⚡ GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL • SINCE 1996

Pokémon Cards

The Pokémon Trading Card Game — collect, play, and trade.

Poké Ball

What Are Pokémon Cards?

Pokémon Trading Card Game logo

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game developed by Creatures Inc. and based on the Pokémon franchise. Players become Pokémon Trainers who battle using 60-card decks, attaching Energy cards to power up Pokémon and knock out opponents.

It debuted in Japan on October 20, 1996 and hit the USA as the iconic Base Set on January 9, 1999. Over 30 years later, it's one of the most successful and collected card games ever made.

1996Launched in Japan
60Cards per deck
1999USA Base Set
CreaturesDeveloped by

🃏 How to Play

  • Build a 60-card deck — mix of Pokémon, Energy, and Trainer cards.
  • Put a Pokémon in the Active spot and keep backups on your Bench.
  • Attach Energy cards to power your Pokémon's attacks.
  • Attack to deal damage — Pokémon have Health Points (HP) that deplete.
  • Evolve Pokémon for stronger stages and more powerful attacks.
  • Trainer cards boost your strategy — draw cards, heal, or disrupt your opponent.
  • Win by knocking out all your opponent's Pokémon or them running out of cards.

💰 The Valuable Cards

Certain cards are worth a fortune. The most prized include the 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard from Base Set, special Pikachu promos, and modern "moonbreon" Umbreon cards.

  • 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard (Base Set): the holy grail — PSA-graded copies sell for tens to hundreds of thousands.
  • Pikachu Illustrator: the rarest promo card — high-grade copies have sold for over $5 million.
  • Pokémon-ex & Moonbreon Umbreon VMAX: modern set chases worth thousands.
  • First Generation sets (Base Set, Jungle, Fossil) — the gold-standard Wizards of the Coast era are the most collected.

Card values fluctuate with the market — check current prices on a live price guide before buying or selling.

📺 Video Unboxings

Big openings and legendary pulls — real, verified videos from top card channels.

🎓 The Pokémon Cards Quiz

Four quick questions — how well do you know the TCG?

1. When did the Pokémon TCG launch in Japan?
2. How many cards are in a standard deck?
3. What's the legendary shadowless card from Base Set?
4. Who originally published the US game?

🧮 Card Value Calculator

Curious what a card might be worth? Enter a rough market value and see after condition & grading adjustments.

🔗 Learn More

Sources and further reading:

Content credits: Facts from Wikipedia (Pokémon Trading Card Game). Video embeds are YouTube media from PokeRev and Leonhart. Card values are approximate market estimates and change constantly — always verify current prices.