How to Start a Pokémon Card Collection

Maybe you’re sick of hearing all your friends talk about the hobby and feeling out of the loop. Or perhaps your kid is coming of age and you want them to enjoy the same thrill of collecting Pokémon cards that you did back in the day. Either way, we’re going to show you how to start a Pokémon card collection in this guide. 

There are actually quite a few ways you can go about jumpstarting your collection of Pokémon cards. The best way to start collecting Pokémon cards all depends on what type of collector you want to be.

However you decide to dive into this journey, Danerion is here to support you along the way. You can buy Pokémon cards online through our store with over 150,000 singles updated daily, and we have tons of booster boxes if you want to hit the ground running. Learn more below!

Key Takeaways

• Decide how you want to collect: by species, set, era, special cards, or sealed product.
• Singles are a more efficient way to build a tailored collection. Packs are fun but unreliable.
• Protect every card in your collection with sleeves and binders. This also helps keep things organized.
• Learn the hobby first. Don’t just chase the most expensive product on the shelf. Actually understanding the Pokémon makes this more fulfilling.
• Danireon is your one-stop shop for all things Pokémon TCG in North America.

What Not to Do When Getting Started Collecting Pokémon Cards

We’ve seen it countless times. Someone decides they want to start collecting Pokémon cards because a creator they like posts videos or hosts live streams ripping packs. So, they do exactly the same thing. 

But this is NOT the best way to start collecting Pokémon cards. Is it fun? It certainly can be, if you love the thrill of the chase. More often than not, though, it leads to disappointment. You’re going to end up with tons of cards you couldn’t care less about, and very few that are worth holding onto.

Another really common mistake we see people make is learning how to start a Pokémon card collection with the hope of turning this into an income stream. They buy booster boxes with the sole intention of flipping them, or chase hyped-up cards based on YouTube thumbnails. Then they panic sell when the market dips.

We advocate for buying what you love and letting any appreciation that happens be a bonus.

There’s one other thing we want to warn you about upfront, and we’ll dive deeper into it later on in our guide on how to start a Pokémon card collection: protection is worth investing in. Sleeve cards the moment you pull them if you care about long-term value at all. 

How to Start a Pokémon Card Collection: 5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Collection

Just how many Pokémon cards are there? Enough that trying to own everything is unrealistic for most people. Yes, the original phrase was “Gotta catch ‘em all!” But our advice on how to start collecting Pokémon cards is to get more specific about what you want the journey to look like.

Otherwise, you simply end up with a random pile of cards with zero cohesion whatsoever. You end up spending a ton of money without a collection you’re really proud of. 

These are the five different ways you can go about jumpstarting your Pokémon card collection. 

Narrow it Down by Species

Pick your favorite Pokémon and collect every single card featuring it. This is one of the simplest ways to go about collecting Pokémon cards. 

Charizard is obviously a really popular target, but it’s also the most expensive. You can build an Eevee collection with dozens of cards across every generation for a much more reasonable price. Pikachu is another really deep well you can pull from with promos, full-arts, and regional exclusives dating all the way back to 1996.

You could also zoom out a bit and focus on all the Pokémon from a specific type. For example:

• Fire
• Water
• Grass
• Electric
• Fighting
• Poison
• Etc. 

This is a good way to start if you really closely align with one of the types of Pokémon.

Assemble a Collection By Sets

This is the classic approach to Pokémon card collecting. Pick a set and track down every card in it as you work toward a complete binder. 

Two of the most popular starting points right now are Scarlet & Violet 151 and Crown Zenith. They don’t have too many cards that building a collection is overwhelming, and there’s tons of supply on secondary markets so you can hit the ground running.

Or, you can let nostalgia carry you through this adventure with older sets like Base Set or Fossil. 

The best way to start collecting Pokémon cards through this strategy is with Pokémon booster packs. You’ll quickly start filling up your collection, and the chase of filling in gaps is half the fun! Otherwise, you can always buy singles for the specific cards you’re missing.  

Focus on a Specific Era

Each Pokémon TCG era has a totally different feel. There’s nothing like the nostalgia from Wizards of the Coast cards (1999-2003). The EX era brought out cards that literally felt different because of their full-art texturing. Sun & Moon introduced Tag Team GX cards, while Sword & Shield gave us VMAX and alt-arts that totally changed what a chase card could look like.

You can pick an era that resonates with you most. If you’re just diving into the Pokémon fandom with your kids, that might be the newer Scarlet & Violet cards. Or, that could be WOTC-era cards if you grew up watching the anime in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

The appeal of this approach is that you end up building a snapshot of the game’s history.

Seek Out Special Cards

These are the cards people frame and display. Full-arts, alt-arts, Secret Rares, Gold Rares, Trainer Gallery cards, and Illustration Rares - collectors are drawn toward special cards. There’s no way around it. 

You can sometimes get a guaranteed promo card alongside booster packs in Pokémon collection boxes. This is a super reliable way to grab a specific card you want while still getting to rip packs. 

If you were initially interested in collecting Pokémon cards because you wanted to resell them one day, this is probably the best place to start. 

Collecting Sealed Pokémon

Some collectors never even open their product. We know that sounds crazy, but hear us out. Sealed booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes, and special collections appreciate over time as supply dries up.

For example, Pokémon booster boxes from an out-of-print set can go for 2-3x what you initially paid within a few years (depending on the set's popularity and pull rates, of course).

Just know that sealed collecting requires two things: patience and storage space. You’re going to hold inventory for the long haul, and you’re making a bet on scarcity. It’s the most hands-off approach to collecting Pokémon cards, though, and arguably the one with the most consistent returns. But you miss out on all the fun of ripping packs and actually filling a binder. 

The Best Way to Protect Your Pokémon Card Collection

No guide on how to start collecting Pokémon cards could be complete without talking about protection. You NEED good Pokémon card binders to keep your collection accessible, protected, and presentable all at once. It will also make it easy for you to see what you already have and what’s missing from the collection.

At the very least, though, put every card in a penny sleeve. Keep cards away from direct sunlight and humidity. Always store them upright. UV exposure and bending can destroy the value of your rarest cards. 

We have a more detailed guide on how to organize Pokémon cards by set number, rarity, or era if you’re serious about learning how to collect Pokémon cards the right way. And on that note, it’s also worth taking a step back and immersing yourself in the Pokémon universe itself! 

Dive Deeper Into the Hobby!

YouTube channels, the r/PokemonTCG subreddit, Facebook groups, Discord servers, local communities - there are so many ways to engage with other like-minded individuals who are collecting Pokémon cards. This is how you make connections in this space, and who knows - those connections might just help you complete your collection!

We always advocate for learning the actual TCG rules even if you never play competitively. Understanding which cards matter in the game gives you context for why certain ones are expensive. 

Always stay tuned in for new set announcements from The Pokémon Company, too. This will help you stay ahead of the hype. Our own social media can be a great resource for you along this journey!

Final Words on How to Start Collecting Pokémon Cards

There you have it - how to start a Pokémon card collection. We hope you feel excited and confident in your next steps as you embark on this journey. There’s no better place to start your collection than right here at Danireon.

From singles to booster boxes, sealed product, and even Pokémon pre-orders, we have everything you need to begin or finish your collection. Shop now!

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth starting a Pokémon card collection?

Absolutely! This is such a fun hobby, and it’s more accessible than it’s ever been.

How do I start my Pokémon collection?

That’s totally up to you. We think the best way to start collecting Pokémon cards is to get more specific about what type of collection you want (by species, set, era, card type, etc.).

How to sell a Pokémon collection?

Get your higher-value cards graded and then list them on eBay or TCGPlayer. You can also sell cards to us directly at Danireon, which is a great option if you’re interested in selling for store credit to jumpstart your next collection!