Pokémon-GX (TCG)
Pokémon-GX (Japanese: ポケモンGX Pokémon GX), officially written Pokémon-GX, are a variant of Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. They were first introduced in the Sun & Moon expansion (the Collection Sun and Collection Moon expansions in Japan). Pokémon-GX have a stylized 
graphic on the card name.
Pokémon-GX work very similarly to both Pokémon-EX from the Black & White and XY series and Pokémon-ex from the EX Series. They possess considerably higher HP and stronger attacks compared to their regular counterparts. However, when a Pokémon-GX is Knocked Out, the opponent takes two Prize cards instead of one. Also like Pokémon-ex, Pokémon-GX are classified with their usual stage of Evolution, contrary to Pokémon-EX which had fully-evolved Pokémon as Basic Pokémon.
The main trait that makes Pokémon-GX differ from previous variant Pokémon is their exclusive mechanic called GX attacks. These attacks are based on the Z-Moves mechanic introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon and like them, have more powerful effects and/or damage output than normal attacks. However, a player can only use one GX attack per game. A special GX marker is used to take note of whether the player has already used their GX attack or not.
Aesthetically, the artwork on Pokémon-GX covers most of the card, with the background illustration fading into the top and bottom-most areas, while still having the Pokémon break the card's borders (following on previous Pokémon variant cards). As such, the card text presented across the artwork is outlined, resembling Full Art cards. A blue and black bar containing the GX attack name separates it from the other attacks and the effect text is colored blue. Finally, the card border features a black line running over it.
Cards depicting Ultra Beasts have a 
graphic on the card name instead, with the GX attack bar, effect text and Pokémon-GX rule box also colored red instead of blue. Additionally, a label saying Ultra Beast is positioned below the HP and type.
Pokémon-GX released on main expansions and sub-sets are usually accompanied by Full Art and Secret Rainbow Rare (Hyper Rare in Japan) prints.
Tag Team Pokémon-GX
Starting with the Team Up expansion (the Tag Bolt expansion in Japan), a new kind of Pokémon-GX was introduced: TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX. These cards combine two or three Pokémon that share at least one type to form a Tag Team, which is reflected in the card's artwork focusing equally on each Pokémon. As a result, due to the various possible combinations between Pokémon of different evolutionary stages, Tag Team cards are always treated as Basic Pokémon cards and have higher HP than regular Basic (and, in some cases, even Evolved) Pokémon-GX. A specific rule was also created so that when a Tag Team Pokémon-GX is Knocked Out, the opponent takes three Prize cards instead of one.
The GX-attack of Tag Team cards includes a '+' sign next to the attack's Energy cost. The sign indicates that if the Tag Team has more Energy cards attached than the ones required to perform that attack, or if a certain action was taken during the turn (such as playing a particular card), an additional effect is applied, as specified by each card's GX-attack.
In terms of layout changes, a TAG TEAM label is added below the card's name, the Pokémon-GX rule box is replaced by the Tag Team rule box and the top-left and bottom-right corners are covered by matching outlined polygons. All these elements are colored yellow.
Tag Team cards featured in expansions are accompanied by the usual Full Art and Rainbow Rare variants as well as a second, alternate artwork variant that expands on the story behind each group of Pokémon. With the exception of the Tag Team cards originating from the Japanese Dream League subset, all Regular prints feature artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita.
Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon-GX
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This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. |
