How to Start Collecting Pokémon Cards: A Beginner's Guide
New to Pokémon cards? Welcome to the wonderful world of collecting! Whether you're chasing your favourite Pokémon, hunting for shiny treasures or simply enjoying the excitement of opening a booster pack, here's everything you need to know to get started.
So, you've decided you want to start collecting Pokémon cards. Excellent choice! You're about to enter a world filled with colourful artwork, adorable Pokémon, incredibly rare cards and the occasional moment of absolute disbelief when you pull something amazing.
But with thousands of different cards, countless sets and more Pokémon than you can shake a Poké Ball at, knowing where to start can feel a little overwhelming.
Don't worry! You don't need to know everything about Pokémon to start collecting. Here's our beginner-friendly guide to getting started.
1. Decide What You Want to Collect
One of the best things about Pokémon collecting is that there really isn't a right or wrong way to do it.
Some collectors want to collect every single Pokémon. Others are on a mission to find the rarest cards, while some simply collect their favourite Pokémon because they love the artwork.
Here are a few popular ways to start:
Favourite Pokémon: Collect cards featuring your favourite Pokémon. Pikachu fan? Welcome to your new obsession.
Set collecting: Try collecting every card from a particular Pokémon expansion.
Illustration collecting: Find cards with beautiful, unusual or interesting artwork.
Rare card collecting: Hunt for special illustration rares, secret rares and other exciting cards.
Graded cards: Collect professionally graded cards, often displayed in protective cases.
Play the game: Collect cards that you can use to build a Pokémon TCG deck and play against others.
You can even mix and match! Your collection should be something you enjoy, not another item on your to-do list.
2. Understand the Different Types of Pokémon Products
When you first walk into a Pokémon card shop, you'll probably notice quite a few different products. Here's a quick breakdown.
Booster Packs
These are individual packs containing a selection of Pokémon cards. They're perfect for the excitement of opening something new and discovering what you've pulled.
Booster Boxes
A booster box contains multiple booster packs from the same expansion. They're popular with collectors who want to open more packs from a particular set.
Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs)
These usually contain booster packs, card sleeves, dice, condition markers and other accessories. They're a great option for collectors and people interested in playing the game.
Individual Cards (Singles)
Rather than relying on booster pack luck, you can purchase individual cards you're looking for. This This is a great way to find a particular Pokémon or finish a collection.
Graded Cards
These are cards that have been professionally assessed and given a grade by a grading company. They're often presented in sealed protective cases and are popular with collectors.
3. Learn How to Read a Pokémon Card
You don't need to become a Pokémon professor overnight, but understanding a few basic features will help you get familiar with your cards.
Things to look for include:
Pokémon name: The character featured on the card.
HP: The Pokémon's health points, particularly important when playing the game.
Type: Such as Water, Fire, Grass, Lightning or Psychic.
Attacks: The moves your Pokémon can use when battling.
Rarity symbol: A small symbol that helps identify the card's rarity.
Set information: Usually found near the bottom of the card, helping you identify which expansion it belongs to.
The little symbols are particularly useful when sorting and identifying cards. As you collect more, you'll start recognising different rarities and card styles.
4. Get Yourself Some Card Protection
Now for something every collector should know: looking after your cards is important!
Even if you're not collecting expensive cards, keeping them in good condition makes your collection much easier to enjoy.
A few useful accessories include:
Soft card sleeves: Help protect cards from scratches, fingerprints and everyday handling.
Toploaders: Rigid protective holders for cards you'd like to keep especially safe.
Collection binders: Perfect for organising and displaying your favourite cards.
Storage boxes: Handy for bulk cards and larger collections.
A little protection goes a long way. Your future self will thank you when you find that card you pulled years ago and it's still looking fantastic!
5. Understand Card Rarities
You'll quickly notice that not all Pokémon cards look the same.
Some are standard cards, while others feature holographic finishes, textured artwork or special illustrations.
You might come across:
Common and uncommon cards.
Rare cards.
Double rare cards.
Ultra rare cards.
Illustration rare cards.
Special illustration rare cards.
Hyper rare cards.
Different expansions use different rarity systems, so it's worth familiarising yourself with the symbols and card numbering for each set.
And remember: a card being rare doesn't automatically make it valuable. Popularity, demand and condition all play a part!
6. Collect at Your Own Pace
This is probably the most important tip of all.
It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of collecting, especially when you see incredible collections online or someone pulls an amazing card.
But you don't need to buy everything.
Set yourself a budget, decide what interests you most and enjoy building your collection over time.
Sometimes finding one card you've been chasing for months feels even better than opening an entire booster box.
7. Connect With Other Collectors
One of the most enjoyable parts of Pokémon collecting is meeting other people who share your enthusiasm.
Trading, comparing collections, learning about new sets and sharing exciting pulls are all part of what makes the hobby so much fun.
Look out for local Pokémon events, trading meetups and community groups where you can meet other collectors.
At After Cards, we love bringing collectors, players and Pokémon fans together. Whether you're completely new to the hobby or have been collecting since the original Pokémon days, there's always something new to discover.
Ready to Catch Them All?
Starting a Pokémon collection doesn't have to be complicated.
Pick your favourite Pokémon, find a set that interests you, grab some card sleeves and start exploring.
You never know what your next favourite card might be!
Happy collecting, Trainers!
Looking for your next card or wanting to connect with other collectors? Come visit After Cards and be part of the community.