Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
How to Play Shroomish in Control Decks for Pokémon TCG
In the evergreen conversation about control-oriented builds, Shroomish often flies under the radar—a tiny Basic Grass-type from the Emerald era that can anchor a patient, disruption-focused plan. Released in the EX Emerald set (card number ex9-63), this Common creature comes with a simple toolkit: 40 HP, two modest attacks, and a path to a sturdier late-game board through evolution. While its attacks—Ram for 10 and Headbutt for 20—don’t shout impact, they’re perfectly crafted for a control game plan focused on draw, stall, and resource denial. The illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita captures Shroomish’s unassuming charm, a reminder that even a humble core can support a sophisticated strategy. ⚡
Card snapshot: what you’re building with
- Name: Shroomish
- Set: Emerald (ex9)
- Rarity: Common; holo and reverse-holo variants exist
- Stage: Basic
- HP: 40
- Type: Grass
- Attacks: Ram (Colorless) 10; Headbutt (Colorless, Colorless) 20
- Weakness: Fire ×2
- Resistance: Water −30
- Illustrator: Mitsuhiro Arita
- Evolves into: Breloom (via evolution line common to Grass Pokémon in the era)
- Edition note: Not legal in Standard/Expanded formats in the modern sense, but a fun historical reference for control archetypes
As a control piece, Shroomish shines when it’s the first body you drop and the starting point for a longer, slower grind. Its basic stats keep you in the game while you assemble a more threatening late-game setup—most often Breloom or other tech attackers that you can bring to bear once you’ve slowed the clock on your opponent. The Fire weakness is a small caveat to respect in a metagame that can tilt toward Fire-type aggression, but a thoughtful build will always account for this risk with well-timed retreats, bench management, and targeted disruption. The artful balance of offense and stall makes Shroomish a surprisingly sturdy anchor for a patient plan. 🔥
Building the control shell: how Shroomish fits into the plan
- Early board presence: Use Shroomish as a cheap, reliable starter to establish an early board while you set up your disruption engine. The goal is not to KO every turn, but to keep your opponent from accelerating their plan while you draw into more decisive pieces.
- Deck pacing and draw: Pair Shroomish with consistent draw support. In a control framework, you want a steady hand of Trainer cards, Energy, and draw engines to keep the lines open for Breloom or other controlling threats to enter the field on turn four or five.
- Evolution timing: Shroomish’s evolution path is typically your turn-end target. When Breloom or your chosen finisher lands, you convert the early stall into a pressure window—your opponent must answer the evolving threat, allowing you to maintain tempo and map your next disruption window.
- Resource denial and disruption: A core control principle is denying your opponent key resources and options. Even with basic attacks, Shroomish can contribute by absorbing small hits in the early game while you deploy cards that limit your opponent’s draws or set up unfavorable board states.
- Bridge to the late game: The value of Shroomish is as a bridge. It buys you tempo to deploy a stronger backline and set up a repeatable, pressure-heavy endgame with your preferred attackers and support.”
In practice, a Shroomish-based control deck leans on a careful balance of disruption and draw. Trainers that fleece tempo from the opponent, Stadiums that bend the pace in your favor, and a small cast of Grass-focused techs can turn a shy Basic into a sturdy cornerstone. The key is patience: you’re not trying to KO quickly, you’re aiming to outlast and outthink your rival, squeezing value from every turn you delay their big plays.
Collector notes: art, rarity, and market currents
The Emerald era is a cherished chapter for many collectors, and Shroomish stands as a neat, affordable entry point for those exploring the era’s design philosophy. The card’s common rarity keeps price approachable, while holo and reverse-holo variants offer a more lustrous option for display and collection. As of late 2025 market data, non-holo Shroomish ex9-63 sits at roughly €0.26 on CardMarket on average, with occasional dips to the €0.02 floor and a subtle upward drift alongside broader market trends (trend about +0.24). On TCGPlayer, the standard, non-holo copy tends to hover around €0.53 for a mid-price card, with lower-end listings near €0.10 and higher-end examples around €1.50 or more in some cases. The holo variant commands a premium, with average holo values around €3.41, and reverse-holo foils ranging from about €9.96 to €16.79 depending on condition and market demand. For collectors, that creates a compelling reason to consider both the artful, affordable common and the gleaming, more coveted foils as part of a complete Emerald-era set. 🪙
Artistically, Mitsuhiro Arita’s work on Shroomish captures the character’s cheerful, forest-floor charm, a perfect counterpoint to the tactical seriousness of control decks. Arita’s distinctive line work and color sensibilities are part of what makes the Emerald set feel timeless—an art style that still resonates with players and collectors today. The card’s lightweight footprint makes it easy to sleeve and display, while its evolution line hints at the potential of more ambitious strategies in Breloom, should you decide to scale up from your Shroomish foundation. 🎴
Putting it all together: the strategic takeaway
Shroomish shouldn’t be viewed as a powerhouse finisher; it is a deliberate, patient investment in a control arc. Its practical value lies in tempo maintenance, reliable early board presence, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you can outlast your opponent’s advances. When you pair Shroomish with well-chosen disruptors, draw engines, and a planned evolution path, you create a deck that thrives on the opponent’s hesitation—forcing them to commit resources while you steadily consolidate your own lead. It’s a nod to the game’s earliest days, where even the simplest creature could anchor a long game that rewarded careful planning and precise execution. ⚡
When you’re looking to bring this strategy to life, keep in mind your local meta, your preferred discard and draw engines, and how you plan to bridge into your late-game plan. Shroomish is a reminder that in Pokémon TCG, patience and positioning can outpace pure raw power, especially in control-oriented builds that prize resilience, certainty, and the art of the slow burn. 💎
Magsafe Polycarbonate Phone Case with Card Holder Glossy or Matte