A Guide to Understanding Shadowless Theme Decks

[synchs]

@kingboo64,

Forgot the most important part, Yes it was. Updated original comment.

[beckynerd]

Sorry I don’t have any data to contribute but i’m trying to identify which variant my Zap deck would fall into. I’m thinking it might be a v10

Hoizontal seal
Blue text variant
Deck in top of box
Pikachu behind energy cards on the back
No damage counters in photo
States “damage counters” on the back

I’m in the UK so thinking it might be a late print but has elements of some of the other variant prints such as the deck in the top and blue text. Any thoughts?

[chopkins1994]

@scizorkick thank you for your updated information. It seems as if the only guarantees are gold strip are always shadowless and no damage counters in the picture are always unlimited. Everything else in between has almost no correlation other than the deck being on top is significantly more prominent in shadowless decks.

[chopkins1994]

@beckynerd

Sorry I don’t have any data to contribute but i’m trying to identify which variant my Zap deck would fall into. I’m thinking it might be a v10

Vertical seal
Blue text variant
Deck in top of box
Pikachu behind energy cards on the back
No damage counters in photo
States “damage counters” on the back

I’m in the UK so thinking it might be a late print but has elements of some of the other variant prints such as the deck in the top and blue text. Any thoughts?

I think the only clear conclusions that we’ve come to in this research is that gold strip seals are shadowless and if the picture is missing the marble damage counters then it is unlimited. Everything else in between is kind of up for grabs.

I elaborated on the latter a bit more in my original post. The early print run base set theme decks all had the marble damage counters in them while the foreign languages, UK and australian prints all had the cardboard damage counters. So it would seem that the packaging not indicating the marble damage counters is a change that was made later in the print runs after all shadowless cards had been out of print.

I wouldn’t open it if I were you.

[beckynerd]

@chopkins1994

@beckynerd

Sorry I don’t have any data to contribute but i’m trying to identify which variant my Zap deck would fall into. I’m thinking it might be a v10

Vertical seal
Blue text variant
Deck in top of box
Pikachu behind energy cards on the back
No damage counters in photo
States “damage counters” on the back

I’m in the UK so thinking it might be a late print but has elements of some of the other variant prints such as the deck in the top and blue text. Any thoughts?

I think the only clear conclusions that we’ve come to in this research is that gold strip seals are shadowless and if the picture is missing the marble damage counters then it is unlimited. Everything else in between is kind of up for grabs.

I elaborated on the latter a bit more in my original post. The early print run base set theme decks all had the marble damage counters in them while the foreign languages, UK and australian prints all had the cardboard damage counters. So it would seem that the packaging not indicating the marble damage counters is a change that was made later in the print runs after all shadowless cards had been out of print.

I wouldn’t open it if I were you.

Yeah, i think you’re totally right. I always thought it was unlimited but then when I heard trends relating to decks being in the top half of the box I got excited for a moment!

I also edited my original post, I meant horizontal and not a vertical seal doh! It’s been a long day my brain is a bit fried.

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated

[thegamingport]

I’ve opened a lot of the heat seal variant. They’re definitely shadowless. Unless someone reseals then, which is impossible with the original wrapping. Also, the patena of old plastic is vastly different than newly wrapped plastic.

I’d say it’s a seed bet you’re getting shadowless when you buy one of these.

[jeverstones]

@thegamingport

I’ve opened a lot of the heat seal variant. They’re definitely shadowless. Unless someone reseals then, which is impossible with the original wrapping. Also, the patena of old plastic is vastly different than newly wrapped plastic.

I’d say it’s a seed bet you’re getting shadowless when you buy one of these.

I opened a heat sealed deck yesterday, and it was Shadowless. The interesting thing was that the deck (Blackout) randomly had 2 shadowless red cheek Pikachus at the very bottom after the energy cards. Is this a normal error?

[thegamingport]

@jeverstones

@thegamingport

I’ve opened a lot of the heat seal variant. They’re definitely shadowless. Unless someone reseals then, which is impossible with the original wrapping. Also, the patena of old plastic is vastly different than newly wrapped plastic.

I’d say it’s a seed bet you’re getting shadowless when you buy one of these.

I opened a heat sealed deck yesterday, and it was Shadowless. The interesting thing was that the deck (Blackout) randomly had 2 shadowless red cheek Pikachus at the very bottom after the energy cards. Is this a normal error?

No, but congrats!!

[thegamingport]

Urgent update, gold strip is no longer a guaranteed indicator. Seems like the tight seal boxes are the only guaranteed shadowless decks at this point.

YouTube fake gold strip theme deck for video.

[oldskoolpokemon]

@thegamingport

Urgent update, gold strip is no longer a guaranteed indicator. Seems like the tight seal boxes are the only guaranteed shadowless decks at this point.

YouTube fake gold strip theme deck for video.

Do you have a link to video?

[thegamingport]

@oldskoolpokemon

@thegamingport

Urgent update, gold strip is no longer a guaranteed indicator. Seems like the tight seal boxes are the only guaranteed shadowless decks at this point.

YouTube fake gold strip theme deck for video.

Do you have a link to video?

Blackout Theme Deck Gold Strip SCAM

I’ll have to wait until I get to a computer. Not sure how to post YouTube links on this forum.

I’ll send it to you via IG oldskoolpokemon. Can you post it by chance?

[lyleberr]

@thegamingport

Urgent update, gold strip is no longer a guaranteed indicator. Seems like the tight seal boxes are the only guaranteed shadowless decks at this point.

YouTube fake gold strip theme deck for video.

It seems like it is less that they are no longer guaranteed and more that there are possibly fakes and rewraps out there. Also, he bought the deck from a known scammer, for 1/3 to 1/5 its market price. His own inspection says that the flap is suspicious and it has many inconsistencies that would relate to a repackaged item rather than from the factory (version 2 rules, damaged coin, improper packing style, etc). He also does not show good images of the boxes or packaging and it seems to me a little dubious that he didnt destroy the wrapping but opened it in a way that lets it be resealed again later, especially after it is known to be rewrapped.

So ultimately, gold strips are fine for shadowless if you check legitimacy and be safe on ebay.

[oldskoolpokemon]

@lyleberr

@thegamingport

Urgent update, gold strip is no longer a guaranteed indicator. Seems like the tight seal boxes are the only guaranteed shadowless decks at this point.

YouTube fake gold strip theme deck for video.

It seems like it is less that they are no longer guaranteed and more that there are possibly fakes and rewraps out there. Also, he bought the deck from a known scammer, for 1/3 to 1/5 its market price. His own inspection says that the flap is suspicious and it has many inconsistencies that would relate to a repackaged item rather than from the factory (version 2 rules, damaged coin, improper packing style, etc). He also does not show good images of the boxes or packaging and it seems to me a little dubious that he didnt destroy the wrapping but opened it in a way that lets it be resealed again later, especially after it is known to be rewrapped.

So ultimately, gold strips are fine for shadowless if you check legitimacy and be safe on ebay.

Agreed!
This isn’t a case where Gold Strip Decks don’t contain Shadowless Cards; but, a case where Gold Strip Decks are being Re-Sealed with Unlimited Decks… That’s the first I’ve heard about TD’s being re-sealed though - unfortunate that’s something we need to be concerned about now

[pokegen]

Hey,

I have recently opened one of my potential “shadowless” Brushfire theme deck. Was trying to chase the no damage ninetales, but wasn’t successful.
Features and results are as below:

1. Clear horizontal strip
2. Deck on top
3. Playing card on top of energies
4. 10 Damage counters (Marbles)

Result: Shadowless

Also compiled the google sheet with all the findings so far here:

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LQ1KLO6kJqiYRvxrX96OyvEwm_tUcoZ_mt5wjICMF0Q/edit#gid=0

[Casholimpa]

Hey all! I have a zap deck that looks to be version 3.5 ( v3 but with blue text). The deck is on top, unlike the one that was opened in the samples. Has anyone else opened one of these and if so what was the outcome?