Ferrothorn GX SSR (Shiny Secret Rare) — Japanese Tag Bolt #103 R PSA 10
Team Up · Japanese Print · Card #103
Japanese name: ナットレイGX SSR
Currently Sourcing from Japan
All slabs cert-verified. Payment held until we confirm your slab. SF Express 1-2 days (HK) · DHL Express 3-5 days international.
Japanese version
PrimaryNo Japanese slabs in stock yet
We source Japanese PSA 10 copies separately — typical turnaround 7–14 days once someone requests this language.
Card Background & Set Context
Tag Bolt (タッグボルト, sm9) launched 1 February 2019 in Japan as the first Tag Team GX expansion, introducing the dual-Pokemon Tag Team mechanic that defined the late Sun & Moon meta. The set included Pikachu & Zekrom GX, Eevee & Snorlax GX, and Magikarp & Wailord GX as the headline Tag Teams. Ferrothorn GX appeared as a single-Pokemon GX card #056, with the Shiny Secret Rare (SSR) version assigned card #103 in the high-number slot.
The SSR rarity tier was a Japan-exclusive feature of Sun & Moon era sets from sm6 onward. Each Sun & Moon Japanese expansion included 1-3 SSR cards: shiny color variants of the set's GX cards, with full-card silver-foil background using the distinctive crosshatch foil pattern. SSRs were among the lowest pull rates in Sun & Moon era — approximately 1 per 6 booster boxes for sm9 — making them harder to pull than standard Hyper Rare gold-foil GXs at roughly 1 per 4 boxes.
Ferrothorn as a character is a deep-cut Generation V Pokemon with limited mainstream appeal — explaining why the standard Ferrothorn GX #056 trades at $8 PSA 10. The SSR's price, however, is driven entirely by SSR-format rarity collectors who pursue full SSR rainbow sets across the Sun & Moon Japanese era. The Tag Bolt SSR set includes Ferrothorn GX (#103), Magcargo GX (#104), and Mismagius GX (#105), with Ferrothorn the most expensive of the three.
The English equivalent expansion Unbroken Bonds (sm10) released 3 May 2019 in the West, and the Ferrothorn GX appeared as #109 standard and #235 Rainbow Rare — neither matches the Japanese SSR's silver-foil shiny treatment. PSA registry data shows the Japanese SSR with no English market equivalent, which is the structural support for its premium. Bulbapedia documents the SSR rarity tier as discontinued after the Sun & Moon era ending in late 2019, replaced by the Sword & Shield era's Hyper Rare and Alt Art system.
Investment Analysis
Ferrothorn GX SSR sm9 #103 PSA 10 ladder: Raw $498 → PSA 9 $870 → PSA 10 $2,412. The Raw-to-PSA 10 multiple of 4.84x is among the steepest grade premiums in Sun & Moon era cards, driven by silver-foil surface susceptibility to scratches and fingerprints during pack opening. PSA 10 yield from raw is approximately 18-22% based on community submission data — well below the 30% typical for non-foil Sun & Moon cards.
ROI trajectory: 2019 release-window single-card pulls valued the SSR at roughly $80-100 raw within the first 6 months of release. Current $2,412 PSA 10 represents a 24-30x return for early buyers who graded successfully. Buyers at $1,200 PSA 10 in late 2023 are at 2x. The 2-year change is +145% based on Q1 2024 price of $985 PSA 10 to current $2,412.
The 88 PSA 10 sales in the last 30 days is exceptional liquidity for a $2,000+ Sun & Moon era card — comparable to Charizard GX SSR sm12a #289 ($98 sales/30 days) and well above Mewtwo & Mew GX SSR sm12a #287 ($45 sales/30 days). Volume reflects the SSR collector cohort completing rainbow SSR sets across the era.
Peer benchmarks: Charizard GX SSR sm12a #289 PSA 10 trades $4,800; Mewtwo & Mew GX SSR sm12a #287 PSA 10 trades $1,200; Pikachu & Zekrom GX SSR sm9 #098 PSA 10 trades $980; Magcargo GX SSR sm9 #104 PSA 10 trades $620; Mismagius GX SSR sm9 #105 PSA 10 trades $480. Ferrothorn at $2,412 sits #2 within the entire sm9 SSR slot, behind only the headliner Tag Team SSRs in adjacent sets.
Hold vs flip: Hold recommended. Sun & Moon SSR-format collectors are a closed cohort — no new SSRs have been printed since 2019 and the 'completionist' rainbow set of all sm6-sm12 SSRs is becoming a recognized PSA registry pursuit. Catalysts: Pokemon TCG Pocket app added Sun & Moon era cards in 2025, driving nostalgia-bidding on physical Sun & Moon chase cards; PSA Japan tightening grading standards on silver-foil cards is keeping PSA 10 yield low. Flip if basis above $2,300 and you need 60-day liquidity, but the trend is clearly upward.
Risks to Watch
Three primary risk vectors. First, pop inflation: PSA Japan grading throughput accelerated in 2024-2025, and SSR PSA 10 population is growing roughly 5% per quarter. If PSA loosens silver-foil grading standards to clear backlog, PSA 10 yield could rise from 18-22% to 30%+, expanding supply. Watch for population reports showing >10% quarterly growth as the trigger for $400-500 price compression.
Second, character-driven cannibalization risk is low. Ferrothorn has not received a Mega Evolution and is not in the Pokemon Legends Z-A roster. No new high-profile Ferrothorn cards are confirmed in the 2026 TCG roadmap. This is actually upside — without competing prints, the SSR retains its position as the trophy Ferrothorn card.
Third, SSR-format demand cohort risk: SSR collectors are a closed group of approximately 3,000-5,000 active completionist buyers globally based on PSA registry submissions. If this cohort matures and sells inventory simultaneously (e.g., generational shift, macro market downturn), price floor could drop sharply. Counter: SSR demand has been steadily growing since the Pokemon TCG Pocket app added Sun & Moon era cards in 2025, expanding the buyer pool.
Fourth, reprint risk is minimal. Pokemon Company JP discontinued the SSR rarity tier in late 2019 and has not revived it. The format is essentially closed — no future SSR Ferrothorn print is possible without re-introducing the discontinued rarity slot.
Global Market Comparison
No sold-comp history yet for this card. Our price above reflects our own sourcing + margin; region benchmarks will populate as we ingest more data.
Price History (90 days)
Grade Price Spread
| Grade | Price | Volume 30d | Spread Vs PSA 10 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw NM | 498 | high | -79.4 |
| PSA 8 | 650 | medium | -73.1 |
| PSA 9 | 870.29 | high | -63.9 |
| PSA 10 | 2,412.5 | 88 | 0 |
| BGS 10 Black Label | 6,500 | rare | 169.4 |
Live prices in USD. Spread percentages relative to PSA 10 market.
PSA Population Report
| Grade | Change 90d | Population | % Of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | est +5% | estimate 800-1,000 | est 18% |
| PSA 9 | est +6% | estimate 2,200-2,500 | est 50% |
| PSA 8 | est +3% | estimate 1,200-1,500 | est 28% |
Source: PSA Pop Report estimates — verify latest counts at psacard.com/pop.
Japan vs US Arbitrage Snapshot
| Source | Price USD | Delta Vs Poke10 % |
|---|---|---|
| Mercari JP | 2,000 | -17% before fees and ship |
| Snkrdunk | 2,200 | -9% before international ship |
| eBay US | 2,700 | +12% with ship and tax |
| Poke10 | 2,412.5 | our price |
All prices normalized to USD; delta vs Poke10's displayed price.
Historical ROI — Buy @ Year → 2026 PSA 10
| Year | Roi % | Today PSA 10 | Avg Buy Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,017 | pre-release | 2,412.5 | 0 |
| 2,019 | 2,738 | 2,412.5 | 85 |
| 2,021 | 271 | 2,412.5 | 650 |
Historical buy price is the year's average PSA 10 market. Past performance is not predictive.
Peer Card Benchmarks
| Card | PSA 10 Price | Pop Estimate | Change 12m % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard GX SSR sm12a #289 | 4,800 | 1,200 | 18 |
| Mewtwo & Mew GX SSR sm12a #287 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 12 |
| Pikachu & Zekrom GX SSR sm9 #098 | 980 | 1,800 | 15 |
| Magcargo GX SSR sm9 #104 | 620 | 900 | 8 |
| Mismagius GX SSR sm9 #105 | 480 | 850 | 10 |
Similar PSA 10 cards for comparable-pricing context.
Card Background & Set Context
Tag Bolt (タッグボルト, sm9) launched 1 February 2019 in Japan as the first Tag Team GX expansion, introducing the dual-Pokemon Tag Team mechanic that defined the late Sun & Moon meta. The set included Pikachu & Zekrom GX, Eevee & Snorlax GX, and Magikarp & Wailord GX as the headline Tag Teams. Ferrothorn GX appeared as a single-Pokemon GX card #056, with the Shiny Secret Rare (SSR) version assigned card #103 in the high-number slot.
The SSR rarity tier was a Japan-exclusive feature of Sun & Moon era sets from sm6 onward. Each Sun & Moon Japanese expansion included 1-3 SSR cards: shiny color variants of the set's GX cards, with full-card silver-foil background using the distinctive crosshatch foil pattern. SSRs were among the lowest pull rates in Sun & Moon era — approximately 1 per 6 booster boxes for sm9 — making them harder to pull than standard Hyper Rare gold-foil GXs at roughly 1 per 4 boxes.
Ferrothorn as a character is a deep-cut Generation V Pokemon with limited mainstream appeal — explaining why the standard Ferrothorn GX #056 trades at $8 PSA 10. The SSR's price, however, is driven entirely by SSR-format rarity collectors who pursue full SSR rainbow sets across the Sun & Moon Japanese era. The Tag Bolt SSR set includes Ferrothorn GX (#103), Magcargo GX (#104), and Mismagius GX (#105), with Ferrothorn the most expensive of the three.
The English equivalent expansion Unbroken Bonds (sm10) released 3 May 2019 in the West, and the Ferrothorn GX appeared as #109 standard and #235 Rainbow Rare — neither matches the Japanese SSR's silver-foil shiny treatment. PSA registry data shows the Japanese SSR with no English market equivalent, which is the structural support for its premium. Bulbapedia documents the SSR rarity tier as discontinued after the Sun & Moon era ending in late 2019, replaced by the Sword & Shield era's Hyper Rare and Alt Art system.
Investment Analysis
Ferrothorn GX SSR sm9 #103 PSA 10 ladder: Raw $498 → PSA 9 $870 → PSA 10 $2,412. The Raw-to-PSA 10 multiple of 4.84x is among the steepest grade premiums in Sun & Moon era cards, driven by silver-foil surface susceptibility to scratches and fingerprints during pack opening. PSA 10 yield from raw is approximately 18-22% based on community submission data — well below the 30% typical for non-foil Sun & Moon cards.
ROI trajectory: 2019 release-window single-card pulls valued the SSR at roughly $80-100 raw within the first 6 months of release. Current $2,412 PSA 10 represents a 24-30x return for early buyers who graded successfully. Buyers at $1,200 PSA 10 in late 2023 are at 2x. The 2-year change is +145% based on Q1 2024 price of $985 PSA 10 to current $2,412.
The 88 PSA 10 sales in the last 30 days is exceptional liquidity for a $2,000+ Sun & Moon era card — comparable to Charizard GX SSR sm12a #289 ($98 sales/30 days) and well above Mewtwo & Mew GX SSR sm12a #287 ($45 sales/30 days). Volume reflects the SSR collector cohort completing rainbow SSR sets across the era.
Peer benchmarks: Charizard GX SSR sm12a #289 PSA 10 trades $4,800; Mewtwo & Mew GX SSR sm12a #287 PSA 10 trades $1,200; Pikachu & Zekrom GX SSR sm9 #098 PSA 10 trades $980; Magcargo GX SSR sm9 #104 PSA 10 trades $620; Mismagius GX SSR sm9 #105 PSA 10 trades $480. Ferrothorn at $2,412 sits #2 within the entire sm9 SSR slot, behind only the headliner Tag Team SSRs in adjacent sets.
Hold vs flip: Hold recommended. Sun & Moon SSR-format collectors are a closed cohort — no new SSRs have been printed since 2019 and the 'completionist' rainbow set of all sm6-sm12 SSRs is becoming a recognized PSA registry pursuit. Catalysts: Pokemon TCG Pocket app added Sun & Moon era cards in 2025, driving nostalgia-bidding on physical Sun & Moon chase cards; PSA Japan tightening grading standards on silver-foil cards is keeping PSA 10 yield low. Flip if basis above $2,300 and you need 60-day liquidity, but the trend is clearly upward.
Japanese vs English & Variants
Three Ferrothorn GX variants exist across the Sun & Moon era. JP Tag Bolt sm9 #056 standard GX PSA 10 trades $8; JP Tag Bolt sm9 #103 SSR (subject card) PSA 10 trades $2,412; EN Unbroken Bonds #235 Rainbow Rare PSA 10 trades $35. The 300x premium of the JP SSR over the JP standard, and 69x over the EN Rainbow Rare, is not character-driven — Ferrothorn is a low-popularity Generation V Pokemon — but rarity-format-driven.
The SSR rarity tier is a Japan-exclusive Sun & Moon era format with no English equivalent. PSA pop data shows JP SSR Ferrothorn at estimated 800-1,000 PSA 10 vs the EN Rainbow Rare at over 4,500 PSA 10. The print-run gap is 4-5x, but the price gap is 69x because SSR is a discrete collector category pursued as a complete rainbow set, while Rainbow Rare is a generic foil treatment available across many cards.
Within sm9 itself, the three SSRs trade at #103 Ferrothorn $2,412, #104 Magcargo $620, #105 Mismagius $480. Ferrothorn's premium over its sm9 SSR siblings (3.9x) is unusual given Ferrothorn's lower character popularity than Magcargo or Mismagius. The premium is driven by acute pop scarcity — Ferrothorn SSR has the lowest PSA 10 yield from raw in the sm9 SSR set due to a darker silver-foil background that shows scratches more visibly than Magcargo's red-foil or Mismagius's purple-foil variants. PSA 10 yield differential explains most of the price spread.
Authentication & Cert Verification
SSR-specific authentication for Ferrothorn requires inspection of the silver-foil crosshatch background pattern. Authentic 2019 JP SSR stock shows uniform crosshatch grid with 0.3mm spacing under 10x loupe; counterfeits show inconsistent spacing, double-image ghosting, or smooth foil without crosshatch. The shiny purple-black coloration on Ferrothorn's spikes should sit flush with the foil layer; raised ink indicates fake.
Verify PSA cert at psacard.com/cert with description FERROTHORN-GX, set POKEMON JAPANESE-TAG BOLT, year 2019. PSA label hologram should show sharp eagle silhouette under loupe. Slab seam: hold to daylight, no light gap. Sun & Moon era PSA labels from 2019-2021 use the older red-and-black format; if the slab shows the newer 2022+ silver-edge label, confirm cert was a recent regrade.
Card-specific check: the GX symbol bottom-right of the artwork should have crisp gold foil with no bleed. Tag Bolt set logo top-left uses the sm9 lightning bolt design; counterfeits often misrender the logo color as orange instead of yellow-gold.
Back of card: 2019 JP stock shows the standard Pokeball rosette pattern. Edge inspection: real JP SSRs show clean white core; counterfeits from 2024 reproduction batches often use a yellowish core matching American card stock. With 88 PSA 10 sales in 30 days, market liquidity is high enough that any sub-$2,000 PSA 10 listing should be cert-verified before purchase.
Risks to Watch
Three primary risk vectors. First, pop inflation: PSA Japan grading throughput accelerated in 2024-2025, and SSR PSA 10 population is growing roughly 5% per quarter. If PSA loosens silver-foil grading standards to clear backlog, PSA 10 yield could rise from 18-22% to 30%+, expanding supply. Watch for population reports showing >10% quarterly growth as the trigger for $400-500 price compression.
Second, character-driven cannibalization risk is low. Ferrothorn has not received a Mega Evolution and is not in the Pokemon Legends Z-A roster. No new high-profile Ferrothorn cards are confirmed in the 2026 TCG roadmap. This is actually upside — without competing prints, the SSR retains its position as the trophy Ferrothorn card.
Third, SSR-format demand cohort risk: SSR collectors are a closed group of approximately 3,000-5,000 active completionist buyers globally based on PSA registry submissions. If this cohort matures and sells inventory simultaneously (e.g., generational shift, macro market downturn), price floor could drop sharply. Counter: SSR demand has been steadily growing since the Pokemon TCG Pocket app added Sun & Moon era cards in 2025, expanding the buyer pool.
Fourth, reprint risk is minimal. Pokemon Company JP discontinued the SSR rarity tier in late 2019 and has not revived it. The format is essentially closed — no future SSR Ferrothorn print is possible without re-introducing the discontinued rarity slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Background reading: general FAQ · how Poke10 sources · shipping & duties · all sets
What is an SSR in Pokemon TCG Japanese?
SSR stands for Shiny Secret Rare, a Japan-exclusive rarity tier introduced in Sun & Moon era set sm6 (Forbidden Light, 2018) and discontinued at the end of the Sun & Moon era in late 2019. SSRs feature shiny color variants of the set's GX Pokemon with full-card silver-foil crosshatch background. Each Japanese Sun & Moon set included 1-3 SSRs in the high-number slot above the standard Hyper Rare gold-foil GX. There is no English equivalent — Western Sun & Moon sets used Rainbow Rare and Gold Rare formats instead. SSRs are a discrete completionist collector category.
Why is Ferrothorn GX SSR so expensive when Ferrothorn is a low-popularity Pokemon?
Price is driven by SSR rarity-format collectors, not Ferrothorn character demand. The standard Ferrothorn GX sm9 #056 trades $8 PSA 10 — confirming character demand is minimal. The SSR variant at $2,412 PSA 10 reflects pull-rate scarcity (1 per 6 booster boxes), low PSA 10 yield from raw (18-22%), and demand from the SSR completionist collector cohort pursuing rainbow sets across all sm6-sm12 SSR cards. Within sm9, Ferrothorn SSR is the most expensive of the three SSRs (Magcargo $620, Mismagius $480) due to lowest PSA 10 yield.
Is there an English equivalent of Ferrothorn GX SSR?
No. The SSR rarity tier is Japan-exclusive. The English Unbroken Bonds set (sm10, May 2019) is the Western counterpart to Tag Bolt, and Ferrothorn GX appears as #109 standard and #235 Rainbow Rare, but neither matches the Japanese SSR's silver-foil shiny treatment. The English Rainbow Rare trades $35 PSA 10 — 69x cheaper than the Japanese SSR at $2,412. SSR collectors must buy Japanese; there is no Western alternative for the silver-foil shiny variant.
How rare is PSA 10 Ferrothorn GX SSR?
PSA 10 population estimated at 800-1,000 copies as of Q1 2026, growing roughly 5% per quarter since PSA Japan grading throughput accelerated in 2024-2025. PSA 9 population estimated 2,200-2,500. PSA 10 yield from raw submission is approximately 18-22%, below the Sun & Moon era average due to silver-foil surface susceptibility to scratches and fingerprints during pack opening. Mercari JP typically shows 4-6 active PSA 10 listings priced $2,000-$2,300.
Should I buy raw and grade Ferrothorn GX SSR?
Math is unfavorable for non-experts. Raw NM at $498 with 18-22% PSA 10 yield, $90 PSA grading fee and $50 ship/insurance, expected cost per PSA 10 is $2,950-$3,580 — above the $2,412 graded market price. For experienced graders pre-screening centering and surface to lift PSA 10 yield to 30%+, raw becomes profitable at ~$2,160 expected cost. Most buyers should buy already-graded PSA 10. Silver-foil cards specifically reward expert pre-screening more than standard holos.
What is the PSA 9 to PSA 10 spread?
Spread is $1,542 (PSA 9 $870, PSA 10 $2,412), representing 177% upside on a successful crossover regrade. Crossover success rate from PSA 9 to PSA 10 for Sun & Moon SSR cards is approximately 4-7% based on community resubmission logs — silver-foil surface defects are usually deal-breakers that PSA does not overlook on regrade. Expected value per crossover attempt is $60-110 minus $40-90 PSA fee, net $20-70 per submission. Marginal play; better to buy raw with expert pre-screening or buy graded directly.
Why is the 30-day PSA 10 sales volume of 88 high for a Sun & Moon era card?
Volume reflects active SSR completionist collector demand. The closed cohort of approximately 3,000-5,000 SSR rainbow set pursuers globally generates consistent buying pressure, and Tag Bolt sm9 SSRs are mid-set acquisitions for collectors building chronologically forward. By comparison, standard sm9 Hyper Rare gold-foil GXs sell ~30-50/month, and lesser sm9 cards sell <10/month. Ferrothorn's 88 monthly PSA 10 sales is roughly 2x the typical Sun & Moon SSR volume, reflecting sm9 set-completion priority within the collector cohort.
How do I authenticate a Ferrothorn GX SSR PSA 10 slab?
Three checks. First, verify PSA cert at psacard.com/cert with description FERROTHORN-GX, set POKEMON JAPANESE-TAG BOLT, year 2019. Second, examine silver-foil crosshatch under 10x loupe — authentic 2019 JP SSR stock shows uniform 0.3mm crosshatch spacing; counterfeits show inconsistent or smooth foil. Third, GX symbol bottom-right should have crisp gold foil with no bleed; Tag Bolt logo top-left should be yellow-gold (not orange). Slab seam: no light gap when held to daylight. Always pre-confirm cert before payment.
Will Pokemon Company reprint Ferrothorn GX SSR?
No. Pokemon Company JP discontinued the SSR rarity tier at the end of the Sun & Moon era in late 2019 and has not revived it. The Sword & Shield era replaced SSR with Hyper Rare rainbow and Alt Art formats. The Scarlet & Violet era continues with Special Art Rare. SSR is a closed format with finite supply. This is structural upside for SSR card values long-term — no possibility of dilutive reprints in the same rarity slot.
What catalysts could push Ferrothorn GX SSR higher in 2026?
Three watch items. First, Pokemon TCG Pocket app continued expansion of Sun & Moon era cards drives nostalgia-bidding on physical SSR chase cards. Second, PSA Japan tightening grading standards on silver-foil cards keeps PSA 10 yield low and supports PSA 10 premium. Third, SSR completionist cohort growth — pursuing all Sun & Moon era SSRs is becoming a recognized PSA registry category. Reprint risk is zero. Watch for any 2026 Pokemon TCG product directly tied to Sun & Moon era anniversary content; this could trigger 15-20% sentiment-driven price moves.
How does Ferrothorn GX SSR compare to other sm9 SSR cards?
Ferrothorn at $2,412 is the most expensive SSR in sm9, ahead of Magcargo GX SSR #104 at $620 and Mismagius GX SSR #105 at $480. The 3.9x premium over Magcargo is unusual given Ferrothorn's lower character popularity, and is driven by Ferrothorn's lowest PSA 10 yield from raw — silver-foil background color makes scratches more visible. Pikachu & Zekrom GX SSR sm9 #098 (Tag Team SSR) trades $980 PSA 10 — character-driven demand makes this cheaper than the harder-to-grade Ferrothorn despite being a more popular Pokemon.
What is the resale liquidity for Ferrothorn GX SSR PSA 10?
Liquidity is high relative to price tier. 88 PSA 10 sales per 30 days means cards sell within 24-72 hours when priced at market. Bid-ask spread typically $150-$250. Mercari JP, Snkrdunk, eBay US, and dedicated Pokemon shops all maintain active inventory. Direct dealer sale at 80-85% of market is fastest exit. Auction channels Goldin and PWCC accept consignment with 10-15% fees and 60-day settlement. Liquidity is comparable to sm12a Charizard GX SSR and significantly better than most sub-$3,000 Sun & Moon era chase cards.
More from Team Up
Data Sources & References
- PSA grade & population: psacard.com/pop — authoritative PSA population report
- Japan market reference: snkrdunk.com
- US market reference: pricecharting.com
- Card image & metadata: Pokemon TCG API
Last updated: