Pokémon
Welcome to our Pokémon card collecting guide. Directly translated from Japanese as “Pocket Monsters”, Pokémon is considered one of the most successful anime, video game, and collectible franchises in the world. It started as a video game in 1996, part of the Pokémon series, and rapidly grew into a trading card game (TCG), TV series, films, Pokémon figurines, merchandise, and other related media. As of October 2025, the rarest Pokémon card was still the 1998 Pikachu Illustrator Card. The most expensive Pokémon collectible was the Pokémon 2000 film frame. Surprisingly, the most valuable Funko Pop! was one never officially released: the #843 Charizard (Metallic). For Pokémon collectors in Australia and around the world, the most valuable cards are highly sought-after items, especially those featuring Pikachu, Charizard and Umbreon, as well as rare holo cards, first edition cards, limited edition Pokémon cards, graded cards (PSA / BGS), and promo cards.
Poké Highlight
30 YEARS OF POKEMON
The Pokémon Company has officially confirmed the release date for its major milestone 30th anniversary expansion, titled “30th Celebration,” with the Japanese set scheduled to debut on September 16, 2026. This set is speculated to be different – 6 holofoil cards per booster pack.
Furthermore, the set will lean heavily into nostalgia by featuring reprints of fan-favorite cards from previous eras of the game, including the notable Pikachu & Zekrom GX and the classic Lugia from the Aquapolis expansion. The celebration extends beyond cards into a dedicated merchandise hub and significant brand collaborations, ensuring a steady stream of commemorative products and activations for fans worldwide through the remainder of the year.
What will not be a part of this year’s celebrations is generation X. It might be a while until it hits the TCG
THE DARK WORLD OF POKEMON
It is quite the contrast. While Pokémon is a colourful world of friendship and adventure, three decades of deep lore and a massive adult fanbase have created a “dark side” to the franchise.
When you look at a series with over 1,000 creatures, the writers eventually lean into ghost stories, urban legends, and biological “realism” to keep things interesting, and sometimes disturbing.
From “femboys” to “soul thieves”, Pokémon is said to be inspired by all. I, however, am still recovering from finding out Magicarp is delicious!
Poké News
ONLY 3 MONTHS TO GO NOW
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration is officially locked in for a simultaneous global release on September 16, 2026. Commemorating three decades of the historic franchise, every single card included in the special booster packs will feature a premium foil finish, alongside a guaranteed appearance of one of 30 distinct, uniquely illustrated Pikachu variants in every single pack.
The landmark set is designed to bridge generational gaps by introducing a brand-new “Futuristic rare” aesthetic highlighted by surrealist Mew and Mewtwo artwork from famed Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN, while simultaneously presenting “Classic Collection” reprints of iconic retro staples like the original Base Set Charizard and the Sun & Moon era’s Pikachu & Zekrom-GX.
More information here and here
IT’S RAYQUAZA’S TIME
A major announcement has revealed that Mega Rayquaza will be the headline feature for multiple upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game products slated for release this year.
The legendary Pokémon will serve as the primary cover art and focus for both the physical tabletop expansion pack “Storm Emeralda” and the digital Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket theme pack “Ruler of the Skies.” In tandem with the card reveals, a specialized promotional website titled “Mega Rayquaza Soaring Through the Skies” has officially launched, signaling an extensive campaign that hints at further appearances for the fan-favorite Mega Evolution form across the franchise
More information here.
Pokémon of the Week
With Generation X set to add over 100 Pokémon in the next couple of years, I’ve realised that if I maintain the ratio of introducing just one a week to newcomers, finishing the list would take me way over 20 years!
So, let’s go! Introducing #0062 Poliwrath, in Japanese Nyorobon.
Poliwrath is a physical powerhouse in the Pokémon world, shedding its gentle tadpole origins to become a devastating dual Water and Fighting-type brawler. Its body consists almost entirely of solid, tireless muscle, granting it the near-limitless stamina required to smash through arctic ice floes or swim across vast oceans without a single moment of rest.
Curiously, despite being an elite swimmer, it actually prefers to spend most of its life living on dry land.
Poliwrath holds a unique design and competitive paradox, beginning with the 1997 Space World demo for Pokémon Gold and Silver, which revealed an early beta design where it wore a small, three-pointed crown. While developers scrapped this because it looked too weak for a final evolution, that exact crown concept was later repurposed to create its alternate branch evolution, Politoed, and the King’s Rock item. This quirky history extends to Generation 2 competitive battling, where Poliwrath was frequently outclassed by its own unevolved form, Poliwhirl; because evolving actually causes its base Speed to drop from 90 down to 70, the quicker Poliwhirl became the superior choice for executing a fast, sweeping strategy using the high-risk move Belly Drum.
HOW MUCH WAS IT AGAIN?
If 2025 taught us anything, it was to stay alert when checking the value of our cards. eBay sold items remain one of the most reliable sources when checking real-world secondary market values on Pokémon cards.
You can, however, count on other websites to help with that, like:
Poké-Gallery
New beginnings S02E01
How I expected the LEGO-Pokémon to be
Are Pokémon collabs everywhere?
Pokémon TCG Checklists
The Pokémon TCG has been around for decades now, which can both overwhelm new collectors and make it somewhat hard for hobbyists to complete sets. Intrigued by the development of terms such as “Grandmaster,” “Master Pokémon,” and “Pokémon Master,” I set out to find helpful checklists. While tracking down every single appearance of a Pokémon across all variations, trainer sets and country-exclusive releases has proven to be incredibly challenging, I’m optimistic that my findings will be genuinely helpful. Just follow the links and good luck!
National Pokédex
The National Pokédex serves as the definitive Pokémon encyclopedia, containing a complete list of every known species across all generations. For players, collectors, and trainers, it’s the key resource for Pokédex completion, offering detailed information such as base stats, evolution paths, abilities, and type advantages. Whether you’re researching your next team or tracking rare Pokémon, the National Pokédex remains the ultimate guide for understanding and mastering the world of Pokémon:
TCC’s Collection
Our journey doesn’t stop here. Explore the other corners of our digital library where we dive deep into the specific worlds of Funko, AFL, and more.