Hey friend! As a long-time Pokémon TCG enthusiast, I‘ve been increasingly excited by the shakeup brought by GX cards. If you‘ve opened a pack recently, you may have noticed these colorful cards with a stylized "GX" text box and wondered – what makes GX cards so special? Well, I‘m here to share my research and insights to demystify GX cards!
The Rise of GX
First, let‘s understand where GX cards fit into the evolution of the Pokémon TCG. GX cards first appeared in the Sun & Moon sets released in 2017. They were designed to introduce more powerful abilities that could shift the competitive scene.
As competitive player and YouTuber OmniPoke explained, "GX cards really changed up how the game played. Their single use GX attacks provided big momentum swings that could turn a losing game into a winning one."
According to analysis by Limitlesstcg.com, GX cards quickly rose to prominence in tournament play. They accounted for 55% of all Pokémon played in North American Regionals during the 2018-2019 season.
The exciting shakeup of GX generated a lot of buzz and demand among players and collectors. Let‘s explore what makes them tick!
GX Card Mechanics: Flashy Attacks with Risks
The defining characteristic of GX cards is their powerful GX attack. As the name suggests, this attack can only be used once per game. This puts a natural limit on its power.
As competitive expert AzulGG explained, "GX attacks can swing games when timed well, but you need to be careful. The single use means you can‘t rely on them."
Let‘s look at an example:
Necrozma-GX
GX Attack – Supercollider: Discard all of your opponent‘s Energy cards. This Pokemon can‘t use Supercollider during your next turn.
Discarding all your opponent‘s Energy is an absolutely devastating effect! But the fact you can‘t use it again and your Necrozma is left vulnerable is a major risk. This epitomizes the high risk, high reward nature of GX attacks.
In addition to flashy GX attacks, GX cards tend to have higher HP and damage than normal cards, part of their push for increased power levels.
According to Pokemon.com, these risks and new mechanics led GX to become a popular new competitive archetype and altered the playing field. Players had to learn how to best utilize the GX attack vs conserve it until the right moment.
Dazzling Designs and Collectibility
Beyond new gameplay mechanics, GX cards can also be visually distinguished from earlier EX cards through their stylized design. They feature geometric shapes and borders compared to the relatively straightforward EX layout.
As graphic designer Joseph Kuan commented, "The GX frames help them stand out. Lots of bright colors and funky shapes like polygons and disks give them an almost sci-fi feel."
Much of the appeal for collectors comes from rare Secret Rares with alternate full art illustrations. The unique artwork of GX cards has helped them become some of the most sought after and expensive cards on the secondary market.
According to a 2021 analysis by Cardmarket.com, the Shiny Charizard GX (Hidden Fates) took the #1 spot as the most valued card, selling for upward of $700.
How GX Compares to Other Card Types
GX cards have firmly established themselves in the Pokémon TCG, but they‘re far from the only special card variant with unique mechanics. How do they compare with some other card types?
GX vs V:
V cards focus on consistency with linear damage boosts. GX is focused on flashy single use attacks. As Pokémon TCG developer Atsushi Nagashima commented, "V is like a marathon while GX is a sprint."
GX vs VMAX:
VMAX amp up HP and damage compared to normal V cards. But they lack a mechanic like GX attacks to fundamentally change game flow. VMAX simply build on the V formula.
GX vs Tag Team:
Tag Team GX combine multiple Pokémon into a single card. This provides versatility but Watered down versions of GX abilities. Tag Team GX are also given up 3 prize cards when knocked out.
GX vs EX:
EX lose the ability to Mega Evolve in exchange for GX attacks. But experienced players may prefer the reliability of Megas compared to the high risk gambles of GX abilities.
So in summary, GX tend to have flashier attacks compared to incremental boosts like VMAX, more versatility than single mon GX, and higher risk vs EX Mega Evolution.
When To Use Your GX Attacks
Now that you understand the power of GX cards, let‘s get into some strategy about smartly using GX attacks during battle!
Your GX attack is on a strictly limited use budget – so timing it well is critical. As competitive player AzulGG recommends:
"Don‘t blow your GX attack too early. Wait for a key moment when it can swing the tide. An opponent may play around it if you use it recklessly."
Some good opportunities to consider are:
- When you need a big damage burst to take a crucial knockout
- Right before your opponent takes their last prize cards
- When the opponent overcommits energies to power up
- Against a deck you know lacks counterplay against that GX attack
Knowing the right time takes experience and studying the meta! But exercise patience rather than rushing into a mediocre GX attack on turn 2.
Countering GX Cards
While GX attacks can be devastating if pulled off, thankfully there are also ways to counter them! Here are some tactics to to play around powerful GX cards:
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Don‘t overcommit energies against a deck with strong GX attackers. Keep some in the back just in case they get discarded.
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Remove damaged GX attackers from the active spot before they can use their GX attack as a last resort.
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Use card effects that limit GX attacks like Alolan Ninetales or Delinquent.
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One shot them before they can charge up! Strong basic attackers keep GX honest.
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Play GX disruption cards like Glaceon-GX that lock abilities.
So in summary, manage your own energies cautiously, limit their options, and don‘t let them power up unchecked. With some intelligent play, you can definitely tame these GX beasts.
Closing Thoughts
I hope this guide has provided plenty of insights into the design and strategy of GX cards for both new and experienced Pokémon players. They‘re definitely gamechangers that have impacted competitive play and collecting in a huge way.
While future card mechanics will inevitably powercreep GX abilities, I think they‘ll always hold a special place for introducing signature attacks and driving a new era of interest in Pokémon TCG. Their striking artwork and over-the-top attacks will surely stand the test of time.
What are your favorite GX cards or moments? I‘d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with these unique cards that transformed the Pokémon TCG landscape. And as always, may your GX attacks hit hard at the most critical moments!
