Latest news with #PokémonTCG
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pokémon TCG N's Plot special illustration rare card expected to be hardest to find in 2025
A newly unveiled Special Illustration Rare card featuring Pokémon's beloved character N is already drawing major attention among collectors and fans. The card, titled N's Plot, will debut as part of the upcoming Pokémon TCG sets Black Bolt and White Flare, which are set to release in Japan on June 6, 2025, with an English-language launch scheduled for July 18, 2025. First revealed by PokéBeach, N's Plot features a visually striking image of N gazing at the sky with a Ferris wheel softly blurred in the background. The card instantly sparked buzz in online forums, with players predicting it will be another 'impossibly hard' card to acquire—echoing the difficulty of obtaining previous Special Illustration Rare cards of N from the Journey Together set released in March. In addition to N's Plot, the Black Bolt and White Flare sets will include an Illustration Rare of the Pokémon Unfezant. This card showcases a tender moment between a male and female Unfezant nesting together. While it's been praised for its artistry, it hasn't generated the same fervor as the N-themed card. This heightened demand is compounded by the increasing challenges of the Pokémon TCG secondary market. Special Illustration Rares already have low pull rates, and characters like N—one of the franchise's most iconic antagonists—only increase the competition. Scalpers frequently target premium sets, driving up prices and making it harder for average players to find or afford unopened packs.
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
How Pokemon Booster Pakkaus Builds Your Collection
If you're passionate about Pokémon and expanding your trading card collection, then you've likely heard the term Pokemon Booster Pakkaus. In simple terms, this is the Finnish equivalent of a booster pack—a small, sealed product containing a randomized selection of Pokémon cards. These packs are a staple of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and play a key role in building competitive decks and growing valuable collections. For those targeting the Finnish market, booster pakkaukset (plural for 'pakkaus') are in high demand, both for play and for investment. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a newbie, understanding what booster packs offer is critical for making smart buying decisions. A Pokemon Booster Pakkaus typically contains 10 random cards, though this can vary slightly by edition or special set. Here's what you can usually expect: Common Cards: These are the most frequently found and often have the lowest value. These are the most frequently found and often have the lowest value. Uncommon Cards: A step above common cards in both rarity and sometimes playability. A step above common cards in both rarity and sometimes playability. Rare Cards: These cards often include special abilities and high value. These cards often include special abilities and high value. Holographic Cards: Feature a shiny foil image and are prized by collectors. Feature a shiny foil image and are prized by collectors. Reverse-Holos: Where the card's image is matte but the rest is shiny. Where the card's image is matte but the rest is shiny. Energy Cards: Needed to play the game, especially useful in themed decks. The odds of pulling an ultra-rare or secret rare card are typically around 1 in 36 packs. However, newer Sword & Shield or Scarlet & Violet expansions have altered these ratios slightly. Since its global launch in the 1990s, Pokémon booster packs have undergone significant changes: Base Set Era (1999–2000): Featured simpler designs and basic holographics. Featured simpler designs and basic holographics. Neo & EX Series (2000–2007): Introduced mechanics like dual types and special abilities. Introduced mechanics like dual types and special abilities. Sun & Moon Era: Improved card quality and expanded set sizes. Improved card quality and expanded set sizes. Scarlet & Violet Series: Introduced the new silver border design and restructured rarity tiers. Each generation brought something new, increasing the appeal of the Pokemon Booster Pakkaus in both play and collectibility. Unlike buying single cards, booster pakkaukset offer: Excitement & Surprise: The thrill of opening a sealed pack and the possibility of rare finds. The thrill of opening a sealed pack and the possibility of rare finds. Deck Building: Essential for those who play the Pokémon TCG competitively. Essential for those who play the Pokémon TCG competitively. Investment Value: Sealed booster packs often increase in value over time, especially from limited releases. Sealed booster packs often increase in value over time, especially from limited releases. LSI Keywords: Pokémon cards, TCG packs, rare Pokemon cards, collector items. With rising demand comes increased risk of counterfeit products. Here's how to spot a genuine Pokemon Booster Pakkaus: Packaging Quality: Genuine packs have high-quality, crimped edges and logos. Genuine packs have high-quality, crimped edges and logos. Set Logos & Details: Double-check for correct edition logos and card numbers. Double-check for correct edition logos and card numbers. Weight & Feel: Fakes often have thinner materials or inconsistent card textures. Fakes often have thinner materials or inconsistent card textures. Holographic Pattern: Genuine holo cards have a distinct pattern that's hard to replicate. Always buy from reputable sellers—especially when shopping online. Finland has a growing Pokémon TCG market with several buying options. Retail Type Pros Cons Online Shops Convenience, wider selection Risk of fakes if not reputable Physical Stores Hands-on inspection Limited stock or higher prices Use Finnish-based online platforms like , , and local game stores. , , and local game stores. Compare prices with international retailers, but factor in customs. Join Finnish Pokémon collector communities on Facebook and Discord. Booster Pakkaus: Great for beginners and casual players Exciting and unpredictable Risk of duplicates Single Cards: Targeted collection building Higher upfront cost per rare card Better for serious competitive players For optimal strategy, use a mix of both—open packs for fun and buy singles for strategic builds. Common (•) Uncommon (◆) Rare (★) Secret Rare: Numbered higher than the set total, e.g., 101/100 Holo: Shiny image section. Shiny image section. Reverse-Holo: Shiny background, matte image. Shiny background, matte image. Ultra Rare & Above: Includes VMAX, VSTAR, EX, and Rainbow Rares. Rarity often determines value, with secret rares and alternate arts topping the charts. Track Sets and Releases: Know when new sets drop. Buy in Bulk: Better odds and cost-effectiveness. Join Pre-Release Events: Often include exclusive cards. Trade with Other Collectors: Join Finnish collector groups. Document Your Collection: Use apps like TCGplayer or Pokélector. How to Store and Protect Your Cards Proper storage ensures your collection retains value: Sleeves & Binders: Prevent scratches and dirt. Prevent scratches and dirt. Toploaders & Card Savers: For high-value cards. For high-value cards. Cool, Dry Environment: Protects against humidity damage. Protects against humidity damage. Organize by Set & Type: Makes locating and trading easier. A sealed pack of Pokémon cards, typically containing 10 cards with various rarities. Yes! They're a fun and accessible way to grow your collection, and many Finnish shops stock them. Look for signs like poor print quality, unusual packaging, and inconsistent card textures. Start with recent popular sets like Scarlet & Violet, as they're easier to find and trade. Try local marketplaces like or community groups on Facebook. Secret Rares and Alternate Art cards, especially Charizard or Pikachu variants, are among the most valuable. In the vibrant world of Pokémon TCG, the Pokemon Booster Pakkaus is more than just a pack of cards—it's a gateway to adventure, strategy, and valuable collectibles. Whether you're looking to build a winning deck, invest in rare cards, or simply relive childhood memories, booster packs are essential. For Finnish collectors, there's no better time than now to dive in. Shop smart, collect wisely, and enjoy the thrill of the game. Happy collecting! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
The Verge
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
is set to continue with
Charles Pulliam-Moore The Ultra Beasts are coming. Pokémon TCG Pocket 's Alolan era Extradimensional Crisis, a new expansion featuring the (technically not legendary) pokémon known as Ultra Beasts. Following the set's launch on May 29th, there will also be new Drop, Wonder Pick, and Mass Outbreak events running throughout June to help add even more beasties to your collection.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pokémon TCG's Return Of Team Rocket Is A Triumph
Oh it's fun to have good news! The latest set from the Pokémon TCG, Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals, is a top-notch collection of cards bursting with Team Rocket antics, which sports (in my limited experience, at least) pull rates I don't believe we've seen in this era. Having torn open 55 packs, I have a generous spread of rares and ex cards the likes of which I've not seen since S&V began. Also, unlike the awful previous set Journey Together, it's an excellent collection of Trainer Pokémon to really charge up the live game. You know, if you can buy it. While it's delightful to report that The Pokémon Company has really knocked it out of the park with Destined Rivals, unfortunately this hasn't coincided with addressing the wild shortages of cards for regular customers. It's a problem that only just repeated itself with last week's website-crashing launch of the next sets, White Fire and Black Bolt—the first ever split-set English-language collection—that looks likely to be as impossible to buy as just about everything else this year. Or, if you do, you'll be paying way over MSRP to scalpers, and please don't do that. However, smart players will know that the best way to get cards for any set is to attend a pre-release event at their local store or club, where everyone receives seven or more packs, generally for less than $30. Those are taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, although I hear that even these were booking up fast weeks ago. If you can, I really recommend making the effort for Destined Rivals. It's a bunch of fun, and if the 55 packs I opened are an accurate sample (thanks to The Pokémon Company for sending them over), you're likely to pick up a good handful of super-pretty full-art cards. So why am I so excited for this set? It's a combination of things. It'd be silly to pretend that the first appearance of Team Rocket in the game in 25 years isn't a big part of the thrill, and the set is rammed full of the nefarious group and their signature monsters. Among the Pokémon boosted by Team Rocket are Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno, along with newcomer Spidops, classics like Meowth and Mewtwo, and that most evil of Pokémon, Flaaffy. Meanwhile, for the forces of good, Cynthia, Misty, Ethan and Arven all join, again bringing back some favorites like Milotic, Gyarados, Psyduck and Ho-oh. It's a real crowd-pleaser. Secondly, those pull-rates. When I get these boxes of cards from TPCi, I sit down and open them with my 10-year-old. It's a really solid way of gauging the levels of satisfaction, his spirit draining out of him when we're tearing through a set like Journey Together and just getting endless bulk. But with Destined Rivals, even my Pokémon-uninterested wife wanted in, so fun was it to have a strong chance of finding an exciting card. Where Journey Together only had 31 full-art cards, Destined Rivals has an amazing 62! Double! Admittedly, that's on top of a wild 182 regular cards (included ex), making this the biggest set since Surging Sparks, but with—in my admittedly unscientific sample—a seemingly much better chance of finding the special stuff. We were especially lucky to pull the Team Rocket's Ariana Special Illustration Rare, along with one of my chase cards, the Illustration Rare of Misty's Psyduck. No Mewtwo, sadly, but we also got 12 regular ex cards (only two duplicates), and 11 full-arts! If you include ex in the figures, that's a pull-rate of almost one in two! Remove the regular ex cards and you've still got one in five for something Ultra Rare or better. Those included the wildly gorgeous Rapidash by Rond, Mori Yuu's extraordinarily detailed Clamperl, the delightful Team Rocket's Murkrow (with Ariana and the Pokémon staring at one another in front of a skyline of skyscrapers) by Akira Komayama, and the splendidly silly Team Rocket's Raticate by Mekayu (the artist who gave us the glorious Drampa from Temporal Forces). And thirdly, the game itself! Journey Together was supposed to be the reintroduction of Trainer Pokémon to the live game, but it was such a damp squib. This time, things are really going to get mixed up! Team Rocket arrive with an array of brand new tricks and cheats, and while people are obviously going to build decks around Misty and Ethan, it'll be the baddies that once more prove the most fun. There's the addition of Team Rocket's Energy, which provides two energy to any Team Rocket Pokémon, and can be either Dark or Psychic or both! Meanwhile, Team Rocket's Venture Bomb lets you flip a coin to find out if it's going to do 20 damage to any of your opponent's Pokémon, or 20 specifically to your own Active Pokémon—but being an Item card, you can do this silliness as many times as you have cards in a single turn. Giovanni, meanwhile, offers a classic evil move: you can play him to swap out your current Active Pokémon, but also do the same to your opponent, and choose which of their benched Pokémon goes in. Team Rocket's Great Ball lets you flip a coin and then pull either an Evolution or Basic Pokémon from your deck depending on the result. And then Stadium card Team Rocket's Watchtower renders all Pokémon without abilities! That's going to destroy so many players' tactics! Oh, and there's a card called Team Rocket's Bother Bot, and while its ability is fascinating—you can flip one of your opponent's prize cards, then pick a random card from their hand, and then choose if you want them to swap them over—I'm mostly mentioning it because I find its name very funny. Then the Team Rocket Pokémon themselves do some real mischief. Arbok, for instance, stops your opponent playing any card with an ability (unless it's a Team Rocket), and also does 30 damage to every single Pokémon your opponent has on the board. Articuno can prevent all attack effects just by being on the bench. Dottler lets you look at the top five cards on your opponent's deck, and then put them back in your preferred order! Ha! Nidoran ♀ and ♂ offer their usual teamwork options, but super-powerfully. Once you've evolved to Nidorina, you can do an attack that lets you search your deck to evolve any two of your benched monsters, and then Stage 2's Nidoqueen will do 180 damage for one energy if you have a Nidoking in play. Oh, and Ampharos, Flaaffy's ultimate form, has an ability that means any time your opponent evolves a Pokémon, they automatically put 40 damage on it! That's monstrous. It's going to be so interesting to see how people manipulate these new additions into the meta, not least when yet more cards are deliberately designed to mess up current favorite decks—Mimikyu lets you steal Tera Pokémon attacks, for instance. I think this should finally offer the shake-up the game needs in its third year of this era, before (and this is still just a rumor, but quite a likely one) next year's switch to Mega Pokémon instead of a fourth year of S&V. Now, as I've said, my sample of 55 packs isn't big enough to be indicative, and perhaps we just got weirdly lucky. But I have high hopes here. We'll get a proper idea when the likes of Danny Phantump have put together their pull-rate data. Either way, there's such a wealth of beautiful cards in the set, so much incredible art to collect, and a bunch that'll make the live game so very interesting. Which is pretty much all I can ask for from a Pokémon TCG set. Other than, you know, being able to buy it. Which is going to be very, very hard to do. Destined Rivals officially releases on May 30, with pre-release events taking place this weekend, May 17-18. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man Beaten And Robbed For $5k Pokémon Card
As the value of Pokémon TCG cards hits its highest point in the game's 30-year history, new cards are increasingly difficult to get hold of, and some classic cards have become worth vastly more by weight than gold. This inevitably attracts criminal acts, but few as violent and frightening as that experienced by a man trying to trade a $5,000 card in a parking lot. The 38-year-old Australian resident of Wollongong, New South Wales had arranged to sell a PSA 9 Base Set (unlimited) holo Charizard to a stranger in a parking lot in Warilla, 20 minutes south of where he lived, according to reporting from ABC. However, instead he was physically assaulted by the person he'd arranged to meet, who then stole the card and drove away. According to a police report issued by the New South Wales police department, the incident took place on March 28, but the police are only now appealing for help with identifying a car that was photographed leaving the scene, a red Ford Mustang. The incredibly blurry image was posted to the force's X page, with what seems like a wildly inappropriate comment given the violence involved. 'Turns out Team Rocket's not the only one causing trouble...' the post begins. After detailing the crime, it continues, '[we] believe the driver may have info that could help us catch 'em all (or at least the one responsible).' The post then adds, 'don't just sit there like a Snorlax - contact Crime Stoppers.' Er, great everyone. Good stuff. It's unclear where the 8,000 AUD valuation comes from. ABC reports that the cops said the card was a Base Set Unlimited holo Charizard, graded 9, but non-1st edition Base Set Charizards tend to only sell for around 1,500 USD (2,300 AUD). You need a PSA 10 to see the big values, where it shoots up to almost $9k. My guess would be that this was a far more rare 'shadowless' version of the card, a printing of the set that saw the shadow effect to the right of the window art forgotten. At a grade 9, those are currently valued at just under 5,000 USD, or 8,000 AUD. (A 1st Edition PSA 9 Charizard, meanwhile, goes for an eye-watering $23,000, while PSA 10 fetches over a quarter of a million dollars.) Pokémon TCG card robberies are becoming concerningly commonplace at this point, and ABC in Australia reports that Melbourne has seen a 'string of Pokémon card burglaries,' with a million dollars' worth of cards stolen across six months. Earlier this month, a similar parking lot robbery took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with the ironically named Justice Earl Geho arrested for taking the $3,300 card without paying. Meanwhile, just a few days earlier in Calgary, Canada, a card shop was burgled, with more than $5,000 of Pokémon cards taken. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
