As Pokemon fans, we all remember the thrill of opening our first EX or GX card. Their bold designs and powerful abilities made them instant favorites for competitive and collecting. But newcomers to the hobby may find the history and significance of these iconic ultra rares confusing.
In this comprehensive guide from a gaming industry insider, we‘ll unravel the mysteries of EX, GX, and other special Pokemon cards. You‘ll learn why they‘re so prized by collectors, how pro players leverage them strategically, and what the rarest and most valuable releases are. Let‘s dive in fellow Poke-fanatics!
EX Cards Established the Fundamentals
To understand EX cards‘ legendary status, we first need to revisit their debut in 2003‘s EX Ruby & Sapphire expansion. As the first special card type, EX Pokemon introduced new mechanics that changed the TCG forever.
The "EX" prefix stands for "extra," referring to their supercharged abilities. EX cards broke the mold with:
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Over 100 HP – Far higher than the typical 50-60 HP for standard cards at the time. This greater bulk helped them withstand hits.
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High damage attacks – With power creeping upwards over time, early EX attacks that hit for 50+ now seem quaint. But they outmuscled standard cards back in the EX era.
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2 Prizes for KOs – Perhaps the most crucial innovation. Eliminating an EX granted 2 prize cards instead of 1, upping the stakes.
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Basic Pokemon Focus – Unlike traditional evolution lines, the vast majority of EX cards were standalone Basic Pokemon. Some exceptions like Mega Rayquaza EX existed.
EX Pokemon quickly dominated the burgeoning tournament scene. Their raw power overwhelmed standard stage 1 and 2 decks. Iconic early releases like Rocket‘s Mewtwo EX and Rocket‘s Moltres ex set precedents for flashy foil treatments that would become staples of ultra rares.
Why EX Cards Are So Iconic and Valuable Today
While no longer legal in Standard play, many EX cards remain valuable collector‘s items. What makes them so iconic years later?
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Artwork – EX cards featured dynamic art by renowned illustrators like sui and Kagemaru Himeno, defining Pokemon card aesthetics.
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Nostalgia – For 90s kids, EX cards represent the golden era of collecting. Their distinctive style triggers fond memories.
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Supply and Demand Imbalance – As some of the very first ultra rares, early EX cards had measly pull rates. Their scarcity today sustains high prices.
According to PokeBeach‘s card database, EX cards accounted for well under 5% of Commons/Uncommons in sets like EX Team Rocket Returns. And back then, chasing a specific card from a small ultra rare pool was hard with no guaranteed pulls per box.
Let‘s look at what some of the most iconic, competitive EX cards command today:
| Card Name | PSA 10 Gem Mint Value |
|---|---|
| Rocket‘s Mewtwo EX (Delta Species) | $900-$1,100 |
| Gold Star Rayquaza EX (Deoxys) | $750-$900 |
| Crystal Kingdra ex (Skyridge) | $400-$500 |
| Espeon ex (Deoxys) | $325-$400 |
| Umbreon ex (Unseen Forces) | $250-$300 |
These premium prices for flawless copies demonstrate why proper grading and storage are so important for collectors. Even played copies of desirable EX cards can sell for $50-100.
GX Upped the Ante With Signature Attacks
When the Sun & Moon block launched in 2017, the Pokemon Company chose to retire the EX label in favor in a spiritual successor – GX cards.
These new ultra rares took lessons from over a decade of EX dominance and added some intriguing new mechanics. Most notably, every GX Pokemon has access to a one-use GX attack – an uber-powerful signature move with game-changing potential.
Some other ways GX cards innovated:
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Multi-Energy Attacks – EX monsters tended to have a single attack using their native energy type. Many GXs broke this trend with multiple attack options using different energies.
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Basic/Evolved Split – Unlike EX‘s Basic focus, GX Pokemon run the gamut from standalone basics to Stage 1 and 2 evolutions.
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Full Art Versions – In addition to the standard card frame, GXs also have beautifully illustrated Full Art variants. These alternate arts are always in high demand.
So in many respects, GX served as a evolution of the EX concept – retaining core mechanics like beefy HP and 2 prize KOs while also adding new wrinkles.
Competitively, the impact was seismic. GX attacks gave birth to explosive new archetypes like Volcanion that could accelerate energy and swing games in a single turn. Ultra Necrozma GX‘sPhoton GeyserAttack introduced a whole new Special Energy type.
Meanwhile Rainbow Rare and Full Art GXs like Charizard, Umbreon & Darkrai, and Gardevoir & Sylveon became white whales for collectors, routinely selling for over $200 in flawless condition.
Comparing EX, GX and Modern Ultra Rare Mechanics
EX and GX cards get the most attention, but various spiritual successor mechanics have been introduced over the years. How do they all compare?
||EX|GX|V/VMAX|BREAK|
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|Years Active|2003-2007|2017-Present|2019-Present|2015-2017
|Notable Examples|Charizard EX, Mewtwo EX|Tapu Lele GX, Charizard GX|Charizard VMAX, Eevee VMAX|Greninja BREAK, Trevenant BREAK|
|Key Traits|High HP/damage, 2 prizes|Above plus GX attacks|Very high HP caps, scaling damage|Enhances basic into EX-level threat|
|Card Frame|Unique EX style|Standard, also full arts|Thicker VMAX frame|Constant BREAK frame|
|Competitive Impact|Centralizing at first, then balanced|Diversified metagame|VMAX initially centralizing|Role players, not centralizing|
This comparison shows how later ultra rare types adapted lessons from EX/GX dominance. Mechanics like BREAK offered more measured power boosts to standard cards, while VMAX HP caps help future proof creep.
All share DNA though – they make regular cards playable, but ultra rares like EX remain central both competitively and for collecting.
When Collecting, How Can You Spot Fake or Altered EX & GX Cards?
With the immense value of PSA 10 graded EX & GX cards reaching into the thousands, counterfeiters try to cash in through forgeries. Here are warning signs a rare card may be fake:
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Low quality printing – Fuzzy or pixelated images lacking detail compared to real cards
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Font irregularities – Typos, mismatched fonts for Pokemon names/attacks/text
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Wrong card textures – Lack of texturing, gloss, or shininess on holofoil cards
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Color issues – Wrong card frame colors, mismatched holofoil backgrounds, etc.
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Clumsy errors – Misspellings, bad grammar, or nonsensical card text
I‘d strongly advise against buying raw singles on platforms like eBay. Only purchase graded cards from reputable dealers, and learn the visual tells of fakes yourself too.
Forawesome videos analyzing real vs fake cards, watch experts like smpratte, Randolph Cards, and Danny Phantump. With counterfeits getting harder to spot, education is key!
Grading 101 – Maximizing Your Investment in EX and GX Cards
To maximize resale profits when selling valuable EX & GX cards, professional grading is a must. But how does it work?
Grading services like PSA and Beckett examine the card‘s condition and centering before encasing it in a tamper-proof slab with a numeric grade from 1 to 10.
Higher grades mean a cleaner, better centered card. Here‘s a condition breakdown:
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Gem Mint 10 – Flawless except the tiniest imperfections. Perfect centering and corners. The holy grail for collectors.
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Mint 9 – Near perfect with only minor flaws visible under scrutiny. Well-centered.
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Near Mint/Mint 8 – Light scratches or edge wear visible. Good centering.
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Lightly/Moderately Played 4-7 – Noticeable flaws like dents, heavy scratches or fraying. Playable but not valuable.
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Damaged 1-3 – Severe wear. Creases, tears, stains etc.
For investment pieces, only PSA/BGS 9+ are worth the grading fees. But securing a 10 dramatically boosts value – up to 5X the raw price!
Understand though – grading has risks too. If the company gives you a 7 or 8, you lost money. Do research and carefully evaluate if a card merits grading first.
Pro Play Lessons – The Strategic Impact of EX & GX Cards
Beyond collecting, EX & GX cards have defined decades of top-level Pokemon TCG competition. What strategic lessons can aspiring pro players learn from their metagame impact?
When EX cards arrived in 2003, they immediately centralized the tournament scene. Their raw stats and damage outputs overwhelmed standard decks. EX-focused strategies came to dominate over the next several seasons.
But this led to an "arms race" scenario. As more types got EX upgrades, overall power levels increased until stackings EXs became necessary just to compete!
Things stabilized once players adapted to the faster-paced EX metagame. Tactics shifted to capitalize on the 2 Prizes for KOs mechanic as a balancing factor.
The lessons here are:
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Build focused gameplans that play to the strengths of your EX attackers. Don‘t splash them randomly.
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Don‘t get too attached to any single EX. Be prepared to sacrifice them for Prizes when strategically optimal.
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Play with mobility and flexibility. Don‘t overcommit resources to a single EX that then becomes a liability.
When GX Pokemon arrived over a decade later, players applied these lessons to great success. Centralizing, fragile basics like Tapu Lele GX gave way to more dynamic stage 1 and 2 GXs that generated advantage over time but avoided being easy prizes.
Instead of each deck relying on a singular BEAST GX, splashing 2-3 for coverage became more common. Modern metagames have truly learned from history!
Closing Thoughts – The Legacy and Future of Pokemon‘s Powerful Ultra Rares
Looking back, EX and GX cards undeniably shaped the history of the Pokemon TCG. Their flashy, overpowered nature made them instant fan favorites as Nintendo embraced "gotta catch ‘em all" collecting.
While the V and VMAX era has taken over competitive play, these iconic cards will forever hold nostalgic and monetary value for collectors. Their role in establishing crucial ultra rare mechanics ensures their legacy is set in stone.
Personally, I can‘t wait to see EX cards make their heralded return to Standard next year in 2024‘s Scarlet & Violet series! While only a one-off tie-in to Pokemon‘s early TCG roots, the nostalgia will be real.
I hope this guide has provided helpful insider knowledge on collecting and appreciating these landmark cards. Thanks for reading, and may your next booster box be loaded with rainbow rares!
