Team Rocket's Nidoking can take advantage of those cards while also using the status on its own, giving it the ability to take passive knockouts during the checkup step
You can even try your local Dollar Tree or Family Dollar to find Pokmon cards for $1
Basic Pokemon are essential because they can be played immediately, while Evolution Pokemon generally have stronger attacks but require time to play
It is even utility as sometimes clues are more exciting than more cats
There are also some notable reprints in the deck, including Commander's Plate, Shadowsper, Embercleave, and Chandra's Ignition
Its not always obvious what cards are going to rise to the top of the economy, and some of the Pokemon cards that end up being most valuable can be surprising