Pokédex

You might be sitting on a goldmine if you’re still holding on to old childhood toys. A lot of childhood paraphernalia sells at surprisingly high sums these days, including:

Mixed in among these surprisingly valuable childhood collectibles are Pokemon cards. Depending on the condition, quality, and rarity of your Pokemon cards, you might be able to sell them for a considerable amount. 

All is well and good, but where and how do you buy and sell Pokemon cards online? 

Where to Sell Pokemon Cards Online

Let’s start with where you can sell Pokemon cards online. There are various ways to do this; some will be more convenient than others. But when it comes to dusting off those old binders of Pokemon cards and making a dime or two off of them, all of these are reliable ways to do that. 

eBay

eBay is an excellent way to buy or sell Pokemon cards. One of the things we appreciate about it is that the seller can choose the price they want for their items. To help you do that, the site lets you look at the prices other sellers have set for the same or similar items. 

That’s especially helpful if you have, for instance, a holographic Lapras Pokemon card from 1995 but no idea what it’s worth or what people will pay for it. 

However, a fixed price isn’t necessary. While you can give users an option to buy an item immediately, setting a minimum amount and auctioning your Pokemon card off instead is possible. You’ll be able to set a time limit on bidding, and interested potential customers can set offers and hopefully drive the price up. 

Another advantage of selling Pokemon cards through eBay is that the first 200 listings you set are free. This can be helpful to new sellers, especially if your Pokemon cards sell quickly. But if not, you can always relist them in the future. 

However, you will have to pay approximately 10% of the final price to the site as a sales fee. Additionally, shipping is paid, either by you or the customer, depending on what arrangements you make. Consequently, you want to take care with shipping to avoid disputes due to:

• Damages 
• Delivery delays 

Finally, if you discover you have a rare or unusual Pokemon card and want to sell it on eBay, consider having it professionally graded and authenticated. Professional grading helps establish buyer trust. It’s also an excellent way to pinpoint your Pokemon cards’ worth since their condition drastically affects their price. 

But eBay isn’t the only way to sell Pokemon cards online. Here are some alternatives. 

Facebook Marketplace 

The immediate advantage of Facebook Marketplace is that, unlike eBay, there are no seller fees. So, if you manage to sell a Pokemon card for a surprising amount, you can rest assured that all of that will come to you. 

It’s also a popular way to buy and sell merchandise locally. Like eBay, it’s possible to see how much others are selling similar items for, and that can help you judge the price of the Pokemon cards you want to sell. 

However, you do need to have or be willing to set up a Facebook account since prospective buyers will communicate with you through the platform, either through:

Mobile app 

Website messaging service 

Another advantage is that since Facebook Marketplace targets local buyers, you can avoid shipping fees. Instead, you set up a pickup time with the buyer, and they come to collect their purchase. 

If you’re uneasy about meeting strangers in the current climate, even to hand off merchandise, Facebook Marketplace now provides an option called a ‘porch pickup.’ All you need to do is agree on a safe place to leave the Pokemon card outside the house and a time for them to come and collect it. 

They pick up the Pokemon card from the agreed-on place, leave the payment in exchange, and you maintain a safe distance. 

Facebook Marketplace allows buyers to pay either in cash or by debit card. Knowing this is important since using a credit card naturally precludes leaving payment in a pre-arranged spot. 

However, if a buyer does pay you for a Pokemon card via card, you can deposit the sum directly into a checking account. 

TCGPlayer Marketplace 

TCGPlayer Marketplace is an online marketplace designed to help people buy and sell Pokemon cards and other valuable, collectible trading cards. 

Creating an account and listing Pokemon cards for sale are both cost-free interactions. Sellers won’t have to pay unless they make a sale. And, whereas eBay takes an obligatory 10% of your sale, TCGPlayer Marketplace varies its charges based on how much your Pokemon cards sell. 

Seller fees range from 3% to 10.25%, meaning that you’ll have to give the TCGPlayer Marketplace significantly less money to sell an unremarkable Pokemon card than you would if selling a rare and coveted one. 

Sellers should also be aware that because TCGPlayer Market conducts its transactions through PayPal, there’s a 3% charge from PayPal for putting the money on your PayPal balance. However, transferring money from PayPal to your bank is free of charge. 

All these transactions may sound like they add up, especially if you want to sell a substantial Pokemon card collection online. However, regular sellers or sellers with many listings can upgrade to a Pro Seller account. Sellers who choose to do this pay reduced transaction fees. 

Despite the fees, TCGPlayer Marketplace continues to be popular with Pokemon card sellers because, unlike the locally-oriented Facebook Marketplace, it makes it possible to sell your Pokemon cards internationally and domestically. This gives you more prospective buyer options than limiting your sales to your region.

Troll and Toad 

Another answer to the question of how to buy and sell Pokemon cards online is through Troll and Toad. 

Selling your Pokemon cards through Troll and Toad is more involved than with other sites. First, you must mail your entire Pokemon card collection or as much as you hope to sell to Troll and Toad. They inspect your cards for:

• Value
• Quality 
• Condition 

Sellers typically receive payment five days after the inspection, though this can vary. 

The most effective way of selling Pokemon cards online through Troll and Toad is by establishing a buy list. You can compile this by going through the various Pokemon card series listed on the website and matching them to the cards you want to sell. Selecting these will tell you how much Troll and Toad is prepared to pay for specific cards and help you estimate how much your cards are worth. 

Importantly, if you want to sell Pokemon cards online through Troll and Toad, it helps to know that if you request payment via check or PayPal, your Pokemon card lot must be worth at least $30. 

Lots worth less than $30 can still be sold but will only receive store credit. This can be helpful if you want to buy Pokemon cards online but not if you want to top up your bank account. Orders worth store credit are ineligible for the 35% payout bonus you can earn when selling larger or more valuable Pokemon cards through Troll and Toad. 

This 35% payout bonus applies to orders where:

• Seller requests Website credit instead of alternative payment 
• Orders are not in bulk 
• Order exceeds $30 value 

Customers opting for website credit for bulk orders will not qualify for the 35% bonus. 

Additionally, if you sell Pokemon cards online to Troll and Toad, you are responsible for paying the following:

• Shipping fees 
• Customs fees 

If you don’t, or if Troll and Toad have to pay part of the customs or shipping fee, they deduct the amount from your eventual payment. 

Finally, since you need to ship your Pokemon cards to Troll and Toad for assessment and subsequent purchase, you must allow the requisite business days for your parcel to reach them before they can value your order.  

Cape Fear Games

Another way to tackle the problem of buying and selling Pokemon cards online is through Cape Fear Games. 

Depending on where you live, it’s possible to ship or hand-deliver your cards to Cape Fear Games for purchase. However, while it saves you shipping expenses, hand delivery does require you to be in the area. 

Like other online sites for buying and selling Pokemon cards online, Cape Fear Games provides prospective sellers with a buy list to gauge the worth of their Pokemon cards. It gives you references that reflect the price of your card depending on its professional grading, current condition, and overall value. 

However, not all cards are equally valuable, and with that in mind, Cape Fear Games limits the kinds of Pokemon cards it buys from moment to moment. To help you know if you have cards that Cape Fear Games is interested in buying, they also provide you with a list of cards they are open to purchasing at the time. 

If you do have Pokemon cards they decide to buy, you can opt to receive payment either through:

• PayPal
• Check
• In-store credit 
• MTGOTraders.com store credit 

Accepting in-store credit gives the seller a 30% bonus, while MTGOTraders.com store credit comes with a 20% purchase bonus. 

It’s also worth remembering that PayPal transactions may incur a fee ranging from 3% to 5%. For a check to be shipped to you, your Pokemon cards must be worth a minimum of $10. 

Dave and Adam’s 

Another answer to the question of how to buy and sell Pokemon cards online is through Dave and Adam’s Card World. This website trades in Pokemon and sports cards. 

There are several ways you can choose to sell your Pokemon cards through this website. But however you proceed, you start by contacting their office and providing them with details of the Pokemon cards you want to sell online. 

You can then mail your Pokemon cards to Dave and Adam’s. Once they arrive, you should receive a payment within 48 hours. 

Alternatively, and depending on where you are, it may be possible for someone to come and collect the Pokemon cards in person. While this saves on shipping, you will receive 95% of the cards’ value if you opt to sell your cards this way. 

But because of the possibility for in-person sales, it is possible to sell your Pokemon cards for cash this way, which may appeal to some sellers. 

Other payment options include checks and PayPal transactions. 

Finally, Dave and Adam’s may not choose to buy all your Pokemon cards. If that is the case, they will return the rejects, and you won’t have to pay the return shipping fee. Free return shipping is unique to this website and one of the reasons people choose to sell their Pokemon cards online through this website. 

CCGCastle 

CCGCastle is another excellent website for people wondering how to buy and sell Pokemon cards online. 

It buys a range of trading card series and allows buyers and sellers to browse the catalog to see what they wish to buy or sell. 

The website is easy to navigate and includes a buy list for sellers, including the current buyback price of a Pokemon card. Clicking on ‘Sell us Yours’ enables you to add items to your cat and set up an order. 

When you do this, it will indicate how many of your cards CCGCastle will want to buy. This is particularly helpful if you have duplicates of a card. 

You do have to pay shipping fees when selling your Pokemon cards online to CCGCastle. However, its payment options include PayPal and in-store credit. You can use the store credit online. 

Finally, if you use the store credit to buy Pokemon cards online through CCGCastle, you enter a rewards program that helps you accrue points that you can deduct from future purchases.

Conclusion 

We’ve talked primarily about how to sell Pokemon cards online, but it’s worth stressing that all of the websites that allow you to sell Pokemon cards will also let you buy them. Some even offer an online or store credit option that you can deduct from the cost of future orders. 

If you decide to sell Pokemon cards online, consider having them graded and authenticated. It helps forge trust, and it’s what you, as a buyer, would want other sellers to do.  

The bottom line is that various options are available, whether you are buying or selling Pokemon cards online. Find one you feel comfortable with and start looking for that Pokemon card you always wanted or selling your old cards to the highest bidder.    

The Pokemon franchise has come a long way since it began in 1996. In its two-and-a-half decades, the series has expanded well beyond the original Gameboy games to the DS, Wii, and 3DS and multiple anime series, movies, and merchandise.

The series Sun and Moon have finally arrived on the 3DS after much anticipation. But that’s not all; Nintendo and Game Freak have planned for the fans to celebrate the anniversary. The world of Pokemon is set to enter its golden anniversary era with a variety of different events.

Players will get to enjoy the 25th Anniversary celebrations with a variety of activities and surprises. From catching original Pokemon from the first generation to Mega Evolution coming back in full force, it’s set to be a great year for the Pokemon fanbase.

Pokemon Celebration Overview – What is being celebrated?

The Pokemon Celebration is a yearly event celebrating the release of new Pokemon games. This year, the celebration is being held in honor of the 25th anniversary of the franchise. From Mega Evolution to the first games on the original Game Boy, many events are being planned.

The purpose of the celebration is to mark the milestone of 20 years since the launch of the Pokemon franchise. The celebration was held from January 1 to December 31, 2021, and consisted of multiple events, one of which was the International Meet ‘N’ Greet event.

During the celebration, fans met up with their favorite Pokemon, participated in various activities, and collected special merchandise. Pokemon revealed several different games and plans at the event. These include special Pokemon from previous generations, such as Pikachu and Meowth, and characters from the Pokemon Sun and Moon games, like Litten and Pikachu.

Brief History of Pokemon Celebrations

Pokemon celebrations have come a long way over the years. They started as small events with just a few activities but have since evolved into large-scale affairs with various activities to choose from. Some people even travel from all over the world to attend these celebrations!

So, if you’re a Pokemon fan or have ever wanted to know more about the series, consider attending one of these celebrations. There are plenty of great events happening across the globe, so be sure to check them out.

Some Pokemon -inspired events are happening this year. Also, check out our list of the best events for Pokemon fans. It includes events by location and genre to help you plan your next trip.

Interesting Facts About Pokemon Celebrations

Pokemon celebrations are a joyous occasion where Trainers from around the globe come together to celebrate their love for Pokemon. There are many different ways to celebrate, but some popular activities include battling, trading, and watching Pokemon movies.

Pokemon is teaming up with some of the biggest names in music to help bring these events to life. Rock bands like Katy Perry, Post Malone, and J. Balvin are performing at different events supporting the series. Some of the top Pokemon and Nintendo events already in place include:

The new episodes of Pokemon Evolutions aired on the official Pokemon YouTube channel last year. The official Pokemon YouTube channel has returned the series for another mini-episodes season.

The Pokemon live stream started airing on the official Pokemon Twitch channel on December 8, 2020, including various surprises like giveaways and other events. The Pokemon live stream event features Pokemon favorites like Pikachu, Squirtle, and Mewtwo.

Pokemon celebrations are a lot of fun. There are usually games, prizes, and many other activities to enjoy. You can always watch the Pokemon celebration event on YouTube if you miss the live stream.

Baccarat celebrates 25 years of Pokemon

Baccarat celebrates 25 years of Pokemon with a new line of collectible figurines. The new line is inspired by the first generation of Pokemon and will include all of the original 151 characters. The figurines are made of high-quality resin and are hand-painted. They each stand 3 inches tall. The line also includes a Poke Ball bottle opener and placemat.

Pokemon GO Celebration – Moon Stone Availability and Release

The Pokemon GO Moon Stone is one of the most sought-after in-game items. Despite being called a “Moon Stone,” the item is not exclusive to Pokemon GO. It can be found in one of the latest games from the main series, Pokemon Sun and Moon.

The Moon Stone is a special item that can be used to evolve certain Pokemon. The evolution is not considered permanent, and the Pokemon will return to its original form when the player enters a PokeStop or battle.

However, the Pokemon can return to its evolved form again by using another Moon Stone. The Lunar Stone is also required to evolve Lunala.

The Pokemon GO Moon Stone is a special evolutionary item for Pokemon that can be obtained in Pokemon Sun and Moon. It can be evolved into a specific Pokemon, with an additional MPokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearloon Stone needed to evolve it into its final form.

Looking Ahead to Pokemon Celebrations

Looking ahead to Pokemon celebrations, it is evident that the future looks bright for all franchise fans. New games, movies, and merchandise are on the horizon, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the fun and excitement of Pokemon, no matter their age.

Recently, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched. These two games feature brand-new content, including the first Legendary Pokemon, Alolan forms of existing Pokemon, and plenty more.

The Pokemon coins are a beautiful tribute to the 20th anniversary of the franchise. The coin features all of the original 151 Pokemon, including Deoxys.

With Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, anyone can enjoy a diverse and immersive adventure, whether they’ve played the original games or not. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting started, there’s something in store for everyone. So get ready to party with Pikachu and the rest of the gang because the celebration is just starting!

Final Thoughts

This year is significant for Pokemon fans, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the first games in the series. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the world of Pokemon is set to enter its golden anniversary with various events. For fans who want to celebrate with iconic creatures, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon are here to help. As always, we have a selection of great deals on all things Pokemon.

Twenty-six years ago, Japanese video game creator Satoshi Tajiri, and illustrator Ken Sugimori, introduced the world to a videogame with 151 fictional creatures called Pokemon. Originally released under the name Pocket Monsters, the game sold over 31.38 million copies, marking the start of this billion-dollar entertainment franchise.   

Today, the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) is one of the most popular collectibles in the world. But, with some Pokemon cards printed only a few dozen times, like Master’s Key and 1st Edition Holo Lugia, it makes ‘catching ’em all’ near-impossible. 

The company’s Gotta Catch ‘Em All! slogan and established card rarity make the TCG even more desirable to Pokemon fans and a near-perfect concoction for the ever-growing non-fungible token (NFT) market.

What Is the Future of Collectible Card Games?

With the non-fungible token (NFT) market gaining popularity, it seems that the future of trading cards may be on the metaverse. Specifically, the NBA‘s experiment of selling digital collectibles proved highly successful, with a LeBron James highlight purchased for $200,000.

Another example is Sega, a Japanese multinational video game company widely known for creating Sonic the Hedgehog. After much debate, it entered the digital market with its newly trademarked NFT logo. 

Sega’s entrance into the metaverse is yet another indicator of video game developers’ and entertainment industries’ move towards the digital collectible market. As more companies trend towards the NFT market, many of these major entertainment enterprises may have no choice but to enter the digital arena. 

Why Pokemon TCG Could Be the Most Successful NFTs

If Pokemon cards become NFTs, they would be the most significant collectible on the market, and their success would be instant. Even with basic knowledge of the Pokemon TCG, it’s clear that the cards already have all the characteristics that traders desire from an NFT. The four

attributes of successful NFTs are:

• Uniqueness
• Rarity
• Identifiable
• One creator

These four NFT attributes are some of the main features distinguishing a successful digital asset from an unsuccessful one. Now, let’s further discuss the Pokemon TCG characteristics that apply to the NFT market.

Uniqueness

The sole characteristic of an NFT is that each one is unique, and Pokemon cards can easily be. While exact numbers may never be confirmed with a card like the prerelease Raichu only rumored to exist, according to The Gamer, there are 898 species, 389 variants, and 1,287 designs.

With Pokemon’s exhaustive list of cards, some rarer than others, the company could easily create a massive database of unique NFTs with the already present rarity making TCGs an exceptional NFT. 

Established Rarity

Pokemon TCG’s established rarity is a key attribute of a successful NFT. Every popular NFT collection needs rarity to allow its collectibles to increase in value. Rare Pokemon cards have features like holographic art, half-body art, full-body art, rainbow design, or a promo icon. 

However, one reason the NBA’s digital collectibles were successful wasn’t necessarily because each card was unique. It’s because of how the NFT market works. To elaborate, the transparency of NFTs makes it public knowledge of how many cards exist. 

So, for example, in real-life, a Pokemon card with hundreds of copies isn’t going to sell for much. But if the company produced cards with the same species, but different attributes like abilities, statistics, etc., the unique features and knowledge of how many exist would create a new type basis for rarity and, thus, set the trade value for each Pokemon NFT. 

Collectible and Tradable

The Pikachu Illustrator is the most expensive card sold at $375,000. 

From the company’s slogan to the millions of Pokemon collectors worldwide, the collectability of Pokemon cards is straightforward. Additionally, Pokemon cards are versatile, as they’re used to play the trading card game, trade between friends or online, and buy for investment purposes. 

Identifiable Creator

When creators market their NFT, they enter the asset into the blockchain, essentially a signature to prove the NFT’s originality and link to the artist. 

While the creator of Pokemon NFTs would be the franchise itself, through TCG’s existence, 88 illustrators have created the artwork for each card, furthering the artist’s creation. 

Why Pokemon NFTs Are a Good Idea

Pokemon’s accessibility extends to many technological platforms and targets new and old generations to experience, like mobile apps and Nintendo consoles. For example, the mobile game Pokemon Go introduced a new way for followers to hunt for Pokemon.

If Pokemon moved to the metaverse, it would create a new way to trade cards that would exist on any platform with access to the NFT market. In addition, if Pokemon cards were on the blockchain, it would eliminate the need for card verification and, thus, eliminate the worry of purchasing a fake card.

While Pokemon TCG has all the characteristics of successful NFTs, the company’s worldwide following is the leading reason Pokemon NFTs will dominate the metaverse.

Pokemon NFT Possibilities with Gameplay

Pokemon NFT possibilities go beyond just digital card trading. To understand the gaming franchise’s potential, we can examine other entertainment companies that have accepted the metaverse. 

For example, Ubisoft, a French video game and entertainment company, is the first in its industry to create a “play-to-earn” or “playable” NFT video game platform called Ubisoft Quartz. 

A “playable” NFT video game means players can earn NFTs and cryptocurrencies. Video games have always rewarded players as they level up or accomplish a task, but there’s never been a way to monetize directly from a game. 

Take Minecraft, for example; a Netherite sword with Sharpness V enchantment in survival mode requires players to be at least level 54 and 36 on bookshelves – which is a lot. 

A Nephrite sword is the best weapon in the game, and one with the highest level of enchantment requires players to log hundreds of gameplay hours. 

Now, if that sword were an NFT, a player could trade it within the game, on other platforms, or peer-to-peer for other NFTs or cryptocurrency. The only difference is that the item only existed in the game before. Now, it exists in the game and on the blockchain, meaning it has a unique identifier or serial number attached to it.

Another way to think about a “playable” NFT video game is when making purchases with real money in a game. In any game, the money spent gives the buyer that item to use. With NFT video games, the buyer not only gets the item but now owns it and can hold it or resell it at a higher price to other players.

On Ubisoft Quartz, players can acquire a Digit, an object in the game that shows the owner’s serial number. These in-game items are weapons or vehicles that players can equip or use in the game, and the owner can sell the item to other players or others outside the Ubisoft community. 

Pokemon TCG could create its own “pay-to-play” trading card game that players could catch, train, and trade Pokemon on a videogame connected to a blockchain. Another way to imagine the format of Pokemon as a “playable” NFT video game is by looking at Pokemon Go. 

Pokemon Go was a great way for local Pokemon enthusiasts to meet up and catch these creatures in a new and exciting way. A Pokemon NFT video game could follow the same concept, with creatures captured in real-life, but they’re also an NFT. 

What Stops Pokemon NFTs From Becoming a Reality

One concern of fans and companies in the gaming industry is the environmental impact of NFTs, for a good reason. 

The energy needed to complete one Bitcoin transaction is equivalent to one year of streaming a video, according to Ubisoft, and one Ethereum transaction is equal to over 100,000 VISA transactions, according to Statista.

Ubisoft answered the environmental concern by using the Tezos blockchain, which, unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, one transaction consumes the same amount of energy required to stream a video for 30 seconds. 

The Tezos blockchain uses proof-of-stake, while Bitcoin and Ethereum use proof-of-work. 

Under proof-of-work, mining cryptocurrency requires expensive, specialized equipment that requires enormous energy consumption. It can also lead to possibilities of centralization and security risks. More energy required means miners can join and share their computation power, resulting in majority control in the mining process.  

Proof-of-stake attempts to solve these problems by:

• Requiring less energy consumption to mine,
• It doesn’t require specialized equipment, 
• Allows for more participation, making it more decentralized, 
• Eliminates the need for miners by replacing them with validators.

While Pokemon would not use the Ethereum blockchain to run its NFTs, that may change with Ethereum’s merge to proof-of-stake expected to happen in the 2nd quarter of 2022. 

This move may also push other entertainment and video game franchises to accept the industry’s trend toward the metaverse.

Lastly, the main reason Pokemon NFTs may never happen is because of Nintendo, a joint owner of the Pokemon company. Nintendo isn’t one to hop on the latest technology trends, according to a response from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa when asked about the company’s thoughts on emerging trends.

Pokemon NFT Cons

The main drawback to Pokemon TCG becoming NFT is that the franchise’s popularity would likely have enough participants to create its blockchain ecosystem. While this is undoubtedly a positive for Pokemon, it would make digital Pokemon cards unattainable to many of its followers. 

If this is the case, it could change Pokemon TCG from an accessible collectible and game for people of all ages into a collector’s item only accessible to the wealthiest class.

However, Pokemon TCG trading and investments are, in a way, already unattainable, with the rarest cards selling for thousands of dollars. So, Pokemon TCG as NFTs may not change the TCG community at all, not even a little bit.

FAQs 

Hopefully, you’ve gained a new understanding of Pokemon NFTs. However, if you’re new to cryptocurrency and the NFT world, then here are some frequently asked questions regarding these topics.

1. What is the Metaverse?

The metaverse is the internet, but bigger. The most straightforward meaning of the metaverse refers to creating a real-time user experience outside the physical world through virtual or augmented reality. However, the metaverse is just a concept, as it does not physically exist – yet. 

Innovations in technology like NFTs show how blockchain technology can verify the digital asset owner, a crucial part of the persistence part of the metaverse, according to the Association for Talent Development (ATD). In other words, one purpose of the metaverse is to allow users to move from one virtual reality to another with their digital assets.

2. What is the Blockchain?

The blockchain is the ledger of every buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrency, which is why this form of currency is decentralized and secure. Once a transaction gets recorded in the blockchain, it can’t be altered in any way, making it a secure system to store transactions. 

3. What is an NFT?

An NFT can be any multimedia file (i.e., photo, video, or audio) that someone sells on an NFT market for cryptocurrency. So, for example, you could take a picture of your pet, upload it on an NFT marketplace, purchase some crypto, pay a couple of fees, and sell it at any price you want.

Each NFT has unique data stored on the blockchain to verify originality and ownership. 

Pokemon TCG as NFTs Will Be the Biggest Collectables on the Market

The purpose of NFTs, collecting and trading digitized assets, is, oddly enough, the exact purpose of Pokemon TCG. From collectible cards to the trading card game itself, the possibilities for Pokemon NFTs are considerable. 

Unfortunately, Nintendo has a track record of avoiding the latest trends, so don’t expect Pokemon NFTs any time soon. But suppose Nintendo and Pokemon explored its potential in the metaverse. 

If TCG did become NFTs, Pokemon would dominate the market. Other entertainment enterprises would struggle to reach the popularity and revenue levels that Pokemon, a digital collectible Pokemon Celebrations – 25th Anniversary set, could.

Pokemon NFTs would be unstoppable. 

The Pokemon Trading Card Game is a game produced by Pokemon where two players use the available 60 cards to battle it out.  In this game, players use the cards to build decks around cards that have Pokemon characters.  Once these cards are built, the two opponents take turns attacking each other, with the primary goal being to defeat their opponents.  Therefore, for a player to win, they must use strategies that their opponents are unaware of or be more creative than their opponents.

How to Enjoy the Pokemon Trading Card Game

Pokemon TCG Live allows players the opportunity to enjoy live games while on the go.  With Pokemon TCG, you can add new sets of cards to your collection by scanning their unique codes.  Additionally, this game allows you to exchange the Crystals earned while playing the game for booster packs or for participating in daily quests.  The available booster packs and the daily quests are determined by your current Pokemon level.  In other words, the higher your level, the better the booster packs and the daily quests.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game allows you to build powerful decks from your card collection.  The good thing is that with your card collection, you can design your deck and be ready to take on your next challenge head-on.  Apart from this, you can battle with players from different parts of the world.  Furthermore, the game supports various languages such as Italian, Spanish, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and English.

Pokemon TCG Digital Activities

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has different digital activities you can enjoy while on the go.  For instance, you can customize your experience with different accessories as a player. This gives your game a personal touch, thus increasing your chances of spending more time playing the game.

With Pokemon TCG, you can participate in various daily challenges. With these challenges, you get the opportunity to increase your levels, thus earning more points.  Furthermore, with the Pokemon TCG, you can use the in-game currency to get new cards used as redeemable gifts. The digital archives also allow you to create custom avatars that match your preferences.

System Requirements

Pokemon Trading Card Game can be played on different devices such as mobile phones and computers.  However, it is vital to consider the device’s specifications since not every mobile phone or computer will support the game.  The following is a breakdown of the system’s mobile phones and computers specifications.

Windows Specifications

The minimum operating system for a computer operating on Windows should be Windows 7, while the recommended OS should be Windows 10 with 64-bit.  On the other hand, the minimum processor speed for your computer should be Intel Pentium, while its recommended processor should be Intel Core with a GHz of 2.6.

Your laptop’s recommended memory should be 4 GB RAM, while its storage should be 3 GB.  Regarding video clarity, your computer should support NVIDIA with an HD of 4850 or better.  Additionally, a resolution of 1024 x 768 should suffice your gaming experience. Finally, a broadband internet connection should support the entire gaming process.

MAC Specifications

If you own a MAC, you should ensure its operating system is the latest OS X or macOS version.  The minimum processor should be Intel Core 2 Duo or Intel Core i3.  However, a better version of the processor is also recommended.  The storage space should be at least 3GB, while its memory should be 3 GB RAM.  The video specs should support NVIDIA GeForce with a High-Definition resolution of at least 5,670.  In terms of resolution, the minimum display should be 1024 x 768.  A broadband internet connection is required to play the game.

iOS Mobile Devices

If you own an iPhone, an operating system of 15 should suffice your gaming experience.  Any device released after 2017 should be okay if you own an iPad.

Android Mobile Device

Samsung Galaxy mobile devices are compatible with this game.  However, you should ensure that your device has 2GB of RAM or more.  In addition, the device’s operating system should be at least version 8.  Finally, your device should support ASTC Compression in terms of texture compression.

Where to Buy Pokemon Trading Card Game Products

Apart from playing the Pokemon TCG game, you can also buy its wide range of products from different stores.  These stores include Pokemon Center, Walmart, Target, GameStop, BestBuy, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Parental Guide

You can select the right products for your kids or players as a parent.  An advantage of Pokemon TCG is that it gives players a wide range of playing styles to choose from.  These styles include Card Fan, Friendly Battler, and Competitive Battler.  The Card Fan lets the player collect a wide range of cards and trade them for their favorite Pokemon.  With the Card Fan, you can collect pins, Pokemon V Boxes, Pokemon V Tins, and Poke Ball Tins.

The Friendly Battler is for any player who wants to play Pokemon TCG with friends.  Additionally, this game is for anyone who needs a ready deck for players to battle it out.  Some recommendations for Friendly Battler include the Pokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy, V Battle Decks, Pokemon V Tins, and the Elite Trainer Boxes.

The Competitive Battler is for trainers ready to battle it out in communities.  In most instances, the Competitive Battler is for pros.  Some recommendations for Competitive Battler include the Elite Trainer Boxes, Build & Battle Box, the League Battle Decks, and the Trainer’s Toolkit.

Parting Shot

Pokemon Trading Card Game is still fresh, and players should expect more updates and details.  Additionally, with an app version of the game still in the works, it is undoubtedly that players’ overall gaming experience will be enhanced as time goes on.

Got a knack for art and a passion for all things Pokemon? You’re in luck—the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 has your name written all over it.

And, if you’re really lucky, so might a $5,000 check and the newest addition to the Pokemon TCG lineup.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 is an evolution of the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Grand Prix, an annual art competition that’s taken place every year since 2019. Hosted by Creatures, Inc.—the developers of the original Pokemon trading card game—and sponsored by The Pokemon Company International, the contest aims to give talented unknown artists a chance to put their stamp on the Pokemon legacy.

This year, the contest is being opened to applicants from both Japan and the U.S., marking the first time American artists have been eligible to enter. For the theme, the contest’s organizers have chosen “a moment in a Pokemon’s daily life.”

How to Enter

The rules couldn’t be simpler. Here’s how it works:

Step One: Pick Your Pokemon

This year’s list of Pokemon includes:

• Bulbasaur
• Charizard
• Pikachu
• Arcanine
• Galarian Rapidash
• Scizor
• Greninja
• Cramorant

Step Two: Draw Them Doing Something

It could be training, cooking, napping, skateboarding, sunbathing, you name it. Get creative! Make sure the activity in the scene is consistent with the theme of the contest, “The Daily Life of Pokemon, ” and that you draw a background along with the Pokemon you select. 

Step Three: Send in Your Drawing

Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your masterpiece, upload it using the entry form on the contest’s website, along with your info.

Each participant can enter up to three submissions featuring any of the eight Pokemon from the list above. You could make a different Pokemon the star of each drawing or do three separate drawings of the same Pokemon. The choice is yours.

Who’s Eligible to Enter?

You must be a legal resident of the U.S. or Japan and be at least 18 years of age (the minimum required age is 19 in Alabama and Nebraska and 20 in Mississippi). Japanese entrants must be at least 20 years old.

What Are the Prizes?

One lucky first-place winner will earn a $5,000 cash prize and the honor of having their artwork featured on a special Pokèmon promo card. Not bad for putting your love of Pokemon down on paper!

But the payoffs don’t end there.

Two first runners-up, one from Japan and the U.S., will get a $3,000 cash prize and see their drawings brought to life in card form. Two-second runners-up, again from Japan and the U.S., respectively, will score $1,000 in cash. Finally, 15 contestants from either country will receive the esteemed Judges’ Award, with a not-inconsiderable payout of $500.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, which includes such illustrious figures as Satoru Nagaya, art director for Creatures, Inc., and Tzunekazu Ishihara, president of The Pokemon Company!

What Are You Waiting For?

This could be your opportunity to share your artistic vision with the world and become a part of Pokemon history.

You’ll need to act fast, though—the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 runs from October 13th, 2021, to January 31st, 2022, which means you only have until the end of the month to show off your skills.

Good luck, and happy illustrating!

Over the past few years, Pokemon card sales on eBay have seen wild levels of growth, with estimates ranging from 500% year-over-year to as much as 1,046% growth! 

So clearly, you want to get in on the game.

But if you are letting go of a piece of your precious collection, you want to make sure you sell it for a price equivalent to its worth. A price that isn’t so high that you get no bids or so low that you get taken advantage of. Unfortunately, when you check eBay for pricing on similar cards, what you find is all over the board. It can be quite frustrating.

You’re not alone here. Have no fear – eBay has heard your concerns and developed a new trading card experience known as the Price Guide.

Introducing eBay’s Price Guide Experience

eBay created its new Price Guide with both sellers and buyers in mind. The Price Guide intends to provide a comprehensive and, even more importantly, accurate resource that allows users to manage their trading card (including Pokemon cards) sales and to track the item’s value. This is known as eBay’s market value.

eBay Price Guide Market Value

eBay’s Price Guide allows users and sellers to monitor the value of cards of interest based on real-time market data. This includes a card’s current and past value, so you can see where the most growth is coming from to further focus your sales funnel. The market value is calculated using transaction data from the past year. 

Users can dig even deeper by viewing historical data in a sales graph depicting a trading card’s winning bid amounts and the average sales price over the past year. And the best part about eBay’s Price Guide Market Value? It’s updated every few minutes. So you know it’s reflective of the market today.

Where Can You Find eBay’s Price Guide?

The Price Guide experience can be accessed via the mobile eBay application. Simply type what you’re looking for in the search bar, and the price guide will be at the very top of the results page. Click on “See price trend,” and you’re in!

Upon accessing the Price Guide, you will see the following:

• A filter that allows you to sort by All Listings, Buy It Now, Auction, and Accepts Offer
• The option to refine search results by Extended (broad) or Refined (specific) results
• The eBay market value over the past week
• A chart showing the weekly average price of sold items, which can be viewed for one week up to one year
• Statistics from similar items from the past 30 days, such as the price range of all items sold, the volume of sales, and the number of sellers
• The last 50 sales from the preceding 30 days
• Links to guide you to view active listings or to sell a similar product

Make the search your own to get the information you need to feel confident selling or buying. 

Bonus Experience: Collection.

If you’ve made it this far in the article – you’re likely selling more than one Pokemon card. Lucky for you, eBay released an additional tool simultaneously, the eBay Price Guide: Collection.  

With Collection, sellers with a large portfolio can manage, list, and analyze market value in a single spot. 

Setting up your Collection is as easy as populating your inventory based on historical purchase history or uploading a CSV file.  Once complete, you will now be able to track the value of both your portfolio overall and individual items. Plus, users can view their collection using three views: total portfolio, category view (maybe limited edition versus common Pokemon cards), and individual items.

If this sounds like what you’re looking for, head to the “MyeBay” menu and select “Collection.” 

eBay Price Guide Experience: Example

Let’s say you are looking to sell an Emboar card. 

You type in “Emboar Pokemon cards” in the search bar of your eBay app, hoping to get an idea of what price you should set. But low and behold…the first 5 five listings show pretty inconsistent pricing, from $00.99 to $8.99. 

And then, you see a note at the top of the search results, inviting you to “Track the value of your trading cards.” Perfect! Stoked to get some clarity, you click and are rewarded with the eBay Price Guide for Emboar Pokemon cards. 

You click through the Buying Format drop-down, looking at the differences between all listings,  “buy it now” items, auctions, and those that accepted offers. Selecting auction, you see an average price of $7.99 over the past month.  And even better, you see recent spikes in pricing – all the way up to $72.60 in the past month!

Feeling grounded in your options, you list your card with a starting bid price of $10.00. How easy was that?

Ready to Sell? Here are 4 Tips for being a Top Rated Seller. 

1. Details: In this case, less is not more. Provide all the information you would want to know if you were in the buying position. And please stay honest. 

2. A picture speaks a thousand words: Include a clear photo of the card you sell to show buyers that your product is genuine and aligned with the product description.

3. Shipping and handling: Don’t use this as an opportunity to earn a few more bucks. For the most part, shipping and handling for a single card should sit around $1 – $5. 

4. Delivery: Once packaged, ship right away! If possible, try to get items out within 48 hours of closing, and always notify the buyer if any issues arise. 

Good luck in trading your Pokemon cards. 

So you’ve got all these old Pokemon cards from the 90s and 2000s when they were all the rage. And now they’re taking up space in your closet, packed away from the light where they remain until you either move or do a thorough house cleaning.

But before you throw them away, you might want to go through your collection for rare and valuable cards. Pokemon card collectors can pay quite a bit for their favorite mons in first editions and misprints. Look for rare holo cards and first editions for the most valuable cards in your Pokemon card collection.

Once you have your valuables, you have to determine their condition. Some collectors won’t care how much wear a card has suffered, while others will pay through the nose for a rare card in mint condition. Once you’ve separated the wheat from the chaff, you can consider getting your cards professionally rated.

What Is the PSA?

PSA stands for Professional Sports Authenticator, the premier graders of trading cards and sports memorabilia. They have the highest grading standards in the industry and are the go-to raters for collectors and sellers alike.

Rating cards are a pretty big business, and two other popular competitors are Beckett Grading Services (Beckett for short) and Certified Guaranty Company (CGS). PSA is considered the gold standard of the three major card rating companies.

That’s because the PSA grading system has much harsher standards and severe grading scales. There are many differences between a CGS 10 and a PSA Gem-Mint 10. Higher PSA numbers are far more valuable than similar numbers from other companies.

Of course, that also means your cards might not scale as high as you’d like with their strict standards. It’s up to you to determine if you’re cards are in good enough shape to send to the PSA or if you’d be better off having them graded at a less strict company.

A PSA rating is popular among Pokemon card collectors, both for their strictness and accuracy, so if you have cards that can rate highly with them, you should send them in to increase the value of your cards.

Why Have the PSA Rate Your Cards?

A good PSA rating can significantly increase the value of your cards. Many collectors will pay a premium to get the best cards possible. The price difference between a 10 Gem-Mint and a 9 Mint can be staggering.

For example, a Holo Rare First Edition Shadowless Charizard rated 10 Gem-Mint by the PSA from the 1999 Base Set was famously bought for over USD 420,000. Its superb condition and incredible rarity pushed this card’s value to heights most collectors can only dream of. 

Given their difficult grading scale, 10 Gem-Mint cards are flawless pieces of cardboard perfection. They are cards with no wear and tear, are perfectly centered printing, and have no physical defects. A similar card rated 9 Mint by the PSA fetches around USD 30,000. Not chump change, but nowhere near the value of the highly prized Gem-Mint rating.

As you can see, you can exponentially increase the value of your cards if you have them rated by the PSA. However, you need to pick cards that are both rare and can make the grade.

Another good reason to grade your cards is their sentimental value. Maybe you’re the collectors who pride yourself in having great cards in great condition. Perhaps your collection is too nostalgic to part with, or you have some exceptional cards you’d like to hold on to.

Money isn’t the only reason to have your Pokemon cards rated. If you’re attached to your collection, have some cards near and dear to your heart, or want to keep your favorites around, you can have them rated and placed in unique sleeves to keep them from deteriorating.

Rating Your Cards

Before shipping all your best Pokemon cards to the PSA, you should examine them first. You should judge the condition of your cards, then send the ones in the best conditions that will make the grade at the PSA. After all, there’s no point in paying the PSA grading cost if you won’t score very high.

Magnifying lamps and jeweler’s loupes can help you closely inspect your cards if you want to get into the nitty gritty of grading them. However, if you hold the cards in good lighting and check them, you can get a good idea of their condition. Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly to prevent leaving skin oils on a card’s surface.

You want cards that have minor wear and tear. There should be few to no defects on the front and only one or two on the back. Corners should be tight, with no fraying, and there should be minimal amounts of white around the edges on the back of the card.

The card shouldn’t be faded, and the picture should be clear. Hold the card at an angle to the light to inspect for scratches and dents in the card, which can lower its value significantly. If the card has few defects, it can rate quite highly.

To get the coveted 10 Gem-Mint ratings, it has to be flawless in its condition and construction. That means the picture is perfectly centered, the borders are straight and within the margins, and there are no other printing errors with the card. Since you can’t control how the Pokemon Company made the card, it takes luck to get that rating and protect it as soon as it comes out of the foil.

The Benefits of PSA Grading Pokemon Cards

PSA-rated Pokemon cards are worth much more than unrated cards. PSA grades are highly trusted by the Pokemon card collecting community as the grading scale is so strict that they can be sure the cards are in the condition they say.

Moreover, with the guarantee of their condition, you also get a small placard and case that protects the cards from further deterioration. It keeps the card in the condition they were in when they were rated.

Moreover, they not only rate Pokemon cards but authenticate them. Given the number of fakes and how realistic they look, a PSA-rated card is not only a guarantee of quality but of authenticity. If the card appears to have been tampered with or restored, they refuse to rate the card and send it back to the owner stating the card has been disqualified from rating.

Between these three essential functions, the PSA does excellent work with the collecting community, and getting your cards rated by them is crucial for collectors and sellers alike. The other card grading companies aren’t as well trusted and have more card damage incidents than the PSA.

PSA is the gold standard in Pokemon card collecting, as they have strict standards, authenticating services, and excellent handling procedures and cases. They are the most used and accepted grading scale for Pokemon card collecting.

The Cons of PSA Grading Pokemon Cards

However, that doesn’t mean getting your cards rated by the PSA is always worth it. Their high standards and lengthy authenticating and grading procedures mean long wait times and high prices.

PSA grading costs can vary. You can expect to spend USD 30 with a turnover of 120 days for cards worth less than USD 500. It goes up to USD 300 for cards worth USD 5,000 or less with a week of wait time. 

Given that card prices vary over time, you shouldn’t be planning to send your card in and get it back immediately for sale. Cheaper valuations require plenty of time, so you should send it in well ahead to get the most out of your card.

Next, you should only send valuable cards in good condition if you plan to profit from them. Given the high cost of grading, if you send in a card and get a lower grade than expected, you could end up at a loss. It doesn’t matter as much if you’re planning on grading your cards for personal reasons, but you should keep this cost in mind.

Finally, although rare, there’s still a chance your precious cards could be damaged in transit or during the grading process. Before sending them in, you should take pictures of your cards to prove their condition. However, if your cards are precious for personal reasons, it might be better not to send them in if you don’t want to risk it.

PSA-rated Pokemon Cards: Are They Worth It?

Getting a PSA rating on your rare cards can skyrocket their value if you sell them.  However, the PSA grading cost can increase overhead quite a bit and come with some risks:

• You may get a lower rating than you’re expecting
• The card’s price may change while you’re waiting for its evaluation
• If worse comes to worst, it might be damaged in transit.

It’s up to you to decide whether your rare Pokemon cards are worth getting graded by the PSA. Do you want to increase their value? Preserve them for the future. Get the cases and cards to show your rare cards to the internet. While there are other options for grading, having the PSA rate your cards is the best way to authenticate your Pokemon card collection.

There are now at least 898 unique species of Pokemon, and every last one of them is somebody’s favorite. Each Pokemon has its advantages and disadvantages, from the tiny Flabebe to the massive Eternatus, and each new iteration shows the familiar fighters in a new light.

In 2021, Pokemon TCG released six new expansions, totaling over 1000 new cards for players to collect and add to their decks. With that many options, it’s no surprise that of all the “top ten” lists of the best cards of the year, no two look alike. That said, here are my ten favorite Pokemon cards released in 2021.

Ditto VMAX

Shining Fates, the first Pokemon TCG expansion of 2021, came out with a bang, dropping nearly 200 brand-new cards. This Ditto VMAX is one of two by PLANETA Tsuji, and while the Shiny Vault version is rarer, I think this Holo Rare is a better showing of the artist’s work. The swirling colors in the background give Ditto a three-dimensional look that the Shiny Vault version disguises.

PLANETA Tsuji is one of the most recognizable artists currently creating for Pokemon TCG. They’ve illustrated dozens of other Pokemon, Pokemon V, and Pokemon VMAX cards across multiple expansions, all with their iconic three-dimensional style.

Ditto doesn’t look like much, but this evolution of Ditto V has the Max Transform attack. Rather than dealing damage of its own, this attack allows Ditto to choose another player’s active Pokemon and use its attack as its own. Having your own attack used against you in battle is a devastating blow, and this Ditto VMAX is the best Pokemon to deal it.

• Evolves From: Ditto V
• HP: 320
• Type: Normal
• Weakness: Fighting
• Rarity: Holo Rare VMAX
• Expansion: Shining Fates
• Release Date: February 19, 2021

Cinderace VMAX

This Cinderace VMAX card is one of three Cinderace cards found in the Shining Fates expansion. Artist PLANETA Mochizuki, who also designed the Victini VMAX card on this list, captures Cinderace VMAX preparing to unleash an epic battle cry, striking fear into the hearts of its opponents.

This Cinderace card has two attacks. Max Pyro Ball does 170 damage and burns the opponent’s active Pokemon. The second attack, Counter, is a perfect revenge move, dealing whatever additional damage Cinderace received during the opponent’s previous turn.

Another Cinderace VMAX card, which came out in the later Fusion Strike expansion, features the artwork of 5ban Graphics, shows Cinderace wielding a massive fireball with its ears, and I have to admit, choosing between that version and this one was tricky. Ultimately, though, I prefer the two-attack versatility of the Shining Fates version of Cinderace VMAX.

• Evolves From: Cinderace V
• HP: 320
• Type: Fire
• Weakness: Water
• Rarity: Holo Rare VMAX
• Expansion: Shining Fates
• Release Date: February 19, 2021

Victini VMAX

Rumor has it that trainers who battle with Victini always win, and while I can’t say for sure that it’s true, I know that this Victini VMAX stands a good chance against any opponent. Its Spreading Flames ability allows players to take up to three fire energy cards from their discard pile and attach them to their Pokemon however they wish, which is a huge advantage.

The Max Victory attack does 100 damage on its own, plus an additional 120 if your opponent has a Pokemon V as their active Pokemon. At 220 damage total, that’s enough to knock out most Pokemon V, making Victini VMAX a nearly invincible card to play.

Of course, this isn’t the only Victini VMAX in the entire Pokemon TCG, but its Rainbow design is my favorite version. Artist PLANETA Mochizuki’s artwork turns the powerful Victini VMAX into a colorful emblem that will brighten up any player’s deck.

• Evolves From: Victini V
• HP: 310
• Type: Psychic, Fire
• Weakness: Water
• Rarity: Rainbow Rare
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Battle Styles
• Release Date: March 19, 2021

Mimikyu V

No one knows what Mimikyu looks like because it wears a homemade Pikachu costume, apparently attempting to look cuter and less scary. It misses the mark, as it’s much creepier than cute. Still, this Ultra Rare card by illustrator Eske Yoshinob captures that energy perfectly, giving the impression that Mimikyu is making puppy eyes, luring its opponents into battle.

Mimikyu’s ability, Dummy Doll, protects it from damage for one complete turn after a player plays it from their hand onto their bench. This ability prevents it from being knocked out of the game before you can use its attack, Jealous Eyes.

This sadistic attack counts up every prize card your opponent has taken during battle and gives their active Pokemon three damage counters for each. There’s something darkly satisfying about taking revenge on your opponent for their success, isn’t there?

• Evolves From: (none)
• HP: 160
• Type: Psychic
• Weakness: Darkness
• Rarity: Ultra Rare
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Battle Styles
• Release Date: March 19, 2021

Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX

The Sword and Shield: Chilling Reign expansion brought nearly 200 new cards to the Pokemon TCG, including dozens of Pokemon from the Galar region. This Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX by artist group 5ban Graphics stands out among the eight VMAX cards included in the expansion.

As the viewer, you look up at Calyrex mounted on a rearing shadow horse, ready to charge into battle. The swirling VMAX colors beyond make the artwork of this Holo Rare card pop more than any of the three Shadow Rider Calyrex V cards from the same expansion.

At 320 HP, Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX is a sturdy defender, but its ability and attack combine to pack a powerful punch. The Underworld Door ability allows Calyrex to attach a psychic energy card to a benched Pokemon, then draw two cards. The Max Geist attack does ten damage, plus an additional 30 for each psychic energy card attached to all of your Pokemon.

• Evolves From: Shadow Rider Calyrex V
• HP: 320
• Type: Psychic
• Weakness: Darkness
• Rarity: Holo Rare VMAX
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Chilling Reign
• Release Date: June 18, 2021

Galarian Rapidash V

Rapidash, the evolution of Ponyta, is usually a fire-type Pokemon, but this Rapidash V found in the Region is psychic. Artist Sui shows Rapidash in a new and unusual color palette of pastel blues, purples, and greens. In this scene, Rapidash V stands among a field of tightly-closed buds, gently prodding a beautiful blue flower open with its glowing horn.

It’s a unique take on the Pokemon, who usually appears rearing and ready for battle, but of course, I like seeing Rapidash this way. Even the most formidable Pokemon deserves a bit of leisure time, and it’s nice to see Rapidash basking in the glow of the natural world.

Of course, when it’s time to battle, Rapidash V is every bit as powerful as you would hope. Its Libra Horn attack adds as many damage counters as possible to lower one of your opponent’s Pokemon to 100 HP or less. Then the Psychic attack does 60 damage, plus an additional 30 for each energy card your opponent has attached to their active Pokemon.

• Evolves From: (none)
• HP: 210
• Type: Psychic
• Weakness: Darkness
• Rarity: Ultra Rare
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Chilling Reign
• Release Date: June 18, 2021

Umbreon VMAX

Umbreon is the dark evolution of Eevee, and this Umbreon VMAX, which evolves from Umbreon V, is its most potent iteration yet. This card features the artwork of KEIICHIRO ITO, an artist who has been illustrating for the Pokemon TCG since the 2019 release of the Sun & Moon: Unified Minds expansion.

This VMAX card is the most powerful and beautiful of the four Umbreon cards in the Sword and Shield: Evolving Skies expansion. It captures Umbreon coiled around a tall spire, playfully batting at the moon. The blue and green clouds and the reflection of the moonlight on the lake are beautiful additions not often seen in the standard Pokemon cards.

I have a soft spot for the cards that show powerful Pokemon in restful situations, but Umbreon VMAX is still a force to be reckoned with. Its Dark Signal ability allows the player to evolve one Pokemon and switch an opponent’s benched Pokemon with their active Pokemon, and its Max Darkness attack does a massive 160 damage.

• Evolves From: (none)
• HP: 320
• Type: Darkness
• Weakness: Grass
• Rarity: Rainbow Rare
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Evolving Skies
• Release Date: August 27, 2021

Espeon V

This card by artist sow sow captures Espeon, the psychic-type evolution of Eevee, in a library surrounded by a telekinetic tornado of books. It’s one of four Espeon cards from the Sword and Shield: Evolving Skies expansion. Although it may not be as strong as the Espeon VMAX, the alternative art makes it my favorite version.

The card has a cozy, homey vibe, a pleasant relief from the usual high-intensity energy. The other Espeon V cards, like the one by illustrator 5ban Graphics, feature the Pokemon engaged in battle. This alternative art version shows a softer side of Espeon that Pokemon players don’t often get to see.

Sowsow’s art is recognizable across many other Pokemon cards, but this Espeon V is by far their most impressive work. Of course, the card is more than just its art, and Espeon packs a punch. Its Zen Shot does 60 damage to an opponent’s Pokemon V, and Super Psy Bolt deals a devastating 120 damage.

• Evolves From: (none)
• HP: 200
• Type: Psychic
• Weakness: Darkness
• Rarity: Ultra Rare
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Evolving Skies
• Release Date: August 27, 2021

Mew V

Squishy, pink Mew doesn’t look like much, but it’s a terrifying Pokemon to go up against, even in its standard form. Its psychic abilities are deceptively challenging, considering its soft, hairless external appearance. But Mew V from the Fusion Strike expansion is an even more formidable opponent.

Its Energy Mix ability allows players to search their deck for an energy card, attaching it to any of their other Fusion Strike Pokemon before shuffling the deck. The Psychic Leap attack does 70 damage before allowing Mew to disappear safely back into the deck and any other cards attached to it.

Stealth attacks and supporting abilities like these make Mew V one of the best cards in any deck, regardless of playstyle. While it’s not the only Mew V in the TCG, this version by Mitsuhiro Arita captures the Pokemon in all its hairless, pink glory, and I love it.

• HP: 180
• Type: Psychic
• Weakness: Darkness
• Rarity: Ultra Rare
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Fusion Strike
• Release Date: November 12, 2021

Crabominable V

The original Crabominable, a fighting ice type, packs a heavy-hitting punch, but this Crabominable V from the Sword and Shield: Fusion Strike expansion is even more powerful. At 220 HP, it’s nearly as strong as some of the VMAX cards released in 2021 and has two significant attacks.

The Trigger Avalanche attack allows you to discard the top two cards from your opponent’s deck and watch them realize you’ve just removed their favorite Pokemon from the game. Then, Crabominable V adds insult to injury with its Destroyer Punch attack, which does 90 damage, plus an additional 60 damage for each damage counter on the defender’s Active Pokemon.

Artist MUGENUP brings Crabominable to life in this Ultra Rare card, showing the Pokemon in all its three-dimensional glory. With its pincers raised in the air, this Crabominable V is ready to take on whatever Pokemon it may encounter.

• HP: 220
• Type: Water
• Weakness: Metal
• Rarity: Holo Rare V
• Expansion: Sword and Shield: Fusion Strike
• Release Date: November 12, 2021

Conclusion

Each expansion brings new abilities, attacks, and features to the familiar world of Pokemon. Choosing ten out of over a thousand possible cards is no small task, but here you have it. Looking back over some of the best Pokemon cards released in 2021 gets you excited about what’s coming in 2022.