What’s everything I need to know about collecting cards?

Question

I’ve wanted a detailed list with everything important to know for a while, and I figure this can help others. Obviously I know a lot, but I think having a very detailed guide is important to have for myself and others (plus, it adds to the site!)

Please include the following:

• card rarity types and meaning (odds included)
• what typically comes within one basic pack of cards
• differences between booster boxes, booster packs, etc. and all the other types of card sets you can get
• different types of card glamour and what they are (foil, reverse holo, holo, full art, rainbow, etc)
• anything else someone may need to know regarding collecting (value, where to buy, collectors editions, etc)
• anything else I may have forgotten to add onto this list
• please literally include everything important (even if it’s “common knowledge”)

No half-answers and please include sources. Please format and organize your answer nicely so that it’s easy to read.

Note: this guide is for collecting cards, not for playing the TCG

Comments

Look at every single Pokemon card ever online and create a database so you can collect them all ;) ;) ;)

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I don’t really see the point of that comment. I’m not asking for every single card ever created

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You didn't specify the expansion. I was joking, I was using the ;)

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I think this isn't a very good question. If someone posts a very long and detailed answer, then it's kind of difficult to tell whether the answer is complete or missing something important.

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By “long and detailed” I mean I don’t want someone to say “there’s four rarity types and there’s holos and non holos hope I helped” I want a description like “this is what a holo looks like and this is what it means and does” and “the circle symbol means it’s common, which means you have a one in whatever chance of pulling it per pack”

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There's no 1 in whatever chance, the cards are picked semi randomly, up to two rare cards, at least one energy, at least one trainer card, and the rest are common or uncommon

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Wrong again. Take a look

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/586284836423991297/907096623987965952/IMG_8010.png

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Again, celebrations is quite unique in many ways.

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We about to be on winter break? Oh yeah I got you give me a few days

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Can you delete the last 2 things in the list? I think whether something counts as "important" is opinion-based.

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Seriously? That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. I think my list of requirements is fine. When I say “anything else important”, I mean anything worth mentioning that I might’ve been forgetting about. I wouldn’t have asked this question if I knew what was important or not, I don’t think that’s opinion based in the slightest

For example, it’s important to have a switch in order to play Pokémon sword. That is NOT opinion based, it’s a fact, a fact in which someone who doesn’t know about games and consoles may or may not know, thus it’s worth mentioning. and that’s what I mean.

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In that case, can you define the words "important" and "worth mentioning" so that they don't depend on opinions?

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no, I just did. If you cant understand, that’s okay

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"when I say anything else important I mean anything worth mentioning that I may have forgotten." Whether you agree or not, that could be affected by anyone's opinion.

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People who answer questions include extra information at their discretion whether or not the question specifically invites them to do so. I don't think it is grounds to remove this question when you can answer it by addressing the rest of the list of items.