Gorgeous 'Stained Glass' Pokemon Card Features Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno

The Pokemon Trading Card Game is debuting the first ever three-in-one Pokemon card in stunning fashion.

Behold Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno GX, a triple Tag Team card with a special holofoil version made to look like a stained glass window (and keep clicking to see more new cards):

This card with the three Kanto Legendary birds can be found in the new Hidden Fates expansion set releasing on August 23.

In 2018, Tag Team Pokemon GX cards were introduced to the game that featured two Pokemon partnering up on one card. Though Tag Team Pokemon GX come at a steep price of three Prize cards, their speed and strength shook up the metagame with extremely powerful combinations that ended up taking top honors at several major tournaments (like in May when Reshiram & Charizard GX secured both first and second at the 480-player Santa Clara Pokemon Regional). Now things look like they’re going to be shaken up again with three famously powerful Pokemon joining together on one card for the first time.

Atsushi Nagashima, Game Director of the Pokémon Trading Card Game at Creatures, talked to IGN over email about how the card came to be.

“This Tag Team is an homage to a ‘special jumbo card’ that was sold in Japan in 1997. Ever since we first saw that special jumbo card, we had been looking for a chance to have it reappear,” Nagashima said. “The new card follows the old one when it comes to effects like returning the Pokémon to your deck when you use your Tag Team GX attack.”

The original bird trio card Nagashima mentions was first made available in Japan via purchase of the October 1997 issue of CoroCoro Comic. The English version followed in July 2000 as part of special Warner Bros. store campaign tied to the release of Pokemon the Movie 2000.

The card was an oversized promo not meant to be played, but while this new version is fully legal, Nagashima designed it to be particularly challenging to use, which feels fitting given this one card is supposed to have the awesome power of three Legendary Pokemon combined.

“As befitting their status as the three Legendary bird Pokémon, Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GX are exceptionally strong in just about every trait, including their HP and attack damage. However, while strong, it’s also a card that can be hard to use, in terms of things like needing three types of Energy—Fire, Water and Lightning—to attack, and having to return it to your deck when you use the TAG TEAM GX attack. So it’s a really strong card, but it’s also skill-testing for the player using it, in terms of their deck-building and skill at playing the game,” Nagashima explained.

As you can see in the image gallery above, Hidden Fates will also include cards showcasing Pokemon in their Shiny forms, like Charizard-GX and Lucario-GX. There will be 80 Shiny Pokemon cards in total -- 35 of those will be Pokemon GX and four will be getting the Secret Rare Gold treatment. Also included are four Secret Gold Rare Treatment Stadium cards, a first for the TCG.

For those interested in getting into the Pokemon TCG for the first time or returning after a hiatus, Hidden Fates will also feature reprints of some of the most powerful and sought after cards of the Sun and Moon era that are often used in competitive tournaments like Buzzwole, Malamar and the Supporter card Cynthia.

In addition to the standard booster pack offerings, other Hidden Fates products will include:

• Hidden Fates Pin Collection—Available August 23, this collection includes one of two foil promo cards featuring the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo or the Mythical Pokémon Mew, one of two collector’s pins featuring Mewtwo or Mew, and three Hidden Fates booster packs.
• Hidden Fates Tin—On September 6, players can choose from three special tins that spotlight Charizard-GX, Gyarados-GX, or Raichu-GX. Each tin includes a foil Pokémon-GX card showcasing one of these three Pokémon, as well as four Hidden Fates booster packs.
• Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box—Releasing on September 20, the Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box includes one full-art foil promo card featuring Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GX and 10 Hidden Fates booster packs. It also includes Pokémon TCG accessories like card sleeves, dice, a player’s guide, and more.
• Hidden Fates Poké Ball Collection—Details TBA
• Hidden Fates Ultra-Premium Collection—Details TBA

Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.