Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Artist Spotlight: Slowpoke & Psyduck GX
In the expansive world of the Pokémon TCG, some collaborations between creatures and creators become timeless talking points. This TAG TEAM-GX from the Unified Minds era showcases the playful bond between Slowpoke and Psyduck, brought to life by ConceptLab. The card’s watery palette, clean linework, and gentle glow celebrate the duo’s quirks while underscoring a surprisingly deep gameplay presence. It’s a rare blend of whimsy and strategy that resonates with both collectors and players who relish signature artistry that doubles as battlefield storytelling. ⚡🔥💎
Card at a glance
- Set: Unified Minds (SM11)
- Rarity: Ultra Rare
- Type: Water
- HP: 250
- Suffix: TAG TEAM-GX
- Illustrator: ConceptLab
- Attacks:
- Ditch and Splash — Cost: Water, Water. Effect: Discard any number of Supporter cards from your hand. This attack does 40 damage for each card you discarded.
- Thrilling Times GX — Cost: Water, Water. Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 100 more damage. If this Pokémon has at least 6 extra Water Energy attached to it (in addition to this attack’s cost), flip 10 coins instead, and this attack does 100 more damage for each heads. You can’t use more than 1 GX attack in a game.
- 10+ — Cost: Water, Water. Damage: 10+.
- Weakness: Grass x2
- Retreat: 2
- Legal: Expanded format (not standard)
The card’s dual-dex design—bearing dex IDs 54 and 79 for Slowpoke and Psyduck—highlights a moment when two beloved Kanto staples team up to challenge the meta. The 250 HP pool makes this a sturdy presence on the bench, and the water-centric toolkit rewards thoughtful energy placement and timing. The artwork’s light interplay and the duo’s playful expressions are not mere decoration; they echo the balance between risk and reward that defines the card’s playstyle in a robust Expanded lineup. 🎨🎴
Illustration and signature style
ConceptLab brings a distinctive polish to this piece, and it shows in the way water textures ripple around Slowpoke and Psyduck as they share the frame. The composition leans into a soft, luminous gradient—cool blues with touches of teal and pale lilac—that makes the characters pop against a fluid backdrop. The linework remains confident and clean, guiding the eye toward the pair’s expressions and the shimmering energy of their aquatic world. This signature approach—clear character silhouettes, atmospheric water effects, and a gentle glow—appears across ConceptLab’s portfolio and translates beautifully on a high-HP TAG TEAM-GX that demands attention in the modern Expanded scene. For fans of water-themed art, the piece feels like a breezy, uplifting splash that invites both nostalgia and tactical curiosity. 🖌️💧
Gameplay strategy and deck-building notes
Slowpoke & Psyduck GX isn’t just a pretty face on a card sleeve; it’s a deliberate, tempo-driven engine in the right hands. Here’s how to harness its strengths in Expanded play:
- Manage your Supporters with Ditch and Splash: This attack rewards calculated hand management. By discarding any number of Supporter cards, you can convert plastic memory into real damage—40 for each discarded card. Build a plan around cards you don’t mind letting go, or use this to thin the deck for a late-game push. It’s a risky surge that pays off when you count on your GX option to seal the tempo swing later in the match.
- Maximize Thrilling Times GX judiciously: The GX attack swings big—100 extra damage on heads, or even more if you’ve stacked enough Water Energy and are flipping for a cascade of heads. Recognize the moment when a single, decisive hit matters most, and remember you can’t use more than one GX attack per game. In practice, this makes the card a late-game finisher in decks that can keep Water energy flowing and maintain position on the bench.
- Supporter economy and energy discipline: Because Ditch and Splash relies on your hand, a well-timed setup with low-cost Supporters—or a plan to minimize hand clutter until the critical moment—becomes essential. Pairing with trainer cards that fetch or protect valuable Supporters can help you arrive at the right discard window with confidence.
- Coverage and weaknesses: With Grass as the primary weakness, you’ll want to anticipate common Grass matchups in Expanded and balance your lineup with other Water-type partners that can help you weather early turns while you power up Thrilling Times GX.
- Evolution and tempo: While Slowpoke and Psyduck are classic choices, this TAG TEAM-GX benefits from a patient approach—use the early turns to establish board presence, then unleash the big GX payoff when the odds favor a knockout swing.
In terms of collectability, the card’s holo and non-holo variants carry distinct appeal. The market has shown steady activity for this Ultra Rare, with price data pointing to meaningful variation by condition and print. Cardmarket’s snapshot (updated late 2025) indicates a live average around 56.4 EUR with notable volatility, while TCGPlayer holo values reveal a broader range—from roughly $93 up to $152 depending on condition and availability. For collectors, that translates to a compelling opportunity to pair nostalgia with modern competitive viability, especially for players who relish big-energy plays and high-variance coin flips. 🔎💎
“A blend of charm and strategy, this card invites you to lean into risk for big rewards—the kind of moment that makes the game feel magical again.”
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