Pokemon TCG is one of the most popular card games in the world, featuring a rich competitive scene and many cards to collect from the beloved series. While it can be daunting and confusing to start from nothing, every aspiring Pokemon trainer must take their first steps to start their collection and do Pokemon battles.

This buyer's guide will tell you the best options for getting started with the acclaimed card game and which choices might interest you. From powerful competitive decks such as the infamous Mew VMAX to useful accessories and booster boxes, these items will give you a strong start as a Pokemon Trainer with the TCG.

Updated on May 2, 2024, by Sai Vsr: Pokemon's popularity has never slowed down, and as younger generations continue to jump into the franchise, there's always room to learn more about starting with the trading card game. We've come back to add another passing of polish to this piece, as well as a few more suggestions on what starter decks are out there for you to try out.

Pokemon TCG: Best Sets To Buy To Get Started

If you're a fan of all things Pokémon, the Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest (2023) might just tickle your fancy! It comes in a solid metal case decorated with a kick-ass Tera Charizard. First off, there are six booster packs, each with ten cards from the assorted Pokémon TCG series. They'll give you plentiful opportunities to add some common, uncommon, rare, and ultra-rare cards to your stash. Just a heads-up, though – some chests might have older booster packs, which isn't everyone's cup of tea if you're chasing newer cards.

One big plus is that you'll also score three exclusive foil cards that feature the Paldea starter evolutions. Besides the booster packs and foil cards, there's a collectible coin, stickers, and other themed goodies packed inside. They boost the chest's value and round out the Pokémon collecting experience.

Yes, the Pokémon TCG: Collector's Chest (2023) might be pricier than buying booster packs alone, but with so many AH-MAZING items and an easy-peasy storage case, we'd say it's still a steal for any dedicated Pokémon fan.

Not all starter decks are created equal. Some are more complex than others, which can make them not quite as favorable for people who are just starting out. The Pokemon TCG: My First Battle pack is made just for this purpose.

The pack contains two complete starter decks that are simple and easy to use. With two decks, you can pair off with a friend and go against each other to start learning the game. You can also combine the two decks to customize your first deck.

If you've got a bit of experience with Pokemon but aren't sure where to go to keep growing, these battle decks are a perfect choice. The Pokemon TCG Deluxe Battle Decks include everything you need to sit down and get playing.

Each deck has either a Meowscarada or a Quaquaval at random. There are 60 cards total with 3 foils and several accessories to help you get started. These accessories include a set of damage counters, a playmat, and a coin to flip to see who goes first.

The Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box is impressive at first glance, showing a colorful box that leaves an impression while adding some striking accessories. It includes booster packs of Paldea Evolve, which feature popular cards such as the Iono trainer card. Iono is a staple to any deck with her powerful effect that allows you to draw more cards and control your opponent's hand.

This box also has sleeves featuring the starter trio of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Its Grass, Fire, and Water combination goes well with the design of the sleeves and the dice, making it an appealing choice for those with a great sense of aesthetics and fashion.

The Pokemon Battle Academy 2 Board Game is perfect for introducing kids to the world of Pokemon TCG! This set includes Decks to play, tutorials to learn how to play with, and a board to familiarize yourself with the game. The adorable Eevee, iconic Pikachu, and new powerful Cinderace are great Pokemon that interest kids with their beloved designs!

The rules are simple to understand and allow children to have fun while starting their card collection. It will grow little by little as they become full-fledged Pokemon trainers. Some powerful cards are also included in the V versions of the three iconic Pokemon !

If you want to enter the competitive scene, there is no better way to start than getting the Mew VMAX League Battle Deck! This is a level three battle deck, which is competitive-ready out of the box. Mew VMAX quickly rose to power in the competitive scene and became one of the mightiest decks to face off during a competitive tournament thanks to its incredible speed and power.

It also comes with Genesect V, another fearsome card to add to your collection with this Battle Deck. Genesect V allows you to draw as many cards as you have Fusion Strike Pokemon in play, paired with Mew VMAX Cross Fusion Strike, which will enable you to use the attack of your Fusion Strike Pokemon on the bench. Once this deck gets going, it is almost impossible to stop.

The Lost Origin, Elite Trainer Box, includes eight booster packs of the Lost Origin Set. Like Paldea Evolved, Lost Origin Set also includes many popular and fun cards to use when building decks to play with. The mechanic of the Lost Zone allows you to set your cards into it to empower attacks and unleash devastating effects on your opponent.

The box is good for a collection starting point as it includes energy to build decks of all types, booster packs, and accessories. The package also comes with dividers to keep all your cards in perfect order and get you started in organizing your collection. It makes up for a great alternative to the Paldea Evolved box if you would rather get cards from the Lost Origin Set and a black-red color combination that is less colorful but striking.

The Chien-Pao deck is the best budget option for those starting to play the game, costing only ten bucks. This level 1 battle deck will allow you to understand the game's rules while being easy to use on the battlefield. Thanks to the strategy sheet, you will learn how deck strategies work and how to implement your tactics into future decks you build or acquire.

The Battle Deck also comes with a playmat and some accessories to get your feet wet in the game. Chien-Pao is one of the newest legendary Pokemon From Scarlet and Violet, and his ability will do wonders in getting newbies to keep playing and avoid bricking as it searches for more energy to add to your hand.

The Trainer's Toolkit 2023 is a popular product, and with good reason: it features a strong collection of cards along with the powerful Arceus V line. This toolkit has over 100 energy cards, four booster packs, and accessories to get you started, including sleeves, damage counters, and coins.

What makes this product the best value is that, for 25 bucks, you get a huge amount of cards and powerful Pokemon for half the price of an Elite Box, making it the perfect choice for those trying to get worth out of their purchase. If you want the best value, go for this amazing toolkit!

If you would rather get booster packs due to the emotion of opening them or start your collection blind without any hand-holding, then the Paldea Booster Display Box is the best choice. This monstrous box comes with over thirty-six booster packs of Paldea Evolved, one of the best current packs to get out there.

The sheer amount of packs ensures that you will get some amazing cards out of the box, and it might be a nostalgic experience for those who played card games in their childhood as you open them. While you might need more energy cards depending on the type of deck you want to build, this box is one of the best products to obtain a variety of powerful cards quickly.

These products come with the accessories needed to play a match of Pokemon TCG, damage counters, dice, coins, and cards. The best pick is the Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box due to its colorful design, booster packs featuring Paldea Evolved's powerful and staple cards such as Iono, and other features such as energy cards to build a deck.

FAQ

Is The Pokemon TCG Game Popular?

Pokemon TCG is one of the most popular card games in the world, so much in fact that there are tournaments in local stores and regional and global championships that require participants to win in sponsored events by the Pokemon Company.

How Do I Know if I Can Use A Card In Tournaments, Stores, Or Competitions?

The new Pokemon cards have letters in the bottom left corner of the card. These letters are D, E, and F. Cards with the letter D cannot be used in sponsored competition and most local stores' tourneys, so to be safe, make sure to build decks with the letter E and F when playing in stores. You can use any card to play with friends and family if your opponent doesn't mind.

Is The Pokemon TCG Fun to Play?

Pokemon TCG is a lot of fun for both children and adults! Once you understand the rules, it is a simple game, but it also has many complex strategies to implement. It is a crown pleaser that can delight casual newcomers, fierce competitors, and those who love building collections over time.