Digital Vault Wiki

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

Venusaur EX is a Pokémon-EX card from the Generations expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). Classed as a Grass-type, it features a substantial 180 hit points and an aggressive two-attack suite designed to apply pressure across multiple turns. The card is part of the Generations set, a reimagining of classic Kanto Pokémon with refreshed artwork and updated card text. Venusaur EX embodies the era’s emphasis on high-powered EX Pokémon that could swing games through raw stats, potent attacks, and strategic use of status effects.

Illustrated by Eske Yoshinob, Venusaur EX carries the hallmark boldness of Generations art, presenting Venusaur in a ready-for-battle stance that underscores its role as a late-game threat. As an Ultra Rare card, Venusaur EX stands out within the Generations print run, offering collectors a sought-after piece that also functions as a viable option in expanded-format decks during its era of play. The EX designation signals a power spike relative to standard non-EX cards, a design philosophy that defined this generation’s most impactful Pokémon cards.

Card Information

Card name: Venusaur EX
Set: Generations (official card count: 83; total: 117)
Rarity: Ultra Rare
Type: Grass
HP: 180
Stage: Basic (Pokémon-EX); evolves from Ivysaur
Dex ID: 3
Illustrator: Eske Yoshinob
Attacks:
- Frog Hop — Cost: Grass, Colorless, Colorless; Damage: 40+; Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 40 more damage.
- Poison Impact — Cost: Grass, Grass, Colorless, Colorless; Damage: 80; Effect: Your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Asleep and Poisoned.
Weakness: Fire ×2
Retreat: 4
Variants: Normal, Holo, Reverse; First Edition: False; Promo: False
Legal in formats: Expanded only (Standard legality: Not legal)
Evolution details: Evolves from Ivysaur; part of the Bulbasaur line

Generations reprinted a broad roster of classic Pokémon with new artwork and revised text. Venusaur EX’s 180 HP provides notable durability for an EX card in its era, while the two-attack configuration gives a balance between consistent damage output and strategic status-effect control. The card’s holo, normal, and reverse variants reflect typical printing choices for EX cards during this period, with no First Edition print in this release.

Gameplay and Strategy

In gameplay terms, Venusaur EX functions as a high-value, edges-heavy attacker that can pressure both in immediate exchanges and in longer games. Frog Hop offers a flexible early game option with the potential for a surprise damage spike when the coin flip lands on heads. The possibility of landing a 40 additional damage on top of the base 40 makes this attack a credible tool for chipping away at opposing threats while setting up knockouts on larger HP Pokémon that may otherwise withstand standard attacks.

Poison Impact provides a more decisive, impact-focused option. With a base 80 damage and the added effect of rendering the Opponent’s Active Pokémon both Asleep and Poisoned, this attack can disrupt opponent sequencing and retreat plans, while continuing to apply pressure through persistent status effects. In Expanded formats, this combination of high HP and status-inducing output makes Venusaur EX a candidate for decks that leverage multi-attack pressure, stall components, and energy acceleration to sustain its presence on the battlefield.

From a deck-building perspective, Venusaur EX encourages Grass-energy heavy strategies and synergy with cards that can accelerate energy attachment, draw additional resources, or manipulate status conditions. Its Fire-type weakness is a vulnerability to consider against common meta threats; players often mitigate this through defensive play, strategically timing retreats, and leveraging stadiums or tools that alter matchups or energy requirements. Since Venusaur EX is designated as Expanded-legal only, it participates in a broader card pool that includes reprints and older mechanics, which can influence card interactions and matchups in that format.

Pair Venusaur EX with energy acceleration to maximize uptime in the active position and ensure Frog Hop or Poison Impact can be used consistently.
Consult strategies that leverage sleep and poison status to slow opponents while building toward a knockout with Poison Impact.
Consider tech cards that mitigate fire-type threats or mitigate the high retreat cost, enabling safer exchanges when Venusaur EX is forced to switch out.

Collector and Market Information

As an Ultra Rare card in Generations, Venusaur EX holds interest for both players and collectors. The Generations set comprises 83 cards officially, with a total print count of 117 when considering all variants and print runs. The presence of holo, normal, and reverse holo versions adds depth to collecting, with holo copies typically commanding higher attention and potential value in mint condition.

Pricing data provides a factual snapshot of market presence. Cardmarket historical data shows an average price around 6.37 EUR for Venusaur EX, with a reported low near 2 EUR, reflecting variability across listings and editions. For holofoil copies, Cardmarket reports a separate trend (with a distinct “avg-holo” line in some datasets), showing a market that can be more robust for premium variants. TCGPlayer data from late 2025 indicates holofoil valuations with a mid-price around 6.58 USD and a market price around 6.88 USD, with direct low pricing around 4.47 USD. These figures are snapshots and reflect the card’s availability, condition, and format-specific demand. Pricing data includes update timestamps indicating currency and market activity around late 2025.

In terms of rarity and print dynamics, Venusaur EX’s status as an Ultra Rare and its holo variants contribute to collector interest, particularly for players who value complete Generations-era collections or who seek iconic Kanto-era Pokémon reimagined in a modern card form. The Expanded-legal designation affects how collectors and players perceive long-term value, given the rotating nature of Standard formats in competitive play.

Art and Lore

Eske Yoshinob’s artwork for Venusaur EX integrates the Generations aesthetic, which emphasizes modern, dynamic depictions of classic Pokémon. The Generations set as a whole celebrated the original 151 with refreshed visuals and bold design choices intended to appeal to both longtime fans and newer players. The Venusaur EX illustration aligns with this approach by presenting a vivid, action-ready Venusaur that communicates the Grass-type’s botanical power and battlefield presence.

From a lore perspective, Venusaur is the final evolution in the Bulbasaur line. The Pokémon-EX variant in this set reflects the era’s tendency to introduce high-powered copies of existing Pokémon, offering players a formidable option that could be used in multi-turn strategy. The Generations context situates Venusaur EX within a nostalgic framework while maintaining the standardized mechanics of the XY-era card design, making it a bridge between generations for both gameplay and collecting narratives.

Trivia

Venusaur EX belongs to the Pokémon-EX card subset from Generations, illustrating the period’s focus on power spikes via EX-powered Pokémon.
The card’s 180 HP is substantial for EX cards in its era and contributes to its durability on the bench or in the active position during Expanded play.
Frog Hop’s coin flip introduces a variable damage component, enabling potentially large damage swings on favorable flips.
The card exists in holo, normal, and reverse holo variants, with no First Edition print noted for this release.
Legal status is Expanded only, reflecting rotation and format eligibility rules that apply to this card and similar EX-era prints.

📘 Venusaur ex — Pokémon TCG