What Does TG Mean in Pokémon Cards?
TG stands for "Trainer Gallery" – a special subset of vivid character cards that depict fan-favorite Trainers from across the Pokémon franchise. Introduced in early 2022 with the Brilliant Stars expansion, Trainer Gallery cards have become hugely popular amongst collectors for their artwork, increased rarity compared to normal cards, and nostalgic subject matter.
An Overview of Trainer Gallery Cards
The first ever Trainer Gallery subset arrived in February 2022 with the Japanese release of the VMAX Climax expansion. This included 30 Trainer Gallery cards featuring Trainers and Pokémon paired together, with illustrations by various popular artists.
When Brilliant Stars launched worldwide the next month, it brought the Trainer Gallery to international audiences. The English expansion added 12 more Trainer Gallery cards on top of VMAX Climax‘s selection for a total of 42 cards.
Unlike main set cards, Trainer Gallery cards replace the reverse holo slot in packs. They are visually distinct, with the Trainer‘s name and illustrator on the bottom instead of characteristic symbols.
Let‘s analyze the different types of Trainer Gallery cards that exist:
Regular Trainer Gallery Cards
These have silver borders and no texture. They feature Trainers like Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, Professors, and game protagonists. For example, Karen‘s Umbreon TG03/TG30.
Rainbow Rare Trainer Gallery Cards
A step above regular cards, these rainbow rares have colorful, patterned borders and backgrounds. Current examples are Gloria TG05/TG30 and Avery Full Art TG17/TG30. Much rarer than standard Trainer Gallery cards!
V and VMAX Trainer Gallery Cards
Special versions of strong Trainer partner Pokémon. Full art Vs like Marnie‘s Pride Full Art TG19/TG30 and VMAXes like Gloria‘s Inteleon VMAX TG06/TG30 make up some of the most sought after Trainer Gallery pulls.
Black & Gold VMAX Climax Exclusives
A special VMAX Climax subset of black & gold VMAXes depicting Trainers. Extremely rare and only found in the Japanese VMAX Climax set. Includes cards like Blue‘s Blastoise.
Promo Trainer Gallery Cards
Bonus promotional Trainer Gallery releases like Leon‘s Raihan and Allister & Cursola TG. Typically given out as participation prizes at tournaments or bundled with special products.
Why Introduce the Trainer Gallery Subset?
The Pokémon Company introduced Trainer Gallery cards to celebrate the rich cast of characters across 25 years of core games, anime, manga, and more. Cards depicting key Trainers have always existed, but never as a special spotlight subset.
The vibrant artwork and creativity drew inspiration from the Character Rare and Character Super Rare subset found in Japanese sets like VMAX Climax. This made Trainer Gallery an international debut exclusive to English sets starting with Brilliant Stars.
Many fans speculate that the Pokémon Company aimed to raise interest and demand by focusing on nostalgic fan-favorite human characters. Trainer Gallery cards remind long-time fans of key moments with Leaders, Rivals, and companions in their Pokémon journey. The purposeful scarcity also increased excitement and secondary market prices!
Trainer Gallery Pull Rates & Card Counts
As a deliberately limited edition subset, Trainer Gallery cards are harder to obtain through opening booster packs compared to main set cards. Let‘s analyze the pull rates across releases:
| Expansion | Total TG Cards | TG Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Brilliant Stars | 42 | About 1 in 5 packs |
| Astral Radiance | 25 | About 1 in 8 packs |
| Lost Origin | 41 | About 1 in 8 packs |
The warmer reception to Brilliant Stars‘ initial Trainer Gallery offering drove increased TG cards in subsequent English sets Lost Origin and Crown Zenith. But intentionally lower pull rates maintained rarity and novelty.
In contrast, Japanese sets starting with VMAX Climax guarantee a Trainer Gallery card in every pack – but have much smaller TG card pools around 30 cards. This sustains excitement each opening while preserving short printing.
Why Are Trainer Gallery Cards So Popular?
Due to scarcity and appeal, Trainer Gallery cards command a premium on the secondary market. Let‘s examine why they‘ve struck a chord amongst collectors:
Vibrant Artwork & Subject Matter – Striking colors and imagery stand out from common Pokémon artwork. Nostalgia sells as fans see major human characters spotlighted.
Rarity & Excitement Factor – Having less than half the pull chance of an Ultra Rare makes opening Trainer Gallerys thrilling. You might even encounter a pricier rainbow rare TG!
Strong Secondary Market – More scarce than typical cards, popular Trainer Gallery singles start at $15 and can even exceed $100+ for VMAXes. Collectors and investors prize them.
Strong Community Interest – Pokétubers and key influencers within the hobby focus heavily on the Trainer Gallery. This drives further intrigue (and prices!) around the subset.
What is the Future of Trainer Gallery Cards?
All evidence points to Trainer Gallerys cementing themselves as a regular special subset rather than a one-off. They will likely continue appearing in English and Japanese expansions as a staple for the foreseeable future.
We can expect more dazzling artwork that plays on fan nostalgia for core human characters. And based on Crown Zenith‘s selection featuring Trainers, the VSTAR mechanic may also combine with future TG cards!
While retaining intentional pull scarcity, we could see Trainer Gallery subset sizes increase slightly in upcoming sets. There‘s no shortage of beloved Trainers to highlight after decades of Pokémon lore!
I hope this deep analysis on the Trainer Gallery card subtype answers what TG signifies and why this new offering is so popular. As both a passionate Pokémon fan and semi-professional card dealer, expect more insights like this in the future!
