What is a master set, and how do you build one?

A master set's cost is lopsided.

• Commons, uncommons and their reverse holos cost cents each.
• Standard ex cards cost a little more.
• The special illustration rares and gold cards cost more than everything else put together.

Price the five dearest cards first. That tells you whether the set fits your budget. Look a set up.

Four of the set's seven special illustration rares. Press one for its price today.

Charizard exSpecial illustration rareBlastoise exSpecial illustration rareVenusaur exSpecial illustration rareAlakazam exSpecial illustration rare

The same card twice, from our own scans. A master set holds both.

PikachuPlainPikachuReverse holo

1. Open some product first.A box or two fills most of the commons and uncommons, and it is the fun part.
2. Stop opening early.Once new packs give mostly doubles, more packs cost more than the cards you need.
3. Buy the gaps as single cards.Start with the cheap ones. Leave the dear ones until prices settle after release.
4. Swap your doubles.Trade spares for cards you need. Our Trade Table prices both sides.

• One binder for the set, in card number order.
• Side loading pockets, and a sleeve on anything of value.
• Reverse holos sit beside their plain twin, or in a second binder.

Our storage guide has the rest.

• A set you like looking at. You will see it for months.
• A set still in the shops. Its cards are at their cheapest.
• A small set first. Many special sets have fewer cards than a main set.