How to start collecting Pokémon cards
Decide what you want from it before you spend much. Opening packs, finishing a set and chasing one Pokémon are three different hobbies, and each has a cheaper way in. Buy sealed products from shops and check the price first.
What sounds like you?
I like opening packs
Start with an Elite Trainer Box.
- Nine packs, sleeves and a box to keep the cards in.
- Pick a set that is in the shops now.
- Sleeve anything shiny as you open it.
I want to finish a set
Open a little, then buy single cards.
- A box or two gives you most of the commons.
- After that, single cards cost less than more packs.
- A set binder shows the gaps.
I love one Pokémon
Buy single cards from the start.
- Search our card pages for that Pokémon.
- Every printing is listed with its price.
- Begin with the cheap ones. There are hundreds.
I want to play
Buy a ready built deck.
- A League Battle Deck plays well out of the box.
- Local card shops run league nights for beginners.
It is for my child
A tin or an Elite Trainer Box, sealed, from a shop.
- Add a binder and a pack of sleeves.
- Loose cards from stalls and online lots are where fakes come from.
- Pick a goal: opening packs, one set, or one Pokémon.
- Start with a current set. Old sets cost far more.
- Sleeve good cards the moment they leave the pack.
- Single cards are the cheap way to finish a set.
- Check today's price before you buy any box.
Your first purchases
- One sealed product.An Elite Trainer Box or a tin of a current set. Our guide to what is in each box compares them.
- Sleeves and a binder.Soft sleeves for the good cards and a binder with side loading pockets. See our storage guide.
- Nothing else yet.Open what you have, see what you enjoy, then choose a goal.
Charizard$334 rawOur scannerSee what you pulledIt names the card and prices it in a few seconds. There is nothing to install.Scan a card →Learn to read your cards
- Which card is it? See how to read a card.
- How rare is it? See the rarity symbols.
- What is it worth? See what a card is worth.
- What do the words mean? See the glossary.
Master set bindersChasing a whole set?Pick a set and the binder lays out every card in order. The ones you still need show in gray until you add them.Start a master set →Spend less from the start
- Check the price.Our set pages show what every sealed product costs today.
- Wait for a deal.Our live deals list products priced below their usual level.
- Buy single cards.Once you know what you want, one card costs less than the packs it takes to pull it.
Traps for beginners
- Fakes. See how to spot a fake card.
- Resealed boxes. See our guide to fake and resealed boxes.
- Paying far over the shop price for a new set.
- Grading cards that are not worth the fee.
In stock today below its usual price
Sealed products on sale right now, ranked by how far each sits under its usual price. Tap one for its price history.
Common questions
What should I buy first to start collecting Pokémon cards?
One sealed Elite Trainer Box or tin of a current set, plus sleeves and a binder. That is enough to learn what you enjoy before you spend more.
How much does it cost to start collecting Pokémon cards?
A tin or a few packs is enough to begin. An Elite Trainer Box is the usual first box. Our set pages show today's price for each.
Is it cheaper to buy packs or single cards?
Single cards, once you know which ones you want. Packs are for the fun of opening. Most sets cost far more to finish from packs alone.
Which Pokémon set should a beginner buy?
Any set that is in the shops now. Current sets sell at the normal price. Sets that are out of print cost more and suit collectors with a plan.
How do I keep track of my Pokémon cards?
Our free binder lists your cards and values them as prices move. Scan a card with your phone to add it.
More guides
Use our tools
Scan a cardPoint your phone at a card. It tells you which card it is and what it is worth.Open →Track your collectionA free binder that values your cards and sealed products as prices move.Open →Master set bindersA binder with a numbered slot for every card in a set. Fill it as you collect.Open →
Pack GameOpen packs of a set for free and see what the cards are worth today.Open →Get the daily deals in your inbox
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