⚡ Top 5 Lightning Pokemon Cards

When playing Pokemon: The Card Game (TCG), every player should know the best move to win the game. How can you win if you don’t know your golden moves, right? 

This blog discusses the Top 5 Lightning Pokemon Cards to help you win your battles and become a Pokemon Master! These lightning Pokemon have always impressed users due to their powers of paralyzing and stunning. 

5. Magnezone

The generation IV Magnezone is inevitably in our top 5, considering it has 11 resistances and one immunity! You will have to pay close attention to damage with this card; however, because it falls short because of the weaknesses, it has to fighting type Pokemon. You are bound to win with an HP of 140 and an ability like “Magnetic Circuit,” which allows you to attach any other lightning energy card to any Pokemon card from your deck. 

Now that you know the best cards to play in Lightning Pokemon, it’s time to search for these to add to your collection. 

Stagger your opponent off the playing field in seconds, especially those heavily dependent on Flying and Water-type Pokemon!

4. Jolteon

Having evolved with the Thunderstone, Jolteon has an HP of 90. With a speed base of 130, this makes Jolteon one of the card game’s quickest and most agile Pokemon. 

With this card, you can be both offensive and defensive, or a balance of both if you like. Moreover, it facilitates your other Pokemon in play to become a lightning type Pokemon along with their existing type with its ability “Electric Effect.”

Use this card and see how well it fits your deck format. 

3. Tapu Koko GX

Many players argue that Tapu Koko GX isn’t the strongest playing card in Pokemon TCG. While it may not have any resistance, unlike many other GX units, Tapu Koko doesn’t harbor any weaknesses either. It’s ability, known as “Sky-High Claws,” delivers a shock for 130 damage with no side effects. In comparison, ‘Tapu Thunder GX’ delivers 50 damage, multiplied by the amount of energy attached to all those Pokemon the player is opposing. 

2. Thundurus

A force to be reckoned with, Thundurus is a player-favorite and is used in many tournaments. With attacks like “Headlock” that require a flip of a coin, either option helps you win against your opponent. If you get heads, the attack will do 30 + 30 damage, and if you get tails, your opponent’s active Pokemon becomes paralyzed!

1. Mega Ampharos

With a whopping HP of 220, at number one, we have the Mega Amphorus. This lighting type Pokemon is equipped with an extremely powerful attack known as “Exavolt”. Though its speed isn’t up to par with a meager 45 stat due to its bulk, it is a great card to be played as a defense against an attacker.

5 Effective Tips to Win the Pokemon Card Game

If you have a grand collection stocked up of the ever-great Pokemon cards but have not yet come across a strong strategy good enough to help you master the game, you need not worry! We’ve formulated the top five useful tips that will help you win every Pokemon card battle you can imagine.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your cards and read through this guide to make the most out of your collection.

1. Prioritize Deckbuilding and Establish the Value of Your Cards:

You might have noticed how quickly super-powerful and rare Pokemon cards can change the entire course of your game; hence, it’s essential for you to prioritize deckbuilding. Try aiming at building a deck of around sixty cards. This will help you determine what Pokemon cards you have and how much value they have attached to them.

2. Study Your Cards and Design A Deck Strategy:

After you have created a significant deck of about sixty cards or so, read about each one of your cards using different sources such as Duelist and Inquest, two magazines dedicated to helping you master the art of Pokemon cards. This will help you study and read into your cards regarding their specialties, strengths, weaknesses, and attributes.

Once you believe you are proficient at studying your cards, design a deck strategy. Choose a powerful Pokemon to be in the spotlight, to help you get the upper hand over your opponent. Having the upper hand over your opponent is a clear-cut strategy for winning the game.

3. Pick Secondary Pokemon’s to Boost Your Main Pokemon:

After choosing your strong main Pokemon, choose the rest of your Pokemon to support your primary strategy. Ensure that you’re reading into the secondary Pokemon’s strengths, weaknesses, and powerful abilities.

Don’t forget to include trainers and supporters to supply energy to your main Pokemon quickly.

4. Think Carefully Before Making A Move:

If you attack right away on your turn, the chances are that your head is not in the game. Think of all the possibilities before you attack, such as “how will things change if I throw an electric card?” or “have I activated an ability yet?” or “are my strengths stronger than the strengths of my opponent?”.

Study your opponents’ cards and see the advantages and disadvantages their strategies pose to you and your Pokemon. Your next move should always be to defeat your opponent’s card!

5. Trade for More Pokemon’s Compatible with Your Rare Cards:

Build a strong Pokemon TCG deck by trading for more Pokemon cards. Aim for finding cards compatible with your existing rare cards to strengthen your game and ensure an upper hand over your competitors.

These are the top five tips that you definitely need to follow if you wish to master the art of defeating your opponent every time. Don’t forget to bring your best deck forward and think twice before making every move.

Happy Gaming!

Buying Authentic Pokemon Cards

Buying Authentic Pokemon Cards

If you plan on beginning your journey of collecting Pokemon cards, you have probably wondered what a good, reliable source is. Follow this guide and look for trustworthy sources, as plenty of fakes are in the market!

After all, you wouldn’t want your opponent doubting your credibility as a Pokemon fan or player.

Looking for Cards Online

While buying Pokemon cards online is considered one of the easiest options for starting your collection, it isn’t rare to find dupes that may put you at risk of getting ripped off by a deceitful dealer. However, hundreds of people are willing to sell and trade their collections if you look in the right places.

Start your research by checking out affordable, reliable, fast-paced card websites like Titan Cards. They have a wide range of Pokemon cards, including all the energy boosters, rare cards, and special limited-edition collections. If you know your way around the cards, you can also lookup up special collections on eBay; however, be wary of the scams you might encounter.

Joining A Card Market

Another great way to get the best Pokemon card deals online is by joining a card market. You can either sell your existing cards or look through different categories of people selling their collections online. It can be quite easy to get your hands on single cards, booster boxes, and, if you’re extremely lucky, even sealed products through an existing, well-known card market.

Websites like CardMarket are known only to take original Pokemon cards, making it easier for you to get an authentic product without getting scammed. Think of the card market as a stock market but for Pokemon fans!

Searching for Specialized Retailers

If you have time and are willing to spend the day going around to different retailers, it is undeniably one of the safest ways of purchasing authentic cards. Check out different gaming stores for a vast collection of Pokemon cards, such as booster packs, strength cards, and limited-edition collections. However, due to a 100% authentic and original license, you might find the Pokemon cards to be priced slightly higher than those you find online.

If you don’t have a specialized gaming store that sells Pokemon products nearby, check out the local giants in your area, such as Target, Walmart, and Kmart, all of which are known to sell Pokemon cards at an affordable quote.

Trading Collections Through Meetups and Tournaments

Pokemon collectors don’t just keep their cards hidden away in their drawers; most are fond of challenging well-known opponents at local tournaments. Luckily, for card collectors, such events and meetups are a great way of enhancing their card collection.

Choosing from Various Types of Pokemon to Win

Have you ever wondered what strategies warrant a clear-cut win against your opponent in the groundbreaking Pokemon card game?

Without a doubt, some types of Pokemon are stronger than others, allowing you a victory every time you decide to use them. However, quite often, some not-so-powerful Pokemon can have a far more substantial impact when fought against a specific type of Pokemon.

Hence, we have structured this blog so that you can easily figure out which one of your Pokemon is best used against the other just by evaluating the different types of Pokemon. Our guide guarantees a win by a milestone against your competitor.

Understanding and Building your Dream Team

If you’re looking to build a dream team, you need to do more than just analyze the Pokemon by its attributes. 

Instead, opt for understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and compatibilities with other Pokemon. This will help you identify which types of Pokemon will attack the others best, allowing you to arrange your deck according to the strength strategy of each type of Pokemon.

Knowing and Evaluating the Different Types of Pokemon

You will come across countless Pokemon creatures during the card game. However, they have each been assigned a certain type that allows you to control their attacks and defense by their strengths and weaknesses.

If you opt for using Pokemon types with a greater advantage over the other, you might win the match by a clear margin. For example, one of the most used Pokemon, Pidgey, is a creature that can fly. While it is pretty powerful, if you fight it against a rock-type creature, it will go down in no time. However, you need to know every type’s different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses.

Finding Pokemon Types with the Right Advantages

Over 18 significant types are distinguishable, such as Electric, Water, Ground, and Grass, to name a few. Each type has the upper hand over the other.

For example, if you use a Water-type Pokemon to attack a Ground-type Pokemon, it will net you double the normal damage due to its advantages. Similarly, if you use a Fire-type Pokemon against another Fire-type Pokemon, you will yield just a quarter less than double the normal damage. These are some of the most significant types fought against the other, leading to great damage combos.

To check out all the types and their compatibilities, click here. You will be able to figure it all out in no time!

Now that you know how the different types of Pokemon work, it will be much easier for you to master the card game in no time. Don’t forget to always look into the Pokemon’s details and evaluate each type’s advantages and disadvantages before you make a move!

So, don’t wait too long and grab your deck and browse through your cards to see which Pokemon can fight best against the other. 

How to Buy and Sell Pokemon Cards Online 

You might be sitting on a goldmine if you still hold on to old toys. A lot of childhood paraphernalia sells at surprisingly high sums these days, including:

Mixed in among these surprisingly valuable childhood collectibles are Pokemon cards. Depending on the condition, quality, and rarity of your Pokemon cards, you might be able to sell them for a considerable amount. 

All is well and good, but where and how do you buy and sell Pokemon cards online? 

Where to Sell Pokemon Cards Online

Let’s start with where you can sell Pokemon cards online. There are various ways to do this; some will be more convenient. But when it comes to dusting off those old binders of Pokemon cards and making a dime or two off them, all of these are reliable ways to do that. 

eBay

eBay is an excellent way to buy or sell Pokemon cards. One of the things we appreciate about it is that the seller can choose the price they want for their items. To help you do that, the site lets you look at the prices other sellers have set for the same or similar items. 

That’s especially helpful if you have, for instance, a 1995 holographic Lapras Pokemon card but have no idea what it’s worth or what people will pay for it. 

However, a fixed price isn’t necessary. While you can give users an option to buy an item immediately, setting a minimum amount and auctioning your Pokemon card off instead is possible. You’ll be able to set a time limit on bidding, and interested potential customers can set offers and hopefully drive the price up. 

Another advantage of selling Pokemon cards through eBay is that the first 200 listings you set are free. This can be helpful to new sellers, especially if your Pokemon cards sell quickly. But if not, you can always relist them in the future. 

However, you will have to pay the site approximately 10% of the final price as a sales fee. Additionally, shipping is paid, either by you or the customer, depending on what arrangements you make. Consequently, you want to take care with shipping to avoid disputes due to:

  • Damages 
  • Delivery delays 

Finally, if you discover you have a rare or unusual Pokemon card and want to sell it on eBay, consider having it professionally graded and authenticated. Professional grading helps establish buyer trust. It’s also an excellent way to pinpoint your Pokemon cards’ worth since their condition drastically affects their price. 

But eBay isn’t the only way to sell Pokemon cards online. Here are some alternatives. 

Facebook Marketplace 

The immediate advantage of Facebook Marketplace is that, unlike eBay, there are no seller fees. So, if you manage to sell a Pokemon card for a surprising amount, you can rest assured that all that will come to you. 

It’s also a popular way to buy and sell merchandise locally. Like eBay, it’s possible to see how much others are selling similar items for, and that can help you judge the price of the Pokemon cards you want to sell. 

However, you do need to have or be willing to set up a Facebook account since prospective buyers will communicate with you through the platform, either through:

Mobile app 

Website messaging service 

Another advantage is that you can avoid shipping fees since Facebook Marketplace targets local buyers. Instead, you set up a pickup time with the buyer, and they come to collect their purchase. 

If you’re uneasy about meeting strangers in the current climate, even to hand off merchandise, Facebook Marketplace now provides an option called a ‘porch pickup.’ All you need to do is agree on a safe place to leave the Pokemon card outside the house and a time for them to come and collect it. 

They pick up the Pokemon card from the agreed-on place, leave the payment in exchange, and you maintain a safe distance. 

Facebook Marketplace allows buyers to pay either in cash or by debit card. Knowing this is important since using a credit card naturally precludes leaving payment in a pre-arranged spot. 

However, if a buyer does pay you for a Pokemon card via card, you can deposit the sum directly into a checking account. 

TCGPlayer Marketplace 

TCGPlayer Marketplace is an online marketplace designed to help people buy and sell Pokemon cards and other valuable, collectible trading cards. 

Creating an account and listing Pokemon cards for sale are both cost-free interactions. Sellers won’t have to pay unless they make a sale. And, whereas eBay takes an obligatory 10% of your sale, TCGPlayer Marketplace varies its charges based on how much your Pokemon cards sell. 

Seller fees range from 3% to 10.25%. You’ll have to give the TCGPlayer Marketplace significantly less money to sell an unremarkable Pokemon card than you would if selling a rare and coveted one. 

Sellers should also be aware that because TCGPlayer Market conducts its transactions through PayPal, there’s a 3% charge from PayPal for putting the money on your PayPal balance. However, transferring money from PayPal to your bank is free of charge. 

All these transactions may sound like they add up, especially if you want to sell a substantial Pokemon card collection online. However, regular sellers or sellers with many listings can upgrade to a Pro Seller account. Sellers who choose to do this pay reduced transaction fees. 

Despite the fees, TCGPlayer Marketplace continues to be popular with Pokemon card sellers because, unlike the locally oriented Facebook Marketplace, it allows you to sell your Pokemon cards internationally and domestically. This gives you more prospective buyer options than limiting your sales to your region.

Troll and Toad 

Another answer to the question of how to buy and sell Pokemon cards online is through Troll and Toad. 

Selling your Pokemon cards through Troll and Toad is more involved than with other sites. First, you must mail your entire Pokemon card collection or as much as you hope to sell to Troll and Toad. They inspect your cards for:

  • Value
  • Quality 
  • Condition 

Sellers typically receive payment five days after the inspection, although this varies. 

The most effective way of selling Pokemon cards online through Troll and Toad is by establishing a buy list. You can compile this by going through the various Pokemon card series listed on the website and matching them to the cards you want to sell. Selecting these will tell you how much Troll and Toad is prepared to pay for specific cards and help you estimate how much your cards are worth. 

Importantly, if you want to sell Pokemon cards online through Troll and Toad, it helps to know that if you request payment via check or PayPal, your Pokemon card lot must be worth at least $30. 

Lots worth less than $30 can still be sold but will only receive store credit. This can be helpful if you want to buy Pokemon cards online but not if you want to top up your bank account. Orders worth store credit are ineligible for the 35% payout bonus you can earn when selling larger or more valuable Pokemon cards through Troll and Toad. 

This 35% payout bonus applies to orders where:

  • Seller requests Website credit instead of alternative payment 
  • Orders are not in bulk 
  • Order exceeds $30 value 

Customers opting for website credit for bulk orders will not qualify for the 35% bonus. 

Additionally, if you sell Pokemon cards online to Troll and Toad, you are responsible for paying the following:

  • Shipping fees 
  • Customs fees 

If you don’t, or if Troll and Toad must pay part of the customs or shipping fee, they deduct the amount from your eventual payment. 

Finally, since you must ship your Pokemon cards to Troll and Toad for assessment and subsequent purchase, you must allow the requisite business days for your parcel to reach them before they can value your order.  

Cape Fear Games

Another way to tackle the problem of buying and selling Pokemon cards online is through Cape Fear Games. 

Depending on where you live, you can ship or hand-deliver your cards to Cape Fear Games for purchase. While this saves you shipping expenses, hand delivery requires you to be in the area. 

Like other online sites for buying and selling Pokemon cards online, Cape Fear Games provides prospective sellers with a buy list to gauge the worth of their Pokemon cards. It gives you references that reflect the price of your card depending on its professional grading, current condition, and overall value. 

However, not all cards are equally valuable, and with that in mind, Cape Fear Games limits the kinds of Pokemon cards it buys from moment to moment. To help you know if you have cards that Cape Fear Games is interested in buying, they also provide you with a list of cards they are open to purchasing at the time. 

If you do have Pokemon cards they decide to buy, you can opt to receive payment either through:

  • PayPal
  • Check
  • In-store credit 
  • MTGOTraders.com store credit 

Accepting in-store credit gives the seller a 30% bonus, while MTGOTraders.com store credit comes with a 20% purchase bonus. 

It’s also worth remembering that PayPal transactions may incur a fee ranging from 3% to 5%. Your Pokemon cards must be worth a minimum of $10 for a check to be shipped to you. 

Dave and Adam’s 

Another answer to the question of how to buy and sell Pokemon cards online is through Dave and Adam’s Card World. This website trades in Pokemon and sports cards. 

You can sell your Pokemon cards through this website in several ways. However you proceed, you start by contacting their office and providing them with details of the Pokemon cards you want to sell online. 

You can then mail your Pokemon cards to Dave and Adam’s. Once they arrive, you should receive a payment within 48 hours. 

Alternatively, and depending on where you are, it may be possible for someone to come and collect the Pokemon cards in person. While this saves on shipping, you will receive 95% of the cards’ value if you opt to sell your cards this way. 

But because of the possibility for in-person sales, it is possible to sell your Pokemon cards for cash this way, which may appeal to some sellers. 

Other payment options include checks and PayPal transactions. 

Finally, Dave and Adam’s may not choose to buy all your Pokemon cards. If so, they will return the rejects, and you won’t have to pay the return shipping fee. Free return shipping is unique to this website and one of the reasons people choose to sell their Pokemon cards online through this website. 

CCGCastle 

CCGCastle is another excellent website for people who are wondering how to buy and sell Pokemon cards online. 

It buys a range of trading card series and allows buyers and sellers to browse the catalog to see what they wish to buy or sell. 

The website is easy to navigate and includes a buy list for sellers, including the current buyback price of a Pokemon card. Clicking on ‘Sell us Yours’ lets you add items to your cat and set up an order. 

When you do this, it will indicate how many of your cards CCGCastle will want to buy. This is particularly helpful if you have duplicates of a card. 

You do have to pay shipping fees when selling your Pokemon cards online to CCGCastle. However, its payment options include PayPal and in-store credit, which you can use online. 

Finally, if you use the store credit to buy Pokemon cards online through CCGCastle, you enter a rewards program that helps you accrue points you can deduct from future purchases.

Check More than One Source

We’ve talked primarily about how to sell Pokemon cards online, but it’s worth stressing that all of the websites that allow you to sell Pokemon cards will also let you buy them. Some even offer an online or store credit option that you can deduct from the cost of future orders. 

If you sell Pokemon cards online, consider having them graded and authenticated. It helps forge trust, and it’s what you, as a buyer, would want other sellers to do.  

The bottom line is that various options are available, whether you are buying or selling Pokemon cards online. Find one you feel comfortable with and start looking for that Pokemon card you always wanted or selling your old cards to the highest bidder.    

New Pokemon Snap: Explore The Pokemon World

Are you super excited about the ‘New Pokemon Snap’ to the Nintendo Switch? Well, the game brings one of the most unusual experiences to game lovers, i.e., observing the Pokemon world with utmost reality, taking their snaps without catching them, and observing how they live in their habitat. The Pokemon world is encapsulated in the best possible way within Nintendo’s Switch capabilities. The quality graphics of islands with changeable surroundings, the ambiance of forests and beaches, and the ways various Pokemon live together make the fans eager to explore the game.

What Pokemon Snap Is All About?

As the name indicates, the Pokemon snap is about observing Pokemon in their natural habitat and capturing their photographs. The players will be evaluated based on the quality of the pictures they take. Better ratings will be given to the pictures which are difficult to capture. For example, capturing the Pokemon walking will receive one point, whereas the player who successfully takes a picture while the Pokemon is eating can receive 2 points. Likewise, taking a picture while Pokemon is playing or dancing will result in 3 or 4 points, respectively.

The game is specifically designed to explore the Pokemon world. The previous Pokemon Snap version, launched in 1999, charmed the players in the Nintendo 64 era. But the new game is designed to use the best of Nintendo’s switch capabilities. You will explore the unseen behaviors of Pokemon in the Lental region, meet Professor Mirror, and work together to explore the Illumina phenomenon. The photographs you will take, and environmental observation will aid in revealing strange occurrences within the region. Players also have the option to create their Photodex with the help of the photographs they take.

Saving, editing, and sharing photos are now integrated into the game. Previously, it wasn’t easy to save the images taken within the games to your photo gallery. Still, the new Pokemon Snap has encapsulated all the elements of photography within the game. Like any other photographic tool, the users now have the option to capture high-definition pictures and adjust their brightness, zoom, and blur the desired elements. The users can add filters, stickers, and different kinds of frames to beautify the pictures further.

Interactivity

Limited games allow the players to look at how other users are playing. The new Pokemon snap to the Nintendo switches also allows players to improvise their pictures, looking at how everyone else is taking them. It provides an idea about what angles are better for taking a photograph, the combination of light and brightness, and the other aspects of photography. Overall, the game has made fans eager to explore new functions. The fans are enthusiastic about exploring the Pokemon, patrolling the territories, and capturing their unseen reactions. They are impatient to see and take photographs of Pikachu, Squirtle, Sobble, Scorbunny, and various other Pokemon. Users can play musical instruments, make them dance, and capture better photographs.

Key Statistics About The Game

The game is expected to release at the end of April 2021. Only one player can play at a time. It is a simulation, and the expected file size is 6.8GB. Pokemon Snap can be played on TV, in tabletop Mode, and handheld modes. The supporting languages of the game are French, German, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Italian. Bandai Namco Studios originally developed the game, and is expected to entertain fun lovers very soon.

Who is making pokemon snap

New Pokemon Snap is currently in development by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., the company behind the Wii port of Super Smash Bros. What’s more. The publisher claims this new game is being developed exclusively for Nintendo’s new console.

What New Features Will It Have?

Many differences in the new Pokemon Snap have become staples of the series. These include taking photographs of Pokemon and earning points, being able to choose your Pokemon’s pose before you take a picture, having an island challenge where you have to take pictures of as many Pokemon as possible, and having an encyclopedia of Pokemon. In addition, there are some fun new twists as well. These features include Poke Balls that can be thrown at Pokemon from a distance and first-person Mode when taking pictures with the camera close-up with Rita. Putting these concepts together leads to some interesting gameplay scenarios.

How to Buy Pokemon Snap

Pre-orders for the new Pokemon Snap are now available on the Nintendo eShop and retail locations.

The game is now available for pre-order at stores such as Amazon.

Nintendo’s New Pokemon Snap Has Finally Arrived 

After 22 years, a new and improved Pokemon Snap for the Nintendo Switch has finally arrived. The new Pokemon Snap is a dream come true for those who enjoy exploring worlds. From forests to deserts and everything in between, players can spend hours searching for the ultimate photos of 200 different Pokemon. 

Much like a National Geographic photographer moving through the outback of Australia, a player can explore the habitats of various mons, searching for the perfect opportunity to take a photo. 

The goal is to explore and find Pokemon in their home environments, hoping to snap a picture of them in their natural habitats. While some aspects of this updated game are similar to the original version, it’s an entirely new experience with additional habitats and 200 Pokemon to find within the game. It can feel like you are being transported into a world full of Pokemon, more so than in any other entry in the franchise. 

A New World to Explore

Like the original adaptation, this one has the player assisting in exploring these environments and the classification of Pokemon. In the newest version, though, the player is helping Professor Mirror and his assistant Rita. The goal is to discover how and why Pokeman can glow and how this affects their behavior. 

The professor will help rate your photos while Rita teaches you about the islands you explore and the Pokemon. Players can save their favorite photos and enhance them using filters or changing the lighting exposure. There are also several in-game tasks to complete to level up, opening up further opportunities to see mons with new behaviors.

New Pokemon present as the player moves through the various environments in the trusted exploration pod NEO-ONE. A player can throw fluff fruit to entice a mon out from hiding or to feed them, providing an opportunity to take photographs. Players can also toss a glowing orb in the mons vicinity, making the mom glow and pose. 

Players can also convince the mons to dance by playing a melody, creating even more photogenic sequences. Exploring at night also allows for more opportunities to find other Pokemon and to change the lighting for more photo options.

Professor Mirrors will rate each photo on a scale of 1-4, with a 4 being more action sequence photographs such as playing with other mons or dancing.  As players explore the region of Lental, as this world is called, you can work on quests and complete tasks assigned by the professor and Rita. 

As more tasks are completed, new options and Pokemon become available. The mons become even more accustomed to you and allow you to approach closer, allowing for even better camera action.

When saving photographs to your album, you can add personal touches and do some editing. Players can re-center their photographs, reduce the blur or add lighting to emphasize different aspects of the photo. You can also save photographs to a personal album designed separately from the Photodex involved in gameplay.

New Additions for the 21st Century

The newest game version also includes an interactive option for online play using photos from a player’s album. Players can see pictures that others have taken, not only for new ideas on how and when to photograph their favorite mons but also to compete for the top photo in different categories.

The game itself is fun to play. Exploring the various environments and finding new Pokemon throughout the game provides hours of enjoyment. As you move and continue to level up, new behaviors present themselves for each mon, and the interactions between the mons themselves range from adorable to hilarious. 

The artwork is fabulous and presents the player with realistic opportunities to take some memorable photographs of the mons in action.

By having this version accessible on the Nintendo Switch, the game creators, Bandai Namco Studios Inc, have only added to the sensation of playing within this world. The Switch is a handheld device that gives the impression of holding a camera and moving around to find the best possible picture angle. 

The game has been translated into several languages, making it a worldwide phenomenon where gamers can interact and share their photographs.

There were a few minor complaints for users who played the original version of Pokemon Snap, released in 1999. The newest version has solved many of those. There are more environments to explore and more Pokemon to find. 

The original release only had 63 different mons in-game versus the 200 from various generations within this edition. While there will be those who find criticisms for this edition, there is a big opportunity for future versions to incorporate several new Pokemon, with over 600 mons yet to be added.

Final Thoughts

From the console to the in-game interactions between the player and mon, there is very little negative to say about this version of Pokemon Snap. Immersing yourself in these new environments is truly special for any Pokemon fan. There is something magical about seeing a Venasaur stomping through a field or a Mantine jumping in and out of the water. New Pokemon Snap breathes life into the Pokemon that we fantasize about so much, allowing us to experience everything like we were on a virtual safari. 

It’s truly loads of enjoyment for new and existing fans. Spending time looking for and discovering new Pokemon while learning about their behaviors is an enjoyable experience. 

The ability to compare photographs and compete against other players for the best picture in different categories is a good, clean, relaxing enjoyment that any player, young or old, can truly enjoy. So grab your camera and find those hidden Pokemon waiting to give you a picture worth a thousand words.

Pokemon 591 • The Awesome Amoonguss Meme

Who is Pokemon 591?

This Pokemon 591 Amoonguss fun-guide will explain exactly why Pokemon 591 has one of the most explosive come-up stories in Pokemon history.

pokemon 591 amoonguss
Pokemon 591 • Amoonguss

Pokemon Number 591 is Amoonguss

So how did Amoonguss’ popularity mushroom into superstar status? It sprouted and grew quickly as a trending topic with viral Amoonguss memes – inviting the reader to role-play Detective Pikachu, Google Pokemon #591, and explore the backstory behind the Pokemon 591 meme.

Why is Pokemon 591 a Meme?

Pokemon 590 is Foongus, and its evolved form, Pokemon 591, is Amoonguss. The couple, Foongus and Amoonguss, are quite the sporting pair. The toadstool’s names draw inspiration from the mnemonic schoolhouse rhyme, “There’s a Fungus Among Us.”

pokemon 591 worst mistake of my life meme

Pokemon #591 • The Amoonguss Meme

The Amoonguss meme journey begins with a call to Google Pokemon 591, which feeds a steady stream of online searches by newly initiated readers for the meaning of the Amoonguss meme.

search up the name of the 591st pokemon

On the next step of the adventure, our hero discovers the exciting new and evolving world of Pokemon & Among Us crossover content.

when your friend says he splaying pokemon and you know who's pokemon 591

What is Pokemon #591’s History?

Pokemon 591 debuted in Pokemon Black and White in September 2010. Ten years later, Pokemon 591’s popularity exploded with a Reddit user posting a photo of Amoonguss with the caption, “There is one ditto amoonguss.”

A few of the most popular memes play on the Among Us title screen, “Crewmate, there is 1 Imposter Amoonguss.”

Crewmates and Imposters in Among Us

The Among Us game is set on a spaceship. Players are randomly assigned a character role of either a Crewmate or an Imposter. Because Crewmates and Imposters have opposing mission objectives – shenanigans and betrayal quickly ensue.

among us crewmat imposter bean shaped astronaut character meme
Among Us Crewmate • Imposter

Crewmates can label fellow crewmates as ‘sus‘ if they suspect they are an Imposter. Crewmates can win by completing all their tasks or voting all the imposters off the ship in team meetings.

pokemon number 591 amoongus among us meme
Amoonguss • Among Us Crossover Meme

Imposters can win the game by sabotaging the rest of the Crewmates’ tasks and killing Crewmates without being seen. Once Imposters reach a majority, they can no longer be voted off the ship.

Why is Pokemon #591 Looking ‘Sus’?

Sus is a slang term for the word suspicious. Urban Dictionary defines the word sus as:

Sus: adjective “Giving the impression that something is questionable or dishonest. This word became the catchphrase in the online multiplayer game Among Us.”

Urban Dictionary

Among Us Pokemon Meme Review

YouTube • MandJayTV • Among Us Pokemon Meme Review

Among Us Pokemon Meme Review

This episode of “At some point in the past, I asked you” (ASPITPIAY), aka Pokemon Meme Review, features many Among Us memes on MandJayTV.

These are, of course, only a few of the internet’s thousands of Amoonguss memes. Since the Among Us game’s 2018 release, the waves of Amoonguss memes have ebbed, flowed, and continuously evolved. The massive surges of interest have infused lasting power into Amoonguss’ reputation. Amoonguss fans want to know what will spur the next wave of the Pokemon 591 meme trend.

google trends five year graph of interest over time for pokemon 591

Google Trends – Pokemon 591 – Interest Over Last 5 Years

Where Does the Saying “A Fungus Among Us” Come From?

The phrase, A Fungus Among Us, is a memorable part of grade school and an inspiration for the Pokemon and the Among Us video game. It has a catchy rhyme and is often used to teach children about the mushroom kingdom, in addition to jokes like, “Why did the fungi leave the party? Because there wasn’t mushroom for him,” the very best kind of science teacher joke.

A Fungus Among Us is referenced in several songs. The title of these songs probably came from the wordplay of the phrase, which has been around for centuries. In 1958, Terry Noland wrote “There Was a Fungus Among Us.” Since then, the phrase has been a classic sound bite of popular culture.

Of course, Pokemon isn’t the only television show to take on the title. Spongebob Squarepants, Darkwing Duck, Groundling Marsh, and Milo Murphy’s Law have episodes titled “Fungus Amongus.” No wonder the viral video game chose the name Among Us, which sparked the many Amoonguss memes we all know and love.

The Amoonguss Meme

While a simple Google search reveals that Pokemon 591’s name is Amoonguss, the mashup of two fan-favorite titles has broken new ground, teeming with memes that fans of both franchises can enjoy. So, the next time you play a Pokemon or Among Us game, you can rest easy knowing that this super-spirited mushroom’s life is all good. And if you don’t know, now you know.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

7.5/10

Summary: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are decent remakes of good games. While the core gameplay loop is still the same, the updated cutscenes don’t compare to contemporary ones, and some gameplay changes may bewilder long-time fans of the franchise.

Story

Where Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have done the least to change the originals is where they’ve had a chance to shine the most. 

The story is good enough that it’s clear why Nintendo chose to continue its trend of remakes with these games. Though not as popular as some other entries, Diamond and Pearl (along with Platinum) were both strong entries in the series.

Like any Pokemon game, the player is a ten-year-old child going on their first grand adventure. But unlike some other games, you don’t start with the chaperoning of any adults. 

The player and their rival don’t even have Pokemon as they set off into the woods near the local lake to see if there’s anything there. They’re just kids that got an idea from seeing something on television. If anything, the protagonist keeps the rival from doing anything stupid.

Then both the player and their rival must steal pokemon from a discarded briefcase to defend themselves when danger inevitably comes knocking. And from there, what starts as an innocent adventure quickly escalates into a mess of cosmic proportions. 

While many gangs read as cults of personality in the Pokemon franchise, Team Galactic is one of the best depictions of a truly unhinged group of people once you know what they’re planning.

Back in the day, this may have read as a bit silly. The leader’s goals make absolutely no sense to anyone who thinks about them critically. Players looking at it through a modern lens are all too familiar with the dangers of ignoring a charismatic leader just because he appears to have lost his marbles.

However, even if a few other things about Generation IV haven’t managed to age quite as well, the story is more fine wine than vinegar at this point. For this alone, it was worth rebooting just for today’s kids to experience it.

Gameplay

There are a few key aspects of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl that Nintendo had to consider when adapting the gameplay of the originals. Contests, the Grand Underground, the Poketch, and even poffins have all come back, and some have fared better than others.

Contests

Pokemon Contests were first introduced as a new feature in Generation III. Upon arrival, they had a mixed reception, but they were popular enough with people who wanted to do things other than the battle that they made a comeback for Generation IV. 

Meanwhile, Poffins are an update to Pokeblocks that made them a little more of a challenge to make corrections with the second screen getting involved.

But with updated graphics come updated Contests, and the revamped systems aren’t what players might be used to now. 

Poffins are the first thing one might notice a few changes; they’re nearly impossible to make with controllers alone, making certain home entertainment setups into a logistical snarl. Players should expect to mess a few of these up before they finally get the new controls right.

And then there are the Contests themselves, which are an acquired taste, to say the least. Instead of the classic system where players use various moves to please the judges and the crowd, the moveset of your Pokemon no longer matters. Instead, players only need to complete a rhythm game. 

For those with poor coordination or disabilities, this is immediately alienating in a way that the old Contest system never was.

On top of no longer being as accessible, they’ve made it so that dressing up a Pokemon is no longer a factor in how good they look for their Contest debut. No more putting a mustache on a Pokemon’s eyes to make it look like they have bushy, concerned eyebrows. No more players show off their identities through Pokemon’s dapper little hats or bow ties. 

Call it simplified or streamlined, but many people will call it ruined.

Battles

To hardcore players, the quality-of-life improvements in Briliant Diamond and Shining Pearl might read as having their hands held. To most, however, they’ll be a relief.

From the start, players will notice that their battle experience is now shared by the whole party. 

Rather than needing an EXP Share, the whole party will level evenly regardless of what items they hold or what you have in your bag. This will be a huge weight off the shoulders of people who were used to the old method of swapping a stronger Pokemon in at the start of the battle, but hardcore players can’t turn it off either.

In addition, other things about the battle system have brought it up to speed with modern games in the series. 

Pokemon moves now display not only type but also that type’s relative weakness or strength compared to what you’re fighting. Some moves have been removed outright due to redundancy, while others that didn’t exist in the originals have been added. Movesets, in general, have also been brought to a modern standard.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have also addressed one of the biggest problems that Generation IV had at the time: a lack of fire-type Pokemon. 

In the originals, the only guaranteed fire-type Pokemon you could get without trading was your starter and a Ponyta. With Infernape being the rare unpopular fire-type starter, this left a lot of players stuck with the fire horse. Now, Growlithe and Houndour have both been added to that pool.

The Poketch

The Pokemon Watch, or Poketch as it’s called in-game, has always been a little on the awkward side. The step counter was useful when trying to hatch eggs, but otherwise, it stayed mostly out of the way on the second screen. Now, there’s no second screen where it can sit, so it just exists awkwardly in the way of your main screen. 

Admittedly a minor nitpick, but it’s something older fans may get annoyed about.

The Underground

Long-time fans of the series will be relieved to hear that the game has refused to budge an inch about this. 

Secret bases have been tweaked to be a little less fun, but mining and orb-finding have stayed the same in the grand scheme. The mechanics are unchanged, and the sound design is similar enough to have that same primal satisfaction from finding something shiny in the dirt.

Graphics

Anyone who’s played a modern Pokemon game knows that the cutscenes have evolved over the years to look pretty good. Stylized as they are, they usually manage to age pretty well and maintain the distinct visuals of the Pokemon franchise.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have largely ignored that to reduce cost, and the result is hilarious bobbleheads.

Ironically enough, the problem appears to be an attempt to stay true to the graphics of the time while still being in 3D. 

Aside from the beginnings and endings of battles, most cutscenes are rendered with the same big-headed models that the overworld uses. These models are proportioned based on the sprites of the old games, which had huge heads because those were the easiest things for kids to distinguish.

All of this is made weirder because the more sensibly proportioned models exist. This wouldn’t be an issue if the big-headed models were consistent through the overworld, player character dress-up, and battles. But the proportions veer wildly between silly and serious instead, which gives the games a lot of tonal dissonance from one cutscene to the next. 

It doesn’t help that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are already walking a storytelling tightrope as it is. In some places, the jarring shifts between battle cutscenes and bobbleheads are enough to grind the immersive experience to a screeching halt. Kids may not notice, but adults definitely will.

Conclusion

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are good games built using the bones of great games. Some choices in adapting the originals have led to improvements, and others have been uniquely detrimental. 

Most of the improvements come as general quality-of-life changes and involve reducing the amount of artificial difficulty, while most of the things that made the games worse have been in the name of streamlining.

In the end, these games are still well worth their price tag. If you have a Switch, you should try the updated versions of these classic titles in the series. Even if your focus is entirely on solo play, the story is something that every Pokemon fan will appreciate.

Pokemon Celebrations – 25th Anniversary

The Pokemon franchise has come a long way since it began in 1996. In its two-and-a-half decades, the series has expanded well beyond the original Gameboy games to the DS, Wii, and 3DS and multiple anime series, movies, and merchandise.

The series Sun and Moon have finally arrived on the 3DS after much anticipation. But that’s not all; Nintendo and Game Freak have planned for the fans to celebrate the anniversary. The world of Pokemon is set to enter its golden anniversary era with a variety of different events.

Players will get to enjoy the 25th Anniversary celebrations with a variety of activities and surprises. From catching original Pokemon from the first generation to Mega Evolution coming back in full force, it’s set to be a great year for the Pokemon fanbase.

Pokemon Celebration Overview – What is being celebrated?

The Pokemon Celebration is a yearly event celebrating the release of new Pokemon games. This year, the celebration is being held in honor of the 25th anniversary of the franchise. From Mega Evolution to the first games on the original Game Boy, many events are being planned.

The purpose of the celebration is to mark the milestone of 20 years since the launch of the Pokemon franchise. The celebration was held from January 1 to December 31, 2021, and consisted of multiple events, one of which was the International Meet ‘N’ Greet event.

During the celebration, fans met up with their favorite Pokemon, participated in various activities, and collected special merchandise. Pokemon revealed several different games and plans at the event. These include special Pokemon from previous generations, such as Pikachu and Meowth, and characters from the Pokemon Sun and Moon games, like Litten and Pikachu.

Brief History of Pokemon Celebrations

Pokemon celebrations have come a long way over the years. They started as small events with just a few activities but have since evolved into large-scale affairs with various activities to choose from. Some people even travel from all over the world to attend these celebrations!

So, if you’re a Pokemon fan or have ever wanted to know more about the series, consider attending one of these celebrations. There are plenty of great events happening across the globe, so be sure to check them out.

Some Pokemon -inspired events are happening this year. Also, check out our list of the best events for Pokemon fans. It includes events by location and genre to help you plan your next trip.

Interesting Facts About Pokemon Celebrations

Pokemon celebrations are a joyous occasion where Trainers from around the globe come together to celebrate their love for Pokemon. There are many different ways to celebrate, but some popular activities include battling, trading, and watching Pokemon movies.

Pokemon is teaming up with some of the biggest names in music to help bring these events to life. Rock bands like Katy Perry, Post Malone, and J. Balvin are performing at different events supporting the series. Some of the top Pokemon and Nintendo events already in place include:

The new episodes of Pokemon Evolutions aired on the official Pokemon YouTube channel last year. The official Pokemon YouTube channel has returned the series for another mini-episodes season.

The Pokemon live stream started airing on the official Pokemon Twitch channel on December 8, 2020, including various surprises like giveaways and other events. The Pokemon live stream event features Pokemon favorites like Pikachu, Squirtle, and Mewtwo.

Pokemon celebrations are a lot of fun. There are usually games, prizes, and many other activities to enjoy. You can always watch the Pokemon celebration event on YouTube if you miss the live stream.

Baccarat celebrates 25 years of Pokemon

Baccarat celebrates 25 years of Pokemon with a new line of collectible figurines. The new line is inspired by the first generation of Pokemon and will include all of the original 151 characters. The figurines are made of high-quality resin and are hand-painted. They each stand 3 inches tall. The line also includes a Poke Ball bottle opener and placemat.

Pokemon GO Celebration – Moon Stone Availability and Release

The Pokemon GO Moon Stone is one of the most sought-after in-game items. Despite being called a “Moon Stone,” the item is not exclusive to Pokemon GO. It can be found in one of the latest games from the main series, Pokemon Sun and Moon.

The Moon Stone is a special item that can be used to evolve certain Pokemon. The evolution is not considered permanent, and the Pokemon will return to its original form when the player enters a PokeStop or battle.

However, the Pokemon can return to its evolved form again by using another Moon Stone. The Lunar Stone is also required to evolve Lunala.

The Pokemon GO Moon Stone is a special evolutionary item for Pokemon that can be obtained in Pokemon Sun and Moon. It can be evolved into a specific Pokemon, with an additional MPokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearloon Stone needed to evolve it into its final form.

Looking Ahead to Pokemon Celebrations

Looking ahead to Pokemon celebrations, it is evident that the future looks bright for all franchise fans. New games, movies, and merchandise are on the horizon, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the fun and excitement of Pokemon, no matter their age.

Recently, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched. These two games feature brand-new content, including the first Legendary Pokemon, Alolan forms of existing Pokemon, and plenty more.

The Pokemon coins are a beautiful tribute to the 20th anniversary of the franchise. The coin features all of the original 151 Pokemon, including Deoxys.

With Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, anyone can enjoy a diverse and immersive adventure, whether they’ve played the original games or not. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting started, there’s something in store for everyone. So get ready to party with Pikachu and the rest of the gang because the celebration is just starting!

Final Thoughts

This year is significant for Pokemon fans, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the first games in the series. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the world of Pokemon is set to enter its golden anniversary with various events. For fans who want to celebrate with iconic creatures, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon are here to help. As always, we have a selection of great deals on all things Pokemon.

Pokemon Legends Arceus Review

Pokemon Legends Arceus is what many Pokemon fans have been waiting for: an open-world Pokemon experience that focuses on the nominal pocket monsters with fresh gameplay mechanics. At the same time, however, Arceus is far from the typical Pokemon experience that most players have come to expect from the classic games. 

Pokemon Legends Arceus isn’t an open-world game. It’s filled with large areas you can explore at your own pace, unlocking in a particular order. While this is necessary for story progression, it still feels like an experimental bit of game development, even if each area is fun to explore.

The new gameplay mechanics are what drive the game forward. Whereas mainline Pokemon games focus on random encounters, in Arceus, you see Pokemon and approach them to either capture or battle them. If you trigger an attack from an overworld Pokemon, they’ll attack you directly. Otherwise, you have to throw out your Pokemon to begin a battle.

The battles have new mechanics that will seem familiar to Bravely Default fans. Pokemon can learn moves in a Strong or Agile Style. Strong Style increases the Pokemon’s move power but sets them back. The agile Style uses less power but allows you to move faster. Your Pokemon battle strategy will change to take advantage of these new mechanics.

The story is also different from the usual gym battles and victory road. It showcases Pokemon as powerful, dangerous, and unknowable creatures. As you progress through the story, you help the region’s people see Pokemon in a new light, which can feel incredibly rewarding as you fill out the Pokedex and complete sidequests.

Ultimately, while Pokemon Legends Arceus is fantastic for old Pokemon fans and newcomers, an extra year or two in development could have worked wonders for the overworld and gameplay. Still, this game is worthy of thorough consideration and a detailed breakdown, which is what we’ll go into next. 

An Entirely New Gameplay Experience

Get ready to catch ‘em all! This game’s progression and new mechanics mainly revolve around capturing Pokemon for the Pokedex. It’s how you progress the story and unlock new regions to explore, where you can catch even more Pokemon.

However, you don’t just walk into the tall grass for a Pokemon to jump at you. The Pokemon travel worldwide, interacting with each other and the environment. It’s up to you to decide how to approach and capture them. You can sneak through the tall grass, chuck a Pokeball at their backs, or take a page out of the Safari Zone and stun or distract them.

While you don’t have to start a battle to capture the Pokemon, you still have the option to weaken the Pokemon through battle before capturing them. Along with new Pokeballs and items, there’s an entire crafting system in the game where you can gather items in the overworld to craft other specialty items to help you get that rare and difficult capture.

Catching Pokemon is fun, but battling has a different spin. Now turns are based on a Pokemon’s speed stat. If your turn comes up, you are in the turn order. Agile moves prioritize speed over power, while Strong Style moves prioritize strength.

This allows you to pull off some sneaky tricks, like using a fast move in Agile Style to get your turn up next. Then, if you use a more robust, slower movement in Strong Style to knock out the Pokemon, the rival Pokemon won’t even be able to attack before you win. 

These moves aren’t just limited to players. The Pokemon and Trainers of the region can pull the same tricks, so you must plan your battle carefully.

Alpha Pokemon is another new addition to the Pokemon Legends Arceus world. You happily trek across the map until you come across a red-eyed, massive beast that one-shots you back to camp. Alpha Pokemon are aggressive, assertive, and challenging to capture. They add an extra element of danger to exploring and are especially rewarding to catch.

You’ll have to do more than capture one of each Pokemon to fill out the Pokedex. Each Pokemon has unique challenges to work towards a full Pokedex entry, like capturing multiples of the same Pokemon, evolving the Pokemon, or battling with or against them. You’ll spend more time with the same Pokemon to learn about them.

This new method of gameplay provides an extra layer of challenge to completing the Pokedex that is welcomed by Pokemon fans. Not only do you have to capture one of every Pokemon, but you also have to battle, travel, capture multiple, or witness certain behaviors to understand them truly, making Arceus like a real-life field experience.

Unreasonably high levels, aggressive attacks, and higher-level Pokemon provide quite a bit of stealth and battling challenge, at least at the beginning. The increased difficulty level is also a welcomed change to the Pokemon formula. 

Each area’s field bosses provide catching and battling challenges that you’ll have to attempt multiple times to complete, and beating them can feel like conquering a tough gym. These new difficulty levels make the game especially enjoyable for fans who have already beaten the other Pokemon games before trying Arceus.

Pokemon Like You’ve Always Imagined

The heart and soul of this game are the Pokemon. Battling and capturing are exactly how you think they’d be in real life. Watching the Pokemon in the wild, strategizing how to catch them, or watching two Alpha Pokemon you led to each other tearing themselves apart in battle provides a level of authenticity to the world of Arceus that other games may lack.

While the Pokemon don’t have the same depth and behavioral mechanics as Pokemon Snap, it’s still rewarding to see them in the wild. Just be wary of how many aggressive Pokemon are around you when you send your Pokemon out to fight. Horde battles can and will happen, and your Pokemon will face steep odds.

Dimensional rifts and new Pokemon forms are also included in the game, adding different flavors to the Hisui region. Dimensional rifts allow you to access old forms of Pokemon, Pokemon that you can’t typically find in the area, and unique items that you can use to evolve your Pokemon.

Many classic Pokemon receive new forms and evolutions in Arceus, including the final forms of the three starter Pokemon: Rowlet, Oshawatt, and Cyndaquil. Basculin, Stantler, and even Scyther have new unique evolutions for you to discover, giving some love to the first generation of Pokemon.

You can also ride Pokemon to help you explore the region, eliminating the need for HMS, so you don’t have to teach Cut to your starter. Moreover, you can control each Pokemon’s movements while flying, riding, swimming, and climbing throughout the region. 

There are no set paths or obstacles to your exploration, so if you like exploring worlds in-game, Pokemon Legends Arceus is a fantastic choice.

An Empty Overworld: Not Much Besides Pokemon

While the graphics are a little better in the handheld version than in console mode, the fact remains that the Pokemon populate world looks horrible, especially compared to pretty open-world games on the same console. 

The overworld is empty and ugly. The textures are bad, the water seems downright bizarre (doubly so if there are water Pokemon swimming in it), and objects pop in and out of reality at will. Unfortunately, besides the Pokemon themselves, there’s not much to explore.

It would be nice to see a fully realized world for the Hisui region, but we’ll have to wait and see if Pokemon Scarlet and Violet improve on the open-world design of this game. For this game, it’s a very significant negative. 

The game is still playable and enjoyable, but putting more development time into the game would have undoubtedly improved the repetitive gameplay in the latter half of the game after the novelty of the new game mechanics has worn off.

The Good, The Bad, The Pokemon: A Major Series Mix-Up We Want More Of

Pokemon Legends Arceus is an excellent Pokemon game. Game Freak completely revolutionized the catching and battling mechanics to bring us a fresh Pokemon experience. Everything from the gameplay to the story feels fresh and is excellent for hardcore Pokemon fans and newcomers to the series. 

The rushed development of this game has led to an empty overworld and a repetitive loop in the story’s latter half. Once you’ve caught the Pokemon and beaten the first half, there’s little else to keep Pokemon fans engaged, and the open world favors exploration over the storyline.

Pokemon Legends Arceus is a great game, foreseeably in the top-ten all-time, arguably the top five games to date. We’ll have to see if Pokemon Scarlet and Violet sticks to the open-world premise that Pokemon fans can spend days exploring or deliver the more established, fully fleshed-out closed-world games with a proven track record and appetite from fans.

Pokemon Showdown: Pokemon Battle Simulator Guide

Contents

 

Recent generations have tried to streamline this process by introducing several new mechanics like the Reset Girl and Nature Mints so you can train faster, but it’s still far from ideal. It takes a lot of work to get a whole team. Forget the learning and experimentation that comes with entering the competitive Pokemon scene.

However, there’s an easier way to jump into competitive Pokemon and learn the sport. Pokemon Showdown is a competitive battle simulator where fans can build teams and jump into battle.

What is Pokemon Showdown?

Created by Zarel in October 2011, Pokemon Showdown is an open-source online battle simulator with a thriving community behind it. It’s used by thousands of Pokemon fans worldwide, and 2,000 battles are going on at any time, so you can jump on, choose your tier and format, and get battling.

Its open-source code is entirely transparent, so you can understand the simulator and how it works. Its online components mimic the Wifi battles of yesteryear but with far more versatility and customization options than the original Wifi the battle function could ever dream of.

Pokemon Showdown is run by Smogon, a website and community specializing in the art of competitive Pokemon battling. It has everything you need to get started, plus a community you can engage with to deepen your knowledge. They have strategy guides, tier lists, and even a Battling 101 program where Smogon can pair you with a tutor to learn the basics of competitive Pokemon battling.

Instant Battles: Skip straight to the good stuff

In cartridge games, you must build your team. That level 73 Charizard you used for the Elite Four doesn’t cut it. You need a level 100, perfect IV, effort-trained Pokemon before considering starting competitive battling.

You won’t have the time unless you want competitive Pokemon to be your full-time job or hobby. However, Pokemon Showdown lets you customize your Pokemon yourself. No riding a bike for hours on end, no destroying local ecosystems by wiping out hundreds of the same species, and no spending millions on nutritional drinks. You create the Pokemon, customize their stats and abilities, and then battle.

Pokemon Showdown is about battling, learning, and experimentation, not team building and grinding for days. You can choose from a preset team or select the Random Battle format and jump straight into the action. You don’t even have to do this if you don’t want to.

If you want to save your rank and teams, you must create an account, but Pokemon Showdown is free and always will be. Like any sport, your overall win record is far more critical than individual wins, so rising through the ranks over time is more important than any individual win.

Pokemon competitive battling guide

Most games have a lower difficulty level than the competitive Pokemon scene. Your starter Pokemon will not be feasible in competitive battles, even if it can easily take down the Elite Four.

You don’t need a strategy in the games, level 100 Pokemon with type coverage for every type, and fully maxed EVs and IVs, but you do in competitive battling. A guy who swims as a hobby isn’t going to compete with a professional swimmer in the Olympics.

Competitive Pokemon battling is much more complicated than battling in the games. You must breed and train the perfect stats onto your Pokemon, which can be time-consuming. It’s become easier in recent games to make competitive battling more accessible, but it still takes effort.

IVs are stats a Pokemon is born with, and they can have 31 in each category: Special Attack, Attack, Speed, Defense, Special Defence, and HP. The best way to get these stats is through breeding to obtain Pokemon with perfect IVs.

In recent generations, bottle caps have been used to raise the IVs of Pokemon, making it possible to use the Pokemon you love in competitive play.

EVs are stats earned through battling. A Pokemon can earn 510 EVs, with 255 in a stat. Each Pokemon has an EV it gives when defeated, but you can buy EV boosters in-game to get the stats you want. In the most recent generation, you can wipe EVs away to get the EVs you want on a Pokemon.

Four EVs equal one stat point, so you only need 508 with 252 in a category to max the EVs for one stat. Most competitive players concentrate the EVs on two stat categories, usually speed and the stat most important for that Pokemon’s role.

A Community-based battling simulator

One of the best aspects of Pokemon Showdown is its surrounding community. It’s a welcoming, knowledgeable community that loves introducing new players to the sport. You can find people to help build teams, battle, or trade in the official games.

The community is dedicated to all aspects of competitive Pokemon battling, from breeding mechanics, which only come into play in the game, to damage calculators, built into the battling simulator, and most importantly, move sets and strategies crown champions.

With beginner threads, FAQs, and starter guides, you can build a great foundation. If you’re experienced, you can learn about the meta as new trends and Pokemon come onto the scene and keep your battle skills sharp.

Official Pokemon tournaments can be few and far between, but Smogon and Pokemon Showdown regularly host tournaments in several formats to satisfy even the most competitive players.

Pokemon Showdown Formats

Common Rules for all formats

Keeping things interesting is the heart of competitive Pokemon, so anyone can create an innovative team and win. All formats have some standard rules to keep things balanced and moving along. These rules are meant to keep things fair and balanced between players and Pokemon so no one battle strategy dominates over others.

Banned Pokemon

Each tier and format has banned Pokemon. It depends on the tier you’re in and the rule sets in place, but general Pokemon in tiers above the one you are playing in are banned because they are too powerful to play in that tier.

If you pick from the lower tiers, you’ll have fewer Pokemon to choose from, so you’ll have to get creative. Meanwhile, in higher tiers, you’ll have access to the Pokemon in that tier and those below in lower tiers. Thus, you have more variety and can use Pokemon from lower tiers to spice up your strategy.

Most legendaries and several mythical Pokemon with high stats are banned from every tier, but Ubers and some are even prohibited there. The only format that permits all Pokemon is Anything Goes, but that comes at the cost of most teams comprising the same all-powerful Pokemon with little variety.

Banned Moves

Different tiers have different banned moves. For example, the move Swagger is prohibited throughout the tiers as it has more to do with luck than skill. It can take down any Pokemon with the right conditions and a little luck.

The Little Cup has banned the moves Dragon Rage and Sonic Boom, as they each do a set amount of damage detrimental to the format. Essentially, each format has banned moves that are detrimental to the meta for that format.

Endless Battle

A battle that goes on forever may not seem feasible, but it’s possible in Pokemon. That’s why moves like Recycle and items like Leppa berries are banned on principle.

Stall tactics like Leech Seed are vital to all formats, but there’s a marked difference between stalling and wasting everyone’s time. Any items or moves that can theoretically lead to an endless battle are banned from all formats.

OHKO (One-hit KO)

Some moves have incredibly low PP and accuracy. However, they make up for it by killing the opponent in one shot, regardless of stat boosts and HP. Naturally, these moves are incredibly broken, especially when paired with moves that guarantee success, like Lock-On.

Moves like Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, and Sheer Cold are banned from all formats for the meta and to alleviate the incredible frustration of having your wall go down in one hit.

We’ll most likely never see any of these moves in any kind of competitive play, both now and in the future, so you’ll have to get your fill of them in-game.

Moody Clause

Moody is an ability that randomly raises or lowers a single stat other than evasion each turn. It mainly relies on luck and random chance rather than skill, meaning it has no place in competitive play.

While Moody can be fun to use, you should keep it to the mainline games, as it can be incredibly broken in competitive environments, so it’s banned across the board.

If you want to use Smeargle, pick a different ability or save it for Anything Goes.

Sleep Clause

Nothing is more annoying than an opponent that spams Hypnosis and lands everyone, which is why Sleep Clause is used across most formats and tiers.

Under the Sleep Clause, it is illegal to put more than one Pokemon to sleep on a team. So if you put one of your opponent’s Pokemon to sleep, you can’t put another to sleep until that one wakes up.

The exception to this rule is Pokemon that know Rest. If a Pokemon goes to sleep using Rest while another is asleep, it won’t activate the Sleep Clause. So don’t be afraid to build a team where Rest and Sleep Talk are essential parts of your strategy. 

What this means is that you can’t build a team around taking advantage of putting your opponents to sleep with moves like Hypnosis and Nightmare. Sleep stats aren’t a sustainable strategy; it plays quite well with luck.

Species Clause

Most formats forbid you from having two of the same Pokemon on the same team. A generally accepted rule keeps teams and strategies varied, but some exceptions exist.

For example, suppose the two Pokemon have different genders, giving them various forms and move sets. In that case, they are considered two different Pokemon, allowing you to bring at least two of the same Pokemon onto a team.

Nidoran is an excellent example of a species with different forms, moves, and abilities, like the newer Pokemon Indeedee. However, this rule keeps you from putting multiples of the same Pokemon into play, such as multiple Charizards capable of sweeping teams.

Another rule similar to this that is played in some formats is the Items Clause. This rule is less widespread than the Species Clause but is used in the official competitive Pokemon ruleset. Like the Species Clause, it prevents you from playing multiples of the same item.

Pokemon tiers: Competitive to comical

The tiers are different categories for Pokemon based on their use in competitive play. For example, the OU category is the most popular and is typically used as the standard for competitive play.

The OU tier consists of Pokemon used in a certain percentage of battles, depending on the Pokemon, but typically seen in ten percent or more of all competitive battles. The tier under that consists of Pokemon that fall below a certain percentage and is not used as much. And so on through the tiers.

In addition, some tiers have additional rules for the Pokemon you can use, like the Little Cup and PU tiers. In Little Cup, you can only use the base form and level 5 Pokemon, and PU consists of the worst Pokemon you can use competitively.

You can play multiple formats within the tiers, as the tiers are only meant to restrict the Pokemon, move sets, and abilities you can use. Moreover, while OU is the standard, playing other tiers can help you understand competitive Pokemon on a deeper level and show you exciting uses for Pokemon you would usually never use.

Rankings are considered in each category, not overall, so you don’t need to worry about that fun run in the Little Cup affecting your rank in the Doubles OU category. So don’t be afraid to try a different tier in another format to learn more about competitive battling in that tier or to have some fun.

Ubers

Ubers consists of the best Pokemon has to offer. Legendaries are required when team building and you have access to the best for competitive battling. The only Pokemon banned in this category is Mega-Rayquaza, as Mega-Rayquaza is too broken for any meta.

Suppose you want to see the ultimate in Pokemon battling. Even if it’s ridiculously overpowered and overblown, Ubers is the place to go. It’s the most powerful Pokemon for team building and a broken meta that favors the unpredictable and powerful Arceus.

This tier can be fun, but it’s too powerful and broken to be the leading tier for competitive Pokemon, an honor reserved for the next tier on the list.

OverUsed (OU)

OverUsed, or OU is the most popular tier on this list. It’s considered the best tier for competitive play, as it bans the most broken Pokemon while still retaining some of the game’s best ones.

OU consists of many fan-favorite Pokemon, but competitive players will want to read up to see what’s popular in the current meta, whether Landorus Therian form, Garchomp, or Aegislash. Different generations have different meta-games, so pay attention to the format and generation of the meta to see what’s best.

Typically, the current gen is the most popular, but you can also roll back to find older generations of battles. Before you go all in on OU, check out the lower tiers to see what Pokemon aren’t used as much as they should in the current meta of the all-encompassing OU category.

UnderUsed (UU)

If you’re more interested in playing with some Pokemon that don’t quite fit the current meta, check out the UnderUsed tier, UU. This tier consists of powerful Pokemon that don’t quite cut OU. Either because there’s a better option, a Pokemon with a better move set and typing that fulfills the same role, or just have lower stats that don’t make the tier.

UU has Pokemon, which is not commonly used in competitive battling but offers a host of strategies and underplayed tactics for you to learn and play with. Pokemon like Gardevoir, the Guardian Trio, Weezing, and more are good but not powerful enough to make it into the OU tier.

You can play with favorites or learn more about the Pokemon of the meta, as some are certainly good enough to be used in OU in combination with OU Pokemon. After all, having an unpredictable team and strategy is key to rising through the ranks and keeping those wins rolling in.

RarelyUsed (RU)

Do you like Flareon? Then, this is the tier for you. This tier includes Most Eeveelutions and Pokemon like Registeel and Flygon. It is mainly played for fun and has few associated strategies. 

However, you can see Pokemon you would typically never see played competitively and maybe even find one you can work into an OU or UU strategy. However, if you play this tier, you mostly play for kicks and giggles.

NeverUsed (NU)

Salazzle, Comfey, Vileplume. Pokemon that would usually never see the light of day in a competitive battle call this tier home. If you play this tier, you’re playing for fun. These Pokemon simply aren’t viable in the current competitive meta, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with them. This tier forces you to get creative with your options and strategies, and it is a great place to begin competitive battling. Besides getting your feet wet, you can test new techniques and find one that might work in upper tiers while still playing relatively low risk in the NU tier.

PU

PU isn’t an acronym. It means the Pokemon in this tier are stinky, so you won’t be playing for keeps. This tier can be fun, but you won’t find any viable Pokemon or translatable strategies. But you’re in the right place if you want to wreck someone with a Beheeyem. You can have fun creating silly strategies that wouldn’t work in any other tier.

Playing with terrible Pokemon is an art form in and of itself. Learning how to utilize all Pokemon competitively can help you in all forms of play, from the games to tournaments and nuzlocks, if you’re interested in upping the difficulty of regular Pokemon games or playing fan games.

Little Cup

Do you like baby Pokemon? Then you’ll enjoy the Little Cup. The tiniest tyrants butt heads, and the little warriors utilize everything they have available at level 5 to take down the opposition.

If you like the Puppy Cup more than the Big Game, you’ll enjoy this tier immensely. Pokemon are limited to level five and are the base form of Pokemon. As you might expect, Pokemon with two evolutions are popular in this tier since they’re typically stronger with higher base stats, but all baby Pokemon are welcome to join. 

You have to be tiny, cute, and vital to make it in this tier, but playing at such low levels with such weak Pokemon is utterly transcendental if you’re used to higher tiers. You’re far more limited in the available Pokemon and moves, so this tier relies less on strategy and your predictions and teambuilding, which means this tier is fantastic for building those skills.

Doubles

Doubles isn’t a tier. It’s a format that most competitive battling uses. A double battle is when two Pokemon are sent out simultaneously and battle against two other Pokemon. You can use a much more comprehensive range of strategies than single battles, the most used format in competitive battling.

Doubles is the format that best suits competitive battling, as it requires far more skill than singles. Many moves and their power are only fully realized in double battles. Considering your Pokemon’s moves, support capability, and synergy is as important as predicting your opponent’s moves and strategies.

Pokemon must fill multiple roles, and keeping your wits about you in battle is essential to victory. Official Pokemon video game tournaments use this format, and double battles are considered the standard in competitive battling. Strategies are more in-depth.

In Doubles, you can only choose four of your six Pokemon to face the competitor in battle, which means predicting the Pokemon they bring and how they’ll play them is a critical part of the battle. Doubles take the difficulty of Single battles and rachet it up to eleven. 

Pokemon Showdown: Competitive Pokemon Battling

Whether you’re dedicated to improving your Pokemon by battling for official tournaments, in-game battles, or just having fun, Pokemon Showdown is the place to be for competitive Pokemon battles.

Pokemon battling comprises probability management, prediction, strategy, and team building. There are many factors to consider in battle, and learning the ins and outs of competitive battling is rewarding and fulfilling.

Showdown is entirely free and always will be. It’s the battle simulator for Smogon, the website to go to for anything competitive. You can download the applet or go to the website for instant competitive battling with thousands of other users worldwide. You’ll have to create an account to save your rank and teams, but the more you interact with the community, the more fun you’ll have.

Competitive Pokemon battling isn’t for everyone, but everyone can battle competitively. It’s easy to pick up and start, and you learn everything else over time by playing.

So go to the website and start battling to improve your skills as a Trainer today. With the new generation coming out soon, there’s no better time to get started. Soon, you’ll be competing at regional tournaments to rank up points and head to the World Championships in no time.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

Pokemon is known for its intriguing gaming features. And Sword and Shield is one of the most popular and newest additions to the Pokemon franchises. This blog will take a closer look at what Sword and Shield is all about.

What makes Sword and Shield worth buying?

Sword and Shield is not only the first game for Pokemon to get the Nintendo Switch, but it has also shown some great scope for fans to enjoy their favorite game in a much better light. The graphics have taken the game to a new level, making it even more engrossing for fans.

How Does Sword and Shield Work?

Pokemon Sword and Shield will make 400 Pokemon accessible for players. These Pokemon will be sorted into two categories, making the game more interesting for Pokemon fans.

The players will meet the new Galar Pokemon, including Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble. As the game proceeds to higher levels and becomes more intense, the players will meet more and new Pokemon types, making Sword and Shield one of a kind.

While the player is introduced to many new Pokemon, the older ones will also be a part of this game so that fans have something familiar to look forward to.

Is Sword and Shield Good for Beginners?

Since Pokemon Sword and Shield is one of the first games for Nintendo Switch, this offers new players a great start. New players will not need to know old Pokemon players or generations to begin with, this version of Pokemon, especially game lovers.

On the other hand, the old players can also make the most of it by enjoying Pokemon Sword and Shield. However, they might have to hold on for a while before importing their Pokemon from the last generations. Developers are designing a way through which old players can import Pokemon. So for all those players, hold in until the Home update is announced.

The main idea behind Pokemon games is to catch Pokemon. And this is what has kept all Pokemon fans glued to the game. Players can complete Pokedex as the game offers trading with different players.

Explore the Game

Pokemon Sword and Shield have made the game even more intriguing by introducing wild areas. The different wild areas are home to different Pokemon, which means that these specific Pokemon can only be found in certain areas.

Pokemon fans are going to enjoy making food for their Pokemon. This will increase the players’ enjoyment and boost their experience through the game.

Review

These amazing features of the new Pokemon Sword and Shield must be fascinating for new and old players. Should you purchase it? Definitely yes! This game should be on your buying list if you are looking for amazing adventures and gripping plots. It is fun to play, and the graphics will only make your gaming experience worthwhile.

Pokemon TCG Live (Online TCG Game)

The Pokemon Trading Card Game is a game produced by Pokemon where two players use the available 60 cards to battle it out.  In this game, players use the cards to build decks around cards that have Pokemon characters.  Once these cards are built, the two opponents take turns attacking each other, with the primary goal being to defeat their opponents.  Therefore, for a player to win, they must use strategies that their opponents are unaware of or be more creative than their opponents.

How to Enjoy the Pokemon Trading Card Game

Pokemon TCG Live allows players the opportunity to enjoy live games while on the go.  With Pokemon TCG, you can add new sets of cards to your collection by scanning their unique codes.  Additionally, this game allows you to exchange the Crystals earned while playing the game for booster packs or for participating in daily quests.  The available booster packs and the daily quests are determined by your current Pokemon level.  In other words, the higher your level, the better the booster packs and the daily quests.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game allows you to build powerful decks from your card collection.  The good thing is that with your card collection, you can design your deck and be ready to take on your next challenge head-on.  Apart from this, you can battle with players from different parts of the world.  Furthermore, the game supports various languages such as Italian, Spanish, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and English.

Pokemon TCG Digital Activities

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has different digital activities you can enjoy while on the go.  For instance, you can customize your experience with different accessories as a player. This gives your game a personal touch, thus increasing your chances of spending more time playing the game.

With Pokemon TCG, you can participate in various daily challenges. With these challenges, you get the opportunity to increase your levels, thus earning more points.  Furthermore, with the Pokemon TCG, you can use the in-game currency to get new cards used as redeemable gifts. The digital archives also allow you to create custom avatars that match your preferences.

System Requirements

Pokemon Trading Card Game can be played on different devices such as mobile phones and computers.  However, it is vital to consider the device’s specifications since not every mobile phone or computer will support the game.  The following is a breakdown of the system’s mobile phones and computers specifications.

Windows Specifications

The minimum operating system for a computer operating on Windows should be Windows 7, while the recommended OS should be Windows 10 with 64-bit.  On the other hand, the minimum processor speed for your computer should be Intel Pentium, while its recommended processor should be Intel Core with a GHz of 2.6.

Your laptop’s recommended memory should be 4 GB RAM, while its storage should be 3 GB.  Regarding video clarity, your computer should support NVIDIA with an HD of 4850 or better.  Additionally, a resolution of 1024 x 768 should suffice your gaming experience. Finally, a broadband internet connection should support the entire gaming process.

MAC Specifications

If you own a MAC, you should ensure its operating system is the latest OS X or macOS version.  The minimum processor should be Intel Core 2 Duo or Intel Core i3.  However, a better version of the processor is also recommended.  The storage space should be at least 3GB, while its memory should be 3 GB RAM.  The video specs should support NVIDIA GeForce with a High-Definition resolution of at least 5,670.  In terms of resolution, the minimum display should be 1024 x 768.  A broadband internet connection is required to play the game.

iOS Mobile Devices

If you own an iPhone, an operating system of 15 should suffice your gaming experience.  Any device released after 2017 should be okay if you own an iPad.

Android Mobile Device

Samsung Galaxy mobile devices are compatible with this game.  However, you should ensure that your device has 2GB of RAM or more.  In addition, the device’s operating system should be at least version 8.  Finally, your device should support ASTC Compression in terms of texture compression.

Where to Buy Pokemon Trading Card Game Products

Apart from playing the Pokemon TCG game, you can also buy its wide range of products from different stores.  These stores include Pokemon Center, Walmart, Target, GameStop, BestBuy, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Parental Guide

You can select the right products for your kids or players as a parent.  An advantage of Pokemon TCG is that it gives players a wide range of playing styles to choose from.  These styles include Card Fan, Friendly Battler, and Competitive Battler.  The Card Fan lets the player collect a wide range of cards and trade them for their favorite Pokemon.  With the Card Fan, you can collect pins, Pokemon V Boxes, Pokemon V Tins, and Poke Ball Tins.

The Friendly Battler is for any player who wants to play Pokemon TCG with friends.  Additionally, this game is for anyone who needs a ready deck for players to battle it out.  Some recommendations for Friendly Battler include the Pokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy, V Battle Decks, Pokemon V Tins, and the Elite Trainer Boxes.

The Competitive Battler is for trainers ready to battle it out in communities.  In most instances, the Competitive Battler is for pros.  Some recommendations for Competitive Battler include the Elite Trainer Boxes, Build & Battle Box, the League Battle Decks, and the Trainer’s Toolkit.

Parting Shot

Pokemon Trading Card Game is still fresh, and players should expect more updates and details.  Additionally, with an app version of the game still in the works, it is undoubtedly that players’ overall gaming experience will be enhanced as time goes on.

Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022

Got a knack for art and a passion for all things Pokemon? You’re in luck—the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 has your name written all over it.

And, if you’re really lucky, so might a $5,000 check and the newest addition to the Pokemon TCG lineup.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 is an evolution of the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Grand Prix, an annual art competition that’s taken place every year since 2019. Hosted by Creatures, Inc.—the developers of the original Pokemon trading card game—and sponsored by The Pokemon Company International, the contest aims to give talented unknown artists a chance to put their stamp on the Pokemon legacy.

This year, the contest is being opened to applicants from both Japan and the U.S., marking the first time American artists have been eligible to enter. For the theme, the contest’s organizers have chosen “a moment in a Pokemon’s daily life.”

How to Enter

The rules couldn’t be simpler. Here’s how it works:

Step One: Pick Your Pokemon

This year’s list of Pokemon includes:

Step Two: Draw Them Doing Something

It could be training, cooking, napping, skateboarding, sunbathing, you name it. Get creative! Make sure the activity in the scene is consistent with the theme of the contest, “The Daily Life of Pokemon, ” and that you draw a background along with the Pokemon you select. 

Step Three: Send in Your Drawing

Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your masterpiece, upload it using the entry form on the contest’s website, along with your info.

Each participant can enter up to three submissions featuring any of the eight Pokemon from the list above. You could make a different Pokemon the star of each drawing or do three separate drawings of the same Pokemon. The choice is yours.

Who’s Eligible to Enter?

You must be a legal resident of the U.S. or Japan and be at least 18 years of age (the minimum required age is 19 in Alabama and Nebraska and 20 in Mississippi). Japanese entrants must be at least 20 years old.

What Are the Prizes?

One lucky first-place winner will earn a $5,000 cash prize and the honor of having their artwork featured on a special Pokèmon promo card. Not bad for putting your love of Pokemon down on paper!

But the payoffs don’t end there.

Two first runners-up, one from Japan and the U.S., will get a $3,000 cash prize and see their drawings brought to life in card form. Two-second runners-up, again from Japan and the U.S., respectively, will score $1,000 in cash. Finally, 15 contestants from either country will receive the esteemed Judges’ Award, with a not-inconsiderable payout of $500.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, which includes such illustrious figures as Satoru Nagaya, art director for Creatures, Inc., and Tzunekazu Ishihara, president of The Pokemon Company!

What Are You Waiting For?

This could be your opportunity to share your artistic vision with the world and become a part of Pokemon history.

You’ll need to act fast, though—the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 runs from October 13th, 2021, to January 31st, 2022, which means you only have until the end of the month to show off your skills.

Good luck, and happy illustrating!

Price Guide Beta eBay Experience [2023]: Where To Find, How To Use

Over the past few years, Pokemon card sales on eBay have seen wild levels of growth, with estimates ranging from 500% year-over-year to as much as 1,046% growth! 

So clearly, you want to get in on the game.

But if you are letting go of a piece of your precious collection, you want to make sure you sell it for a price equivalent to its worth. A price that isn’t so high that you get no bids or so low that you get taken advantage of. Unfortunately, when you check eBay for pricing on similar cards, what you find is all over the board. It can be quite frustrating.

You’re not alone here. Have no fear – eBay has heard your concerns and developed a new trading card experience known as the Price Guide.

Introducing eBay’s Price Guide Experience

eBay created its new Price Guide with both sellers and buyers in mind. The Price Guide intends to provide a comprehensive and, even more importantly, accurate resource that allows users to manage their trading card (including Pokemon cards) sales and to track the item’s value. This is known as eBay’s market value.

eBay Price Guide Market Value

eBay’s Price Guide allows users and sellers to monitor the value of cards of interest based on real-time market data. This includes a card’s current and past value, so you can see where the most growth is coming from to further focus your sales funnel. The market value is calculated using transaction data from the past year. 

Users can dig even deeper by viewing historical data in a sales graph depicting a trading card’s winning bid amounts and the average sales price over the past year. And the best part about eBay’s Price Guide Market Value? It’s updated every few minutes. So you know it’s reflective of the market today.

Where Can You Find eBay’s Price Guide?

The Price Guide experience can be accessed via the mobile eBay application. Simply type what you’re looking for in the search bar, and the price guide will be at the very top of the results page. Click on “See price trend,” and you’re in!

Upon accessing the Price Guide, you will see the following:

  • A filter that allows you to sort by All Listings, Buy It Now, Auction, and Accepts Offer
  • The option to refine search results by Extended (broad) or Refined (specific) results
  • The eBay market value over the past week
  • A chart showing the weekly average price of sold items, which can be viewed for one week up to one year
  • Statistics from similar items from the past 30 days, such as the price range of all items sold, the volume of sales, and the number of sellers
  • The last 50 sales from the preceding 30 days
  • Links to guide you to view active listings or to sell a similar product

Make the search your own to get the information you need to feel confident selling or buying. 

Bonus Experience: Collection.

If you’ve made it this far in the article – you’re likely selling more than one Pokemon card. Lucky for you, eBay released an additional tool simultaneously, the eBay Price Guide: Collection.  

With Collection, sellers with a large portfolio can manage, list, and analyze market value in a single spot. 

Setting up your Collection is as easy as populating your inventory based on historical purchase history or uploading a CSV file.  Once complete, you will now be able to track the value of both your portfolio overall and individual items. Plus, users can view their collection using three views: total portfolio, category view (maybe limited edition versus common Pokemon cards), and individual items.

If this sounds like what you’re looking for, head to the “MyeBay” menu and select “Collection.” 

eBay Price Guide Experience: Example

Let’s say you are looking to sell an Emboar card. 

You type in “Emboar Pokemon cards” in the search bar of your eBay app, hoping to get an idea of what price you should set. But low and behold…the first 5 five listings show pretty inconsistent pricing, from $00.99 to $8.99. 

And then, you see a note at the top of the search results, inviting you to “Track the value of your trading cards.” Perfect! Stoked to get some clarity, you click and are rewarded with the eBay Price Guide for Emboar Pokemon cards. 

You click through the Buying Format drop-down, looking at the differences between all listings,  “buy it now” items, auctions, and those that accepted offers. Selecting auction, you see an average price of $7.99 over the past month.  And even better, you see recent spikes in pricing – all the way up to $72.60 in the past month!

Feeling grounded in your options, you list your card with a starting bid price of $10.00. How easy was that?

Ready to Sell? Here are 4 Tips for being a Top Rated Seller. 

  1. Details: In this case, less is not more. Provide all the information you would want to know if you were in the buying position. And please stay honest. 
  1. A picture speaks a thousand words: Include a clear photo of the card you sell to show buyers that your product is genuine and aligned with the product description.
  1. Shipping and handling: Don’t use this as an opportunity to earn a few more bucks. For the most part, shipping and handling for a single card should sit around $1 – $5. 
  1. Delivery: Once packaged, ship right away! If possible, try to get items out within 48 hours of closing, and always notify the buyer if any issues arise. 

Good luck in trading your Pokemon cards. 

PSA Grading System for Pokemon Cards

So you’ve got all these old Pokemon cards from the 90s and 2000s when they were all the rage. And now they’re taking up space in your closet, packed away from the light where they remain until you either move or do a thorough house cleaning.

But before you throw them away, you might want to go through your collection for rare and valuable cards. Pokemon card collectors can pay quite a bit for their favorite mons in first editions and misprints. Look for rare holo cards and first editions for the most valuable cards in your Pokemon card collection.

Once you have your valuables, you have to determine their condition. Some collectors won’t care how much wear a card has suffered, while others will pay through the nose for a rare card in mint condition. Once you’ve separated the wheat from the chaff, you can consider getting your cards professionally rated.

What Is the PSA?

PSA stands for Professional Sports Authenticator, the premier graders of trading cards and sports memorabilia. They have the highest grading standards in the industry and are the go-to raters for collectors and sellers alike.

Rating cards are a pretty big business, and two other popular competitors are Beckett Grading Services (Beckett for short) and Certified Guaranty Company (CGS). PSA is considered the gold standard of the three major card rating companies.

That’s because the PSA grading system has much harsher standards and severe grading scales. There are many differences between a CGS 10 and a PSA Gem-Mint 10. Higher PSA numbers are far more valuable than similar numbers from other companies.

Of course, that also means your cards might not scale as high as you’d like with their strict standards. It’s up to you to determine if you’re cards are in good enough shape to send to the PSA or if you’d be better off having them graded at a less strict company.

A PSA rating is popular among Pokemon card collectors, both for their strictness and accuracy, so if you have cards that can rate highly with them, you should send them in to increase the value of your cards.

Why Have the PSA Rate Your Cards?

A good PSA rating can significantly increase the value of your cards. Many collectors will pay a premium to get the best cards possible. The price difference between a 10 Gem-Mint and a 9 Mint can be staggering.

For example, a Holo Rare First Edition Shadowless Charizard rated 10 Gem-Mint by the PSA from the 1999 Base Set was famously bought for over USD 420,000. Its superb condition and incredible rarity pushed this card’s value to heights most collectors can only dream of. 

Given their difficult grading scale, 10 Gem-Mint cards are flawless pieces of cardboard perfection. They are cards with no wear and tear, are perfectly centered printing, and have no physical defects. A similar card rated 9 Mint by the PSA fetches around USD 30,000. Not chump change, but nowhere near the value of the highly prized Gem-Mint rating.

As you can see, you can exponentially increase the value of your cards if you have them rated by the PSA. However, you need to pick cards that are both rare and can make the grade.

Another good reason to grade your cards is their sentimental value. Maybe you’re the collectors who pride yourself in having great cards in great condition. Perhaps your collection is too nostalgic to part with, or you have some exceptional cards you’d like to hold on to.

Money isn’t the only reason to have your Pokemon cards rated. If you’re attached to your collection, have some cards near and dear to your heart, or want to keep your favorites around, you can have them rated and placed in unique sleeves to keep them from deteriorating.

Rating Your Cards

Before shipping all your best Pokemon cards to the PSA, you should examine them first. You should judge the condition of your cards, then send the ones in the best conditions that will make the grade at the PSA. After all, there’s no point in paying the PSA grading cost if you won’t score very high.

Magnifying lamps and jeweler’s loupes can help you closely inspect your cards if you want to get into the nitty gritty of grading them. However, if you hold the cards in good lighting and check them, you can get a good idea of their condition. Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly to prevent leaving skin oils on a card’s surface.

You want cards that have minor wear and tear. There should be few to no defects on the front and only one or two on the back. Corners should be tight, with no fraying, and there should be minimal amounts of white around the edges on the back of the card.

The card shouldn’t be faded, and the picture should be clear. Hold the card at an angle to the light to inspect for scratches and dents in the card, which can lower its value significantly. If the card has few defects, it can rate quite highly.

To get the coveted 10 Gem-Mint ratings, it has to be flawless in its condition and construction. That means the picture is perfectly centered, the borders are straight and within the margins, and there are no other printing errors with the card. Since you can’t control how the Pokemon Company made the card, it takes luck to get that rating and protect it as soon as it comes out of the foil.

The Benefits of PSA Grading Pokemon Cards

PSA-rated Pokemon cards are worth much more than unrated cards. PSA grades are highly trusted by the Pokemon card collecting community as the grading scale is so strict that they can be sure the cards are in the condition they say.

Moreover, with the guarantee of their condition, you also get a small placard and case that protects the cards from further deterioration. It keeps the card in the condition they were in when they were rated.

Moreover, they not only rate Pokemon cards but authenticate them. Given the number of fakes and how realistic they look, a PSA-rated card is not only a guarantee of quality but of authenticity. If the card appears to have been tampered with or restored, they refuse to rate the card and send it back to the owner stating the card has been disqualified from rating.

Between these three essential functions, the PSA does excellent work with the collecting community, and getting your cards rated by them is crucial for collectors and sellers alike. The other card grading companies aren’t as well trusted and have more card damage incidents than the PSA.

PSA is the gold standard in Pokemon card collecting, as they have strict standards, authenticating services, and excellent handling procedures and cases. They are the most used and accepted grading scale for Pokemon card collecting.

The Cons of PSA Grading Pokemon Cards

However, that doesn’t mean getting your cards rated by the PSA is always worth it. Their high standards and lengthy authenticating and grading procedures mean long wait times and high prices.

PSA grading costs can vary. You can expect to spend USD 30 with a turnover of 120 days for cards worth less than USD 500. It goes up to USD 300 for cards worth USD 5,000 or less with a week of wait time. 

Given that card prices vary over time, you shouldn’t be planning to send your card in and get it back immediately for sale. Cheaper valuations require plenty of time, so you should send it in well ahead to get the most out of your card.

Next, you should only send valuable cards in good condition if you plan to profit from them. Given the high cost of grading, if you send in a card and get a lower grade than expected, you could end up at a loss. It doesn’t matter as much if you’re planning on grading your cards for personal reasons, but you should keep this cost in mind.

Finally, although rare, there’s still a chance your precious cards could be damaged in transit or during the grading process. Before sending them in, you should take pictures of your cards to prove their condition. However, if your cards are precious for personal reasons, it might be better not to send them in if you don’t want to risk it.

PSA-rated Pokemon Cards: Are They Worth It?

Getting a PSA rating on your rare cards can skyrocket their value if you sell them.  However, the PSA grading cost can increase overhead quite a bit and come with some risks:

  • You may get a lower rating than you’re expecting
  • The card’s price may change while you’re waiting for its evaluation
  • If worse comes to worst, it might be damaged in transit.

It’s up to you to decide whether your rare Pokemon cards are worth getting graded by the PSA. Do you want to increase their value? Preserve them for the future. Get the cases and cards to show your rare cards to the internet. While there are other options for grading, having the PSA rate your cards is the best way to authenticate your Pokemon card collection.

Rarity in Pokemon Cards

Are you a Pokemon fan, browsing the web endlessly to understand how the rare Pokemon cards work? 

Good thing we have you covered! 

If you already know the basics of the Pokemon cards, you probably already know that every single Pokemon card set has a collector’s card identification number in that set, along with the rarity identification on the bottom right-hand corner. What you probably don’t know is that this is considered one of the essential parts of a card, especially for collector enthusiasts! 

Let’s get into the details of each kind of rarity, how it is symbolized, and what each rarity means.

Common Cards:

Common cards, as the name describes, are abundantly available. As a collector, you will most likely come across these very often and may even have multiple copies of the same card. To distinguish them from other cards, check out their black circle symbol. 

Despite what many might have you believe, having multiple copies of a common card isn’t a bad thing! It allows you to trade your card with someone who might not have it for a card from their collection that you might not have, allowing you to expand your Pokemon card collection!

Uncommon Cards:

Though such cards aren’t rare, you won’t come across them the same way you do with common cards. Any pack you purchase will contain about 2 to 3 of these cards, along with 4 to 5 common cards. These are symbolized by a black diamond. 

Rare Cards:

Rare cards are the strongest, coolest, and most desirable. You want to add these cards to your collection, especially if you’re looking to increase their value tenfold. Not only are they more challenging and aesthetically pleasing, but the Pokemon featured are also quite powerful. 

Symbolized by a black star, these cards tend to be made of holofoil or are holographic. Super cool, right?

Super Rare Cards:

These are rare cards, except they are even harder to come by! With people going out of their way to purchase or find a way to put them in their collection, these cards make you stand out. 

Amongst many, some super rare, also known as ultra-rare, cards include:

  • Pokemon-EX;
  • Pokemon GX;
  • Pokemon Legend;
  • Pokemon Prime; and
  • Pokemon Star.

Secret Rare Cards:

Now and then, sets tend to include a ‘secret rare card.’ These cards go beyond the set’s limit. For example, the Black and White set had a total of 114 Pokemon cards, but now and then, there would be an extra card labeled as ‘115/114’ on the bottom right-hand corner, which is one number higher than the actual amount of cards the set is supposed to include. 

Often, such cards include a holographic star to symbolize their rarity. If you’ve wrestled through your collection to find one of these, it’s best to keep it close to you, as the secret rare card will truly outshine your entire collection! 

Now that you understand how rarity works with these cards look back at your Pokemon cards and figure out how much your collection is worth.