I've collected Pokemon cards my whole life, but it wasn't until the beginning of the Sword and Shield era that I really got invested. I have a complete master set of the Sword and Shield base set – which is a binder with one of each card – including each V, Complete Art, Rainbow Rare, and Gold Secret Rare. With 216 cards (30 ultra rare or higher) it was a huge undertaking and, since the Pokemon TCG releases six new sets a year, I couldn't dream of keeping up with every set.
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I have switched to Disney Lorcana, which has become much more manageable as a collector. There are 204 cards in each set and 12 Enchanted (expensive, super-duper rare cards you only find once in every six boxes). I've had no problem collecting complete playsets of four of each card in the first five sets, and I try to make peace with the fact that the 12 Enchanted cards — which range from $80-800 each — are out of reach. The amount I collect for each set is sustainable, but it still feels bad that my collection will never be complete.
I am fully aware that a full playset of 816 cards for each Lorcana set is unnecessary and excessive. It's a cardboard collection, it shouldn't be logical.
Pokemon TCG is a Pokemon card game for pocket collectors
On paper, Pokemon TCG Pocket is exactly what I was looking for. By sidelining the 'play' part of the trading card game, it focuses almost entirely on the collection, which is what I'm all about. Intuitively, I envisioned a world where I could actually collect a complete set of cards, bask in the joy of a complete collection, and then move on to another set and do it all. I dreamed that Pocket could be a game for neurotic collectors like me who believe that if you can't collect everything, there's no point in collecting anything.
I didn't think it would be easy. I got to test Pocket in the preview event this summer, and even with unlimited Poke Gold (I was ripping ten packs at a time for hours, it was glorious) I didn't even come close to completing the full Master Set. During an interview I asked the developers at DeNA if it was possible to collect the entire set without spending any money, and as much as they took pains to comment on monetization, the answer was: some monetary investment would be required. Get the full collection.
As a physical TCG collector, that investment didn't seem entirely unreasonable. While some estimates put the full collection in the $3200 range (or 1,843 days of continuous play), I see some flaws in that math that don't take into account Wonder Picks, crafting, and the upcoming trade system (although we don't yet know how that system will work.) A Reddit user claims the actual cost to complete the set (minus the gold crown cards) is $410. It's less than a case of Lorcana cards, and a case doesn't get you anywhere near a full set.
I'm an active pocket player who farms events for resources and is strategic about Wonder Picks and crafting. I'm 31 cards away from a full set of diamond-rarity cards, and I'm at 21/60 secret cards. Part of me believes that with enough time and the occasional splurge on poke gold, I could finish this set in time for the next one. But I've been a Pokemon fan my whole life, so I really should know better.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Sets are coming fast
According to the data miners, the next set is coming sooner than I thought. There's a mini-set (60-80 new cards) coming out in December, and then another full 250+ card set coming out in January. This indicates that, like the physical Pokemon TCG, there will be at least six new sets each year. As a collector I have always had a problem with Pokemon cards. There isn't enough time – or money – to finish one collection before the next one comes out.
For players, this is great news. Trading card games require a constant flow of new cards to keep things fresh and interesting. People are already complaining about the imbalance in pocket battles, and the new set of cards stands to shake up the meta significantly. I don't mind Pocket Battles, but if you're looking for high-level Pokemon TCG gameplay, there's already a game for that. I love Pocket because it caters to the collector, so while the new sets are great for the meta, they're terrible for completists like me.
You need to open about 100 packs to earn enough pack points to make a single pre card.
Knowing that I will never complete the Pokemon TCG Pocket Set Master Set without going full whale makes me very less interested in the game. These digital-only cards have no value outside of the app. I cannot trade or sell them. I can't show them on the wall or ask the artist to sign them. They exist to fill a virtual binder and satisfy my collector instincts, but a satisfying collection requires a conclusion. If my card list is always going to have gaps because the new set always comes before the old set can be completed, I'm not sure what the point is.
Yes, pulling something shiny out of a pack is exciting. If you're a completely free-to-play player who likes the hit of dopamine when you open a pack twice a day, I can see the value in that. But spending any money on this game feels like a waste if you're going to spend it all Money in this game. Maybe you don't mind seeing a bunch of empty spaces in your collection, but it bothers me a lot.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Experience the fun of collecting Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) cards, from the original developers of the Pokémon TCG, and DeNA Co., Ltd. The upcoming game for iOS and Android devices from Creatures Inc.
In this game, you will be able to open two booster packs every day without any cost. You can collect digital cards featuring old artifacts from the past as well as brand-new cards specifically for the Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket.
Be on the lookout for new “Immersive Cards”, which will make you feel like you've jumped into the world of card drawing.
