This article is for all the new Pokémon card collectors out there. You might be getting back into the hobby after an extended break, or perhaps this is your first time getting into Pokémon! Whether you picked up an Elite Trainer Box in a Walmart on a whim, were fed a cool Pokémon video on YouTube, or saw an article about how Pokémon cards are "stonks," welcome (back) to the hobby! There's no going back now.

Today, I want to share with you some of the wisdom I have accumulated over my many years in the hobby, from the time I was a kid, to when I was a pimply teenager, to now when I am a less-pimply adult. It's really easy to spend (and waste, speaking from personal experience) a lot of money in this hobby, and regardless of your budget, it's important to collect the right way for you to maximize both your enjoyment of the cards you collect, and the money that you decide to spend.

Let Go of FOMO (Wait Before You Buy)

First, I want to give a warning about FOMO (the Fear Of Missing Out). In a hobby that revolves around collecting, it runs rampant. This is natural. The Pokémon Company releases four main sets per year, with an additional one to three special sets, on top of unique one-off products and promos. That means a new set is coming out around every two months, with more items in between. And that's just English. If you start getting into Japanese cards, things get even more hectic, especially with the number of (admittedly very cool) Japanese-exclusive promos that are released.

When products first come out, it's easy to convince yourself that you want—no need—them, and that you need them now. Because they're so cool, they'll surely only get more expensive. In reality, this is rarely the case. While some items do get more expensive after release, if you were to take the average of all new releases, you would be better off waiting a few weeks to months after something comes out to purchase it.

This also has the added benefit of helping weed out the products you really want from the ones you're just seeing all the time. The mere exposure effect dictates that people tend to have a preference for things that they encounter often. When the hype around a new set dies down, it's easier to tell if we really like something or not. As someone who is very into clothing and fashion but has a New York-sized closet, I try to avoid buying items the first time I see them. If I'm still thinking about an item a week or a month later, I'll go back and buy it. The same concept can be applied to cards! While it doesn't need to be a hard and fast rule, strategies like waiting can help curb impulse purchases.

Explore the Hobby

Getting into anything new is always exciting, and it's the best time to explore as many parts of the Pokémon card hobby as possible to determine what you really like. You may discover you love vintage cards, or modern promos, or realize you're someone who just wants to play the TCG.

It may feel overwhelming when you first get started, so I'd recommend the following:

Engage with the community. This can be on Instagram or other social media platforms, or if you can, your local card shop. It's a great way to learn more, find cool cards, and make friends in the hobby.

Find your favorite YouTubers. YouTube is a big part of the Pokémon space. Popular ones include PokeRev, UnlistedLeaf, Deep Pocket Monster, TwicebakedJake, Danny Phantump, and many more. (Shameless self-promo, but I also make YouTube videos on my channel, Eva's Binder.)

Learn as much about the history of the TCG as possible. By this, I don't mean you need to know what year each and every set came out and all the lore surrounding them. But it's helpful to have a general understanding of the different eras, or at least know they exist so you can figure out if you like any of them more than the others.

Narrow Your Focus

I know far too many people who complain about having a lot of cards they don't actually want or feeling like their collection isn't really a "collection," but rather a random assortment of cards. This is due to a combination of factors, but assuming you've avoided the trap of FOMO, the two most prevalent causes are:

  1. Ripping Packs. Ripping packs may be very fun and feed your inner degenerate, but it's certainly not the best way to get the cards you want. Not only is it not cost-effective, but you'll also end up with a lot of cards you don't really want, whether those are just bulk commons and uncommons, or even hits aside from the ones you're chasing.
  2. Buying Anything and Everything. There are a lot of amazing cards. More than any one person could ever collect. The sad reality of a Pokémon collector is that you can't have everything, no matter how much money you may have.

Now that you've hopefully explored the hobby and at least know your options, it'll be a lot easier to narrow down your focus. Some popular ones are:

Species Collecting. This is the category I personally fall into. I collect Entei, along with the other Legendary dogs, Raikou and Suicune. My ultimate goal is to have every printing of Entei in a PSA 10. I'm guessing you know quite a few species collectors, since anyone who collects Charizard cards would qualify. Other popular Pokémon include Pikachu, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, and a slew of others. This can be an especially budget-friendly option if you collect a less popular Pokémon.

Master Set Collecting. Many people like to assemble a binder of every card in a given set, which is called a "master set." This can be a good option if you want to rip packs occasionally and still want it to make sense with your collecting goals. Particularly if you're master setting new sets, you can rip a box or two to get all of the commons and uncommons, and fill in the gaps through buying and trading. However, you can also collect master sets of vintage sets like Base Set for surprisingly cheap.

Era Collecting. Some people like to target specific eras, such as WotC holos, which were the earliest English cards, or e-Cards, which were released from 2002-2004. Others prefer more recent eras, like the Sun & Moon Series, or the Sword & Shield Series.

Gimmick Collecting. "Gimmick" is such a dirty word, but I say it with love. When I say gimmick, I'm referring to certain card types that were produced for a limited number of sets. Many of these are actually some of the most expensive set cards in the hobby, such as Shining cards, Gold Star cards, Crystal cards, etc. I think this is a great aspirational goal once you've been in the hobby for a little while and are sure you're committed. However, the older subsets of cards can be quite pricey, so aren't always accessible to new collectors. Others, like Legend cards (which were two-part cards with gorgeous art), Prime cards, and EX cards are a lot more affordable.

Sealed Collecting. Some people prefer to collect sealed Pokémon products. If you're first getting into the hobby, that may sound silly, but sealed products make for great display pieces as well.

These are some of the popular strategies, but there are many more options! None of these are meant to box you in. Rather, having a directed goal that's challenging but achievable can make collecting more rewarding, and help curb spending.

Invest in Protection for Your Cards

In terms of protection, you don't need to spend a lot, but you definitely should get a few of the basics. A good $20 binder can save you hundreds or more depending on what cards you're putting inside. My childhood cards are crying in the corner with their creases and dirt. I recommend getting a side-loading binder, because when it inevitably ends up upside down at some point, the cards won't be falling out the top. While there are many high-end binders out there, I typically just opt for the Ultra PRO binders. They have lots of cute designs, including a lot of official Pokémon ones, and are reasonably priced at around $15-25 at most retailers.

Aside from a binder, you will definitely want some sleeves. Ultra PRO makes great sleeves, but honestly for the most part I stick to penny sleeves, which as the name suggests, cost one cent. Although it may be 2.25 cents nowadays. Curse you, inflation. Putting cards in a binder alone isn't enough to fully protect them, as they can slide around inside which can cause wear to the edges and minor scratching on the surface. I actually like penny sleeves more because they're very clear, easy to put the card in and take it out, and allow you to see the front and back easily.

For storing cards you don't want to put in a binder, it's hard to beat an old Elite Trainer Box. You probably have at least a couple laying around, so it doesn't cost anything. That's really all you need.

But if you want to get fancy with it, I'd also recommend getting some top-loaders. These are rigid sleeves that you put your card in after you've sleeved it with a soft sleeve, like a penny sleeve.

Deep Pocket Monster also has a great video on the topic of storing cards properly.

You're getting into a really amazing hobby, and I'm jealous of you. You get to have the joy of discovering—or rediscovering—all the amazing cards out there! While there's so much more to be said, I hope this guide can help you as you get started collecting. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to collect!