There are currently more than 190 different Pokémon card sets reflecting the massive growth of the Pokémon card market.
After initially gaining popularity in 1999, the Pokémon card industry has gone through a meteoric rise, with more than 190 sets of cards in existence today. The obvious result is an increase in the production and sale of counterfeit cards, which can trick collectors—even the most seasoned ones—into thinking they are purchasing authentic cards. In the lead-up to Pokémon Day on February 27th, Pokémon card collectors have laid out some suggestions for how collectors may spot fakes and save money.
Evaluate the Quality of Card Printing
The printing process and materials used to create genuine Pokémon cards are second to none. Check the detail, color brightness, and printing quality; fake cards could have pixelation, uneven colors, or fuzzy images.
To easily identify a counterfeit card, check for typos and grammatical mistakes in the text and the general print resolution and clarity of the symbols and language.
Verify the Texture of the Card
To identify fake Pokémon cards, look for a smoother or glossier surface rather than the usual rough texture and feel.
Feel the card’s surface with your fingertips and check it against other recognized genuine cards. A little graininess is a telltale sign of a real Pokémon card, while an excessively smooth or glossy imitation would be difficult to discern with the naked eye.
Examine the Components of the Holographic Foil
There are many Pokémon cards with holographic foil patterns in different sets. If you see any unusual patterns, such as missing details, uneven shine, or a lack of depth, they might be counterfeit. This is because holographic effects are notoriously difficult to imitate.
Genuine holographic foil should reveal a clear and uniform pattern when held up to a light. One way to tell if a card is a fake is by comparing its energy sign to others; counterfeits often have an enlarged or distorted version of this symbol.
Check the Card’s Size and Thickness
Each Pokémon series has its own requirements for the size and thickness of its official trading cards. Use a ruler to compare the card’s length, width, and thickness to a known legitimate card from the same set; counterfeit cards occasionally differ from these dimensions. Additionally, give the card a little bend; counterfeits tend to feel weak compared to authentic, high-quality items.
Careful inspection of the card’s edge can reveal a particular counterfeit. The black sheet between the cardboard layers of genuine Pokémon cards is barely discernible unless you look closely, but it does exist. A Pokémon card isn’t complete without this.
Get to Know Every Character and Their Stats
Fake cards featuring characters from other properties that have been significantly impacted by Pokémon, including Digimon, can easily fool purchasers who aren’t familiar with all 1,025 Pokémon characters. Do your homework and make sure the picture is of a legitimate Pokémon because there are so many characters that it can be hard to tell from memory alone.
Some statistics can also help determine whether a card is real; for instance, most uncommon cards have HP values below 340. Thus, anything beyond that is probably a fake. Because fake cards have stated nonexistent attacks in the past, checking the card’s attacks is another way to tell if they are legitimate.
Obviously, the pro-Pokémon card collectors are well aware of these facts. But I hope these tips help if you’re new to collecting these cards. As a collector, I know how heartbreaking it can feel when you end up buying something fake. So stay sharp!
