Why Banette Became a Fan Favorite in Pokémon TCG Decks

In TCG ·

Banette card art from Power Keepers ex16-4 by Ken Sugimori

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Banette in Power Keepers: A Ghostly Favorite That Keeps Players on Their Toes

When you shuffle into a match with Banette, you’re not just playing a Psychic-type Stage 1 from the classic Power Keepers era; you’re inviting a card that rewards careful prize management and a bit of luck with coin flips. This rare Banette—evolving from Shuppet—packs a quirky pair of attacks that can swing a game in your favor, especially in formats that honor the big swing of prize cards. With HP 70, a menacing silhouette by Ken Sugimori, and a couple of tricks up its sleeve, Banette remains a fan favorite many players still recall fondly from the early 2000s meta and modern reappearances in casual play.

The artwork, the lore, and the tactical quirks come together to make Banette more than just a cardboard ghost. Sugimori’s rendition captures the eerie charm of a cursed doll, a creature that thrives in the liminal space between fear and fascination. In a set that celebrated the haunting aesthetic of the Ghost type, Banette’s design stands out with a crisp silhouette and a gaze that hints at mischief and calculation—a vibe that mirrors how its moves operate on the table.

Two Attacks, Two Paths to Victory

  • Grudge (Cost: Psychic, Colorless) — 20 damage plus 10 more for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
  • Bench Manipulation (Cost: Psychic, Psychic, Colorless) — 40x damage times the number of tails from coins flipped equal to the number of Benched Pokémon your opponent has. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness or Resistance.

The first attack, Grudge, plays the long game: as the prize count shifts, Banette scales up its damage. In play, you’ll often see it used to punish an opponent who’s aggressively chasing a late-game edge, turning a modest opening into a surprising finish as Prize cards pile up for you. The second attack is where the card earns its reputation for risk-and-reward play. Bench Manipulation is a coin-flip affair that can deliver a devastating number of damage ticks if tails appear, but it also hinges on the opponent’s bench size and your own luck. The decoupled nature of its damage—unaffected by weaknesses or resistances—means you’re calculating raw odds rather than relying on traditional type matchups.

In terms of resilience, Banette’s psychic typing and the bench-oriented gamble pair nicely with decks that can force favorable board states or stall to build a late-game momentum. The card’s Darkness weakness (×2) and a modest Fighting resistance (−30) shape who will think twice before targeting Banette with certain matchups, while its French-boned silhouette reminds players that not every ghost has to be a one-trick pony.

Strategic Insight: When Banette Shines

Smart Banette play hinges on prize management and predicting how your opponent will respond to a shifting swing. Here are practical pointers for maximizing its potential in the right deck:

  • Pair Grudge with a plan to force early prize acceleration. If you can push a few prizes early, Grudge becomes a higher-damage finisher, multiplying its impact as the game unfolds.
  • Use Bench Manipulation when your opponent has a crowded bench or when you can force a string of tails. The 40x multiplier means that even a handful of tails can yield a knockout, especially against smaller benched threats.
  • Stabilize your curve with a Shuppet line up to Banette to ensure you have stage-based pressure without sacrificing tempo. Banette’s stage-1 entry makes it a natural pivot in evolving lines that look to surprise on late turns.
  • Be mindful of the coin-flip element. In practice, you’ll often win more reliably with a secondary plan that doesn’t rely solely on tails, but the thrill of Banette’s bench-burst finish is part of its charm.
  • Watch for your weakness matchup against Darkness—teams that press through Banette can exploit that vulnerability quickly, so guard it with a careful bench strategy or support disruption.
“Banette isn’t just a nostalgia pick—it's a reminder that TCG turns often hinge on the curve of risk and the courage to push for a prize swing when the opportunity arises.”

Collectibility, Art, and the Collector’s Mind

As a Rare card from the Power Keepers line, Banette carries a certain cachet in both classic and modern collections. The Power Keepers set marked a bridge between the late-Gen 3 era and the ongoing desire to preserve those iconic designs. The ex16 card not only offers a striking texture in its holo variant but also carries the signature ghostly aura that fans associate with the Banette family—a creature born from a cursed puppet and given staying power by its presence in multiple formats across two decades. Ken Sugimori’s artwork continues to be a selling point for collectors who seek authenticity and a clean, evocative card image that captures the character’s eerie charm.

Market data reflects the card’s enduring appeal. Cardmarket shows a average around 4.65 EUR for non-holo copies with holo variants flirting a little higher depending on condition and edition. TCGPlayer’s data paints a broader picture: holofoil copies can range in the mid dollar area with notable spikes, sometimes reaching the higher end when demand aligns with nostalgia and tournament interest. This price diversity is part of Banette’s appeal to both casual players and long-term collectors who value Power Keepers relics with a proven track record in the hands of seasoned strategists.

In a broader sense, Banette’s fan-favorite status comes from a synergy of design, playstyle, and lore. It’s a card that feels deliberate—an invitation to play to the conclusions about “how many prizes will my opponent have chosen to chase by the final bell?”—and that nuance is something players remember long after the match is over. The combination of Sugimori’s artistry, a memorable set, and a workable, if luck-dependent, attack loadout makes Banette a staple when a player wants a ghostly, strategic edge in a Psychic-heavy toolbox.

Beyond the Table: Banette’s Place in the Hearts of Fans

Fans love Banette for the tension it creates: the risk of a big payoff from Bench Manipulation, versus the safety of Grudge’s steadily increasing potency as prizes swing in your favor. This dual approach mirrors the broader appeal of deck-building in the Pokemon TCG, where psychology, probability, and patience coexist. Banette embodies that balance—an emblem of the era that introduced many to the deeper shades of the game’s strategic possibilities while still delivering a satisfying jolt when a turn finally breaks your way.

As you chase nostalgia or build new lists with a nod to the past, Banette remains a card that rewards thoughtful play. Its rarity, art, and the dance between luck and calculation continue to spark conversations among players and collectors alike. Whether you’re chasing a holo Power Keepers version for a display piece or testing it in a modern casual lineup, Banette’s story remains a bright thread in the tapestry of the Pokémon TCG.

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