn, creating a tough situation to deal with.
For instance, key items like Rare Candy or Ultra Ball, which are frequently used during matches, are completely shut down. This can leave the opponent in a situation where they have nothing to do during their turn! In this article, we’ll explain Budew’s strengths and the best strategies for countering it in a way that even beginners can understand.
How do you deal with such a powerful effect that stops items with zero energy? Let’s explore the cards you can use to defeat Budew’s strategy, and at the end, we’ll even share a unique idea for countering Budew with another Budew! Let’s get started!
Budew: Zero Energy with Item Lock!
The attack Tickling Pollen can be used with zero energy! For example, if your opponent goes second and uses Tickling Pollen on their first turn, they’ll prevent you from using evolution cards like Rare Candy or setup tools like Nest Ball. As a result, your turn will be almost entirely disrupted, and you’ll lose tempo. This can feel particularly challenging for beginners to counter.
In the current meta, Budew plays a central role in item-lock strategies. Its energy-free attack makes it a flexible addition to any deck, allowing it to have an impact from the early to late stages of a game. This disruption ability is especially threatening to decks that rely on evolution or energy acceleration.
However, Budew has one glaring weakness: its low 30 HP, which makes it very easy to knock out. Cards with abilities or attacks that deal direct damage, as well as those that can snipe the bench, are particularly effective countermeasures. This article will explore the best cards to counter Budew and explain how to use them effectively!
| Budew’s Strengths | Budew’s Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Can attack with zero energy | Low 30 HP |
| Locks opponent’s items and disrupts tempo | Low attack power with limited damage potential |
Budew’s Strengths
Energy-free disruption from the start: Budew’s defining feature is its attack Tickling Pollen, which requires no energy to use. This makes it incredibly disruptive, especially on turn one, where it can prevent the opponent from setting up using key items like Rare Candy or Nest Ball.
Can fit into any deck: The zero-energy requirement allows Budew to fit seamlessly into any type of deck. Its disruptive ability makes it particularly effective in tempo-focused or control decks, where slowing down the opponent is crucial.
Budew’s Weaknesses
Low durability: With only 30 HP, Budew is incredibly fragile and can be easily knocked out by even the weakest attacks. Defensive support is essential but not always practical.
Low damage output: Budew’s attack only deals 10 damage. This makes it heavily reliant on other attackers to deal meaningful damage.
Effective Cards for Countering Budew
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To effectively counter Budew’s item lock, you’ll need strategies that allow you to maintain your board state while avoiding its disruptive effects. Let’s explore some beginner-friendly cards and strategies to overcome Budew’s tricky tactics!
Pokémon League Headquarters: Forcing Budew to Need Energy
Pokémon League Headquarters is a stadium card that forces all Basic Pokémon to require 1 additional Colorless energy to use their attacks.
For example, if your opponent has Budew in the active position and plans to use Tickling Pollen, placing Pokémon League Headquarters on the field will force them to attach an energy card. This slows down their tempo and gives you the opportunity to set up your bench or prepare for an attack.
This card is highly effective at both neutralizing item lock and reclaiming the tempo of the match.
Walrein: Energy Restriction to Take Control
Walrein’s attack Freezing Fang prevents Pokémon with 2 or fewer energies from using their attacks during the opponent’s next turn. This ability completely nullifies Budew’s Tickling Pollen, which requires no energy.
Additionally, Walrein’s 60 damage is more than enough to knock out Budew with its low 30 HP. This makes Walrein a powerful countermeasure to Budew and other low-energy attackers.
Vanilluxe: Applying Pressure to Budew’s Low HP
Vanilluxe’s ability “Cold Room” is absolutely incredible!
As long as this Pokémon is on the field, opponent’s Pokémon with 40 HP or less cannot use their attacks.
For Pokémon like Budew, which has only 30 HP, this ability completely shuts them down!
You don’t even need to attack; this ability alone stops them in their tracks.
Vanilluxe isn’t just a great counter to Budew; its disruptive potential makes it a powerful asset against many strategies in the current meta.
Using “Cold Room” feels incredibly satisfying! Once you try it, you’ll be hooked for sure!
Rocky Helmet: Countering with Damage
Rocky Helmet is a Pokémon tool that counters attacks by placing damage counters on the attacking Pokémon.
When the Pokémon holding this card is in the active position and takes damage from an opponent’s attack, it places 2 damage counters on the attacking Pokémon.
To knock out Budew, which has 30 HP, this counter effect needs to trigger twice. However, the consistent damage buildup is one of this card’s biggest advantages!
Additionally, Rocky Helmet creates psychological pressure, making the opponent hesitate to attack while giving you time to prepare your next move. It’s a versatile and effective card for counterplay.
Deluxe Bomb: Overwhelming Power for a Quick Solution
If you don’t want to wait for Rocky Helmet to work over two turns, Deluxe Bomb is a fantastic alternative!
When the Pokémon holding this tool is attacked, it places 12 damage counters on the attacking Pokémon. While the tool is discarded after use, the effect is immediate and extremely impactful. Against Budew, with its 30 HP, this is overkill, but it gets the job done efficiently.
Use this card to surprise your opponent with a big counterattack. It’s a dramatic and satisfying way to turn the tide in your favor.
Chatot: Trapping Your Opponent
Chatot’s attack Chatter deals 30 damage while preventing the opponent’s active Pokémon from retreating.
This strategy works well against Budew, not only by potentially knocking it out but also by trapping it in the active position, where it’s vulnerable to further attacks.
Chatot’s retreat-locking ability isn’t just useful against Budew; it can disrupt many other decks as well. Locking your opponent’s movement allows you to control the pace of the game.
Cacnea: Punishing Your Opponent’s Attacks
Cacnea’s ability Counter Needles places 3 damage counters on any Pokémon that attacks it.
Since Budew only has 30 HP, attacking Cacnea will immediately result in its own knockout. This creates a psychological barrier for your opponent, as attacking becomes a risk.
This ability makes Cacnea an excellent deterrent against low-HP Pokémon and an effective addition to decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s strategy.
Munkidori: Using Abilities for a Direct Knockout
The ability “Adrenaline Brain” provides a powerful method to take advantage of Budew’s low HP and knock it out in one shot.
Adrenaline Brain: This ability allows Munkidori to utilize Darkness Energy on your field to place 3 damage counters (30 damage) on an opponent’s Pokémon, such as Budew. With this effect, 30 HP Budew can be easily knocked out using just the ability!
To counter Budew, simply place Munkidori on your bench as soon as it appears on your opponent’s field and activate its ability. This will allow you to knock out Budew before it uses Tickling Pollen to lock your items, greatly disrupting your opponent’s strategy.
What’s more, Munkidori’s ability doesn’t require an attack, meaning it doesn’t consume energy. This allows you to maintain tempo and prepare for your next play without any delays. However, since the ability depends on Darkness Energy, you’ll need to carefully plan your deck’s energy distribution.
Munkidori isn’t just effective against Budew; it excels at knocking out other low-HP Pokémon as well. It’s a versatile card that truly shines in disruption or tempo-focused decks.
Countering Budew with Budew!
One of the simplest and most effective ways to counter Budew is by using a Budew of your own!
If you set up your Budew with a Rocky Helmet, your opponent’s Budew will take 2 damage counters whenever it attacks, allowing your Budew to survive and return the favor.
This strategy lets you maintain your own item lock while eliminating your opponent’s Budew.
Conclusion: Is Rocky Helmet Budew the Best Counter?
Budew can effectively counter itself when paired with the right tools, like Rocky Helmet. This simple yet strategic setup allows you to both disrupt your opponent and stay ahead in tempo.
Bonus: Seismitoad EX – The Legendary Item Lock Strategist
Seismitoad EX, introduced in the Pokémon Trading Card Game XY expansion pack “Rising Fist”, is a Pokémon that focuses entirely on item-lock strategies. Its attack, Quaking Punch, costs 2 Colorless Energy (such as Double Colorless Energy) and prevents the opponent from using item cards during their next turn, shaking the meta of its time.
The Era of Seismitoad EX’s Dominance:
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When Seismitoad EX debuted in the XY expansion “Rising Fist”, several powerful Fighting-type cards were released alongside it, including Lucario EX, Strong Energy, and Fighting Stadium. These cards increased the prominence of Fighting-type decks, but quietly taking control of the meta was none other than Seismitoad EX.
The Fear of Quaking Punch:
Quaking Punch may only deal 30 damage, but its ability to lock items created a massive impact on the meta. Key cards like Computer Search, Ultra Ball, and VS Seeker, which were essential to most strategies, were rendered useless. Many players were forced into a passive state, drawing one card and ending their turn.
Key Cards Supporting Seismitoad EX:
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To strengthen the item-lock strategy, cards like Head Ringer and Crushing Hammer were key components. Head Ringer increased the energy cost required for the opponent’s Pokémon to attack, while Crushing Hammer removed those energies entirely, creating a devastating combo.
Additionally, to compensate for the low damage of Quaking Punch, decks included cards with abilities that could spread damage counters, such as Crobat and Decidueye GX. These cards made up for the lack of firepower, enhancing Seismitoad EX’s effectiveness.
One of the most fearsome combos involved Hypnotoxic Laser and Virbank City Gym. This strategy guaranteed poison status for the opponent’s Pokémon, and if the coin flip landed heads, the target would also fall asleep. This made Hypnotoxic Laser an incredibly powerful item card.
When Virbank City Gym was in play, poison damage increased by 2 damage counters per Pokémon Check. Combined with the Quaking Punch attack dealing 30 damage, this combo could deal a total of 60 damage in one turn.
If the opponent’s Pokémon remained asleep and couldn’t act, the subsequent Pokémon Check would add even more poison damage. In this case, the total damage dealt could reach up to 90 damage, making this strategy a game-changer that could drastically shift the momentum of a match.
Countermeasures and Overcoming Them:
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Naturally, Seismitoad EX had its share of counters. For instance, Cobalion EX (from the Metal Links expansion) with its attack Holy Edge, or Jirachi with its Stardust attack to destroy Special Energy, proved effective. Meanwhile, Mew EX (from the Dragon Selection expansion) could copy Quaking Punch using its ability.
However, Seismitoad EX players countered these strategies with cards like Team Flare Grunt and Xerosic, creating a never-ending back-and-forth battle.
Deck Examples:
Here are some representative decks that make great use of Seismitoad EX. For a more detailed breakdown, check out this article!
- Seismitoad-Bats: This deck uses the Crobat line’s ability to spread damage counters, while Quaking Punch locks the opponent’s tempo. Adding damage counters compensates for the low damage output of Quaking Punch, making it highly effective in prolonged battles.
- Seismitoad-Musharna: With Musharna’s Forewarn ability for additional draws and cards like Head Ringer or Crushing Hammer to disrupt opponent’s energy, this deck excels at maintaining item lock and resource control.
- Seismitoad-Decidueye: Leveraging Decidueye GX’s Feather Arrow ability to add damage counters and Forest of Giant Plants to speed up evolution, this deck maximizes the impact of item lock while benefiting from Decidueye GX’s durability and utility.
Comparison with Budew
Budew’s main strength lies in its zero-energy attack, allowing it to disrupt the opponent early on. However, its basic damage output of 10 is limited.
To increase damage potential, you could pair it with cards like Amoonguss or Radiant Hisuian Sneasler, which add poison effects for +30 damage counters. Additionally, Froslass’s ability could offer further support, but even with these boosts, achieving significant firepower is challenging.
That said, Budew remains incredibly strong for its ability to item-lock opponents without requiring energy, making it an excellent tool for disrupting early tempo.
On the other hand, Seismitoad EX combines Quaking Punch’s 30 damage with item lock. Additionally, strategies involving Crobat lines and Decidueye GX to spread damage counters further amplify its strength.
The powerful disruption combos using Head Ringer and Crushing Hammer gave Seismitoad EX a greater board control ability compared to Budew.
In terms of raw damage output, Seismitoad EX surpasses Budew. However, Budew’s simplicity and ability to lock items without energy make it a unique and valuable card in the current meta.
To counter Budew, you can draw inspiration from Seismitoad EX’s past strategies. Methods such as energy destruction with Jirachi, reducing additional damage, and maintaining tempo are essential for controlling the board. Apply these techniques to manage Budew effectively.
For more detailed insights into Seismitoad EX and its dominance in the meta, be sure to check out the following article:
“Better than Toad Trouble: Relieving Stress with Seismitoad EX”
