New to Pokemon TCG?

Here's everything you need to know to become a savvy collector in no time.

If you're here you're probably just getting into Pokemon TCG or interested to start but don't know where to start.


By the end of this article you'll be confident enough to start buying and trading your cards without the fear of getting ripped off.


Note that most of my experience is within the Singapore market. But it may apply worldwide as well.


First, a bit of background.


I first started collecting Pokemon cards in 1997 when the first edition decks came out. Back then I remember buying 2-player starter set with the holo Machamp.


I didn't have much money so I couldn't really chase for valuable cards. But as a kid, it was still fun collecting whatever I had and battling with my friends.


After I got into my teens I stopped collecting. I actually kept my cards all the way until my 20s, where I gave away my entire binder to someone thinking I wouldn't ever get back into collecting.


Fast forward to 2023, the release of the 151 English set caught my attention. I was an adult now with some disposable income. So why not just start collecting.


That said, a lot of the chase cards were still expensive. And now they had this thing called grading. But instead of just looking at value, I decided to just start a modest collection, keeping cards that I actually like.


So that's where I started. I also started streaming on Tiktok, opening packs for people and pulling hits. To date I've had more than 1900 sales in 3 years. Nothing to boast about compared to the big streamers.


But doing this alone, it was something I really enjoyed. I've made a lot of great friends through the hobby.


So everything I've learned over my time back into this hobby, I will share here.


Next: should you start collecting Japanese or English Pokemon TCG?