Pokémon has launched some fantastic promotional events, but one of the most popular is their McDonald's Happy Meal Pokémon Trading Card promotions. For over a decade, McDonald's has released exclusive sets of Pokémon tra?ding cards, and they're renewing the tradition with a new set of Dragon-themed cards.

Pokémon fans get excited ??whenever McDonalds rolls out a new set of cards, and they have a good reason to. Not only do McDonal?d's cards feature unique art, but they're never reprinted after the promotion ends. Once they're gone, they're gone.

Thanks to this, McDonald's exclusive Pokémon cards inevitably become some of the rarest cards in their owner's decks and some of the most expensive in the collecting circuit. Here are the most valuable McDonald's Pokémon promo cards of all time, ranked by price.

Top 10 most valuable McDonald's Pokémon promo cards of all time

2002 Japanese McDonald’s Holo e-Card Sneasel

• eBay Cost: 399.99

Sneasel is a fantastic representative of the Dark type. I?t's a mischievous egg th?ief who loves to play with its food, and that personality shines through in its 2002 McDonald's card.

Sneasel's McDonald's card costs around $399.99. A few other McDonald's cards cost the same, but I thought Snease?l was the coolest in this category, vague as it may be.

2002 Japanese McDonald’s Holo e-Card Slowpoke

• eBay Cost: $400.00

I like Slowpoke, and I think most people do, too. This Water/Psychic-type is so chill they don't even mind it if you cut their tails off, and both its evolutions,? the bulky Slowbro and the more offensive Slowking, are solid editions to most teams. The 2002 e-card's art puts Slowpoke's innate charm on a pedestal, wrapping the Dopey Pokémon in a?? halo of radiant light.

The most expensive 2002 holographic e-ca?rd slowpoke I found is being sold for $400.00, but I saw ??others priced between $100 and $200.

2023 McDonald's Silver Border Holo Pichu

eBay Cost: $500.00

Pichu is adorable, and it's easily my favorite baby Pokémon. While it's often over-??shadowed by its evolution, Pichu ranks pretty high on most "cutest Pokémon lists," and its 2002 McDonald's card hammers that home with some sweet artwork.

This card costs $?500.00. Not bad for such a little guy, is?? it?

2002 Japanese McDonald's Holo e-Card Donphan

• eBat cost: 549.99

Thanks to its appearance in Pokémon: The First Movie, Donphan was many Pokemon fans' introduction to Johto, and it remains one of my personal favorite Gen 2 Pokemon. The artwork on the 2002 holographic e-card, which shows Donphan ?sitting in confusion after he smashed through a wall, sums up the Armor Pokémon's personality pretty well.

Donphan's 2002 holographic e-card is curr?ently selling for $549.99. At halfway to $1000, this card is more valuable than many ivory products, which is good because why would you want to buy stuff like that, anyway?

2002 Japanese McDonald’s Holo e-Card Squirtle

• eBay Cost: 830.00

Squirtle was many Pokémon fans' first-ever Starter Pokemon, and its fully-evolved form, Blastoise, remains one of the best pure Water types in the series. The 2002 holographic e-card show?s Squirtle sitting back and blowing a bubble, which aligns well with the personality of Ash's Squirtle in the anime.

2002 holographic e-card Squirtles vary in price pretty wild??ly, ev?en by Pokémon trading card standards. EBay's most expensive card variant sells for $830.00. People love their holographic turtles.

2002 Japanese McDonald’s Holo e-Card Charmander

eBay Cost: $1,000.00

Charmander is one of those Pokémon everyone knows. Its final evolution, Charizard, is the most popular Pokemon ever, and it is many players' starter of choice in Pokémon Red and Blue. With a snazzy?? flaming background, McDonald's 2002 Charmander card is o?ne of the best.

The cost of this card fluctuates widely, but in mint condition, it's selling for $1000.00. It's not as expensive as some original?? holographic Charizards, but that's still an impressive price tag.

2002 Japanese McDonald’s Holo Umbreon

eBay Cost: $1,238.

Umbreon has always gotten it good in the trading cards department. The artwork on its cards is always stylish and expressive, and the 2002 McDonald's card is no exception. The sight of Umbreon sunning itself on the roof of a seaside city is as ?charming as it is imposi??ng.

I found many 2002 ??McDonald's Umbreons on the Internet, and they had many different price tags attached to them. The highest, listed ab??ove, was a mint-condition card priced at $1,238.60. When you shoot for the moon, bring a thick wallet.

2002 Japanese McDonald’s Holo e-Card Pikachu

• eBay Cost: $1,250.00

Even people who aren’t Pokémon fans know about Pikachu, and its tr??ading cards are always one of the most appealing. The 2021 McDonald’s card is an excellent example of this. Look at that smug little mug! He knows how cute he is!

At $1,250.00, the 2021 Pikachu Mcdonald’s ca??rd is one of the most expensive pieces of Pikachu merchandise I’ve ever seen. Electric mouses ?aren't cheap.

2013 French McDonald’s Holo Umbreon

• eBay Price: $1,999.99

McDonald's brought some awesome Pokémon cards to France in 2013, but none were as impressive as the Umbreon card. Umbreon and the night sky have always gone together like peanut butter and chocolate, and this card is the perfect union of Pokémon and backdrop.

French Pokemon cards are a rarity, and this one’s got the price to prove it. At one cen?t short of $2,000, only one other card beats this one in value.

2005 Japanese McDonald’s Holo e-Card Mew

• eBay Cost: $2,000.00

Mew is one of the most beloved Legendary Pokémon. Its cute design, status as the genetic ancestor of all Po??kemon, and the gestalt of rumors that there's a legitimate way to catch it in the original Pokemon Red and Blue have helped the New Species Pokémon reach cult status among Pokemon fans. Mew's 2002 holographic e-card artwork represents its mysterious aura perfectly.

The mos?t expensive mint 2005 holographic Mew e-card I found cost $2,000. If your budget can handle it, this card's a great collectible for any Mew enthusiast.

The post The most val??uable McDonald Pokemon promo cards of?? all time appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokémon TCG Pocket's upcoming Mythical Island expansion is set to bring a wide array of new cards to the game, including an EX Mew. But when will the expansion arrive? Here's when the Mythical Island set will arrive in Pokémon TCG Pocket, as well as which cards will be part of it.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Mythical Island Set Release Date and All Revealed Cards

As an early Christmas present for both Pokémon TCG Pocket fans and avid collectors, the Mythical Island expansion and its new cards will arrive on December 17, 2024. You ??can check out the official trailer for the expansion?? below.

All Revealed Cards

Although most of the new set has yet to be officially revealed, the trailer above and the latest TCG Pocket press release shined a light on the visual of more tha??n a handful of cards. You can check out a quick overview of each of them below.

Card	Card Name / Type / HP	Attacks / Cost	Abilities / Effects
	Mew (EX) / Basic (Psychic) / 170 HP	Psyshot (20 DMG) / 1x Basic Psychic Energy Genome Hacking: Choose 1 of your opponent's Active Pokémon's attacks and use it as this attack. / 3x Colorless Energy	�/td>
	Aerodactyl (EX) / Stage 1 (Fighting) / 140 HP	Land Crush (80 DMG) / 1x Fighting + 1x Colorless Energy	Primeval Law: Your opponent can't play any Pkémon from their hand to evolve their Active Pokémon.
	Vaporeon / Stage 1 (Water) / 120 HP	Wave Splash (60 DMG) / 1x Water + 2x Colorless Energy	Wash Out: As often as you like during your turn, you may move a Water Energy from one of your Benched Water Pokémon to your Active Water Pokémon.
	Dedenne / Basic (Lightning) / 60 HP	Thunder Shock (10 DMG) / 1x Lightning Energy Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's Active Pokémon is now paralyzed.	�/td>
	Snivy / Basic (Grass) / 70 HP	Vine Whip (40 DMG) / 1x Grass + 1x Colorless Energy	�/td>
	Morelull / Basic (Grass) / 60 HP	Ram (20 DMG) / 1x Grass	�/td>
	Blue / Supporter (Trainer)	�/td>	During your opponent's next turn, all of your PoKémon take -10 damage from attacks from your opponent's Pokémon.
	Tauros / Basic (Colorless) / 100 HP	Fighting Tackle (40+ DMG) / 3x Colorless Energy If your opponent's Active Pokémon is a Pokémon ex, this attack does 80 more damage.	�/td>
	Magmar / Basic (Fire) / 80 HP	Fire Blast (80 DMG) / 2x Fire Energy Discard two Fire Energy from this Pokémon.	�/td>
	Exeggcute / Basic (Grass) / 50 HP	Growth Spurt: Take a Grass Energy from your Energy Zone and attack it to this Pokémon / 1x Colorless Energy	�/td>
	Larvesta / Basic (Fire) / 80 HP	Combustion (30 DMG) / 1x Colorless + 1x Fire Energy	�/td>
	Dhelmise / Basic (Grass) / 100 HP	Energy Whip (20+ DMG) / 1x Grass Energy If this Pokémon has at least 3 extra Grass Energy attached, this attack does 70 more damage.	�/td>
�/td>	Leaf / Supporter (Trainer)	�/td>	During this turn, the Retreat Cost of your Active Pokémon is 2 less.
�/td>	Marshadow / Basic (Fighting) / 80 HP	Revenge (40+ DMG) / 1x Fighting + 1x Colorless Energy If any of your Pokémon were Knocked Out by damage from an attack during your opponent's last turn, this attack does 60 more damage.	�/td>

Now that you know when the set will arrive, as well as more regarding some of its flagship cards, don't forget to check out how to get Pack Hourglasses in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

The post Poké?mon TCG Pocket Mythical Island Set: release date and new cards appeared first on Destructoid.

The Pokémon Company, ??along with 30 other European content creators, has won a Guinness World Record this month. In a 24-hour marathon, the group opened more than ??1,500 booster packs and contributed to the longest unboxing live stream video ever.

The Pokémon Company explained that hundreds of products were unboxed, and over 20,000 cards were shown off during the live stream. The content creators also sported?? Pokémon Center and other products from the franchise over the course of the event. After the 24-hour mark was reached, the adorable Pikachu showed up and helped the streamers accept the Guinness World Records certificate.

A cool gesture, after this Pokémon Company world record was achieved, is that these thousands of cards have been donated to charities ahead of the holidays, including Bernardo's, a UK organization which helps children and families living in poverty. They have been "carefully curated into binders to create incredible collections of Trading Card Game cards," said the press release.
 
The expansion Scarlet & Violet - Surging Sparks - just launched earlier this month, and this event was a way to help promote it. It includes the Stellar Tera Pokémon ex, which includes a cool Pikachu with the powerful Topaz Bolt attack. Some cards are themed around the Terarium, a location from The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Disk DLC for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. One of the cards includes the Alool??an Exeggutor as a Stellar ??Tera Pokémon ex as well.

You can get the cards physically or digitally through the TCG Live app. The press release says you'll be?? able to receive in-game bonuses while logging into it.

The post The Pok?émon Company breaks world record with European content creators, 20,000+ cards unboxed appeared first on Destructoid.

In case you haven't been following the Pokémon Trading Card Game scene lately, a recent art contest for ??it became mired in controversy when it was suspected several?? entrants had submitted AI generated artwork. While The Pokémon Company has not explicitly commented on the matter, it has since confirmed that some of the contest's finalists have been disqualified.

Over 10,000 pieces of fan art were submitted for the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest, with 300 of them making it to the first round of the finals. A link to the results was shared on June 14 via Twitter, and the replies were soon filled with accusations that some of the chosen pieces were made with AI. It was even claimed that several entries had been submitted by the same ??person going under slightly different names, which i??s against the contest's rules.

A follow-up post from the Pokémon TCG Twitter account on June 25 states that select entrants have been disqualified for violating the rules. However, it stops short of confirming it was because these entrants submitted AI art, only concluding with, "We're committed to upholding the integrity of the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest and appreciate fans' continued support as we celebrate the artistic abilities of the talented Pokémon community."

Regardless, the general response from fans has been positive, with most people assuming the AI generated art will be removed. What's more, new finalists will be picked to replace the disqualified ones, so tho?se who missed out originally have a second chance. At the time of writing, though, the pieces of art commonly alleged to be AI generated are still present among the top 300 on the contest's website.

It's per?fectly understandable why the community got up in arms about some of the finalists potentially being AI generated. So many people probably spent hours crafting and refining an art piece that could?? match the same level of quality as a professionally made trading card, only for their work to be passed over for something that was made in far less time by someone typing a prompt into an art generator. Not to mention many artists argue that these AI art generators effectively steal from others' work since they scrape the internet for existing art to base their creations on.

Hopefully,? there won't be any further controversy surrounding the contest. I can't imagine what the uproar would be like if an AI generated piece of art won one of the top prizes, which is to have your art be turned into an official card for the TCG.

The post Pokémon TCG Illustration Cont??est disqualifies so??me of its finalists amid AI art accusations appeared first on Destructoid.

The Pokemon Company has revealed Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable, the next set in the beloved TCG. This set will add a selection of new cards in August 2024, some of which were first seen in The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLCs.

Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable is set to add a bunch of new cards for competitive players to add to their decks and experiment with, as well as some incredibly desirable collectibles. Perhaps most exciting of all, it's going to add a new foil variant to shiny cards that are going to make foil pulls from packs even more exciting. All Pokemon TCG fan??s should be keeping an eye on this one because? it's going to really change the game when it drops.

When is the release date for Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable?

The release date for the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable is August 2, 2024. This is when retailers will be able to sell products from the set, though there could be prerelease events leading up to that date that will allow fans to?? get their hands on cards early, depending on what their local game stores offer.

The only exception to this is the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle, which will go on sale on September 6, 2024.

What is the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable set?

The Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable set will introduce brand new aspects to the TCG, including Pecharunt. This Pokemon was originally discovered in The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLCs for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and it's coming to the TCG as a Darkness-Type.

Players will be able ??to use Pecharunt ex to let them switch in another Darkness-Type Pokemon that's currently benched with its Subjugating Chains ability. It can also be paired with the Pokemon you'll recognize from wh?en you first encountered it, Okidogi ex, Munkidori ex, and Fezandipiti ex for various combos.

What I think might be the most exciting part of this set is the fact that it adds another unique foil pattern. These will still be Parallel Foils, but they'll feature a new foil style surrounding the artwork of the card. You can check if you get one of these using the expansion code in the bottom left-hand corner of the card. It should show an illustrated white box with black text if it's one of these new variants from the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable set.

Where to buy the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable set

Your local game store is the best place to purchase any products from the Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Shrouded Fable set. These stores hel??p keep the game alive and offer exclusive ?opportunities to collectors. However, they're not available to everyone, especially if you live out in the sticks like me. So, for those of you who need an online retailer, these are the best ones to use.

• The Pokemon Center Online (US & UK): The Pokemon Center Online is the most reliable retailer of Pokemon TCG products. It's also a great place to check in for exclusive products that you might not be able to get elsewhere. I've seen particularly good deals on there from time to time, but they sell out fast.
• Chaos Cards (US & UK): I've used Chaos Cards before for TCG products, and they've always delivered my goods on time. This is a good retailer to choose from when it comes to pre-orders because you can collect points to get discounts on future purchases.
• Magic Madhouse (US & UK): Magic Madhouse is a great retailer from which to get TCG products, provided you pre-order them early. If you don't, you'll be paying a premium. However, everything I've ever ordered has always arrived on time and intact, which is the most important thing.

The post Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Shrouded Fable release date, details, and where to buy appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to card games, it’s easy to get bogged down thinking that it only applies to a standard 52 card deck involving royalty and numbers, but there’s a whole world of ca?rd-based games out there that can prove hilariously enjoyable ??with only two players. 

While most of the entries on this list can be played with more than two players, they’re also very fun to play with just one other person - I know, because I’ve tried. I’ve got a soft spot for card-based games, especially ones that make me laugh, so here are? some recommendations.

Pokémon Trading Card Game

As far as two-player card games go, there’s none more iconic than Pokémon. The rules are simple and easy to grasp, your decks are ever growing and evolving, and you aren’t ever committed to a single set of cards. The replayability of Pokémon makes it a game that you can go back to time and time again and with new cards coming out regularly, there’s no end to the combinations. Whether you spend all of your time building the perfect deck or simply love collecting the cards, the Pokémon card game is one of the best available. 

Poetry for Neanderthals

Imagine being a neanderthal who only knows words of one syllable, trying to explain things like â€??œPink Pantherâ€?to a friend while being unable to use any of the words on the card, or use bodily actions to emphasize a point. On top of all?? this, imagine your opponent being armed with an inflatable “noâ€?club which they can use to bonk you over the head if you break the rules.

Poetry for Neanderthals is that, and it can also become a hilarious drinking game. Used a word with more than one syllable? Drink. Tried to use your hands to emphasize what you’re saying? Drink. The more you drink, the more Neanderthal-ish you become an??d the harder it gets to figure out what on earth your oppone?nt is trying to describe. Cue blank staring and hilarity.

How do you describe Pink Panther in?? this w?ay, you ask? Well, “red and white mix big cat go roar start with P�was my attempt.

Dumb Ways to Die

The hit mobile game created by Metro Melbourne to encourage people to be safe around trains has taken on a life of its own, and now Dumb Ways to Die can be played in card format. The aim of the game is to draw cards, with the hopes of avoiding a gruesome death. With cards like ‘Psycho Attack�and ‘You Died� you’re never more than a couple of ca??rds away from being out of the game. 

May Contain Butts

Like snap, but with butts involved. You deal cards for each player and then have to match the adorable butt to the face of an equally adorable cartoon animal. Each player gets a draw pile, taking turns to place them around? the ‘poop patchâ€? If the butt and the face of the same animal appear fa??ce-up at the same time, the first player to slam their hands down over both butt and face wins those cards, which then get added to their draw pile. 

Just? be careful not to get too slappy, or hand injuries and bruised egos may occur. 

New Phone Who Dis

Technically New Phone Who Dis is better played with more people, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not possible to enjoy ?it with only two people. It just means you have to get creative - like adding two cards e?ach to a pile, shuffling them and voting for a winner. If one card is voted for by both people, that player gets 2 points, if the vote is split, each player gets one point. 

Okay, so playing with two people means bending the official rules a little, but New Phone Who Dis still results in some hilarious text conversations that definitely don’t ever need to happen in real life.&n??bsp;

Trash Pandas

A card game in wh??ich you are a Raccoon and you must stash away the most trash-based items, such as leftover pizza and fish in order to ?have the most points at the end of the game. When all the cards are gone from the deck, the game is over and players compare their points. The player with the most stashed trash wins. 

It gets a l?ittle complicated when you consider the tokens and dice rolls, but there are six tokens which correspond with ??the sides of the dice. Each token has an action associated and, ultimately, they help you to gather as much trash as possible. Each card also has its own associated ability. 

Danger Danger

Danger Danger is a fast-paced card game with each round lasting only sixty seconds. The aim of the game is to end up with more cases than your opponent (or opposing team). There are two colored decks of cards, one yellow and one pink. In order to win Danger Danger,?? you have sixty seconds to draw as many cards from your pile as you can and add them to any stack (yours or ??your opponents), as long as the number on the existing top card of the stack is one higher or one lower than the one on the card you’re trying to place down. 

The issues arise when both teams a?re trying to place cards on the same stack pile, meani?ng that things get a little messy and a whole lot of infuriating. On top of that, you have to guess-timate how long sixty seconds actually is, because while you can use your phone to time a round, you’re not allowed to look at the timer and if you’re still flipping cards when the timer goes off, you instantly lose no matter how many cases you have on display. 

No pressure, then.

Swear Snap

If you ever played Snap as a child, then you’ll know the rules of this game without any trouble. Swear Snap is, basically, just Snap, except the entire deck is a collection of curse words and rather than yelling “SNAPâ€?when you get a matching pair, you yell out the curse word that you’ve just matche??d. ?;

I honestly can’t recommend playing this one around c?hildren or particularly prudish relatives, but it’s definitely a good option if you have a lot of pent-up frustration and need to vent it using expletives. You might also get some funny looks if you decide to play this in public, and you’ll need to answer? some concerned questions from those who overhear you.

Man Bites Dog

Let’s be honest here, tabloid headlines can be a little absurd at the best of times, but Man Bites Dog takes it to a whole new level. 

Each player begins the game with five cards and the aim is to compile the most ridiculous headline possible from the cards you’ve been dealt. Each card contains one word and has a fixed number of points associated, so you need to balance making a headline that makes sense while trying to score the most points. The first player to rea??ch 500 points is the winner.

Power Hungry Pets

In Power Hungry Pets, you only ever have two c??ards to play and you must decide which card you’re going to use to backstab your opponent(s). Each card carries a number between 1 and 10, with each card also having an ability to use when you play the card. You have to play one card each turn and the player holding the card with the highest number at the end of the round wins. So yes, while it may be tempting to play your 10 cards in order to reap the benefits of the vicious ability, you need to quell that desire for chaos while remembering to hold on to a high number card for the end of the round. 

A game of Power Hungry Pets is over when the draw ?pile has? been diminished and the player who won the most rounds wins the game.

The post 10 best 2-player card games appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon Cards can be incredibly valuable depending on a few factors. For example, something as simple as featuring Charizard can boost value, along with the card's condition, or any printing defects. It's a minefield for anyone opening packs who finds a rare card because they need to know how to grade Pokemon Cards immediately, or they?? might lose out on opportunities to sell or trade.

How to determine if a Pokemon Card is rare

To grade a Pokemon Card, you need to first check that ??it's worth being graded, and then use a well-known company to have the card graded and sealed in a plastic shell. There are a few factors that will determine whether your Pokemon Card should be graded. I've listed these below so you know that if your card checks all of these boxes, you should seriously consider getting it graded.

• Check that your Pokemon Card is worth grading. This can be subjective, such as with cards that have sentimental value. However, the most common reason to grade a card is because it's rare. You need to do your research and really know if you've got a rare card, so it helps to keep up to date with what content creators are saying is rarest, meaning you know those cards by sight while opening packs.
• Once you have a rare card, you need to check that it's a good version and is going to be worth the money you'll spend grading it. These factors are:

  • Does the card have straight corners with no signs of wear or bending?
  • Are the edges crisp with no signs of fraying?
  • Is the surface of the card free from scratches?
  • Is the art and text centered on the card? Usually, you want it to be, but misprints with odd placements can be valuable and worth grading.
  • How does the card look overall? If there's something off with it that makes it look like one you wouldn't want to buy, it's probably not worth grading.

• If your Pokemon Card passes all the checks above and seems worth grading, send it to a reputable grading company.

Who should you send Pokemon Cards to for grading?

The best-known company for grading Pokemon Cards, but also most TCGs, is PSA. It's a trading card game authentication and grading service that will assess any card you send. Once the card has been graded, it'll be se??nt back in a clear plastic shell that protects it. That shell also states the quality of the card according to an?? easy-to-understand grading system.

Each card is graded on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. That grading is based on the condition of the card, whether?? it's been bent, how crisp the edges are, if there's any light damage, and even checks for damage caused by finger oils. That's why it's best to sleeve ever?y card you get to avoid causing any damage at all.

Finally, PSA also provides a certification number. This is incredibly important because it gives your card a paper trail. You can show the transaction on your bank account or physica??l receipt to say you purchased the pack the card was in. You can then use the certification number from PSA to show any potential buyers the exact process it's been through. They can check that with PSA if they want to, ensuring they feel protected when buying your card.

BGS is another well-known trading card grading company. It offers the same 10-poin?t level scaling service, so you're getting the same overall product regardless of whe?re you go. We can't say if there's much of a difference in which company gives out more high-quality grades than the other.

The only thing that should sway you between one company or the other is what you intend to do with the card. If you're just trying to protect the card for sentimental reasons or because you really like it, go for the cheapest service. If you want to sell the card you're having graded because you think it'll be worth a lot of money, you should figure out which grading potential buyers will tru?st more. The most common gradings I've seen are from PSA, but that might just be because more people know and trust that brand.

The post How to grade Pokemon Cards appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon has always diversified the ways you can explore its world, with Pokemon TCG being one of them. During today's Pokemon Presents, the company revealed Pokemon Pocket, an upc??oming new way to enjoy the tradin?g card game.

Although Pokemon TCG Online already exists, Pokemon TCG Pocket will introduce new elements that'll appeal to players who aren't particularly invested in the competitive side of things a??nd take more delight in the artwork of the cards.

The game will allow you to open digital packs and feel the excitement of discovering what new cards you can add to your collection on ??your mobile device. On your hunt for your ??favorite cards, you'll also be able to trade with other players also hoping to perfect their collection.

Experience Pokemon TCG like never before

The upcoming game is being developed via a three-way?? collaboration with Creatures Inc., the Pokemon Company, and DeNA which a company also involved with Pokemon Masters EX.

According to the CEO of Creatures Inc., Yuji Kitano, care is being taken to show off the cards with effects only available digitally. One of the ways ??this is being done is through an immersive experi??ence that lets you leap into the illustrations, which should be a blast when applied to full art and rare cards.

The competitive element of Pokemon TCG hasn't been eliminated, and you'll still be able to battle with friends. Howe??????????????????????????ver, Kitano explains that the rules have been streamlined to all?ow for quick battles.

We don't have details regarding any monetization strategies, though it is revealed that you'll be able to open two packs a day for free. It launches in 2024, so TCG fans should prepare fo?r the all-new experience coming?? soon.

The post Pokemon TCG goes digital a??gain with Pokemon TCG P??ocket appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon has announced that a new set of accessories are now available at the Pokemon Center. The new drop features everything you need to prove you're a Pokemon professional.

The new accessories feature new designs for card sleeves and? playmats, including some showing off the Paldean legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon. Fans who have been there since the beginning aren't forgotten, so you also get products with Porygon.

For something a little more varied, grab the products featuring Garchomp, who used to be a com??petitive titan. There's also a Kanto version featuring Fire, Water, and Grass throughout the generations.

These are far from all the new designs that have been added, and you'll have to check the rest out at the Pokemon Center. It appears Pokemon is setting the ground for new players to gain interest, as we also got the Pokemon TCG: My First Battle product to teach players the basics.

You can look forward to more Scarlet and Violet products, including Paldean Fates which hit? stores this week (26 January) as we head int??o 2024.

The post Spruc??e up your Pokemon TCG sets with new accessories appeared first on Destructoid.

Although Pokémon TCG had a busy year, it wasn't one I?? enjoyed too much, in part because Paldea never really captured my heart. Despite this, there have been a few gorgeous cards released, and you should consider yourself lucky if you managed?? to score one.

For collectors and players, there were a few changes to get used to this year. Some were aesthetic; for example, the cards from the Crown Zenith set, which was released in January, are the last to feature yellow borders. Additionally, the name of each Energy card is now printed on the top of the card alongside a new subtyp??e tag.

Of course, there are also price changes to get used to. The MSRP for booster packs went up from $3.99 to $4.49. To make up for this, each booster pack now has three guaranteed holofoil cards and an extra booster pack ha??s been added to Elite Trainer Boxes.

When it comes to the quality of the artwork, it's all subjective. Like I said, I'm not much of a fan of Paldea, but some beautiful artwork has nevertheless been released this year. We also got the 151 set which allowed us to experience Kanto's stars again. The following Pokémon TCG cards of 2023 are some of the best released this year:

Pikachu (Secret Rare) - Crown Zenith

Crown Zenith was one of the first sets released this year and arguab??ly contained some of the best artwork of 2023. You don't have to be a Pikachu fan to appreciate this full-art secret rare. Not only does it have the yellow rod?ent leaping into action, but you also get creatures like Krobat and Hisuian Zoroark in the background. It's colorful, it's action-packed, and it's filled with fan favorites. What more could you ask for?

Oricorio (Galarian Gallery) - Crown Zenith

Another standout from Crown Zenith is the Oricorio card from the Galarian Gallery. I like the colorful, slightly psychedelic artwork that accentuates the bird's beauty. There are plenty of great cards from the Galarian Gallery, so Oricorio?? wa?s facing some tough competition.

Miriam (Special Illustration) - Scarlet and Violet

It's a trend within Pokémon TCG for Trainer cards to become the most popular and sit among the most valuable. Sometimes, it's due to how much the character is loved by fans. Other times, the artwork is just that good. Miriam's special illustration card from the Scarlet and Violet base set falls into the latter scenario, and presents her tripping and dropping her research. It's a fairly valuable card on the market, as TCGPlayer reveals, but nowhere near the ridiculous price tags on other "waifu" card?s.

Magikarp (Full Art) - Paldea Evolved

As one of the most innocuous Pokémon, it's always nice when Magikarp gets good cards. The fish gets one in the Paldea Evolved set, and the art style is as distinctive as it is colorful. It's an amazing additio??n to any collection, and also fairly valuable on the online marketplace.

Charizard (Full Art) - Pokémon 151

The dragon-that's-technically-not-a-dragon gets enough special treatment from the franchise, so for the sake of fairness, it'll be getting one entry alone. Charizard's full art card from the Pokémon 151 set is serene, yet showcases the monst??er's majesty. The art style is minimalistic, and it's beautifully impleme??nted.

Dragonair - Pokémon 151

Quite a few stunning cards came from the Pokémon 151 set, and it's my second favorite after the Crown Zenith set. One of the Pokémon lucky enough to ??get a beautiful card is Dragonair. The Pokémon is depicted slithering in water - a tranquil scene that makes an a?mazing addition to any collection.

Scream Tail (Full Art) - Scarlet and Violet

The Scarlet and Violet video games introduce the Paradox Pokémon that come from the past and future. They're variations of the Pokémon we already know, but sometimes in a much more powerful form. Not many Paldea Pokémon impress me, but Scream Tail is one of the few exceptions, and it has a lovely full art card from the Scarlet and Violet set. It's so colorful!

Next year, we'll be getting plenty more sets, including the Paldean Fates s??et which has already been announced. Hopefully, there'll be more beauties to be added to the collection.

The post Destructoid’s Best Pokémon TCG Cards of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Pokemon Company has revealed one of its first sets for 2024. The Scarlet & Violet - Paldean Fates set arrives on January 26, and it shines a spotlight on the Shinies of the Pokemon world.

According to The Pokemon Company, the upcoming set will feature over a hundred Shiny Pokemon, including Pikachu, Tinkaton, Ceruledge, and Dondozo. You'll also get a chance? to score Shiny Pokemon in their Tera form, such as Charizard, Forretress, and Espathra.

It's a relatively large set that will feature over 240 cards, including six hyper-rare Pokemon ex cards. You can also hope to find Ancient and Future Paradox Pokemon such as Great Tusk and Iron Treads, as well as eight special illustration rare cards ??featuring Shiny Pokemon ex or Supporter cards.

The hunt for Shiny Pokemon begins!

The following Paldean Fates products have been announced:

Available January 26

• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box: It contains 11 Booster Packs, two copies of an illustration rare-style promo card featuring Mimikyu, and all the other goodies you typically get with Elite Trainer Boxes
• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Elite Trainer Box: The box contains nine Booster Packs, one Shiny illustration rare promo card featuring Mimikyu, and all the regular Elite Trainer Box gameplay items.
• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Tech Sticker Collection: The product features three Booster Packs, one Shiny promo card featuring Fidough, Maschiff, or Greavard, and one large sticker.

Available February 9

• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Mini Tin: You'll get two Booster Packs, one sticker sheet, and one art card featuring Maushold, Smoliv, Tinkatink, Finizen or Flamigo.
• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Tin: It contains four Booster packs and one Shiny Pokemon ex promo card featuring Tera Charizard ex, Great Tusk ex, or Iron Treads ex.
• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Premium Collection: You'll score eight Booster Packs, two Shiny promo cards, one Shiny Pokemon ex promo card featuring Meowscarada ex, Skeledirge ex or Quaquaval ex, one oversized Shiny Pokemon ex card, and one three-card display.

Available Feburary 23

• Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Booster Bundle: It features six Booster Packs.

Thanks to the copious amount of Shiny cards in the set, collecting them will be much easier than it is in the franchise video games where you have to rely on tools such as Shiny Charms to help make the odds a little better.

As you look toward next year, don't forget that there are still plenty of Pokemon TCG products you can pick up this year. This includes the recently released Paradox Rift set.

The post Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet – Paldean Fates arrives January 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's been an eventful year for Pokemon TCG, and there's still plenty more planned for the rest of the year. The highly anticipated Pokemon TCG Classic set has just received a release date - November 17 - and it comes wi?th a $399.99 price tag.

There are a few reasons why fans are so eager for this set. Many cards are inspired by the base set, but you'll also get "quintessential cards from throughout the game’s long history." With Energy cards being the only exception, the cards aren't tournament-legal, making them mos??tly collector's items.

By the looks of it, the set has already sold out at the Pokemon Center online store. If you missed it, don't despair, as the cards will be released in a separate product scheduled for February 2024.

A Pokemon TCG set for collectors

First-edition Pokemon TCG cards are extremely valuable, with the Charizard card being especially coveted. The set includes 3 deck??s - one for each Kanto st?arter. You can also expect the following:

• 3 deck boxes
• 3 sets of card sleeves
• 1 two-player game board
• 1 toolbox case with randomizer
• 2 sets of damage counter cones
• 2 sets of condition markers

While you're waiting for the Classic cards, you can purchase the Pokemon 151 set which is slated to launch on September 22. It'll also be revising Kanto and shining a spotlight on the creatures that?? star??ted it all.

The post Pokémon TCG Classic set is up to order, for $400 appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon has always inspired fan art, whether it be recreations of beloved creatures, or new dreamed-up critters and evolutions. The Pokemon Company is celebrating all the beautiful art fans create by bringing back the Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest. This year, the t??heme is "Magica??l Pokemon Moments."

To join, you'll have to illustrate a Pokemon enjoying its day, or in a cool pose. The competition runs from October 12, 2023, at 06:00 a.m. PDT to January 31, 2024, at 5:59 a.m. PST. There ar??e over a thousan?d Pokemon, but the competition has limited entrants to the following creatures:

• Absol
• Bidoof
• Charizard
• Eevee
• Feraligatr
• Flygon
• Koraidon
• Melmetal
• Pikachu
• Toxtricity (Amped Form)

Pokemon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 will allow more fans to enter

The 2022 Pokemon TCG contest was open to the United States and Japan. This year, it has expanded to include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New?? Zealand. There are big prizes available for artists who manage to win.

• Grand prize winner - $5000 cash prize
• One Best Standard Card Illustration - $3,000 cash prize
• One Best ex Card Illustration - $3,000 cash prize
• Six First Place Runner Ups - $1,000 cash prize
• 15 Judge’s Awards - $500 cash prize

The winner of 2022's contest featured Arcanine ??with a Fletchling resting on it, and the first runner-up featured Greninja in a thinking pose. This year's contestants have a high bar to surpa??ss if they want to outdo their predecessors.

The post Show off your skills in the 2024 Pokémon TCG Illustra?tion Contest appeared first on Destructoid.

During the August 8 Pokemon Presents, The Pokemon Company announced two classic Pokemon titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online. First up is the Pokemon Trading Card Game which came out on Gameboy Color in 1998. The second is Pokemon Stadium 2 which hit N64 in 2000.

Both titles are coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service today, August 8. While it appears Pokemon TCG will be available on the base NSO service, Pokemon Stadium 2 requires the Expansion Pack.

While Pokemon TCG certainly isn't one of the traditional Pokemon games like Red, Blue, Yellow, etc., it's still fantastic. In fact, I remember playing it after those titles and thinking it was such a unique take on Pokemon. Ins??tead of choosing a Pokemon at the start, players choose from one of three different TCG decks and begin their adventure to become the world's greatest TCG player. Similar to traditional games, you head out to defeat the eight Club Masters and earn their Medals, comparable to Badges.

Pokemon Stadium 2 is a sequel to the original which is actually the first time we saw Generation II Pokemon in full 3D. Back in 2000, the popular sequel was also the only Pokemon title to use the N64 Expansion Pak. In Pokemon Stadium 2, players focus??ed more on Pokemon battles rather than catching them all.

Overall these are two great Pokemon titles being added to the service. Hopefully, this will also pave the way for the more traditional Pokemon GBC titles to come later.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QiLe4pTHAE

The post Pokemon TCG a??nd Pokemon Stadium 2 coming to Nintendo Switch Onlin??e appeared first on Destructoid.

Fighting with friends (and strangers)

It's been a banner couple of days for Pokémon fans as this weekend marked the return of the Pokémon World Championship. Like with most everything else that's fun in the world, the long-running tournament was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. This was a year of change for the event with Pokkén Tournament DX making its final appearance at the show while Pokémon Unite and Pokémon Go both made their official debut. As the PWC is all about competition, the Pokémon Company used the occasion to debut a new trailer for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet that highlights some of the new items players can use to tur?n the tide of battle.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6zFq5nd0tU

The Loaded Dice item seems a tad unfair, but I have to say I'm excited about the possibilities something like Mirror Herb will have on my, admittedly, poor competitive Pokémon play.

If you're more into the Pokémon Trading Card Game than its video game brethren, there is news for you too. Pokémon TCG will be getting new cards based on Scarlet/Violet starting in 2023. I haven't been paying attention since Pokémon cards were red hot during the pandemic and guys with terrible YouTube channels would strip the shelves bare at Target and Walmart, but I hope these will be easy to find next year. Though, if this story about adults buying Happy Meals to get the Pokémon cards inside is?? anything to go by, you should probably start making plans now.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCO94IFsY8M

As for the next Pokémon World Championships, during the closing ceremonies of? the year's event, it was announced the 2023 showcase will be held in Yokohama, Japan, marking the first time the PWC will take place in Japan.

//twitter.com/playpokemon/status/15613834??85323055109

The post Pokemon Scarlet and Violet get competitive in a fresh trailer from the Pokemon World Champions??hips appeared first on Destructoid.

Digital card packs should hopefully cause less of a commotion

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is getting a revamped digital app, called Pokémon TCG Live. ?The new free-to-play app was announced for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac today, arriving soon.

Pokémon TCG Live boasts some features like avatar creation and daily quests.?? Cards can be acquired by scanning code cards, purchasing in-game booster packs,?? or by other means like completing those daily quests.

Of course, there was already another Pokémon Trading Card Game app. In an FAQ, the Pokémon Company confirmed that the previous app will be removed from the App Store, Google Play, and the Pokémon website prior to the launch of Live.

//twitter.com/PokemonTC??G/status/1439939943518937097

Existing players will be able to transfer their account and data to Pokémon TCG Live, though it does specify what will and will not transfer over. Cards from certain series will make it over, though not from the HeartGold & SoulSilver series, and any in-game currency and unopened products won't transfer either. So if you're sitting on a mountain of packs in the other TCG app, it might be a good time to open them.

Under a section answering why the TCG Online app is being taken down for Pokemon TCG Live, the company says Live is an opportunity to update the game and its underlying technology, while al??so offering an easily accessible app. It also highlights the "suite of improvements" including a new card logic ?engine, Ranked Ladder, Battle Pass, and updated visual effects.

At least for fans of playing the card game, this should offer a shiny and fancy new way of playing the game. That's probably a good thing, given the massive spike in popularity the physical version of the TCG received.

As someone who enjoyed the virtual versions of the Trading Card Game when I was younger, a digital version defi?nitely sounds appealing, even if it has some of the modern free-to-play trappings around it. Though honestly, I'd be a little more inclined to check it out on the Switch than anything else.

The post The Pokémon Trading?? Card Game is getting a new online app appeared first on Destructoid.