Tag Team GX Pokémon arrive in SM9, Tag Bolt!
Posted by Braysh Gaming on Dec 7, 2018
It's time to team up as the Pokémon TCG introduces a brand new mechanic into the mix! Enter Tag Team GX Pokémon in SM9, Tag Bolt!
Released December 7th and available to order from Plaza Japan now, following on from SM8B was going to be no easy task. SM9 is the brand new 95+ core expansion from the Pokémon TCG and it almost feels like a new era of Pokémon cards has dawned with it. Having also coincided with the release of the Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee games, new and nostalgic fans alike will be pleased to hear that Tag Bolt is 99% Kanto based!
Travelling back to Kanto doesn't stop this set from being original by any means. New cards, new concepts, new mechanics and even new rarities are all packed into this core expansion! Shall we make a start? Let's Go!
Tag Team GX - a new GX concept that was initially revealed at the Pokémon 2018 World Championships back in August, with Pikachu & Zekrom GX marking the very first Tag Team appearance! Fast forward a few months later, and we're just beginning to understand the full extent of all six brand new Tag Team GX cards introduced in SM9.
You won't find a regular GX card anywhere in Tag Bolt, and all six "RR" introductions have been designed by Mitsuhiro Arita himself, who also designed the iconic Base Set Charizard. Pikachu & Zekrom GX are joined by Celebi & Venusaur GX, Magikarp & Wailord GX, Gengar & Mimikyu GX, Latios & Latias GX and Eevee & Snorlax
GX! That's twelve Pokémon across six cards! As you would expect, these cards are super-charged with huge attacks and inflated HP (Magikarp & Wailord GX sets a record with 300HP)! However, it's up to the player to decide how they balance risk with the reward, as taking a knockout to a Tag Team GX Pokémon will cost you three Prize Cards! How
will you harness the might of your Tag Team duo?
The Pokémon TCG is completely switching up the concept of the "SR" and "HR" versions of these cards. We're used to seeing the "SR" Full Art version of GX Pokémon taking on a glimmering monochrome background based on their respective types, but Tag Team Pokémon have gone in a completely different direction. Think of it this way - the standard "RR" cards show both Pokémon ready for battle, whereas the Secret Rare "SR" version of these cards are alternate art depicting a scene where the two Pokémon make their first encounter. For example, in the "SR" for
Venusaur
& Celebi GX, we can see Celebi descending from above, meeting
Venusaur for the first time. In the "RR" of Venusaur & Celebi GX,
we see Celebi holding the vine of Venusaur, all teamed up and ready to take on
your opponent!
We think that this new concept is fantastic, and we can't wait to see if there will be some sort of Hyper Rare "HR" version or possibly something completely new and exciting!
With all this excitement in one set, it's natural that Prism Stars have taken a break for SM9, but in their absence is a brand new "TR" rarity. We're not yet sure what "TR" could entail just yet, but we can see that it seems to be the more popular Trainer cards reprinted as holo cards with alternate artwork. Tag Bolt introduces four of these cards as the Items Aqua Patch, Field Blower, Choice Band and the Supporter Volkner - all taking on the new "TR" attributes.
Moving on to what seems like the regular format for Trainer cards, there are three new Items. SM9 brings in Judge Whistle, Pokémon Communication and Bodybuilding Pads for the first time. Will we see any of these as golden "SR" Items? We're not sure what to expect from this set anymore!
At Plaza Japan, we love Full Art Supporters! The Kanto theme runs strong here too as holo cards Erika's Hospitality and Bill's Analysis are joined by Sabrina's Hint and a Sun and Moon era reprint of Brock's Grit! Which of these will become an incredible "SR" Full Art? Well, it has already been revealed that both Brock and Erika are in SM9 as stunning Secret Rare Supporters, and we’re desperate to see Sabrina follow suit too!
The journey to Kanto has something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of the original 151, just picked up Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee or looking to double down on your GX power, SM9 makes the difficult task of following on from GX Ultra Shiny look easy! With brand new Tag Team GX cards, new "TR" rarity and some incredible "SR" Trainers to look forward to, Tag Bolt is an expansion like none before it, so don't miss out and order from Plaza Japan today!
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