>>33757054it really wasn't even power creep. The numbers basically changed all at once with BW.
Up until that point, the only things with numbers higher than base set stuff was like Legends (2 prize, made of 2 cards), ex (2 prize but still had to evolve up), and Level X. (like Break evolution but you had to be in the active, and it could change retreat cost and weak/resist).
Then at BW, they gave tiny basics an extra 10 hp, stage 1s 30ish, and everything else (stage 2 and big basics), 40-50. Then in its very first expansion introduced EXs, which were always basic final evos that gave 2 prizes, and had about 50-70 more HP than what their original version would have had, capping at 180. So like, mew goes from 50 to 110, palkia goes from 120 to 170. Charizard goes from 160 to 180.
Mega-EXs get another 40 as a general rule, and require either putting a spirit link in their tool slot or a turn where you forfeit attacking to evolve.
GXs get introduced with S&M and they're essentially EXs that aren't always basic, so they have to evolve up, but have a 1 per game super attack as tradeoff. Basic GXs have Basic EX hp. Stage 1 GXs have Mega EX hp, because they're both essentially stage 1 EX. Stage 2 GXs usually have about 240, i.e. an additional 30ish.
So like, yeah, there are things now with 250 HP, which seems ludicrous by base set standards. But other than the BW minor 10-40 bump there hasn't actually been a significant increase in power. Stage 2 GXs gained those giant numbers by being munchkins, to use a TTRPG term. They took a bunch of flaws to justify a bunch of number boosts. Basic 60HP + stage 1 50 + stage 2 60 + two prizes 70 = 240HP.
