Skip to content

The Blog

Guides, tips and behind the scenes to choose well and care for your collection.

Getting started

Products & sealed

Sealed products

Guide·

What Is a Pokemon Display and How Many Boosters Does It Contain?

Definition, booster count, and the differences between French and Japanese formats: everything you need to know about Pokemon displays.

Read article→
Guide·

Should You Open or Keep a Sealed Pokémon Display Sealed?

The joy of opening, collecting, cost, and storage: the criteria to help you decide whether to open or keep a sealed Pokémon display.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Do Some Pokémon Displays Increase in Value?

Demand, availability, iconic cards and condition: discover the factors that can drive up the price of a sealed Pokémon display.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is the Difference Between a Display, an ETB, a Collection Box, a Bundle, and a UPC?

Content, use, and collecting value: compare booster displays, ETBs, collection boxes, Booster Bundles, and UPCs from the Pokémon TCG.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Properly Store a Sealed Pokémon Display?

Temperature, humidity, light, protection and handling: best practices for keeping a sealed Pokémon display in excellent condition.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Check Whether a Japanese Pokémon Display Has Its Original Shrink

Seals, tension, box condition, tabs and provenance: the points to check when assessing the original shrink wrap of a Japanese Pokémon display.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is a Pokémon Booster Art Set?

Definition, composition, and collecting appeal: discover what a Pokémon booster Art Set is and how to check that it's complete.

Read article→
Guide·

Are blister-packed boosters better than loose single boosters?

Protection, provenance, price and collecting: compare cardboard-blistered Pokemon boosters with bare boosters sold individually.

Read article→
Guide·

Can You Weigh Modern Pokémon Booster Packs?

Weight, code cards, manufacturing variations and limitations: why weighing modern Pokémon booster packs is often unreliable.

Read article→
Guide·

How to recognize an authentic sealed Pokémon product?

Packaging, printing, codes, sealing and seller reputation: the essential checks for spotting an authentic sealed Pokémon product.

Read article→

Promos & exclusives

Guide·

What is a Pokemon or One Piece promotional card?

Distribution, numbering and value: find out what a Pokemon or One Piece promotional card is and how to identify it.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Are Some Cards Exclusive to Japan?

Pokémon Center, events, collaborations and local markets: understanding Japan exclusive cards in Pokémon and One Piece.

Read article→
Guide·

How Can You Get the Promotional Cards Distributed at Events?

Leagues, tournaments, prereleases and campaigns: the official ways to get Pokémon and One Piece promotional cards.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is a Pokémon Center Limited Box?

Promos, accessories and Japanese distribution: discover what defines a Pokémon Center Limited box.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Are Pokémon Center Pikachu Cards So Sought After?

Popularity, regional artwork, and limited distribution: understanding the appeal of Pokémon Center Pikachu cards.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is the Difference Between an Exclusive, Promotional, and Limited Card?

Definitions and marketing traps: learn to tell an exclusive, promotional, and genuinely limited card apart.

Read article→
Guide·

How are One Piece tournament exclusive cards distributed?

Participation, standings, Store Tournaments and Regionals: understanding how One Piece tournament exclusive cards are distributed.

Read article→
Guide·

Are Promotional Cards Good Collectibles?

Artwork, history, distribution and condition: the criteria for knowing whether a promo card deserves a place in your collection.

Read article→

Cards, condition & value

Single cards & grading

Guide·

How to Assess a Pokémon Card's Condition Before Buying It?

Surface, corners, edges, centering, and lighting: learn how to assess a Pokémon card's condition before buying or selling.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is the Difference Between Mint, Near Mint, Excellent and Played?

Acceptable flaws and best practices: understand the main grading terms used to describe Pokemon and One Piece cards.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Protect and Store Your Pokémon Cards?

Sleeves, toploaders, binders, humidity, and transport: the complete method for protecting a Pokémon card collection.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is a Graded Card and What Is Grading For?

Authentication, grade, encapsulation and certification: discover what a graded card is and the limits of grading.

Read article→
Guide·

What's the Difference Between PSA, BGS, and CGC?

Scales, labels, subgrades, market recognition, and slabs: compare PSA, BGS, and CGC to choose the right grading company.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Does a Card Get a PSA 9 Instead of a PSA 10?

Centering, surface, corners, and print defects: understanding why a card receives PSA 9 rather than PSA 10.

Read article→
Guide·

Is It Worth Grading a Pokemon Card?

Fees, likely grade, raw value and liquidity: work out whether grading a Pokemon card makes economic or personal sense.

Read article→
Guide·

How to verify the certification number of a graded card?

Number, official database, photos and label: the steps to verify a PSA, BGS or CGC certification before making a purchase.

Read article→
Guide·

Should You Buy a Raw Card or an Already Graded One?

Price, condition, presentation and risk: comparing the purchase of a raw Pokemon card with an already graded one.

Read article→
Guide·

How to prepare a card before sending it for grading

Inspection, sleeve, semi-rigid holder, declaration and packaging: properly prepare a Pokémon card before a grading submission.

Read article→

Japanese or English

Guide·

What Are the Differences Between Japanese and French Pokémon Cards?

Language, releases, rarities, print quality and market: compare Japanese and French Pokémon cards before you start collecting.

Read article→
Guide·

Are Japanese Pokémon Cards Better Quality?

Printing, cutting, centering and textures: an objective look at the quality differences between Japanese and French Pokémon cards.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Do Japanese Displays Contain Fewer Cards Per Booster?

Distribution format, pricing, and series structure: why so many Japanese Pokemon boosters contain just five cards.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Do Some Cards Come Out in Japan Before France?

Release schedules, localization, and set reshuffling: understanding why some Pokemon cards appear in Japan before they reach France.

Read article→
Guide·

Do Japanese Pokemon Cards Have the Same Value as French Cards?

Availability, demand, quality, and grading: why a Japanese Pokemon card doesn't necessarily have the same value as its French version.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is a Japanese Pokémon High Class Pack?

Premium format, reprints, shiny cards and displays of 10 boosters: discover how Japanese Pokémon High Class Packs work.

Read article→
Guide·

How Do AR, SAR, SR and UR Rarities Work in Japan?

Illustration, texture and secret numbering: understand the AR, SAR, SR and UR rarities of Japanese Pokemon cards.

Read article→
Guide·

Why Do Some Japanese Cards Never Get a French Version?

Promos, Pokemon Center exclusives, campaigns, and catalog differences: why some Japanese cards never have an identical French counterpart.

Read article→

Playing

Guide·

How Does a Pokémon TCG Tournament Work?

Standard format, Swiss rounds, deck lists, and Championship Points: discover how an official Pokémon TCG tournament runs.

Read article→
Guide·

How Does a One Piece Card Game Tournament Work?

TCG+ registration, deck building, rounds, match time and prizes: understanding how a One Piece Card Game tournament works.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Build Your First Pokemon Deck

Pokemon, Trainers, Energy and strategy: a simple method for building a first 60 card Pokemon deck.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Build Your First One Piece Deck?

Leader, colors, cost curve, Counter cards and DON!!: an accessible method for building your first One Piece deck.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is the Standard Format in Pokémon?

Regulation marks, reprints, and rotation: understanding the Pokémon TCG Standard format in 2026.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is Pokemon Card Rotation?

Regulation marks, key dates, and deck adaptation: everything you need to know about the annual rotation of the Pokemon Standard format.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Register for an Official Pokémon or One Piece Tournament?

Official accounts, locators, TCG+ and checks: the steps to follow to take part in a Pokémon or One Piece tournament.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is the Difference Between Collecting Cards and Playing in Tournaments?

Budget, condition, rarity and product choices: understanding the differences between a TCG collection and a tournament deck.

Read article→

One Piece

Guide·

How to Start a One Piece Card Collection?

Characters, arcs, rarities, languages and budget: a simple method for building a coherent One Piece Card Game collection.

Read article→
Guide·

How Do One Piece Card Game Rarities Work?

C, UC, R, SR, SEC, L, parallels, SP and Treasure Rare: understand the rarity structure of the One Piece Card Game.

Read article→
Guide·

What Do the C, UC, R, SR, SEC and L Rarities Mean in One Piece?

Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare, Secret Rare and Leader: discover what the main letters printed on One Piece cards actually mean.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is a Parallel Card in the One Piece Card Game?

Alternate artwork, texture, same card number: understand how parallel cards work in the One Piece Card Game.

Read article→
Guide·

What Is the Difference Between an SP, a Manga Rare, and a Treasure Rare?

Origin, official status, and appearance: compare SP, Manga Rare, and Treasure Rare cards from the One Piece Card Game.

Read article→
Guide·

What is a Parallel Leader Card in One Piece?

In-game role, alternate artwork and collecting: everything you need to know about Parallel Leader cards in the One Piece Card Game.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Recognize a Japanese or French One Piece Card?

Text, logo, code, card back, and distribution: the key markers for telling a Japanese One Piece card apart from a French one.

Read article→
Guide·

Do Japanese One Piece Cards Have the Same Value as French Cards?

Market, availability, gameplay, and collecting: why Japanese and French One Piece cards don't always share the same value.

Read article→
Guide·

What Are the Hardest One Piece Cards to Pull From a Display?

Super Parallel, Manga Rare, SP and Treasure Rare: understanding which One Piece cards are hardest to pull without promising ratios.

Read article→
Guide·

How to Spot a Fake One Piece Card

Print quality, texture, text, colors and provenance: the practical checks for detecting a counterfeit One Piece card.

Read article→
Guide·

Should You Collect One Piece Cards in Japanese or English?

Price, aesthetics, official tournament play, and availability: choose between Japanese and English One Piece cards based on your goals.

Read article→
Guide·

What's the Difference Between a Booster, a Display, a Starter Deck, and a Double Pack in One Piece?

Contents and use: compare boosters, displays, Starter Decks, and Double Packs from the One Piece Card Game.

Read article→