Metagross (Not a Football Player)
Stage 2 Pokemon (Pseudo-Legendary Psychic/Steel type) · Hoenn Region (Trainer's Team)
Pokemon TCG: Guardians Rising (Nintendo/Pokemon Company) #139/145
Year & Era
2017 — Sun & Moon Era (Modern TCG)
Card Type
Full Art Ultra Rare GX (Holo)
Grade
4-5 (VG-EX) estimated due to significant visible damage
Rarity
Ultra Rare (Full Art variant); significantly rarer than the standard GX or base card.
Overall Assessment
This is a Pokemon card mistakenly identified as a football card. It is a genuine 2017 Full Art Metagross GX, but it is in 'Damaged' condition, making it a 'binder filler' for casual fans rather than an investment piece.
Condition Grade
4-5 (VG-EX) estimated due to significant visible damage
Centering Assessment
Front centering appears slightly bottom-heavy (approx 45/55), though obscured by damage.
Surface Condition
Poor/Damaged. Severe horizontal crease or scratch across the center of the card and a major tear/peel on the left edge.
Corner Condition
The bottom left corner shows whitening and fraying; upper corners appear softer than mint standards.
Edge Condition
Major damage on the left edge with what appears to be physical lifting or a tear in the foil layer.
Print Quality
Standard Sun & Moon era high-gloss finish with fingerprint-resistant textured foil.
Estimated Value
$2 - $4 USD (Heavily discounted due to damage; Near Mint copies are approx $15-$20)
Comparison to Known Examples
Significantly lower quality than most preserved hobbyist copies due to structural damage.
Authentication Tips
Look for the specific diagonal fingerprint-style texture on the surface which is absent in counterfeits.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for grading. The physical damage (tears/creases) would result in a very low technical score.
Red Flags
The major crease and edge peel are significant red flags for any collector seeking value.
Provenance Notes
Originally distributed in Guardians Rising booster packs or blisters released in May 2017.
Historical Context
Metagross is a fan-favorite 'Pseudo-Legendary' and this card was a competitive staple in the TCG meta for its Geotech System ability.
Market Trends
Metagross remains a popular Pokemon for collectors, but market demand is strictly for high-grade (PSA 9/10) specimens.
Investment Potential
Minimal. Damaged modern cards rarely appreciate because of the high population of Mint copies in the wild.
Similar Cards
Metagross GX (Regular Art #85), Sylveon GX Full Art, Tapu Lele GX Full Art.
Display & Preservation
Place in a penny sleeve and top loader immediately to prevent further peeling of the holo layer.
Interesting Facts
This card features 'Algorithm GX', an attack famous for allowing players to search their deck for any 5 cards.