Updated November 13th, 2024
I was eight years old when Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures created Pokémon. Yes, Pokémon has been around for a very long time and is one of the few franchises that not only spanned several media outlets (e.g. video games, TV/film, comics, and trading cards), but also maintained a loyal fan base spanning generations. “Back in my day”, Pokémon was a franchise only geeks followed; however, with a son of my own now, I have learned that Pokémon is not only still relevant, but it is COOL.
Whether you are a parent with zero idea of what Pokémon is OR if you dabbled in Pokémon in the past (when there were only 150 of them, not over 1000), it will feel daunting when your child asks for Pokémon cards. When I arrived at a local store, I was flabbergasted by the sheer number of options: booster packs, trainer kits, battle decks, and tins. I didn’t know where to start. Even the name of the booster packs wouldn’t make sense to the average person–Astral Radiance? Obsidian Flames? Twilight Masquerade? V, Vmax, EX?
Author’s Note: I am not sponsored by any retailer. Links are examples on where to purchase, and I try to provide a variety.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
What is the latest booster series?
Surging Sparks. This is a pretty popular one that released November 2024 given some unique illustration rares including fan favorite, Pikachu.
What is the next booster series?
Prismatic Evolutions. Releasing January 17th, 2025. This “mini booster set” is expecting to be a massive hit with all pre-orders already sold out on the main Pokémon site. This is due to the various Eevee evolution cards that are always a fan favorite.
What does this all mean, and what are the differences?
The first thing to understand is that the Pokémon Company regularly releases a new expansion set a few times a year. Each set brings a new list of cards, primarily to bolster those that create decks to battle their friends; however, they can also bring joy to those that just want to collect. So, when you hear Shrouded Fable, Twilight Masquerade, and Stellar Crown, those are names of different expansions. Generally speaking, if your child is getting started and simply wants to collect cool cards, any expansion will do–you may even find older ones on sale.
What’s Your Purpose?
Is your child asking for Pokemon cards to collect or battle? The original purpose of Pokemon cards is for two players to engage in a fun, interactive battle with their 60-card deck. The deck is compromised of Pokemon cards and supplemental cards to support them (e.g. energy, item, trainer cards).
For Those That Want to Collect
If your child is more of a COLLECTOR, booster packs provide wonderful variety and a fun surprise factor in each package. If your child is a fan of a certain Pokémon like Charizard or Pikachu, there are “oversized” card packages which come with a variety of items.
About Booster Packs
Q: What are booster packs? They currently consist of ten cards, generally made up of Pokémon, an elemental card, a trainer or item card, and a code card. The code card allows people to redeem virtual cards–if that’s your thing. Cards are also designated a rarity via a circle (common), diamond (uncommon), and star (rare). Modern packs generally contain at least one rare and three uncommon cards.
Q: What are the types of rare cards? In the previous series, Sword and Shield, there are V, VMAX, and VSTAR cards. These are more rare, highly coveted cards, as the Pokémon tend to be stronger and come with full art.
Since March 2023, a new series based off Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launched. For the collectors, this won’t mean too much other than the borders changed color. For these sets, the rare, more powerful cards are the EX cards.
The bottom line is that they are rare, powerful, and beautiful cards.
Q: Which Booster pack should I buy? Unless you are a hard-core collector, I recommend buying whichever pack is available and priced reasonably. You will notice many stores will selling “older” booster packs at a higher price because they are no longer in print. If your child simply enjoys collecting Pokémon, stick to the $3.99/$4.99 USD, current expansion booster packs. Pro Tip: If you child is looking for a certain set of Pokémon, you can actually view the card list (with pictures) at the Pokemon TCG site before purchasing. See sample links below:
- [NEWEST SET] Surging Sparks Booster Bundle: ~ $26.99 USD and contains 6 booster packs; at GameStop and Amazon
- [NEWEST SET] Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box: ~ $49.99 USD and contains 9 booster packs, 1 full-art foil promo card, and 65 card sleeves; at GameStop and Amazon
- Stellar Crown Booster Bundle: ~ $13.99 USD and contains three booster packs; GameStop
- Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle: ~ $13.99 USD and contains three booster pack Best Buy
While Amazon is convenient, be sure to check the Pokémon Center, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, and most importantly, your local toy or general store. Many times, Amazon will not have the best price. I also caution against fraudulent listings (more below).
Pokemon Kits, Tins, Battle Decks, Oh My!
Kits and Tins are another way to package multiple booster packs. Battle decks are generally recommended for those who play the game (more below). They are sold primarily by Pokemon type, like fighting, grass, and water. Sample links below:
- Iron Leaves EX Battle Deck, The Pokemon Center
- Tapu Koko EX Battle Deck, The Pokemon Center
- Charizard EX League Battle Deck (releases 11/15/2024)
The various kits can be fun when you have a child who adores a certain Pokémon. While products may vary, they generally contain a foil card of that featured Pokémon, an oversized card of that Pokémon, booster packs, and any other collectible if listed. These make great gifts since they also include booster packs, so it is great for a player or a collector. Sample links below:
- Armarouge ex Premium Collection (Target)
- Palafin ex Box (Target)
Tins are a nice touch since they can double as card holders. Sample links below:
- Paldean Fates mini tin (GameStop ~$9.99 USD)
- Paldea Partners Meowscarada EX Tin (Amazon ~$17.39 USD)
This is the Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box I mentioned earlier. It’s pricier, but it contains 9 boost packs, energy cards, card sleeves, and other items used when playing the game:
Q: Do the oversized cards hold any value? Maybe, but only time will tell!
For Those That Want to Play:
In this case, it would make sense to purchase a the Pokemon Battle Academy and/or a battle deck–which generally comes with 60 cards selected to support battling. Yes, there will be lots of duplicates, but that is important when the primary purpose is for playing the game. It is best to start there and save your money on booster packs for until your little Pokemon trainer is ready to supplement since cards found in boosters may or may not support the team they have built.
Pokemon Battle Academy 2 Board Game
This is a great item for kids to learn how to battle.
What Else Do I Need?
For a little collector, it’s important to protect the integrity of the cards, so some sort of protection is recommended. Depending on personal preference, you can store cards in tins, boxes, or in individual sleeves. For those that love to gaze upon their collection, a binder is the top choice. Sample links below:
- Ultra-Pro Pokemon Binder on Amazon -I bought a similar one and is the best quality
- Binder with Pikachu’s Tail on Amazon
- Bulbasaur Binder on Amazon
- Charizard Binder on Amazon
For those that like to play the game, there are supplemental items like damage counters; however, outside of the 60-card deck, you could use household items like a coin, dice, or small flat objects.
Q: How do you play Pokemon TCG? Check out this link–How to Play Pokemon TCG. There are also an abundance of videos on Youtube.
Pro Tip: Watch Out For Counterfeits, Scalpers
If you are buying Pokemon cards for you kid(s), odds are you aren’t on eBay searching for a rare, out of print card; however, this does not mean you’re immune to scams. Like with most other coveted merchandise, there are scammers out there of all kinds. Some will sell you outright counterfeits. Scalpers will buy up all the cards and re-sell them at a ridiculous price. Some folks have even been know to re-package cards with only common cards, keeping the rare ones for themselves.
It is important to buy from a trusted source, such as licensed retailers. If you are on Amazon, just make sure the seller is a reliable one–such as any from The Pokemon Store. A note about reviews: some many give a poor review because of the cards their received. As long as you purchase from a reliable source, the odds of pulling rare cards are a gamble.
Finally, don’t forget to do you research. There is no need to pay double or triple to price for Pokemon cards. The average booster pack costs retail $3.99 USD. Shop around and even consider buying in advance of the holidays to avoid other shoppers, foaming at the mouths to get cards as well.
Image credit: Amazon
I sincerely hope this guide helps. Please share with us your experience with Pokemon cards–the wins and the woes–on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Sources: TCG Pokemon, Wikipedia, Bulbapedia, Gamestop,Target, Walmart, Best Buy
Image Sources: GameNerdz, Amazon, TCG.Pokemon, Gamestop, Target, Walmart, Best Buy
Featured Image Source: JustinBasil
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