Pokemon TCG

[Stoppy2000]

19 hours ago, Rob_Pulsar said:

Hi all,

 

I'm sorry if I'm asking a question that has already been answered (I did scan a few pages) but I wonder if you can offer some advice please?

 

My 2 sons are very keen on Pokemon (movies / cartons) and enjoy traditional card games so I'm wondering if introducing them to the Pokemon TCG is a good idea?  I saw the trainers toolkit available for £23 - would one of these for each son be a good starting point?

 

https://www.chaoscards.co.uk/prod/collection-boxes-pokemon/pokemon-trainers-toolkit

 

I imagine they will only be playing against each other for now and I don't want to make a huge investment on something they may not take to (let's say £50 total is an approximate ceiling to get them both up and running).  What should I go for?

 

Thanks

Rob

I think that trainer toolkit doesn't actually give you the cards required to actually build a deck. I think if you are brand new to the game maybe this would be a good solution:

https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/action-figures-and-playsets/pokemon/pokemon-trading-cards-game/pokemon-trading-card-game-battle-academy/p/190095

 

Others may have differing opinions...

 

This video shows what you get -it looks like a pretty good starting point.

 

https://youtu.be/tLIiyd1HL1s

 

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by Stoppy2000
Added YouTube link

[Lucas]

22 minutes ago, Stoppy2000 said:

I think that trainer toolkit doesn't actually give you the cards required to actually build a deck. I think if you are brand new to the game maybe this would be a good solution:

https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/action-figures-and-playsets/pokemon/pokemon-trading-cards-game/pokemon-trading-card-game-battle-academy/p/190095

 

Others may have differing opinions...

 

This video shows what you get -it looks like a pretty good starting point.

 

https://youtu.be/tLIiyd1HL1s

 

 

 

 

I got my son that for his ninth birthday. 
 

despite being an avid player of the switch games, and owning lots of Pokemon cards, he didn’t really understand the mechanics of the card game. 
 

The battle academy set really helped him get to grips with it. There’s a turn by turn guide through your first few hands with the two ‘basic’ decks to help you learn the game and then there’s an ‘advanced’ deck which has a  separate booklet to introduce you to some new play elements/tactics. 
 

the board is really nice, and it just feels like a good quality package. 
 

I would highly recommend it. 

[Rob G]

Thanks @Stoppy2000 and @Lucas - final question, would the battle academy allow for 2 players or would I need to supplement with something else?

 

If I had actually watched the video that @Stoppy2000 linked to, I'd see that it contains enough for 2 players! Thanks.

Edited December 8, 2020 by Rob_Pulsar
I'm a fool

[Stoppy2000]

Just now, Rob_Pulsar said:

Thanks @Stoppy2000 and @Lucas - final question, would the battle academy allow for 2 players or would I need to supplement with something else?

It's all set for two players. Once they have decided they like it then I would just buy some more pre built decks for a bit of variety. 

[Arn X Treme]

These guys on occasion have offers on theme decks:-

 

https://www.magicmadhouse.co.uk/pokemon-c1250/theme-deck-t1021

 

But honestly i would try your local ASDA or TESCOS as they have sales on theme decks all the time. 

 

And remember all the boosters and theme decks etc come with a code for PTCGO so if you have a decent tablet or computer they can have an account and play against the computer or others online. 

[Elseb]

Regarding the above post, if anybody ever needs online codes, let me know. I open Pokemon cards all the time and don't use the codes, more than happy to pass them onto you!

Has anybody managed to buy any of the Shining Fates boxes?

Lots of controversy at the moment with people buying all available stock and doubling the price, pretty annoying really. Especially as Shining Fates is a really great set with some awesome cards. Including that Shiny Charizard.

 

If anybody's interested, I've recently done a video on my Shining Legends Graded Collection. It's amazing how prices have gone up over the last couple of years.

 

 

[Twinbee]

My son was quite upset about this and doesn’t want to collect cards anymore (which he’s loved since he was about 7), which is a real shame. 

[Dig Dug]

I got a friend who is a long time Pokemon collector and the whole deal with them right now is mental quite honestly and it seems to have had a massive ripple effect. Yugioh prices are also rising at an extreme rate and we are seeing graders likes PSA & Beckett doing a price hike on their services. My friend has decided to put his complete collection of Evolutions up for auction because he doesn't know when the bubble will burst and reckons they'll try reprinting the set in the future.

The whole thing is fascinating from the outside when I'm seeing people claim that delivery trucks for Target and the like have been tapped up with tracking devices and other things so the scalpers can get in on everything.
There's also shit like this.

 

[Elseb]

On 07/03/2021 at 01:16, Dig Dug said:

I got a friend who is a long time Pokemon collector and the whole deal with them right now is mental quite honestly and it seems to have had a massive ripple effect. Yugioh prices are also rising at an extreme rate and we are seeing graders likes PSA & Beckett doing a price hike on their services. My friend has decided to put his complete collection of Evolutions up for auction because he doesn't know when the bubble will burst and reckons they'll try reprinting the set in the future.

The whole thing is fascinating from the outside when I'm seeing people claim that delivery trucks for Target and the like have been tapped up with tracking devices and other things so the scalpers can get in on everything.
There's also shit like this.

 

 

I think the Evolutions reprint was a rumour going around but i genuinely don't see that happening, especially as Nintendo are struggling to print enough stock for their modern sets. The PSA price hike has affected me, I've currently been waiting 11 months for a send off to come back so there is no way I'm going to be paying more and waiting that long, I'll just go and use CGC or another grading service, sure their value won't be as high but I do it for collection purposes rather than profit.

 

I managed to get a Shining Fates Elite Trainer Box though which I'm opening tomorrow, extremely excited haha

 

[Dig Dug]

7 hours ago, Elseb said:

 

I think the Evolutions reprint was a rumour going around but i genuinely don't see that happening, especially as Nintendo are struggling to print enough stock for their modern sets.

 

His rationale is that they have a new factory which leads him to think there will be new printings in the future (possibly after the pandemic).

We will have to see. Either way I’m sure he’ll net a tidy profit on his current set.

[Elseb]

3 hours ago, Dig Dug said:

His rationale is that they have a new factory which leads him to think there will be new printings in the future (possibly after the pandemic).

We will have to see. Either way I’m sure he’ll net a tidy profit on his current set.

 

Yeah definitely, Evolutions prices won't drop too much either way. The set brought so many people back to the TCG that there's massive nostalgia for it. And as we all know, Nostalgia sells! 

[Dig Dug]

 

[Arn X Treme]

Just got this out my first Battle Styles pack!

[ph0rce]

The Pokémon Battle Academy is only £5 at Asda Living ( and I assume Asda ) at the moment. 
 

Plus they’ve got some of the PIN collections for half price too. 

[Clipper]

I have no idea about pokemon cards so imagine this post is on behalf of my 10 yr old son (because it sort of is)

 

He has got back into collecting cards and watches the youtubers who open packs blah blah. He bought a Pikachu V special box with 4 shining fates packs in it and the first one he opened he almost jumped thru the ceiling as he got a shiny charizard vmax (no idea what any of the words are that I am typing right now). He was convinced it was worth £300 which sounds bonkers to me. I checked ebay sold prices for that description and saw they go for £100 ish but still not 100% sure and assume there is some special thing I am missing and his card is in fact quite common.

 

He is talking about sending it off for "grading" (again no idea)... but I thought I'd ask my friendly neighbourhood Rllmuk expert is this the expensive thing he thinks it is and what is grading and is it worth it?

 

 

 

TLDR; WTF is this card and is it worth anything or is my 10 year old mistaken/drunk

 

[Arn X Treme]

On 13/07/2021 at 14:48, Clipper said:

I have no idea about pokemon cards so imagine this post is on behalf of my 10 yr old son (because it sort of is)

 

He has got back into collecting cards and watches the youtubers who open packs blah blah. He bought a Pikachu V special box with 4 shining fates packs in it and the first one he opened he almost jumped thru the ceiling as he got a shiny charizard vmax (no idea what any of the words are that I am typing right now). He was convinced it was worth £300 which sounds bonkers to me. I checked ebay sold prices for that description and saw they go for £100 ish but still not 100% sure and assume there is some special thing I am missing and his card is in fact quite common.

 

He is talking about sending it off for "grading" (again no idea)... but I thought I'd ask my friendly neighbourhood Rllmuk expert is this the expensive thing he thinks it is and what is grading and is it worth it?

 

 

 

TLDR; WTF is this card and is it worth anything or is my 10 year old mistaken/drunk

 

https://cardzard.com/blogs/news/shining-fates-pull-rate-data-2021

 

https://pikashop.co.uk/collections/shining-fates/products/pokemon-shining-fates-charizard-vmax-shiny-full-art-sv107-sv122

 

https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-shining-fates-cards-best/

Edited July 15, 2021 by Arn X Treme

[Clipper]

12 hours ago, Arn X Treme said:

https://cardzard.com/blogs/news/shining-fates-pull-rate-data-2021

 

https://pikashop.co.uk/collections/shining-fates/products/pokemon-shining-fates-charizard-vmax-shiny-full-art-sv107-sv122

 

https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-shining-fates-cards-best/

thanks.. it is madness. looking at that last link in his 4 packs he pulled the Charizard vmax, the Grimsnaarl Vmax and the Ditto Vmax.

 

Lucky boy! He has gone off idea of getitng it PSA graded (I did google that but it looked a bit involved!) and I'm sure it'll all get forgotten in a drawer when he moves onto next thing but he is very happy for now

 

[Arn X Treme]

45 minutes ago, Clipper said:

thanks.. it is madness. looking at that last link in his 4 packs he pulled the Charizard vmax, the Grimsnaarl Vmax and the Ditto Vmax.

 

Lucky boy! He has gone off idea of getitng it PSA graded (I did google that but it looked a bit involved!) and I'm sure it'll all get forgotten in a drawer when he moves onto next thing but he is very happy for now

 

 

If he's serious about keeping it in some decent nick get it in a sleeve and a top loader. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Card-PROtect-Toploader-Protective-Gathering/dp/B08QSKRCT9/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=pokemon+cards+sleeves&qid=1626433112&sr=8-12

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Pro-AW1365-Standard-Sleeves/dp/B0002TT3N4/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=pokemon+cards+sleeves&qid=1626433206&sr=8-6

[Clipper]

yes the very next thing he wanted was sleeves (all the youtubers he watches use them whent hey get a valuable "pull") so I got him some VaultX ones v similar to those , and the rest I can use for my boardgaming cards

 

[Dig Dug]

PSA grading has sky rocketed so much in price that I’ve seen long time yugioh collectors give it up and sell off all their slabs.

 

As long as the cards are kept in a state where they will be safe (ideally double sleeved + top loader) then they will always be good for it.

 

Also PSA have increased their grading stands to control the population of 10’s so submitting these days is an exercise in setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

Still cool to hear about the Charizard pull however it’s always nice to pull good.

[gossi the dog]

My nephew who’s 6, has gotten into Pokemon. If I bought him as a Christmas present one of the Elite Trainer boxes would that be sufficient to play the actual game?

 

Also is the game any good? I think he’d just like having the cards to be honest, but I’m a bit unsure and these things aren’t exactly cheap.

[Herbalizer]

39 minutes ago, gossi the dog said:

My nephew who’s 6, has gotten into Pokemon. If I bought him as a Christmas present one of the Elite Trainer boxes would that be sufficient to play the actual game?

 

Also is the game any good? I think he’d just like having the cards to be honest, but I’m a bit unsure and these things aren’t exactly cheap.

 

 

We were looking at this for one of our kids   Pokemon Academy   only £15 and has everything they need to learn the game.

 

 

[gossi the dog]

17 minutes ago, Herbalizer said:

 

 

We were looking at this for one of our kids   Pokemon Academy   only £15 and has everything they need to learn the game.

 

 

 

Do you need to buy some extra cards to go with that?

[Herbalizer]

2 minutes ago, gossi the dog said:

 

Do you need to buy some extra cards to go with that?

 

It said on the box that it contains everything you need for a 1v1 game.  One of our sons has gone the other way and has hundreds of cards, but no idea how to play it so we thought this was a good entry into the rules.  

[Stoppy2000]

2 hours ago, gossi the dog said:

 

Do you need to buy some extra cards to go with that?

Nope. This has 3 pre-built decks. It'll take some time before you get around to building custom decks. This is a pretty cheap way to get into the game. 

[Elseb]

On 16/07/2021 at 11:11, Clipper said:

thanks.. it is madness. looking at that last link in his 4 packs he pulled the Charizard vmax, the Grimsnaarl Vmax and the Ditto Vmax.

 

Lucky boy! He has gone off idea of getitng it PSA graded (I did google that but it looked a bit involved!) and I'm sure it'll all get forgotten in a drawer when he moves onto next thing but he is very happy for now

 

 

Did it end up getting chucked in a drawer in the end?

Yeah grading is a bit complicated for PSA, as you need to send your cards over to the USA but there has recently been a few UK based companies open, I personally won't use them but it does make the process a lot easier. I do find the idea of ten year old kids getting cards graded hilarious though, the power of Youtube!

 

I recently did a video of my PSA Legendary Collection set which is one of the rarest and most expensive, literally thousands of pounds for certain cards:

 

I should also say, if anybody reading this thread has children who would like some Pokemon cards, I've got literally thousands of common cards which I'd be happy to send out to start their collections or curiosities. Just give me a shout.

[Mortis]

I’d be up for some @Elseb - my daughter just picked the battle academy up for Xmas and wants to try the local geek retreat. 

[Elseb]

23 minutes ago, Mortis said:

I’d be up for some @Elseb - my daughter just picked the battle academy up for Xmas and wants to try the local geek retreat. 

 

No worries! Drop me a PM with your details and I'll get them sent out on Monday. 

[Poet]

That's incredibly generous of you @Elseb - I'd love to take some of your hands!

 

My 5 year old has recently really got into Pokemon cards (which is why I assume they were banned in his school a few months ago - all the younglings were going nuts for them). One of his little presents for Christmas this year was a booster back (same for his 3 year old sister, actually - they both asked for them), and we figured he had a bunch of other stuff and he didn't need loads of cards when he's just collected a few (although he immediately asked for a folder to keep them in, which he keeps tidy!) and isn't playing the game as yet (we also got the Pokemon Academy and played a couple of times but we've not got into it yet really). Anyway, as soon as he opened his presents on Christmas morning, he spent a good chunk of the rest of the day walking around with his Pokemon cards tucked into his little fist, looking over the cards, reading the names, looking at all the little bits in the pictures and reading the stats he doesn't understand again and again. So something's been triggered in there! Meanwhile, his little sister really wants a Pikachu stuffed toy. Pikachu is apparently second only to unicorns in her eyes. The highest of praise.

 

You didn't need to know any of that. But yes, there's a fair bit of Pokemon'ing going on in my house, and the kids would love some cards.

[Elseb]

3 minutes ago, Poet said:

That's incredibly generous of you @Elseb - I'd love to take some of your hands!

 

My 5 year old has recently really got into Pokemon cards (which is why I assume they were banned in his school a few months ago - all the younglings were going nuts for them). One of his little presents for Christmas this year was a booster back (same for his 3 year old sister, actually - they both asked for them), and we figured he had a bunch of other stuff and he didn't need loads of cards when he's just collected a few (although he immediately asked for a folder to keep them in, which he keeps tidy!) and isn't playing the game as yet (we also got the Pokemon Academy and played a couple of times but we've not got into it yet really). Anyway, as soon as he opened his presents on Christmas morning, he spent a good chunk of the rest of the day walking around with his Pokemon cards tucked into his little fist, looking over the cards, reading the names, looking at all the little bits in the pictures and reading the stats he doesn't understand again and again. So something's been triggered in there! Meanwhile, his little sister really wants a Pikachu stuffed toy. Pikachu is apparently second only to unicorns in her eyes. The highest of praise.

 

You didn't need to know any of that. But yes, there's a fair bit of Pokemon'ing going on in my house, and the kids would love some cards.

 

Reminds me of my childhood. 😂

No problem whatsoever, drop me a PM with your details.