Digital Vault Wiki

Bagon card art from EX trainer Kit (Latias) holo variant

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Overview

The Bagon card presented here is a basic Pokémon from the EX trainer Kit (Latias) subset, issued in a limited promotional release. Classified within the Pokémon Trading Card Game as a Colorless-type Basic Pokémon, this print captures the early stages of Bagon’s evolutionary line before it evolves into Shelgon and, ultimately, Salamence in the broader franchise. While the card itself carries a rarity designation of “None” in the data provided, the set does include holo, normal, and reverse-foil variants, reflecting the dual nature of promotional printings that combine collector interest with playable potential. Bagon’s presence in this kit contributes to a broader survey of how early-2000s TCG design balanced simplicity and strategic depth, particularly in limited or theme-based releases that sought to showcase multiple evolutionary pathways within a compact card pool.

Card Information

Name: Bagon
Category: Pokémon
Dex number: 371
Type: Colorless
Stage: Basic
HP: 40
Attacks:
- Headbutt — Cost: Colorless; Damage: 10
- Flare — Cost: Fire, Colorless; Damage: 20
Retreat: 1
Illustrator: Ken Sugimori
Rarity: None
Set: EX trainer Kit (Latias) (tk-ex-latia)
Set details:
- Card count (official): 10
- Card count (total): 10
- Symbol: set symbol
Variants: normal, holo, reverse
Variants details:
- First Edition: False
- Holo: True
- Normal: True
- Reverse: True
- WPromo (World Promo): False
Legal in formats: Standard: False; Expanded: False
Evolution: Bagon is the first stage in its evolutionary line; in the broader Pokémon TCG, it can evolve into Shelgon and then Salamence in subsequent releases.
Pricing (as of data):
- TcgPlayer (normal): low $0.05, mid $0.26, high $3.32, market $0.29
- CardMarket: None listed
Illustration context: The artwork often reflects Sugimori’s classic clean-line style characteristic of early 2000s prints, with an emphasis on the Pokémon’s simple silhouette and expressive stance.

The set name, EX trainer Kit (Latias), indicates a cross-promotional release that paired familiar Legendary and starter-themed content with a compact, collectible card subset. While the kit’s primary intent was promotional, the card data used here gives a useful snapshot of how such releases structured information for both collectors and players: a shared card pool, a limited print run, and multiple print variants that included holo foil treatments.

Gameplay and Strategy

From a gameplay perspective, Bagon’s 40 hit points and two modest attacks place it squarely in the category of early-game setup and bench development rather than as a primary engine for the battlefield. The Headbutt attack requires a single Colorless energy and delivers 10 damage, providing a basic option for early turns. The Flare attack introduces a Fire energy requirement in addition to a Colorless one, dealing 20 damage for a slightly more offensive option. Because the card is Colorless by type, it does not gain any type-specific bonuses from the attack costs, but the Fire energy component can connect with broader Fire-energy support cards in contemporaneous print cycles. However, in the specific EX trainer Kit release, such synergy would be limited by the subset’s own pool of compatible evolutions and supporting Pokémon cards.

In terms of strategic use, a few general guidelines apply to this print in typical game contexts from its era and to contemporary hobbyist analyses of promo-era cards:

: As a Basic Pokémon with relatively low HP, Bagon shines most as a development target for its evolutions. Players often set up a planned evolution line to transition from Bagon to Shelgon and then to Salamence, timing these evolutions to maximize momentum while managing retreat costs and energy attachment pace.
: The Flare attack’s Fire cost can encourage builders to pair the basic with selective Fire-energy acceleration options. In decks that aim to evolve quickly, securing the right energy mix on subsequent turns is key to maintaining pressure without overcommitting to early-stage attackers.
: With only 40 HP, Bagon is highly vulnerable to early knockouts in many formats. Players using this card in casual or Limited-Format play should weigh its role as a potential pivot point rather than a durable frontline attacker.
: Not legal in Standard or Expanded formats, this card’s practical relevance in modern competitive play is limited. Its value is often more aligned with collection interest, historical study, and curated deck-building retrospectives rather than current tournament viability.

Additionally, a number of players appreciate early basic Pokémon prints for hobbyist decks that narrate an evolution story—Bagon as the initial link that leads to a larger Dragon-type family in later stages. The kit’s design encourages exploration of how symbolic Pokémon from the Hoenn region—embodied by Bagon and Latias—were featured together in promotional sets to broaden accessibility and engagement among players of varied experience levels.

Collector and Market Information

The EX trainer Kit (Latias) printing for Bagon carries a rarity designation of “None” in the dataset provided, yet multiple print variants exist in practice, including holo and reverse foils. This creates a nuanced collector profile: while not a high-rarity chase card in the traditional sense, holo and reverse variants still hold appeal for completionists and enthusiasts of early-2000s promotional releases. The set’s compact footprint—10 official cards, 10 total—reflects its promotional scope rather than a long-running expansion block, which influences both scarcity and price trajectories.

Market values for this Bagon print reveal a modest spread typical of promo-era basic Pokémon with limited competitive relevance. As of late 2025, reported pricing for the card on major marketplaces shows:

Low price: about $0.05
Mid price: about $0.26
High price: about $3.32
Market price: approximately $0.29

These figures illustrate the dual nature of promo cards: while not widely sought for play in the modern metagame, they have residual value for collectors, particularly for holo negatives from the set’s non-standard distribution. The absence of Standard or Expanded legality further emphasizes that market interest centers on collectibility and historical significance rather than tournament utility.

Art and Lore

The Bagon card in this release bears the signature touch of Ken Sugimori, one of the franchise’s most enduring illustrators. Sugimori’s work is recognized for its clean lines, expressive character poses, and a distinctive blend of simplicity and charm that typifies early-generation Pokémon artwork. In the EX trainer Kit (Latias) context, Bagon’s depiction contributes to a broader visual narrative connecting Johto-era and Hoenn-era motifs within promotional materials that aimed to highlight iconic Pokémon across generations. While the card’s lore within gameplay is limited due to its basic nature, collectors often value Sugimori’s art for its enduring association with the franchise’s formative aesthetic.

The EX trainer Kit itself represents a cross-promotional moment in Pokémon TCG history, pairing familiar legends with a compact card pool to entice new players and provide a celebratory nod to existing fans. Although the viability of any single card in a modern deck may be limited, the artwork, set symbolism, and the kit’s place in the collecting timeline contribute to a richer understanding of how Pokémon TCG marketing and product design evolved over time.

Trivia

The card is part of a promotional EX trainer Kit named after Latias, which included Bagon among its prints in a holo-capable format.
The card’s legal status indicates it is not playable in Standard or Expanded formats, underscoring its value as a collectible artifact rather than a staple in current competitive builds.
Dex number 371 places Bagon within the broader Nidoking’s and Dragon-type lineage context, aligning with its in-game evolutionary path from Bagon to Shelgon to Salamence in the main series.
The available variants include holo, normal, and reverse foils, reflecting the era’s emphasis on foil treatments to differentiate collectible runs even within promo sets.
Artist Ken Sugimori’s artwork on Bagon is representative of his long-standing influence on the Pokémon TCG’s visual language, a consistent thread across multiple generations of cards.

CTA & NETWORK LINKS

Bagon — Pokémon TCG Card (Multiple Sets)

📘 Bagon — Pokémon TCG Card (Multiple Sets)