Pokemon refused to disappoint with this card set by bringing beautiful artwork to the table, making it a great gift for the holidays this year. Cards with beloved characters are what make these cards a collector’s must-have.
“I collect cards because they look cool,” said Issac Flores (‘22), longtime collector of 15 years, but also “in some cases for monetary value.” Pokemon cards are known for having high cost, like the awesome gold Mega Lucario EX from Mega Evolution, averaging at nearly $500.
Though that’s not what it’s all about, “I don’t just collect to turn a profit,” says Autumn Flores (‘20), a Pokemon fanatic. “I collect purely for the love of the franchise.”
The Mega Evolution set contains 310 cards total. Between beautiful illustration rares and EX cards, there is a large variety of possible wants. “I’d love to get… any of the Gardevoir or Absol cards,” says Autumn Flores (‘20). “I don’t even care if they are big hits or not.”
When one pulls a high valued card, it’s called a hit. A chase card is a card one is looking for. “If I had to choose a card to chase from the set, it would be the Mega Gardevoir EX 178/132,” says Issac Flores (‘22), referring to a high valued and pretty card, selling at around $550 on average.
When asked their opinions about the set, many collectors agree they are enjoying the new release. “I like it because the artwork is a little different,” says John Chapman, a collector since 1998 and GameStop worker. “The EX cards… look a lot prettier and a little more showy so even if it isn’t a chase card… at the end of the day it still feels special.”
Being a collector can be difficult, but not for the reasons people might think. “Scalpers ruin the hobby for everyone,” argues Issac Flores (‘22). “[Scalpers] resell to drive up prices and change the market in their favor.” Scalpers heavily affect collectors of all types. “I’ve had some interactions with some scalpers… they were shoe people for like 10 years,” says Chapman, “The sad thing about it is that people will still pay the price.”
With scalpers clearing the shelves, how does one get cards without paying unrealistic prices? “I personally get all my cards from either a grocery store or my local card store,” says Autumn Flores (‘20), referring to Ginza Marketplace downtown Ann Arbor, a reliable card shop with a great selection and reasonable prices. “Follow social media platforms for…local card shops,” recommends Chapman, “Like Upkeep Games, Ginza…they have…specific days and if you show up, there is a very high chance that you can get your hands on some cards.”
