Many people assume you need to spend hundreds of dollars to start collecting Pokemon cards. The truth is very different, however. Even with a dollar or two, you can start a collection by focusing on cards that make you happy. Here are a few examples of cards that cost pennies, yet are pretty easy to find.
Pokemon Cards That Make You Happy
One can argue it is way cooler to have a PSA 10 slab worth $35,000 over a collection of 50,000 individual cards. To some people, the slab is more appealing, as far as Pokemon cards go. However, other people, like me, love artwork that tells a story. One slab will never be worth more than the thousands of different narratives found in common, uncommon, and rare cards.
A simple card, like the three examples below, brings me a lot of joy. Each one does so for different reasons, too. Would a $35,000 PSA 10 slab bring me joy? Maybe, but it’d also make me quite stressed and anxious. I will gladly buy dozens of binders to store my type of Pokemon cards instead.
1. Air Balloon
You might think to yourself: why does this even exist? Obviously, for several reasons. First of all, balloons are cool and fun to play with, providing hours of very cheap entertainment. Second, because this was a playable card in the trading card game. Plus, I think the art creates a nice balance between the color area – the artwork itself – and the dominant gray part of the card.
While this card isn’t in English, it’s not hard to find in any language. More importantly, this costs a few cents to purchase as a single pickup. There’s also a full art version that is currently closer to 25 cents, if you prefer that. But as far as common Pokemon cards go, this one definitely brings me a lot of joy.
2. Tatsugiri (Any card)
It doesn’t need to be this card specifically, as Tatsugiri is awesome. It is a Pokemon that closely resembles sushi. However, a piece of sushi usually doesn’t glare at you as if you’ve offended its ancestors. Granted, there are happy Tatsugiri cards too, and majestic ones, and so much more. Every card of this Pokemon is good to have in one’s collection!
Similar to the others, this card can be found in many languages for a few pennies. Collecting Pokemon cards isn’t about showing off how much disposable income you have. It is about enjoying a hobby in a way that works for YOU. Bulk bins can be your friends to get started or to expand your collection very cheaply.
3. Absol
I will be honest: Absol isn’t even in my top 25 of Pokemon I like the most. But that doesn’t mean it can’t have a spot in this first article. The artwork of this card is quite stunning, especially when you consider this is a common card. Similar to the Air Balloon, this card comes from a Japanese battle deck. Thankfully, it also exists in other languages and sets, so you won’t struggle to find it.
What makes this one of the cooler Pokemon cards is the overall mood it sets. The artwork shows it is clearly raining. However, Absol seems happy to see us, as if it was waiting for us to arrive. Those are the kinds of stories Pokemon cards can tell, and they cost little more than a stick of chewing gum.
