Ivysaur: Artistic Nods to Past Generations in the Pokémon TCG

Ivysaur card art (PL3 62) from Supreme Victors by Kanako Eo

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Ivysaur: Artistic Nods to Past Generations in the Pokémon TCG

There’s something especially delightful about Ivysaur’s appearance in the Supreme Victors era—a moment when the Pokemon Trading Card Game began weaving deeper storytelling into its artwork while still honoring the lineage of Grass-type Pokémon. The card we’re looking at features the evolution from Bulbasaur in a way that fans remember from the early days, yet it sits firmly within the slick design language of late-Gen IV TCG sets. Illustrated by Kanako Eo, this Ivysaur captures a balance of nostalgia and modern polish, inviting both collectors and players to pause and appreciate the craft that goes into every card’s surface and stance. ⚡🔥💎

In a game where each card is a gateway to a playstyle, Ivysaur stands out not just for its stat line but for its ability to tilt turns in subtle, strategic ways. As a Stage 1 Grass-type with 80 HP, Ivysaur sits in the comfortable middle ground: sturdy enough to survive early blows, but agile enough to transition into board control with the right setup. Its evolution from Bulbasaur is more than a mechanical step; it’s a visual nod to a generation’s journey—from the beginner starter to a more seasoned practitioner who can bend the course of a match through careful sequence work.

Card snapshot: what you need to know at a glance

Card name: Ivysaur
Set: Supreme Victors (PL3)
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Grass
Stage: Stage 1
HP: 80
Evolves from: Bulbasaur
Ability: Evolutionary Pollen (Poke-POWER) — Once during your turn, when you play Ivysaur from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon, you may use this power. Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Asleep.
Attack: Cut — 50 damage
Weakness: Fire ×2 (+20)
Retreat: 2
Illustrator: Kanako Eo

That Evolutionary Pollen ability is a fascinating relic of an era when Poke-Powers could swing momentum with a single, well-timed evolution. The act of evolving Ivysaur from Bulbasaur not only upgrades your board state but also attempts to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm by putting their Active Pokémon to sleep. It’s a tempo play that rewards careful hand management and precise timing—two skills every seasoned player wants to master when facing a diversified Grass-type toolbox in the metagame.

Strategic play: building rhythm around Evolutionary Pollen

In a format where quick starts and early aggression often decide the course of a match, Ivysaur’s 80 HP keeps it in the fight without begging to be mashed into a wall of damage. The real value is how the Poke-POWER interacts with your evolving plan. When you’ve drawn Bulbasaur and you’re ready to advance, playing Ivysaur can create a two-turn swing: evolve, activate Evolutionary Pollen, and watch your opponent’s Active slip into slumber. While sleep effects in the early days of the game could be more volatile than they are today, this ability introduces a reliable method to pause key threats and set up a follow-up attack with Cut for 50 damage. On a practical level, Ivysaur pairs naturally with Grass-energy accelerators and supportive evolutions in the same line. A disciplined player might aim to evolve Bulbasaur into Ivysaur on turns where the opponent’s board presents a high-priority target, ensuring that a looming bench threat doesn’t corner your strategy. The 2 retreat cost gives Ivysaur reasonable mobility on the bench, enabling you to recycle your attacker if your opponent tries to disrupt your setup. And while Fire-type opponents still loom as a common weakness in many decks from that era, Ivysaur’s defensive posture and offensive tempo give you a path to contest the early game even when risk is a factor.

Beyond the numbers, the card’s artwork reinforces the nostalgic thread it threads through generations of fans. Kanako Eo’s illustration captures Ivysaur’s poised readiness—shaded greens, a hint of floral energy, and a sense that the plant-based ascendant is ready to pivot from gentle growth to decisive action. The visual storytelling matches the tactical storytelling—two sides of the same coin that appeal to the collector’s eye and the player’s mindset. 🎴🎨

Collector insights: rarity, pricing snapshots, and set context

Ivysaur is cataloged as an Uncommon in the Supreme Victors set, a designation that often sees a lively market thanks to builder decks and set completion drives. The card’s evolution from Bulbasaur during the Supreme Victors era ties it to a broader storyline across Gen 3, and the holo variants (where applicable) add extra allure for collectors who chase flash and sheen in equal measure. When you examine price data on the market, CardMarket’s updates (as of late 2025) show a relatively approachable average for non-holo copies, with holo versions commanding a higher premium in established price bands. For a card like Ivysaur, where a single copy can be a tasteful centerpiece for a Grass-type lineup, the balance of rarity and playability often makes it a satisfying pull from a booster or a valued add-on for a trades lot. Recent holo pricing can drift into the mid to upper euros for near-mint pieces, reflecting both nostalgia and the set’s enduring popularity. Remember, market trends are dynamic, but the essence remains: Ivysaur’s Uncommon status paired with its Poke-Power remains a talking point for players who enjoy tempo-based evolution plays. 💎

For players who love the “old meets new” vibe, Supreme Victors as a set is a treasure trove of artful design and mechanical ideas that resonate with modern TCG sensibilities. Ivysaur’s place within that spectrum signals why this card remains a favorite for many: it’s approachable, it rewards smart timing, and it carries a visual identity that links back to the earliest days of the Bulbasaur line. The combination of a classic evolution line with a proactive tactic makes Ivysaur an appealing staple for fans who enjoy both strategy and lore. ⚡

Artwork, lore, and the joy of past generations

Art direction in the Supreme Victors era leaned into painterly, character-forward depictions that honored each Pokémon’s roots while embracing the polygonal polish of its time. Kanako Eo’s work on Ivysaur brings a balance of botanical realism and energetic flourish—the kind of illustration that invites fans to imagine Bulbasaur’s descent into a more mature evolve-phase with pride. The “Evolutionary Pollen” mechanic itself feels like a nod to the natural world’s pacing: growth is a process, not an event, and Ivysaur embodies that in both card text and canvas. The card’s design encourages players to appreciate the long arc of the Bulbasaur line—an arc that stretches across generations and keeps reinventing itself in new formats and leagues. 🎴🎨

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