How to Start Collecting Pokémon Cards

Welcome Trainer to the world of Pokémon card collecting! Like Ash, every Trainer needs to start their journey into this hobby somewhere but in this case picking a Starter is not easy feat.   In fact, Pokémon TCG just turned 30th and its already huge card library keeps growing every few months. With so many gorgeous cards to pick from, what would be your first Starter Pokémon? If you do not know yet, this Beginner-friendly guide is exactly the tutorial you need in order to grow into the best Pokémon Collector that has ever been.

How Do I Begin Collecting Pokémon Cards in the UK?

If you’re wondering or how to start a Pokémon card collection, you should start by deciding what will be your primary focus. Among the options, you can look for example to complete a Master set by collecting every single card in a single expansion including all foil variants. Alternatively, you can look for all cards of a favourite Pokémon (known as Subject Collections), or illustrated by a certain Illustrator (Artist Sets).

Among the three Main Collection Pathways mentioned above, Master sets are the most structured path and it is perfect for all those collectors who love completing checklists. Collecting every card from a single expansion including all the Illustration Rares, Secret Rares, and Hyper Rares may not be easy and it may take time and resources. Subject Collections are potentially easier depending on which Pokémon is your Favourite. Collecting every card ever printed for well-known Pokémon like Pikachu or Charizard can take some time. Most important, this collection will tend to grow constantly as new cards are released periodically unless you want to focus on a specific era. On the other hand, this type of collection tends to be the most exciting as you can collect all cards of your favourite Pokémon. The last type of collection, the Artist set, tends to be a bit more sophisticated and is perfect for collectors who treat their binders like art galleries.

What Are the Best Types of Pokémon Cards for New Collectors to Buy?

When you’re just starting out, the best way to collect Pokémon cards is to focus on modern expansions with strong artwork diversity and clear rarity structures. Master set collections are also quite rewarding in this case as you can start by opening some booster packs to also add to the excitement of the collection. In this case Booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes will both provide a good amount of packs to open to begin your collection. The boxes offer the best value for money due to the larger card pool while the Elite trainers have the added value of storage accessories (box and sleeves) as well as a Promo needed to complete your Master set.

Special Holiday Expansions can also be good to collect if you are aiming to have a Master sets as these have usually less cards than a core set while also having highly thematic artwork.

Together with Pokémon Booster Packs, Collectors should also keep in mind that Starter and Battle Decks can be a potential source of cards for their collection. Booster Packs comes with a randomised assortment of cards and they are generally ideal when you start as you add the thrill of the pull to the excitement of growing your collection. On the other hand, Starter Decks and Battle Decks are pre-constructed 60-card deck thus each box contains the exact same cards. As such, these decks are great for beginners who want to play the game but they generally less appealing for collectors other than in very rare circumstances.

All different products are summarised below for convenience:

 
Cost Expectations: Budgeting Your First Pokémon Card Collection

Building a Pokémon card collection does not necessary require a huge budget admit can be build progressively over time. What really matters is choosing the right entry point for your budget. For example, a collection can start with a investment of around £10-20 that typically get you 2 to 5 Booster packs or Booster bundle. This approach is great for starting a Master set collection and to build your foundation.

A higher budget (£50-100) is needed to secure instead an Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) or a Pokémon Booster Box. These will provide more cards for your collection, including a few Illustration Rare or higher Rarity cards. ETBs also provide you sleeves and a storage solution that can be extremely important in order to store your collection safely. As your collection progress you would likely need to look for a binder to ensure your collection is not only protected but also easy to browse. Alternatively, you can consider top-loader or magnetic cases to protect your most expensive cards if you want to still use the ETB box.

In all cases, opening packs will likely provide you with a good number of Common and Uncommon cards making necessary at one point to focus your effort buying (or trading) for the cards you are missing. The bottom of every card can be of help with determine both the rarity and the value of your cards. First, the letters identify the Pokémon set name and the edition (i.e. PBL for Pitch Black and EN for English) to help you ensuring all the cards are all from the same set. The next info to look for is the card collector number (right after the set acronym): if it is lower then the set core size (I.e. 01/84), it is part of the core set while a higher one means it is a rarer card. The rarity symbol comes right after a with the silver and gold ones identifying the most difficult ones to pull. Watch out also for the ones marked as “promo” within the rarity symbol.

FAQs

How do you find the official card number and set symbol?

Every card features a collector number and an expansion symbol stamped along the bottom margin. They look something like “PBL EN 01/84”. Cross-referencing these numbers with online or paper set checklists help keeping track of collection progress.

What is a "Master Set" in card collecting?

A Master Set is a collection that contains a single copy of every standard card, reverse-holo variant, and secret rare variant printed within a specific set. Promo and Pre-release stamped cards are usually also considered part of a Master set.

Why are card sleeves vital when starting out?

All cards are subjected to be damaged over time by continues handling/shuffling and by dust. Accidental damage like liquid spill can also occur if the cards are used. Card sleeves preserve your cards with a resistant protective layer against all damages ensuring the artwork looks immaculate inside your album over time.