Best Sets to Master Collect

SV151 has pulled me into master set collecting - something I didn’t think I’d ever do. Normally I’d target a set’s holos, full art supporters, EX’s, etc., but never an entire set.

Gotta admit that this has been very fun. It almost, just almost, makes me feel some of that 1999 action again. Over the next month or two I’m hoping to put the set together in a very traditional way of in-person buying/trading. This feels super rewarding whenever I find something I need. Just today I found 9 reverse holos, a common Poliwhirl (I know…), and a full art Kangaskhan ex at a card shop about an hour away. Down to about 35 cards left.

Anyway, once SV151 is complete, I’ll want to move on to something else.

The hard part is what exactly that something else is. Idk. No clue.

So I’ll ask the set collectors on here; which sets are the most fun, satisfying, rewarding, and cool to complete? Why?

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These would be my choices. I tried to pick varying levels of difficulty/financial commitment and from each block. :slight_smile:

  • WoTC Promos 1-54 + Ancient Mew
  • Southern Islands
  • Aquapolis
  • EX Team Rocket Returns
  • Secret Wonders
  • Platinum - Arceus
  • HGSS Promos 1-25
  • Call of Legends
  • Dragon Vault
  • Generations
  • Hidden Fates
  • Crown Zenith
  • 151
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Best sets of all time to complete entire set:

  • Team Rocket Returns*
  • Unseen forces
  • Fossil or Jungle

None of modern sets is worthy to complete because of the ugly FAs from 5 Ban.

*If TRR set is too expensive to collect complete, just collecting the ex cards is just as great too:

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Double crisis is one of the easiest ones with some gorgeous art in it, just want to mention that!

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Masaki promo set

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My picks would be EX Team Rocket Returns (mentioned already), EX Delta Species, Legendary Collection and Japanese 151. These are all very expensive and challenging, but also very fun and rewarding!

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Suprised no one has said VS yet, but feel it should absolutely be in any conversation like this. Reasons to collect:

  • Unique art
  • Unique frame
  • Arguably one of the best holo treatments
  • Miniature artist series of each trainer type
  • Captures a wide array of some of the best (most popular) Pokemon ever created
  • Nostalgia out the wazoo if you started with Gen 1 or Gen 2 as a kid
  • Includes the most beautiful Umbreon ever made
  • Has “prize card” potential if wanting to continue outside of the traditional set
    • Tropical Mega Battle VS decks
  • Still relatively, fairly priced for some reason

I could just keep going and going haha. VS to me is probably one of the most perfect sets for completion and expanding on. Love it in all regards.

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Vending!!

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legendary collection is the most gangster set to master collect for sure

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there is an underappreciated set thread on here somewhere. Those are good sets too

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I’d like to mention:
Legendary Treasures Radiant Collection RC1-RC25
Generations Radiant Collection RC1-RC32

Both very cheap bite-sized sets with fun artwork.

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Completely agree, VS is in my opinion by far the best and most cohesive set ever made and really fun to collect a master set.

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An easy set to master and one of my favorite sets of the modern era is Shining Legends. The Shining Pokemon and Mewtube are highlights but there are some great promos to include as well!
It is inexpensive comparability to get a true masters set which is nice!!

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I love large sub-sets within any large modern set. hidden fates, shining fates, the trainer galleries, etc. only problem is there’s always 1-3 cards that are 50% of the value so take that into consideration (it’s usually charizard or an eeveelution lol).

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Agreed! VS is amazing and pretty affordable. Aside from the holos and a handful of others, I got most cards in PSA 10 for 30-40 bucks.

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I think it comes down to what you want, everyone can give their own opinions but at the end of the day what cards make you happy? For me it’s base set ex era sets. I don’t like crystals or gold stars and some love them. So it’s up to you. Good luck on your collecting journey and remember to have fun with it

Celebrations is the best set in recent memory imo. Shining Fates is also pretty fun to open and isn’t nearly as expensive to complete as Hidden Fates. Pogo is cool too. McDonalds sets are pretty easy to complete too. The original WOTC promo set is also so fun.

the neo rev holo bleed set is a really fun one to build and can be done 1st ed or unlim or both!

Thanks for all the replies! The DP, BW, and XY eras aren’t overly interesting to me and SM feels too modern.

As far as English sets go, I think I’ve narrowed my interests down to the Delta Species batch of sets. Very briefly played during this era and the delta pokemon have always been a favorite of mine. I doubt I go for the reverse gold lettering of the holos, as I think the normal holos look a little bit better.

For English WOTC, I’m slowly trying to acquire more 9s of 1st Edition base holos, but this will likely take forever to complete lol. Japanese WOTC era sets seem fairly affordable to put together. Might try going for that too.

Me too! High 5! :raised_hand_with_fingers_splayed:

Majority of my vintage collection is ex cards in high grades like PSA 9 or 10. There’s just some unexplainable appeal about ex cards that other vintage cards do not have. Not just the silvery holo borders…