TAG TEAM (TCG)

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Magikarp & WailordTag Team GX, an example of a TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX
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TAG TEAM is an attribute of cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game introduced in the Team Up expansion. TAG TEAM cards that are Pokémon are TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX, but are sometimes just called TAG TEAM Pokémon[1] or just TAG TEAM.[2] TAG TEAM cards that are Supporter cards are TAG TEAM Supporter cards.[3] Either way, these cards show two or more characters working together. TAG TEAM cards have a team bonus as part of their effects, which is an optional effect added to an effect of the card under certain circumstances. Attacks, Abilities and Trainer cards are able to reference TAG TEAM cards.

All TAG TEAM cards have a TAG TEAM label below the card's name and the top-left and bottom-right corners covered by matching outlined polygons. Both of these elements are colored yellow.

TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX

Moltres & Zapdos & ArticunoTag Team GX, an example of a TAG TEAM Trio. Notice that Sky Legends-GX requires an additional Fire, Lightning, and Water Energy to cause the team bonus to occur, even though the card is Colorless.

All TAG TEAM Pokémon are Basic Pokémon-GX. These cards combine two Pokémon that have the same type to form a team[4], which is reflected in the card's artwork focusing equally on each Pokémon. A TAG TEAM card's name also includes both Pokémon, separated by an ampersand, then concluding with the GX suffix. For example, a TAG TEAM Pokémon with both Lucario and Melmetal is called Lucario & MelmetalTag Team GX. Sometimes, this involves printing the Pokémon's names in smaller font and using a line break in order to have both names fit in the name field.

TAG TEAMS have more HP than regular Pokémon-GX. When a TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX is Knocked Out, the TAG TEAM rule, printed in a Rule Box, causes the opponent to take three Prize cards instead of one. The Rule Box is colored silver, with a yellow border and name tag. This supersedes the normal Pokémon-GX rule, which is not printed on these cards.

The GX attack of a TAG TEAM card is called a TAG TEAM GX attack.[5][4][6] These attacks have a team bonus, an additional effect that only applies if a condition specific to the card is met.[7][8][9] In most cases the requirement is the Pokémon having some number of Energy attached to it in addition to the Energy required to perform that attack. For example, Charizard & BraixenTag Team GX's Crimson Flame Pillar-GX attack has a cost of one Fire Energy, and the team bonus occurs if the Pokémon has one Energy of any type attached to it in addition to the Fire Energy. A TAG TEAM GX attack has a '+' sign next to the attack's cost.

Some cards have further variations on what causes the team bonus to happen:

  • Some cards specify that the additional Energy has to be of a specific Energy type, usually but not always being the same Energy type as the Pokémon. One instance is Gardevoir & SylveonTag Team GX's Magical Miracle-GX, which requires that the three additional Energy are Fairy Energy. Certain cards have a variation where each additional Energy needs to be of a specified type. For example, Naganadel & GuzzlordTag Team GX's Chaotic Order-GX attack requires that the Pokémon have an additional Psychic Energy and an additional Darkness Energy attached to it. Special Energy cards that provide every type of Energy can only fill one of these requirements because they can only provide one type of Energy at any given time.[10]
  • Reshiram & ZekromTag Team GX and Solgaleo & LunalaTag Team GX instead have the requirement being to have played a specific Supporter card during that turn. Reshiram & Zekrom Tag Team GX require that N's Resolve was played, and Solgaleo & LunalaTag Team GX, require that Lillie's Full Force was played.

Hidden Fates introduces TAG TEAM trios[11][12][13] namely a TAG TEAM Pokémon GX with three Pokémon working together. There are no rules distinctions for these cards. However, their names separate all of the Pokémon's names with commas and only use an ampersand for the conjection between the second and the last Pokémon. For example, a TAG TEAM Trio with the Pokémon Togepi, Cleffa, and Igglybuff is called Togepi & Cleffa & IgglybuffTag Team GX. Only three TAG TEAM trio cards exist, with the other two being Moltres & Zapdos & ArticunoTag Team GX and Arceus & Dialga & PalkiaTag Team GX.

TAG TEAM Pokémon cards featured in expansions are accompanied by the usual Full Art and Rainbow Rare variants as well as a second, alternate artwork variant. With the exception of the TAG TEAM cards originating from the Japanese Dream League subset, those being Reshiram & ZekromTag Team GX and Solgaleo & LunalaTag Team GX, all Regular Pokémon card prints feature artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita.

When TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX were released, products started to include TAG TEAM GX markers in place of other GX markers. The colors of a TAG TEAM GX marker match those of the TAG TEAM gameplay mechanic.

Mallow & Lana, an example of a TAG TEAM Supporter card

According to the game's director, Atsushi Nagashima, work on the TAG TEAM mechanic began during the Black & White Series.[14] During development, other proposed drawbacks to TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX included granting the opponent four Prize cards upon Knocking one Out, allowing the opponent to use two GX attacks during the match instead of one, or giving the cards multiple weaknesses.[15] Mitsuhiro Arita has stated that more than 100 different combinations of Pokémon were considered for TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX cards.[16]

TAG TEAM Supporter cards

TAG TEAM Supporter cards were later featured in the Cosmic Eclipse expansion, combining two characters in the same manner as TAG TEAM Pokémon cards. These cards also have a team bonus, which is a second effect that can only be applied by discarding some number of cards from the player's hand as an additional cost.[17][7] This cost cannot be paid if the team bonus would have no effect, but can be paid in order to play the card should the card's other effect have no affect on the game state.[18]

List of TAG TEAM cards

TAG TEAM Pokémon
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Magikarp & WailordTag Team GX Water SM Black Star Promos   SM166 Tag Bolt RR 019/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 160/181 Tag Bolt SR 098/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 161/181 Tag Bolt SR 099/095
Team Up Rare Secret 183/181 Tag Bolt HR 111/095
Celebi & VenusaurTag Team GX Grass Team Up Ultra-Rare Rare 1/181 Tag Bolt RR 001/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 159/181 Tag Bolt SR 096/095
SM Black Star Promos   SM167 Tag Bolt SR 097/095
Team Up Rare Secret 182/181 Tag Bolt HR 110/095
Pikachu & ZekromTag Team GX Lightning Team Up Ultra-Rare Rare 33/181 Tag Bolt RR 031/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 162/181 Tag Bolt SR 100/095
SM Black Star Promos   SM168 Tag Bolt SR 101/095
Team Up Rare Secret 184/181 Tag Bolt HR 112/095
      Tag All Stars RR 041/173
      Tag All Stars UR 221/173
Gengar & MimikyuTag Team GX Psychic Team Up Ultra-Rare Rare 53/181 Tag Bolt RR 038/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 164/181 Tag Bolt SR 102/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 165/181 Tag Bolt SR 103/095
Team Up Rare Secret 186/181 Tag Bolt HR 113/095
Latias & LatiosTag Team GX Dragon Team Up Ultra-Rare Rare 113/181 Tag Bolt RR 060/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 169/181 Tag Bolt SR 104/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 170/181 Tag Bolt SR 105/095
Team Up Rare Secret 190/181 Tag Bolt HR 114/095
Eevee & SnorlaxTag Team GX Colorless Team Up Ultra-Rare Rare 120/181 Tag Bolt RR 066/095
Team Up Rare Ultra 171/181 Tag Bolt SR 106/095
Team Up Rare Secret 191/181 Tag Bolt HR 115/095
SM Black Star Promos   SM169 SM-P Promotional cards   297/SM-P
Pheromosa & BuzzwoleTag Team GX Grass Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 1/214 Full Metal Wall RR 001/054
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 191/214 Full Metal Wall SR 055/054
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 192/214 Full Metal Wall SR 056/054
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 215/214 Full Metal Wall HR 063/054
      Tag All Stars RR 001/173
Reshiram & CharizardTag Team GX Fire Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 20/214 Double Blaze RR 007/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 194/214 Double Blaze SR 096/095
SM Black Star Promos   SM201 Double Blaze SR 097/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 217/214 Double Blaze HR 108/095
      Tag All Stars RR 016/173
      Tag All Stars UR 220/173
Muk & Alolan MukTag Team GX Psychic Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 61/214 Double Blaze RR 029/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 196/214 Double Blaze SR 098/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 197/214 Double Blaze SR 099/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 220/214 Double Blaze HR 109/095
Marshadow & MachampTag Team GX Fighting Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 82/214 Double Blaze RR 042/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 198/214 Double Blaze SR 100/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 199/214 Double Blaze SR 101/095
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 221/214 Double Blaze HR 110/095
      Tag All Stars RR 067/173
Greninja & ZoroarkTag Team GX Darkness Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 107/214 Night Unison RR 025/055
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 200/214 Night Unison SR 058/055
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 201/214 Night Unison SR 059/055
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 222/214 Night Unison HR 066/055
      Tag All Stars RR 072/173
      Tag All Stars UR 223/173
Lucario & MelmetalTag Team GX Metal Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 120/214 Full Metal Wall RR 029/054
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 203/214 Full Metal Wall SR 058/054
SM Black Star Promos   SM192 Full Metal Wall SR 059/054
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 224/214 Full Metal Wall HR 065/054
      Tag All Stars RR 083/173
      Tag All Stars UR 224/173
Gardevoir & SylveonTag Team GX Fairy Unbroken Bonds Ultra-Rare Rare 130/214 Night Unison RR 031/055
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 204/214 Night Unison SR 060/055
Unbroken Bonds Rare Ultra 205/214 Night Unison SR 061/055
Unbroken Bonds Rare Secret 225/214 Night Unison HR 067/055
Rowlet & Alolan ExeggutorTag Team GX Grass Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 1/236 Sky Legend RR 001/054
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 214/236 Sky Legend SR 055/054
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 215/236 Sky Legend SR 056/054
Unified Minds Rare Secret 237/236 Sky Legend HR 063/054
Slowpoke & PsyduckTag Team GX Water Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 35/236 Miracle Twin RR 011/094
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 217/236 Miracle Twin SR 095/094
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 218/236 Miracle Twin SR 096/094
Unified Minds Rare Secret 239/236 Miracle Twin HR 107/094
Raichu & Alolan RaichuTag Team GX Lightning Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 54/236 GG End RR 008/054
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 220/236 GG End SR 056/054
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 221/236 GG End SR 057/054
Unified Minds Rare Secret 241/236 GG End HR 064/054
Mewtwo & MewTag Team GX Psychic Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 71/236 Miracle Twin RR 029/094
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 222/236 Miracle Twin SR 097/094
SM Black Star Promos   SM191 Miracle Twin SR 098/094
Unified Minds Rare Secret 242/236 Miracle Twin HR 108/094
      Tag All Stars RR 052/173
      Tag All Stars UR 222/173
Espeon & DeoxysTag Team GX Psychic Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 72/236 Tag Team GX Starter Sets   001/031
      Tag All Stars SR 176/173
SM Black Star Promos   SM240 Tag All Stars SR 177/173
      Tag All Stars HR 212/173
Umbreon & DarkraiTag Team GX Darkness Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 125/236 Tag Team GX Starter Sets   010/031
      Tag All Stars SR 181/173
SM Black Star Promos   SM241 Tag All Stars SR 182/173
      Tag All Stars HR 215/173
Mega Sableye & TyranitarTag Team GX Darkness Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 126/236 Miracle Twin RR 054/094
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 225/236 Miracle Twin SR 101/094
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 226/236 Miracle Twin SR 102/094
Unified Minds Rare Secret 245/236 Miracle Twin HR 111/094
Garchomp & GiratinaTag Team GX Dragon Unified Minds Ultra-Rare Rare 146/236 GG End RR 032/054
Unified Minds Rare Ultra 228/236 GG End SR 059/054
SM Black Star Promos   SM193 GG End SR 060/054
Unified Minds Rare Secret 247/236 GG End HR 066/054
      Tag All Stars RR 099/173
      Tag All Stars UR 225/173
Moltres & Zapdos & ArticunoTag Team GX Colorless Hidden Fates Ultra-Rare Rare 44/68 Sky Legend RR 035/054
Hidden Fates Rare Ultra 66/68 Sky Legend SR 059/054
SM Black Star Promos   SM210 Sky Legend SR 060/054
Hidden Fates Rare Secret 69/68 Sky Legend HR 066/054
      Tag All Stars RR 102/173
      Tag All Stars UR 226/173
Venusaur & SnivyTag Team GX Grass Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 1/236 Remix Bout RR 001/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 210/236 Remix Bout SR 065/064
SM Black Star Promos   SM229 Remix Bout SR 066/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 249/236 Remix Bout HR 074/064
Charizard & BraixenTag Team GX Fire Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 22/236 Remix Bout RR 008/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 212/236 Remix Bout SR 067/064
SM Black Star Promos   SM230 Remix Bout SR 068/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 251/236 Remix Bout HR 075/064
Blastoise & PiplupTag Team GX Water Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 38/236 Remix Bout RR 016/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 214/236 Remix Bout SR 069/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 215/236 Remix Bout SR 070/064
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 253/236 Remix Bout HR 076/064
Solgaleo & LunalaTag Team GX Psychic Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 75/236 Dream League RR 020/049
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 216/236 Dream League SR 063/049
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 254/236 Dream League HR 070/049
Togepi & Cleffa & IgglybuffTag Team GX Fairy Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 143/236 Tag All Stars RR 094/173
      Tag All Stars SR 185/173
Yellow A Alternate cards   143a/236 Tag All Stars SR 186/173
      Tag All Stars HR 218/173
Arceus & Dialga & PalkiaTag Team GX Dragon Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 156/236 Alter Genesis RR 065/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 220/236 Alter Genesis SR 099/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 221/236 Alter Genesis SR 100/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 258/236 Alter Genesis HR 112/095
Reshiram & ZekromTag Team GX Dragon Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 157/236 Dream League RR 036/049
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 222/236 Dream League SR 064/049
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 259/236 Dream League HR 071/049
Naganadel & GuzzlordTag Team GX Dragon Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 158/236 Alter Genesis RR 066/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 223/236 Alter Genesis SR 101/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 224/236 Alter Genesis SR 102/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 260/236 Alter Genesis HR 113/095
Mega Lopunny & JigglypuffTag Team GX Colorless Cosmic Eclipse Ultra-Rare Rare 165/236 Alter Genesis RR 073/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 225/236 Alter Genesis SR 103/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 226/236 Alter Genesis SR 104/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Secret 261/236 Alter Genesis HR 114/095
Trevenant & DusknoirTag Team GX Psychic SM Black Star Promos   SM217 Tag All Stars RR 053/173
      Tag All Stars SR 178/173
      Tag All Stars SR 179/173
      Tag All Stars HR 213/173
Other TAG TEAM cards
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Bellelba & Brycen-Man Su Cosmic Eclipse Uncommon 186/236 Tag All Stars   152/173
      Tag All Stars SR 194/173
Cynthia & Caitlin Su Cosmic Eclipse Uncommon 189/236 Alter Genesis U 088/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 228/236 Alter Genesis SR 106/095
      S-P Promotional cards   088/S-P
Guzma & Hala Su Cosmic Eclipse Uncommon 193/236 Alter Genesis U 087/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 229/236 Alter Genesis SR 105/095
      S-P Promotional cards   087/S-P
Mallow & Lana Su Cosmic Eclipse Uncommon 198/236 Alter Genesis U 089/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 231/236 Alter Genesis SR 107/095
      S-P Promotional cards   089/S-P
      S-P Promotional cards   256/S-P
Misty & Lorelei Su Cosmic Eclipse Uncommon 199/236 Tag All Stars   147/173
      Tag All Stars SR 191/173
Red & Blue Su Cosmic Eclipse Uncommon 202/236 Alter Genesis U 090/095
Cosmic Eclipse Rare Ultra 234/236 Alter Genesis SR 108/095
Sabrina & Brycen Su SM Black Star Promos   SM246 S-P Promotional cards   142/S-P
 


References

  1. Pokémon TCG: TAG TEAM Generations Premium Collection, Product Gallery, Pokémon.com
  2. Pokémon Trading Card Game Rules, Paradox Rift, "A TAG TEAM is a special kind of Basic Pokémon-GX with even more power and an even bigger drawback: when your TAG TEAM is Knocked Out, your opponent takes three Prize cards."
  3. Pokémon Trading Card Game Rules, Paradox Rift, "TAG TEAM Supporter card: A special kind of Supporter card that pairs up two Trainers on one card."
  4. 4.0 4.1 MEDIA ALERT: TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX for the Pokémon TCG Announced at the 2018 Pokémon World Championships, Press release, Pokémon.com
  5. An Interview with Atsushi Nagashima about New TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX, Pokémon.com
  6. MEDIA ALERT: Pokémon Battle Teams Await in Sun & Moon—Team Up, the Latest Pokémon Trading Card Game Expansion Releasing February 1, Press release, Pokémon.com
  7. 7.0 7.1 TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX and more in the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Cosmic Eclipse Expansion, Pokémon.com
  8. New Pokémon-GX from the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Unified Minds Expansion, Pokémon.com
  9. Bond over New Pokémon TCG Cards, Pokémon.com
  10. Sky Legends GX, TPCi Rules Team, November 14th, 2017, Compendium VMAX, Team Compendium
  11. MEDIA ALERT: First TAG TEAM Trio Debuts in New Pokémon Trading Card Game: Hidden Fates Expansion, Available Starting Today, Press release, Pokémon.com, 8/23/2019
  12. Hidden Fates overview page, Pokémon.com
  13. TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX and more in the Pokémon TCG: Sun & Moon—Cosmic Eclipse Expansion, Pokémon.com, October 17, 2019
  14. Pokémon World Championships 2023 Interview: "I Know Where The Meta Is Going To Go", Screen Rant
  15. Pokémon Trading Card Game Director Talks Balancing The Powerful New Tag Team Pokémon-GX Mechanic, Game Informer (Archived on August 2, 2024)
  16. Exclusive: Pokemon TCG Explains Pokemon Tag Team Pairings in Unified Minds Expansion, ComicBook.com
  17. Pokémon Trading Card Game Rules, Paradox Rift, "every TAG TEAM Supporter card offers a special team bonus: if you discard extra cards when you play it, you get an additional effect."
  18. Everything You Need to Know About Tag Team Supporters, Pokégym, POKEPOP


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