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Pokémon ex, EX, GX, V, VMAX and Mega cards explained

The letters after a Pokémon's name mark the strong cards of each era. EX, GX, V and VMAX came and went. Today's sets use ex and Mega ex. The letters tell you the era, not the price.

Checked October 12, 2026. We update this page when the facts change.

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What is printed after the Pokémon's name?

ex

Small letters: two eras.

2003 to 2007: the first ex cards, with a silver border.
2023 on: today's ex cards, in every current set.
The copyright year at the bottom tells the two apart.

EX

Capital letters: 2011 to 2016.

From the Black and White sets and the XY sets.
Mega EX cards from 2014 to 2016 have an M before the name.

GX

2017 to 2019.

From the Sun and Moon sets.
Each has one GX attack, usable once a game.
Tag Team cards pair two Pokémon on one card.

V

2020 to 2023.

From the Sword and Shield sets.
The base form of that era's strong cards.

VMAX or VSTAR

2020 to 2023.

VMAX cards show a giant form and evolve from a V.
VSTAR cards have a white and gold border and one VSTAR power.

Mega

2025 on.

From the Mega Evolution sets.
A new card style, with the word Mega before the name.

Each era has its own strong card: EX, then GX, then V and VMAX, then ex again.
Small ex and capital EX are different eras. Check the copyright year.
The standard version of each is easy to pull. The full art versions carry the value.
Only cards from recent years are legal in standard play.
A strong card in the game is not always a valuable card to collectors.

Every kind, by era

One card of each kind, in the order they came out.

VMAX2020 to 2023

VSTAR2022 to 2023

ex2023 on

Mega ex2025 on

Kind	Years	Sets	How to spot it
ex	2003 to 2007	The EX series	Small letters, silver border.
LV.X, Prime and LEGEND	2007 to 2011	Diamond and Pearl to HeartGold	LEGEND cards come in two halves.
EX and Mega EX	2011 to 2016	Black and White, XY	Capital letters. Mega cards have an M.
BREAK	2015 to 2016	XY	A gold card laid sideways.
GX and Tag Team	2017 to 2019	Sun and Moon	One GX attack on each card.
V, VMAX and VSTAR	2020 to 2023	Sword and Shield	A V beside the name.
ex and Tera ex	2023 on	Scarlet and Violet	Small letters again. Tera cards have a crystal look.
Mega ex	2025 on	Mega Evolution	The word Mega before the name.

Do the letters make it valuable?

Not by themselves. Every set has many of these cards, and the standard ones are easy to pull.

The full art version of the same card is rarer.
The special illustration rare or alternate art is rarer again.
Old ex cards from 2003 to 2007 are scarce in clean condition and sell well.

Two cards with the same name and letters can be 100 times apart in price. The card number tells you which you have.

What you can play with

Standard play uses cards from the last few years only.
Each card carries a regulation mark, a letter in a small box, that decides it.
Older cards stay legal in the expanded format and in casual games.

Live from our price tracker

In stock today below its usual price

Sealed products on sale right now, ranked by how far each sits under its usual price. Tap one for its price history.

Lumiose City Mini Tin

Lumiose City Mini · Tin

$9.99 41% under$17.00 across 3 international shops

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex League Battle Deck

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex League Battle Deck · Sealed Product

$14.99 40% under$24.95 across 1 international shop

Destined Rivals Booster Pack

Destined Rivals · Booster Pack

$8.99 31% under$12.98 across 3 international shops

Mega Lucario ex League Battle Deck

Mega Lucario ex League Battle Deck · Sealed Product

$14.49 31% under$20.99 across 2 international shops

Every tracked product and its price →

Common questions

What does ex mean on a Pokémon card?

It marks a stronger version of a Pokémon. Small ex appeared from 2003 to 2007 and came back in 2023. Knocking one out gives the other player two prize cards.

What is the difference between V and VMAX?

A V is the base card. A VMAX is the larger form that evolves from it, with more HP. Both come from the Sword and Shield sets of 2020 to 2023.

Are GX cards worth anything?

Standard GX cards sell for small sums. Full art, rainbow and Tag Team alternate art GX cards can be worth far more. Look the card number up.

What is the difference between ex and EX?

The era. Capital EX cards are from 2011 to 2016. Small ex cards are from 2003 to 2007 and from 2023 on. The copyright year settles it.

Are Mega cards new?

Mega EX cards first appeared from 2014 to 2016. Mega ex cards returned in 2025 with the Mega Evolution sets, in a new card style.