Exploring Metang's Place in Pokémon TCG Lore

In TCG ·

Metang card art from Hidden Legends — high-resolution illustration by Kouki Saitou

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

In the grand tapestry of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Metang sits at a fascinating crossroad between mind and machine. This Psychic-type Stage 1 Pokémon, evolving from Beldum, captures the era when designers were weaving intricate gameplay ideas into the narrative of a steel-spirited universe. Hailing from the Hidden Legends set (ex5), Metang is more than a simple line on a card binder; it’s a snapshot of how the Pokémon world balanced offense, control, and the quiet, calculated power of intellect. The art by Kouki Saitou—sharply metallic, with a cool, almost lunar glow—cements Metang’s identity as a mind-forged metal being. ⚡🔥💎

Card details at a glance

  • Set: Hidden Legends (ex5)
  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Beldum)
  • HP: 80
  • Type: Psychic
  • Attacks:
    • Psyshock — Colorless, Colorless; Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Damage: 20
    • Metal Ball — Psychic, Colorless, Colorless; Put 5 damage counters on the Defending Pokémon
  • Weakness: Psychic ×2
  • Illustrator: Kouki Saitou
  • Legal status (as of 2025): Not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats

Metang’s storyline mirrors its mechanical demeanor. Born from Beldum’s magnetic discipline, it represents a steady upgrade from a single steel core to a fused, more evolved mind that can influence the battlefield through precise control. In the Pokémon universe, the transition from Beldum to Metang to Metagross marks a climb in cognitive and physical heft. In the TCG, that arc translates into a modestly durable non-legendary card from a classic era—one that invites collectors to appreciate its role in a broader strategy rather than as a game-warping centerpiece.

Gameplay: tempo, control, and the charm of risk

In modern formats, Metang isn’t a cornerstone deck pick, but in the context of Hidden Legends and vintage-era design, its two attacks tell a compact, tempo-forward story. Psyshock offers a small but valuable tool: a reliable 20 damage with a coin-flip twist that can paralyze the Defending Pokémon on heads. That instant chance of control—paired with Metang’s 80 HP and a Psychic weakness—gives experienced players a reason to weave it into an early-game or mid-game plan where you set up a safety line and disrupt opponent timing.

Metal Ball compounds the experience: for three energy, it places five damage counters on the defending Pokémon. This is a clean, consistent way to apply pressure as you search for a Metagross-level payoff in the long arc of a game—though you must plan your resource curve, since these numbers are modest by today’s standards. The card’s Psychic typing and ×2 weakness to Psychic add a curious tension; you’ll want to balance your matchups with supportive teammates that can mitigate the vulnerability while keeping the board state favorable. The elegance of Metang’s design lies in how a simple two-attack line incentivizes thoughtful choices about energy acceleration, status effects, and opponent rhythm.

Collectors and players who enjoy the lore behind card design will appreciate how this piece reflects early-2000s ergonomics in a way that still reads clearly on a modern binder. The card’s rarity classification as Uncommon, combined with holo and reverse-holo variants in the EX era lineup, makes it a charming target for a curated Hidden Legends sleeve or binder spread. The fact that it’s from a set with a total of 102 cards (ex5)—and 101 official cards—adds to its mystique: it sits at the intersection of nostalgia and historical gameplay decisions that shaped how later generations balanced power with risk.

Art, lore, and the tactile feel of Kouki Saitou's work

Kouki Saitou’s illustration on this Metang captures the creature’s essence with a clean, mechanical crispness. The artwork emphasizes the seamless fusion of steel and psychic energy, a motif that resonates with the Pokémon’s internal logic: refinement through precision, calculation, and crisp lines. For fans who pore over card art as an extension of the game’s narrative, Metang is a perfect ambassador of that bridging moment—where Pokémon science meets the imagination of battle-ready dreams. It’s a reminder that not every card needs to be the strongest on paper to be beloved by the community; some, like Metang, are treasured for their story, their aesthetic, and their role in teaching new players how to think in terms of tempo and risk versus reward.

Market vibe: a snapshot of value and collectibility

Market data from Cardmarket and TCGplayer provides a window into Metang’s enduring appeal as a collectible piece rather than a deck staple. As of late 2025, the standard non-holo Metang tends to hover around modest prices—Cardmarket showing an average near €0.69 and low points around €0.08, while TCGplayer places the non-holo normal variant in the low hundreds of cents range (low about $0.18, mid around $0.41, with some copies cracking near $3 for well-listed items). The reverse-holo and holo variants reveal more pronounced spreads, with reverse holo listings sometimes climbing toward the upper teens in rare cases (up to around $19.99 for the high end), reflecting both rarity and the collector’s appetite for shiny finishes from classic sets. For an investor or binder-enthusiast, these figures underscore the value of a thoughtfully assembled Hidden Legends row: affordable enough to complete, yet special enough to spark pride when you turn the page and spot Kouki Saitou’s Metang alongside its contemporaries.

Additionally, the set’s position in the EX era—a time when playable power often walked hand-in-hand with collectible charm—means Metang is culturally valuable within the broader lore of steel-and-mind Pokémon. It’s a card that invites time-travel conversations: how the game’s mechanics evolved, how artists like Saitou helped define a look for that era, and how collectors curate moments that echo across decades of card collecting. If you’re building a nostalgic desk or a binder that celebrates the era, Metang’s presence can anchor a corner with flair and historical heft. 🎴🎨

On the practical side, if you’re considering a modern day display or a protective keepsake, the product you’ll want to pair with a card like this is a slim, glossy Lexan case that keeps your favorite binder-friendly display safe while you plan your next vintage dive. The same care you bring to your Metang collection’s presentation can be extended to everyday tech gear—hence the featured accessory that blends function with a touch of gamer-chic style.

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