Pokemon

[PiratePetespajamas]

Can someone PLEASE help me with this? It is doing my head in!

My DC’s mates are also obsessed with Pokemon right now and so DC has put “Pokemon” on their Father Christmas letter. I have no idea where to start! Amazon is no help - I have a feeling “cards” is definitely something you need but it’s not clear from amazon WHICH cards and there seem to be many variations. Please can someone advise what to buy for a Pokemon beginner - which cards (and is there somewhere better than amazon), particular spin-offs (games etc)? I don’t understand the world of Pokemon at all!!!!!

Ok, so you can but the actual game.

Most kids just want shit loads of cards. But to play the game you need a deck of 60 cards.

You can buy the tins. Or individual packs. Or the elite trainer boxes (£££!).

If he just want shit loads of cards, I'd buy a tin.

Let me find some links to help you out. Hang on...

The board game: www.argos.co.uk/product/8566591?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=ilpqpaiwp&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7cacid:629-618-1342%7ccid:9563523558%7cagid:128520874682%7ctid:aud-641224040777:pla-1414349099022%7ccrid:544108906024%7cnw:g%7crnd:7689141566536436049%7cdvc:m%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:9045528&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9563523558&utm_term=8566591&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=128520874682&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqbyNBhC2ARIsALDwAsDPA_inPZwZhzWD3MNfvUJlFfFT8wPUSU_uh-ShmWgoYAJMrqRS2LIaAjNuEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

As well as cards we got DS the Pokémon encyclopaedia when he first started to get into it. It’s so well read it’s falling apart now.

As above, you'll need a load of cards from amazon. Buy the bigger packs that probably aren't legit, they are very good

www.amazon.co.uk/50-ASSORTED-POKEMON-CARDS-Toy/dp/B001CJVTLC/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=pokemon+cards&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1638870050&sr=8-11

Also a case to put them in, this one is excellent

www.amazon.co.uk/Pokemon-Ultra-Pokeball-Portfolio-Pocket/dp/B01LYOO5LB/ref=mp_s_a_1_25?crid=OOXSWO9CN7CE&keywords=pokemon+card+binder&sprefix=pokemon+%2Caps%2C143&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1638870177&sr=8-25

Then maybe a stuffed toy? Plenty of them around, a cute Pikachu from argos or the entertainer

How old is your child? Very few of younger kids actually play the card game - they just collect the cards so it doesn't always matter which type you get. Most of the supermarkets sell them as do Smyths, The Entertainer, WHSmith, Wilkos, B+M etc.
All the above retailers also sell the soft toys or plastic figures. The Works has some of the character guide books as do some of the supermarkets. You can get the Manga books at WHSmith or Waterstones
You need to simply ask your child "do you want the cards or some Pokémon toys? Father Christmas needs more details"

Don't worry about variations of cards, just buy cards. Mine are obsessed and its all quantity over quality. Shiny ones are deemed extra good, if you can get packs with a couple of them in then that's perfect but not essential

There is a board game, it is about £20 and you get a lot of cards with it. My two love it, I have no idea how to play it. They also have the encyclopeida each and it is a very interesting book apparently.
I get the cards from Smyths, there is always somebody helpful on the games desk who can help out with which type is most popular, i have also bought bundles from ebay, about £8 for 50- perfect for swapping with friends.
There are soft toys on ebay too, a few sellers do 3 for 2 which works out ok price wise.

Character.com have Pikachu onesies that are good quality as well as pokemon tshirts and pyjamas.
If they have a Switch or similar, there are few games that are popular as well. Let's Go Evee and Sword are on my eldest's list.

Character merchandise also goes down well. We have Pokémon bedding, lunchboxes and pjs. Agree you need more details.

Are you sure it's cards he wants? There are new games out for Switch, it might be them. Can't you just ask him?

This is the newest cards. This pic is from the Smyths website.

If he has a switch, pokemon lets go pikachu/ lets go eevee is an updated version of the original game and its the best of the games by miles!

DS is 7. Actually the game @JuneOsborne linked to was on the Santa letter - but it seems to be sold out everywhere arrggh! I think DS himself isn’t quite sure what it is he needs or wants but I have heard some of his mates talk about cards so I think this has to be the place to start. So it doesn’t matter which type of cards I buy - any will do? Nice idea about the cuddly toy, I could do that too. And a book will help both him and me thank you for all the ideas so far - I knew Mumsnet could help!!!

Yes all cards will work and can be played together/ traded.
They just have different gen pokemon in the different types of packs

Do I need an album? Or they keep in the tins?

I’d say easier to keep in tins. We got DS an album because his friends have them but I am fed up of spending my weekend afternoons sorting Pokémon cards with him and rearranging the album.

The games in stock at Tesco! https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/307021056

This is a brilliant book. Super Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook (Pokemon): The Need-To-Know STATS and Facts on Over 900 Characters: The Need-To-Know STATS and Facts on Over 875 Characters https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1338714120/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcM22MNFV1R7Z0QATK5XT4

We got DS8 something like this for his cards so he can always store some in the folder but have the tin to take around with him. Cards Holder Album, Card Folder, Cards Holder Binder,Cards GX EX Trainer Albums, GX EX Card Album, Collectible Card Albums, 30 Page - Can Hold up to 240 cards https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R7F7JB2/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcC5BY2PXRGC2PH2JJBCP4

He also said at that age he would have loved a cuddly! Smyths toys have loads of different ones.

DS also loves the poke balls with creatures inside www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/action-figures-and-playsets/pokemon/pokemon-toys/pok%c3%a9mon-clip-n-go-pokeball-charmander/p/178285025 and you can get plastic figures for doing battles with like this www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/action-figures-and-playsets/pokemon/pokemon-toys/pok%c3%a9mon-epic-gyarados-30cm-battle-figure/p/174324002

Oooh thanks @Peabody25 I see Tesco has lots of stuff!

If they don’t have any cards the buy the Pokémon battle academy game. This comes with 3 sets of decks and teaches you to play the game. We got this for DS7 for his birthday and it was a great way to be able to play with the cards when you don’t really know what you are doing!

He also likes just to open the smaller packets to see what he gets but we have never built our own deck.

My DS7 is obsessed by Pokémon and loves the encyclopaedia so he can look up all the evolutions. Could you pop Pokémon Go on a device for them to have a play?

Plushes yes always a winner and the figures. Especially the clip and go belt! Someone mentioned the other day that Wilkos have them of offer so that might be a great place to look?

My DS has been Pokemon obsessed since about 5 but he has never been interested in the cards.

Plushies ( we have at least 10 pikachu let along the rest). Encyclopaedia. switch games. Pokémon Go. Cartoons. Films. T-shirts.

Anything!! So much merch.