Buizel's Inclusion Rate Across Deck Archetypes in Pokémon TCG

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Buizel card art from Unleashed (HGSS2-45)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Buizel in the TCG: Measuring its Inclusion Across Deck Archetypes

In the rain-soaked world of Pokémon TCG history, Buizel stands as a charming reminder of how even a beginner-level, low-HP Water Pokémon can punch above its weight in specific deck archetypes. Hailing from the Unleashed set (HGSS2) and illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda, this common Basic Water Pokémon with 60 HP carved out a niche where bench pressure and support synergy mattered as much as raw damage. Its little Muddy Water attack—costing just Water energy and delivering 10 damage to one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon—encapsulates a particular philosophy: pressure the bench, force decision-making, and weave disruption into a low-cost package. ⚡🔥

When we talk about inclusion rate across deck archetypes, Buizel often found itself in decks that prized bench control and spread-style pressure rather than hard-hitting knockout blows. Its affordable energy cost made it an easy early-game play, especially in eras where players leaned on quick setups and flexible bench management. An archetype built around tempo and micro-damage would welcome Buizel to maintain board presence while teammates setup stronger attackers. The attack’s wording—“Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon”—is a small but powerful reminder that the bench is a separate battlefield with its own rules, and Buizel exploited that nuance to keep opponents guessing. In addition, its Lightning-type weakness nudges matchups toward careful energy budgeting and matchup awareness, a perennial consideration for any deck builder weighing inclusion rates. 🎴🎨

Card snapshot: Buizel at a glance

  • Type: Water
  • HP: 60
  • Stage: Basic
  • Rarity: Common
  • Illustrator: Masakazu Fukuda
  • Attack: Muddy Water — Cost: Water; Effect: Does 10 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
  • Weakness: Lightning ×2
  • Retreat: 1
  • Set: Unleashed (HGSS2)

The Unleashed era gave Buizel a supporting role that didn’t require a lot of heavy-lifting from your energy line. Its 60 HP kept it accessible in many decks, and its common rarity made it a breeze to collect for budget players and hobbyists alike. The artwork by Masakazu Fukuda added a calm, aquatic mood to the table—an invitation to players who loved the aesthetic of water battles and the pressure of bench management. Collectors often appreciate Buizel not just for gameplay value but for its place in a set that captures a particular moment in the Pokémon TCG’s evolution. 💎

Hands-on strategy: leveraging Buizel in archetypes

In practice, Buizel’s inclusion rate correlates with decks that emphasize tempo, board state control, and bench disruption. A typical Buizel line-up would use its Muddy Water to poke at a lone Benched Pokémon, nudging damage on the opponent’s framework while your main attackers set up. Because Muddy Water targets the bench, it invites players to craft strategies around “buffer” effects—cards that snipe or maneuver the opponent’s bench without relying solely on direct KO pressure. This approach can slow the opponent’s momentum, especially in matchups where the bench is a resource to control. ⚡

Decks that sought to maximize small, repeated hits—while keeping energy costs low—found Buizel to be a friendly anchor. It pairs well with draw-support Pokémon that help you reach your early-two or three-energy turns and with Trainer cards that spread or reposition damage. The inclusion rate would tick up in archetypes that valued bench economy: you want Buizel on the front lines with a plan for a later follow-up attacker, or as a flexible piece that can be cycled out as you push toward a stronger core. The common nature of Buizel means you could slot it into many lists without sacrificing any major power spikes, making it a reliable but under-the-radar pick for nostalgic builds. 🎮

“A common card with a bench-focused trick can become the quiet engine of a well-timed deck,” says veteran collectors who track archetype evolution. Buizel’s lean package reminds us that sometimes the path to victory is not the biggest punch, but the most efficient tempo and mental game on the bench. 🃏”

Market pulse: value and collectibility

From a collector’s lens, Buizel is approachable—its common rarity keeps prices reasonable, yet modern readers and nostalgia-seekers prize its place in the Unleashed era. The pricing data across major markets shows modest activity, consistent with common Holos and non-Holo staples from older sets. Cardmarket reports an average price around €0.56 with occasional dips to €0.02, while TCgPlayer’s standard (non-holo) listings hover around a low price of roughly $0.10 and mid around $0.29; market price sits near $0.27 with a reverse-holo option peaking around $9.99 for collectors chasing variation. These figures reflect Buizel’s status as a budget-friendly, era-defining card for players and collectors who relish early 2010s deck architecture. The value isn’t in raw power, but in the nostalgia, the art, and the role it played in shaping bench-focused strategies of its time. 🔍

As a piece of Masakazu Fukuda’s gallery, Buizel also carries artistic significance that appeals to completists and newer fans alike. The understated design—paired with a practical ability—invests the card with a quiet charm that keeps it in active discussions about vintage deck archetypes and the evolution of Water-type strategy. For players returning to these formats, Buizel offers a pleasant reminder that even basic, modest creatures can influence deck inclusion rates when the metagame values tempo, bench pressure, and resource management. 🎯

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