Knowledge base
All articles · Explainers
Newest first. About sets and their rarities, buying, collecting and keeping sealed. 40 articles.
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ExplainersCurved Pokémon cards (curling): why they curl and how to get them flat again
A holo lying on the table like a saucer is called curling. Why it happens, how to safely get a card flat again and how to prevent it.
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JapanesePrint lines, scratches and white edges: what's normal for Japanese Pokémon cards?
Lines in the foil, a white edge or a scratch: design, normal production variation or a genuine factory defect? Here's how to tell the difference.
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BuyingBest Japanese Sets for Beginners
Just started with Japanese Pokémon cards? Here are three recommendations to get you started, plus what you need to know about set codes and rarities.
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SetsAll MEGA block sets at a glance
Complete overview of the MEGA block, from Mega Brave (M1L) to the 30th Celebration anniversary set (M6a), with the central card for each set.
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JapaneseGlossary of Japanese Pokémon Cards
AR, SAR, MUR, BWR, God Pack, High Class Pack: all terms from the Japanese Pokémon TCG briefly explained, alphabetically.
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JapaneseJapanese Promo Cards: What Are They?
Not from a regular box, but from campaigns, events, and bundles. What Japanese promo cards are and why some are highly sought after.
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JapaneseWhy Japanese cards score better in grading
Tighter centering and cleaner cut edges give Japanese cards a better starting position when grading. Here's why.
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JapaneseJapanese cards show grades: PSA, BGS or CGC?
PSA, BGS, and CGC all grade the condition of your card, but in different ways. Which one is right for you, and what should you look out for?
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JapaneseHow to recognize genuine Japanese Pokémon cards: how to check them
Texture, print, color and weight almost always show whether a card is genuine. The practical checks you can do yourself, without damaging the card.
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JapaneseJapanese or English? All the differences between Japanese and English Pokémon cards
Release date, pull rates, cards per box, print quality, price and tournaments: how Japanese and English Pokémon cards differ, and which language suits whom.
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JapaneseHow do you read a Japanese set code?
SV2a, S12a, M2a, SV11B: what do these codes mean? A practical explanation so you can recognize every Japanese set at a glance.
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JapaneseWhat is a BWR (Black White Rare)?
A metallic black-and-white finish that only exists on a handful of cards, exclusively in Black Bolt and White Flare. That’s how the BWR works.
