What have you achieved thus far in 2025?
I’ve been playing the actual TCG way more often than in past years. I participated in my first in-store pre-release tourneys for Journey Together and Destined Rivals and have built a fun Ethan’s Typhlosion deck for future events.
On the collecting front, shit’s expensive. Getting stuff at MSRP is a chore and buying singles does not feel very rewarding. I have gotten some stuff cheaply within Japan by using ZenMarket but I had a bad experience with an unexpected broker fee from UPS recently (kids, make sure to always keep your package values below $800 USD).
While I appreciate all of the monitoring tools out there for getting product at MSRP, they’re mostly useless outside of large drops. I’ve weaned off using them because my attention can’t really take the constant notification spam and being on edge for a surprise drop.
Sleeve No Card Behind’s video on the plastic flip coins earlier in the year reignited my interest in them which in turn reignited my interest into the theme decks from my youth. Since then, I’ve been focusing on collecting coins and re-acquiring all of the theme decks that I had growing up. In the process, I’ve also managed to pick up some other decks too.
Anyways, here’s my progress on my various collections/sub-collections:
- Coins:
- 100% complete Gen 3-5 flip coins (excluding Japan & South Korea)
- 100% complete Gen 3 flip coins (worldwide)
- 4/4 Cyndaquil flip coins
- 18/18 Energy Symbols flip coins
- 11/12 left-facing Pikachu flip coins
- Pre-constructed decks & kits
- 10/15 theme decks & trainer kits from childhood
- 16/33 EX series theme decks
- 9/16 Diamond & Pearl series theme decks
- 2/8 Platinum series theme decks
- 1/11 HeartGold & SoulSilver series theme decks
- 3/3 Epic Collection decks
To be honest, many of these things were probably bought at highs rather than lows but I did get some great deals in there (for example, I got all three Epic Collection decks, opened but unplayed/complete, for about $300).
What could you have bought in 2024, that you cant buy now in 2025?
In hindsight, some of the decks and coins were more affordable and/or easier to find last year but I hadn’t been interested in (re-)collecting them.
I’ve not really been tracking cards/singles for awhile now, but I’ve more or less ignored any vintage stuff from EX Team Rocket Returns and the original Team Rocket sets due to the recent hype with DR.
Are you priced out due to the boom?
Less due to the boom and moreso due to inflation and all other things getting pricier.
Certain vintage theme decks are kind of ridiculous, though, but can be had if I save up for rather than grabbing multiple smaller things.
What are you hoping to achieve before year end?
If I can pick up the five remaining decks from my childhood by years’ end then I would be thrilled.
I’ve also got a huge stash of duplicate/spare flip coins now. I’d like to get rid of most of this by either trading or selling but I haven’t quite figured out the logistics of doing so.
Edit: attempting to cut down the wall of text
