Pokémon Mezastar Tags (2026): Every Set and How to Collect
By Dexhaul Team · October 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Pokémon Mezastar tags are the physical collectibles at the center of Japan's Pokémon arcade game, and most series never appeared on Western shelves at all.
The game launched in Japan on September 17, 2020, developed by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. and Marvelous as the successor to Pokémon Ga-Olé. Players scan their own tags into the arcade cabinet to battle, earning new tags from the machine in return.
Since April 1, 2025, the arcade expanded to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and mainland China. Japan still provides the fullest tag catalog for import buyers.
Here is every series, how the numbering works, and what to check when buying from import sellers.
Every Series in the Mezastar Line
Mezastar releases are organized into Super Tags, each with multiple numbered series. Every tag carries a code identifying its Super Tag and series. The table shows the main release eras, confirmed by codes on in-stock import listings:
| Super Tag | Era (approx.) | Rarity Types Available | Availability Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Tag 1 | Sep 2020 – 2021 | 1-6 stars, Special Tags | Out of print; secondary market only |
| Super Tag 2 | 2021 – 2022 | 1-6 stars, Special Tags | Out of print; secondary market only |
| Super Tag 3 + Double Chain 1–2 | 2022 | 1-6 stars, Legacy Tags | Secondary market; limited import stock |
| Super Tag 4 + Double Chain 3–4 | 2022 – 2024 | 1-6 stars, Gorgeous Star, Legacy Tags | Secondary market; import stock available |
| Super Tag 5 | 2024 – present | All types including Gorgeous Star | Most in-stock import listings |
| Special and Promo Tags | All eras | Campaign and event only | Event-sourced; buy secondhand |
Six-star Super Star tags are the rarest from the machine. Special promo tags, like the 2023 Get Plush Campaign Mew chip, were distributed only at specific retail events and exist in smaller quantities than any machine-dispensed tag.
On this page 7 sections
Where to Start
The cheapest entry is a mystery single tag from Otaku Heaven at $2.00. You receive a random Mezastar tag at game-accurate rarity, the closest experience to the arcade without living near one.
For a more curated start, a Special Tag set from CARDOTAKU, observed at $7.74, contains campaign event tags rather than machine-dispensed runs. Not dispensed randomly, so they make a cleaner gift or display piece.
Chasing a specific Super Star is the most targeted approach. Named tags from SwizE and WONDERLAND TCG JAPAN run $6.99 to $35.00 per tag depending on the Pokémon and era. Mewtwo and Pikachu in Gigantamax prints carry the highest demand of anything currently in import stock.
Reading the Mezastar Tag Number
Every Mezastar tag has a three-part code printed on its reverse: Super Tag number, series number within that Super Tag, and item number within the series. The code 4-5-006G translates as Super Tag 4, fifth series, sixth tag, with G marking a Gigantamax form.
That G suffix is significant. A standard Pikachu tag and a Pikachu (Gigantamax) tag have different battle moves in the arcade game.
Collectors building a complete run of a single Pokémon need to track both versions because they are indexed separately. Neither the Pokémon name alone nor the star rating distinguishes them: only the full tag code does.
The Double Chain subseries within Super Tags 3 and 4 introduced Legacy Tags, which reissue Pokémon prominently featured in the earlier Ga-Olé game. These include the Galarian bird trio and Legendaries such as Yveltal.
Galarian Zapdos appears in Double Chain 3 but not in Super Tag 5. For collectors targeting those Pokémon, the Double Chain era is the only source, and those tags are not being reprinted.
Telling Official Mezastar Tags from Counterfeits
Official Mezastar tags come from Takara Tomy. The plastic is rigid and slightly textured on the reverse. Star ratings are debossed into the surface, not flat-printed.
Counterfeit tags exist on general marketplace platforms. Warning signs include thin flexible plastic, screen-printed star markings, and codes that do not match any confirmed series. Sourcing from dedicated import sellers such as CARDOTAKU, SwizE, or WONDERLAND TCG JAPAN reduces that risk: those sellers list the full tag code, which you can verify against the series index on Bulbapedia's Mezastar article.
Storing and Displaying Your Tags
A 44mm coin capsule works for individual display. The official storage option is the Trunk Clear Ver., observed at $10.84 at Japan Figure Store. It holds up to 56 tags in a stacked tray system with a clear lid, designed specifically for Mezastar tag dimensions.
Avoid soft PVC binders or sleeves designed for trading cards. The rigid plastic of a Mezastar tag scratches lighter PVC over time.
Card-pocket sizing leaves round tags loose and prone to rotating. The Trunk was designed so you can see every tag at a glance through the clear lid, which suits both casual browsing and display.
Mezastar Tags as a Gift in 2026
For Q4 gift-giving, Mezastar tags sit at a price point with almost no direct competition in the Pokémon collectibles space: $2 to $35, physical, Japan-sourced, and built around a game mechanic most Western Pokémon fans have never encountered.
A mystery tag at $2 is a stocking stuffer. A Special Tag set at $7.74 works as a conversation-starter gift for any Pokémon fan.
A named Super Star at $15 to $25 is the sharper pick for a collector who already owns the plush and the sealed TCG. Each price tier serves a meaningfully different recipient.
For other Japan-sourced limited-edition lines, the Pokémon DesQ Desktop Figures guide and the MegaHouse G.E.M. Figures guide cover similar import finds. The official Pokémon merchandise page lists regional availability.
Browse every in-stock Pokémon limited-edition collectible on DexHaul at dexhaul.com/collections/collectibles/limited-edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Pokémon Mezastar tag?
A Mezastar tag is a physical plastic token from the Pokémon Mezastar arcade game, launched in Japan on September 17, 2020. Each tag has a star rating and a series code and can be scanned into the machine to battle.
Where can I buy Mezastar tags outside Japan?
Import specialists including CARDOTAKU, SwizE, and WONDERLAND TCG JAPAN list individual tags and sets. Prices run from around $2 for a mystery single to $35 for a named six-star Super Star, observed October 2026.
What does the "G" suffix mean on a Mezastar tag code?
G marks a Gigantamax form. A Pikachu (Gigantamax) tag has a different battle move set than a standard Pikachu tag from the same Super Tag, and the two are indexed separately.
What is a Legacy Tag in Mezastar?
Legacy Tags are the Double Chain subseries within Super Tags 3 and 4. They cover Pokémon from the earlier Ga-Olé game, such as Galarian forms, that do not appear in Super Tag 5.
How many stars does a Super Star Mezastar tag have?
Super Star tags carry a six-star rating. They are the rarest category dispensed by the machine and the top collectibility tier in each Super Tag series.