Knock out a TAG TEAM Pokemon-GX and your opponent takes three Prize cards instead of one. That single rule is why TAG TEAM GX cards were the biggest single-swing threats of the Sun & Moon era.
TAG TEAM GX put two or three Pokemon on one Basic card with a silver rule box, higher HP than a standard GX, and attacks that unlock a bonus effect once extra conditions are met. TAG TEAM GX spans seven Japanese sets, Tag Bolt (Dec 2018) through Tag All-Stars (Oct 2019). Across those sets, the mechanic produced some of the most sought-after full-art and secret-rare cards of the generation.
The SR/SA/UR/HR rarity ladder decides which printing of a pair is the chase, and the collector number in the corner is what tells an SR from its SA. If you’re after box-by-box pull rates instead of single cards, our Tag All-Stars pull rates guide covers that separately.
TAG TEAM GX ran from Tag Bolt (SM9) to Tag All-Stars (SM12a). The chase printing on the rarity ladder is the alternate-art “SA”, including Mewtwo & Mew GX SA, Reshiram & Charizard GX SA and Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX SA; the entry point is Marshadow & Machamp GX RR [SM12a 067/173]. Every TAG TEAM GX gives up 3 Prizes when Knocked Out — that’s the rule that defines the mechanic.
- Store status: the PSA 10 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX SA [SM12 100/095] is currently listed.
- Set reference: Card Lists for all Japanese TCG sets.
USD figures convert at ¥154/USD, approximate.
What Makes a Card a TAG TEAM GX
TAG TEAM Pokemon-GX are Basic Pokemon that pair two or three characters on one card, printed with a distinctive silver rule box and higher HP than a standard GX. Two things set them apart from every other GX card in the format:
- The Prize penalty. When a TAG TEAM GX is Knocked Out, the opponent takes 3 Prize cards instead of the usual 1 — the same swing as a Pokemon-GX with a heavier tax, which is exactly why these cards led decks rather than played support roles.
- The team bonus. TAG TEAM GX attacks carry a “+” in the cost that unlocks an extra effect once you meet an added requirement, most often attaching more Energy than the base cost. Some variants need a specific Energy type or a Supporter played that turn.
The mechanic debuted with 拡張パック「タッグボルト」(Tag Bolt, SM9) in Japan on December 7, 2018, ahead of its English counterpart, Team Up, which followed in early 2019.
TAG TEAM GX Rarity Ladder
TAG TEAM GX prints from Tag Bolt to Tag All-Stars, by rarity from RR to SA:
| Card | Rarity | Set | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshadow & Machamp GX [SM12a 067/173] | RR | Tag All-Stars | Regular RR |
| Pikachu & Zekrom GX [SM9 100/095] | SR | Tag Bolt | Full Art |
| Latias & Latios GX [SM9 104/095] | SR | Tag Bolt | Full Art |
| Umbreon & Darkrai GX [SM12a 181/173] | SR | Tag All-Stars | Full Art |
| Pikachu & Zekrom GX [SM12a 221/173] | UR | Tag All-Stars | Full gold foil |
| Lucario & Melmetal GX [SM12a 224/173] | UR | Tag All-Stars | Full gold foil |
| Reshiram & Charizard GX [SM10 097/095] | SA | Double Blaze | Alternate art |
| Mewtwo & Mew GX [SM11 098/094] | SA | Miracle Twin | Alternate art |
| Reshiram & Zekrom GX [SM11b 064/049] | SA | Dream League | Alternate art |
| Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX [SM12 100/095] | SA | Alter Genesis | Alternate art |
The alternate-art “SA” printings sit above the regular SR full arts on the ladder, and the finale set, Tag All-Stars, adds the full-gold UR treatment alongside its SR and RR prints.
Where It Started: Tag Bolt (SM9)
Tag Bolt introduced the mechanic. Two of its Full Art SRs:
Both of these are the regular Full Art SR, not the rarer alternate-art SA. On the Latias & Latios card specifically, the SA sits at 105/095 — one number higher — and is the scarcer alternate-art version of the set. Treat any listing of 105/095 as a separate, scarcer card from the 104/095 SR.
Tag Bolt also ran a promotional tie-in: buy a 30-pack box and you’d receive an Eevee & Snorlax GX SA promo card [SM-P 297].
The SA Chase Tier
Miracle Twin, Double Blaze and Alter Genesis each contributed one of the best-known SAs, and Dream League added the Reshiram & Zekrom GX SA (SM11b 064/049) and the Solgaleo & Lunala GX SA (SM11b 063/049). The first three are the cards the mechanic is remembered for.
Miracle Twin’s Mewtwo & Mew GX SA (SM11 098/094), released May 31, 2019, puts two of the most iconic Psychic-types on an alternate-art frame.
Double Blaze’s Reshiram & Charizard GX SA (SM10 097/095), released March 1, 2019, pairs Charizard with Reshiram on an alternate-art frame. We cover this specific card in more depth in our Reshiram & Charizard GX card guide.
Alter Genesis’s Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX SA (SM12 100/095), released September 6, 2019, rounds out the tier: three Sinnoh-adjacent legends on one card, released right before the mechanic’s finale set. Its PSA 10 is currently listed at ¥236,449 (~$1,535).
All three of these are the alternate-art “SA” printing, not the regular Full Art. The SR and SA are both full-art secrets — the reliable difference is the collector number (e.g. 097/094 vs 098/094) and the illustration itself. Check the number in the corner before buying.
The Finale: Tag All-Stars (SM12a)
Tag All-Stars closed out the mechanic on October 4, 2019, reprinting fan-favorite pairs from earlier sets alongside new ones.
Two more from the same set complete the Tag All-Stars group: Pikachu & Zekrom GX UR (221/173), entirely gold-foil across the card face, and Lucario & Melmetal GX UR (224/173). Both URs skip the Special Art illustration entirely in favor of a full-gold treatment — a distinct visual tier from the SR and SA cards.
Two of the chase-tier alternate arts from this set are the Umbreon & Darkrai GX SA (182/173, one number up from the Full Art SR at 181/173) and the Moltres, Zapdos & Articuno GX “tori-trio” SA. Check the collector number to tell the SA from the SR.
For the box-opening side of this set — pull rates and what else is worth chasing — see our full Tag All-Stars pull rates and box guide.
The Rest of the Ladder
Three more TAG TEAM GX prints round out the middle sets:
- Solgaleo & Lunala GX SA [SM11b 063/049], Dream League (Aug 2019) — the alternate-art printing of this Alola legendary pair.
- Reshiram & Zekrom GX HR [SM11b 071/049], Dream League (Aug 2019) — the rainbow-foil Hyper Rare version of the same pairing that appears as an SA on the ladder.
- Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor GX SA [SM10b 056/054], Sky Legend (Apr 2019) — the alternate-art printing of this Alolan pair.
Which TAG TEAM GX Fits Your Budget
Grouped by rarity tier, from the RR entry point to the SA chase:
- RR — Marshadow & Machamp GX RR. The way into the mechanic, and still a genuine TAG TEAM with the 3-Prize KO rule intact.
- SR (Full Art) — Pikachu & Zekrom GX SR and Latias & Latios GX SR from the mechanic’s debut set, and Umbreon & Darkrai GX SR from Tag All-Stars; Umbreon & Darkrai and Pikachu & Zekrom are two of the most popular Full Art pulls of the whole era.
- UR (full gold) — Pikachu & Zekrom GX UR and Lucario & Melmetal GX UR, both from Tag All-Stars.
- SA (alternate art) — Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX SA, currently listed as a PSA 10 at ¥236,449 (~$1,535), Reshiram & Charizard GX SA, Reshiram & Zekrom GX SA from Dream League, and Mewtwo & Mew GX SA.
Our PSA 10 listings for Mewtwo & Mew GX SA, Reshiram & Charizard GX SA, Reshiram & Zekrom GX SA and the SR, UR and RR prints in these tiers are sold out at the time of this update — sourcing requests go through Quick Order.
Reading the Rarity Codes: SR vs SA vs UR vs HR
Japanese TAG TEAM GX cards carry four rarity labels, and mixing them up is the single easiest way to overpay or underpay:
- SR (Secret Rare) — the standard Full Art printing, edge-to-edge illustration with the card’s stats overlaid.
- “SA” (Special Art) — an alternate-art version of the same SR slot, with a different illustration or composition. This is a community and retailer label, not an official rarity code printed on the card — but it’s the term the secondary market uses consistently, so we use it too.
- UR (Ultra Rare) — entirely gold foil across the card face, with no illustration variation.
- HR (Hyper Rare) — full rainbow foil treatment.
The gap between an SR and its SA counterpart is usually the largest jump on the ladder — always check the card number before assuming which one you’re holding. A single digit in the corner, checked against the set’s numbering, is often the only visible difference.
Where to Buy TAG TEAM GX Cards from Japan
We ship Japanese singles and sealed product from Tokyo; TAG TEAM GX and other graded singles sit in our PSA 10 collection.
For a specific TAG TEAM GX print, send the set code and collector number through our Quick Order page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a TAG TEAM GX card?
A TAG TEAM Pokemon-GX is a Basic Pokemon card featuring two or three Pokemon, printed with a silver rule box and higher HP than a standard GX. When Knocked Out, it gives up 3 Prize cards instead of 1. The mechanic debuted with Tag Bolt in Japan on December 7, 2018.
What does “SA” mean on a Japanese TAG TEAM GX card?
“SA” (Special Art) is a community and retailer label for an alternate-art version of a Secret Rare slot — it’s not an official rarity code printed on the card, but it’s the term consistently used across the Japanese secondary market. SA printings sit above the regular SR version of the same card on the rarity ladder; Latias & Latios GX SA 105/095 and Umbreon & Darkrai GX SA 182/173 sit one number above their SRs.
Which TAG TEAM GX cards are the chase prints on the rarity ladder?
The alternate-art SA prints, including Mewtwo & Mew GX SA [SM11 098/094] from Miracle Twin (May 31, 2019), Reshiram & Charizard GX SA [SM10 097/095] from Double Blaze (March 1, 2019), Reshiram & Zekrom GX SA [SM11b 064/049] from Dream League, and Arceus & Dialga & Palkia GX SA [SM12 100/095] from Alter Genesis (September 6, 2019). Each SA is an alternate-art version of the same SR slot.
Which TAG TEAM GX print is the entry point of the ladder?
Marshadow & Machamp GX RR [SM12a 067/173] from Tag All-Stars, the finale set released in Japan on October 4, 2019. It’s a genuine TAG TEAM GX with the full 3-Prize KO rule, just without the Full Art treatment.
How do I tell the Umbreon & Darkrai GX SR from the SA?
Tag All-Stars (SM12a) prints Umbreon & Darkrai GX as a Full Art SR at 181/173 and as the rarer alternate-art SA at 182/173, one number up. The collector number in the corner tells them apart.
Picked for this article
📩 Get member-only sale alerts & coupons
Sale alerts, coupons and restock notices by email — straight from Tokyo.
