Evo Vileplume Tier 1 Stage 2 Control Item Lock Iconic

Evo Vileplume is a powerful archetype that aims to set up Vileplume on turn 1 to deny the use of Items to both players throughout the game.

The deck sets up by the use of a single Supporter, Guzma & Hala. Here's how it works: going second, search for Artazon, Technical Machine: Evolution, and either Capture Energy or Jet Energy depending on whether Bunnelby is already Active or not. Bench Oddish and Pidgey on the Bench through Capture Energy and/or Artazon (Fan Rotom can help, by grabbing Bunnelby and Pidgey). Then, attach TM Evolution to Bunnelby, which can attack twice thanks to its Omega Barrier Ancient Trait. This lets you use Evolution on Oddish and Pidgey, then again on Gloom and Pidgeotto, ending the turn with Vileplume and Pidgeot ex in play. From there on, Vileplume severely limits the opponent's options, while Pidgeot ex can search for any card each turn, usually a Supporter.

Guzma & Hala is so core to the deck that lists usually play Tag Call and/or Call Bell to search it on turn 1.

Pure Control versions of the deck exist: its earliest incarnation won CL Aichi in 2024, while a surprising Stoutland build got 2nd place in 2026. However, with the advent of various forms of counterplay, especially in Regidrago, Evo Vileplume decks tend to win by taking Prizes with an attacker (many options exist) rather than simply deck out the opponent. It should be noted, though, that the threat of milling always exists, thanks to Bunnelby's Burrow which can discard two cards per turn.

Cards like Garbodor and Wobbuffet are problematic for the deck because they can shut off Irritating Pollen (and Quick Search) and give the player their Items back. For this reason, Evo Vileplume usually plays Stealthy Hood to protect its key Pokémon from these counters.

It should also be noted that, with the advent of Budew, many decks have started running a second copy of Guzma (and/or of their draw Supporters) to reduce their reliance on VS Seeker, which can help to KO Vileplume and get rid of the lock.

Despite that, Evo Vileplume should definitely not be underestimated. It is one of the format's most iconic decks and exemplifies what Control can be in Expanded. I also believe that it might be better in BO3 than in Japan's BO1, because whiffing the turn 1 combo is more acceptable in the context of a BO3.

(A note about the name: the deck was originally called Evocon, short for Evolution Control, in Japan, when it has focused on winning through discarding the opponent's resources. Nowadays, variants are usually called Evo + name of their attacker ("Evo Slaking"), but the only name I've seen for the general archetype is "Evo", which sounds too generic in English. "Vileplume / Pidgeot" didn't feel right because there have been variants using Gallade instead of Pidgeot ex as their engine, and Bunnelby is only a set up card nowadays so I'm not sure the deck should be named after it. That's why for now, I'll refer to this archetype as "Evo Vileplume".)