With the newest Pokemon TCG set Astral Radiance out, collectors and players of the Pokemon TCG alike are trying to pull the newest VSTAR cards. It feels like VSTAR is slowly replacing VMAX cards in the recent Pokemon TCG sets and there may be a reason for that. But when it comes to VMAX vs VSTAR, what’s the difference between the new VMAX and the older VSTAR cards?

VMAX vs VSTAR

VMAX cards are based on a gimmick from the Switch game Pokemon Sword and Shield called Gigantimax. This feature let players charge up their Pokemon during battle, making them physically gigantic and extremely powerful for 3 turns. In the trading card game, VMAX is used in a similar fashion by evolving your Pokemon into something more powerful. The VMAX cards feature a full art Pokemon in it’s Gigantimax form.

VSTAR may be based on a gimmick from the new upcoming Switch game, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. We can’t confirm this theory yet but there’s quite a bit of evidence pointing towards this being a possibility. In the TCG, VSTAR is now the most powerful card you can have in a deck. Unlike VMAX cards, VSTARs have special powerful abilities that can only be used once per game, sometimes less health than VMAX cards, and cost two prize cards instead of 3. Using these abilities can mean the difference between winning or losing a match. In terms of the art, VSTAR cards aren’t necessarily full art, but feature special CGI art of the Pokemon.

Which one do you prefer? VSTAR or VMAX? Let us know in the comments below!

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Where To Sell Pokemon Cards

If you’ve been into collecting Pokemon cards for a while you probably have a surplus of duplicate cards, cards that you don’t care to keep, or a really valuable card that you’re interested in selling. Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to know what your options are and what the best ways to sell your Pokemon cards are before you do it. Here’s where you should go for the best place to sell Pokemon cards.

eBay

Determining where to sell Pokemon cards depends on a few factors, but immediately, one of the best options for selling anything second hand is eBay. This is a great option especially if you’re selling graded slabs, sealed products, or anything that isn’t just a loose card. When selling Pokemon cards on eBay something you have to consider are eBay fees which can be up to 15% of the final sale. If you’re not careful, this will make you lose money. On the other hand, using eBay is beginner friendly and the process is very organized.

TCG Player

TCG Player is a great website to sell Pokemon cards, especially if you’re selling non-graded singles. TCG Player seller fees are slightly lower at up to 10.25%, saving you a little money once your cards sell. This is particularly a really good option if you’re into selling bulk or multiple cards. You’ll list the cards on the website or app individually, but buyers can choose to purchase more than one card from you, saving you some money on shipping as well.

Social Media

Twitter and Facebook marketplace. This is definitely the riskiest way to sell anything as you don’t have an official process or company to back you up if something goes wrong. For this reason, you’ll want to take extra precautions and make sure the buyer knows exactly what they’re getting so there’s no confusion. If this is something you plan on doing a lot, this is a great way to build reputation and it can be a lot of fun being more involved in a community. This can also be more profitable as there are no fees associated with this method. When you’re first starting out, you can check profiles to make sure the people you’re trading with are legit.

No matter what method you decide to use, always remember to communicate. Make sure both parties know what is up for sale and its condition. No one likes surprises when trading collectables.

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If you haven’t heard already, Pokemon GO is getting its own TCG expansion set. Fans of both Pokemon GO and the Pokemon TCG have been waiting for this collab set for years and we’re finally getting it. This announcement alone has created some hype in the Pokemon community but something else related to this upcoming set has everyone’s attention. Some of these unreleased Pokemon GO cards are being found in Astral Radiance and other packs and boxes!

Candela Trainer

It started with Leonhart’s new video where he showcases a box a fan sent him. These Arceus figure boxes are usually supposed to have an Arceus V promo card, but this was an error box. Somehow an unreleased Pokemon GO card was put into this box in place of the promo card. The card features the Team Valor Trainer, Candela. Leonhart opened the box to make sure it was real and verified that it looked real but had quite a bit of damage. It makes you wonder how this card got there in the first place.

Radiant Blastoise

The Pokemon Go TCG leaks don’t end there, however. Another unreleased, never before seen Pokemon Go card was posted on Facebook claiming they pulled it from a new Astral Radiance booster pack. This card is a Radiant Blastoise, which immediately caught the community’s attention. This looks real and if it is, it could mean we will see a Shiny Radiant Charizard in the Pokemon Go TCG set as well!

This was the original post #PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/y1Y49nO7RI

— PokeDexSTX #PokedexSTX (@YourpokedexSTX) May 26, 2022

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Mewtwo V

Another potentially leaked Pokemon GO card is this Mewtwo V. This particular card looks like an alternate art card. Sadly, we can’t find much more information on this card, but we’ve seen it floating around social media quite a bit lately.

Not sure why these are leaking, but… 👀 pic.twitter.com/oFsNJRoofU

— Braysh Gaming 🇬🇧 (@brayshgaming) May 26, 2022

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What do you think? Is the Pokemon Company doing this on purpose or is it just a happy accident? Let us know in the comments below!

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Buying, selling, and trading Pokemon cards is a huge part of the Pokemon card hobby. It’s fun to get into and can even be profitable if done correctly but many people don’t realize it’s not easy. Properly shipping your cards is just as important as protecting them while you’re collecting. If you’re not careful, you can end up with damaged cards or lost packages. Here’s how to avoid that with the best ways to ship your Pokemon cards.

PWE vs BMWT

There are two types of shipping methods that are popular in Pokemon card trading, PWE and BMWT. To determine which method of shipping is right for you, you’ll need to take a couple things into consideration. Things such as weight, thickness, tracking, value, and more. Here’s the difference between PWE and BMWT and how to choose the right one.

What is PWE?

PWE stands for Plain White Envelope. This means you’ll be shipping your cards in a thin envelope with a stamp. The good thing about using this shipping method is it’s quick and cheap. But there are many things you should be aware of before shipping useing PWE. These envelopes are required to be less than 3 oz and less than 1/4in thick. If you meet these requirements, then you may use this method but there are other cons to this as well. This form of shipping has no tracking, meaning you nor the buyer will be able to track this package. These are also susceptible to damage because there’s no protection around the card. If you’re sending some cards only worth a couple bucks, this shouldn’t be a problem but if it’s something valuable, you should consider other options.

What is BMWT?

BMWT stands for Bubble Mailer with Tracking. This is thicker than a PWE because it has a protective layer of bubble wrap or padding. This layer will protect the cards or whatever you put inside it. This also has the advantage of a tracking number, so you know exactly where your package is, and it won’t easily get lost. This can be used for all sorts of things as long as you package the contents well. Here’s some tips on how you can do that.

Packaging Pokemon Cards

Packaging and shipping Pokemon cards are a little different than normal packaging. There are specific materials that are great for this. Card savers particularly are great for packaging cards because they can be sealed and prevent the card from moving around. Top loaders are another good alternative but aren’t as ideal because cards can move around inside top loaders and sometimes cause damage. You can also cut up some extra cardboard boxes you have lying around and sandwich the cards between two pieces of flat cardboard for extra protection. Wrap it in a rubber band or bubble wrap, but make sure it’s not wrapped too tight, so the cards aren’t being crushed. This will ensure your cards are properly protected from the mailman tossing your package around but there are endless possibilities. If you have any recommendations you want to share, let us know in the comments below!

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There continues to be a huge demand for Pokemon cards this year after having an explosive increase in popularity the past couple years. The Pokémon Company knows this and is happy to supply retail stores with more products to ensure they make money. Reprints and stores restocking recent Pokemon TCG sets is very common and expected this time of year, but some people have noticed a wave of an older set on the shelves lately. The Hidden Fates set came out in August of 2019. More than 2 years later, were seeing these boxes on retail shelves. Is this just left over product that got lost or is Hidden Fates being reprinted?

Hidden Fates Pokemon Center Restock

On May 24th, 2022, the Pokemon Center website quietly restocked a bunch of Hidden Fates ETBs. Despite not making an announcement for this restock, they sold out extremely fast. It’s not a surprise they sold out so quickly because Hidden Fates are becoming harder to find and more expensive lately. Hopefully this online restock means they’re planning on bringing it back into physical stores temperarily. This also could’ve been the Pokemon Center getting rid of some old stock they had lying around.

YOOOOOOO!!!!

Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box at Pokemon Center

$49.99

2 Maxhttps://t.co/ioIwhHZqQ2 pic.twitter.com/caQFKZlsl0

— Pokemon Drops (@PokemonTCGDrops) May 24, 2022

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Hidden Fates Box Restock at Walmart

A post on a TCG Facebook group shows a major restock of 50+ Hidden Fates boxes at a Walmart in Indiana. These boxes feature a big Pokemon card of Raichu GX, Gyrados GX or Charizard GX and 4 HF packs. There are also rumors of these boxes only costing $9 but we’re unable to confirm this price, it’s more realistic to expect these around $20 MSRP, which is still a great price for 4 Hidden Fates packs. We know this post is legit because were starting to see a lot of people listing the item on Ebay from the same area today and multiple people on Twitter confirming this is real.

@PokemonTCGDrops check it out 👀 *not my photo* Indiana HIDDEN FATES 😱🔥 pic.twitter.com/jANeyiCrBZ

— Poké Max Miguel (@PokemonMax) December 23, 2021

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Hidden Fates ETB Restock

A Twitter user shared a video this week of a Pokemon card vending machine having a Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box. Apparently, this restock has been spotted in vending machines at multiple locations.

Ayyyooooo@PokemonTCGDrops pic.twitter.com/DtlHEck9Wj

— HungryCorean (@HungryCorean) December 20, 2021

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We don’t know if Hidden Fates is being reprinted but we at least have evidence it’s being restocked for MSRP at multiple locations. These products will most likely fly off the shelves and go by really fast so act quick if you see them and always try to leave some for others. Keep an eye out for any Hidden Fates products in stores and reply below where to find them to help others!

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Brilliant Stars came out in Feburary and has since been known as one of the best sets in the Sword and Shield generation. The Alternate art cards in Brilliant Stars are a part of the reason why it’s so popular, along with the introduction of VSTAR cards and the pull rates. Here’s a list of all Alt Art cards in Brilliant Stars.

What are Alt Art Cards?

Alternate Art cards, Alt Art for short, shows an alternative art style to the usual one we see on Pokemon cards. These usually present themselves as Full Art cards and can be V or VMAX. Alt Arts often times become the best cards in the set and are chase cards that everyone wants. They’re also some of the rarest modern Pokemon cards out there, which is why they’re so expensive.

154 Charizard V Alt Art

156 Lumineon V Alt Art

162 Honchkrow V Alt Art

166 Arceus V Alt Art

Compared to other sets there isn’t a huge selection in Brilliant Stars when it comes to Alt Arts but they’re all really strong illustrations. The Charizard and Arceus cards especially carry most of the popularity between them, but Honchkrow and Lumineon look amazing as well and should be chase cards for everyone opening Brilliant Stars packs.

Where to Buy Brilliant Stars Packs

After seeing those Brilliant Stars Alt Arts and you’re looking to get your hands on some Brilliant Stars booster packs or boxes, a great and reliable source for Pokemon cards is GameStop. Not only will you be getting it from a trusted source for a good price, but PokePatch also earns a commission from some orders, and you’ll be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

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Grading Pokemon cards is a popular way of authenticating and showing others that you have the best quality card. But sometimes you think you’ll get a 10 when you actually get an 8 or 9. This leaves collectors wondering how to get a PSA 10. Taking a look at PSA’s grading standards, or whoever you chose to grade with, and following their guidelines is a great way to ensure you’ll get a good grade. Here are other steps you can take to make sure you get the highest grade on your Pokemon cards that some might miss.

How To Get PSA 10

Speaking of errors, make sure the card you’re sending in for grading doesn’t have any! If you have an error card, you need to bring it to the grading services attention so they can properly authenticate it. Error cards are sometimes worth much more than normal cards. For this reason, you’ll want to keep an eye out and make sure if you have an error Pokemon card, that you know it’s worth.

Things To Do Before Grading Pokemon Cards

Besides grading the card yourself before you send it in for a professional opinion, there are a few things you can do that might help your card grade higher. For example, if there’s any dust on the card, this will count towards your final grade because grading services don’t clean your cards. This means you’ll have to clean your cards before sending them in. PSA also has packaging guidelines that you should follow when shipping your cards. This ensures your cards won’t get damaged during shipping and handling. Lastly, a very important thing to do when sending Pokemon cards in for grading is keeping your expectations low. Sometimes grading services can be harsh and a card you think is perfect doesn’t get the grade you wanted. To prevent getting disappointed in the future, don’t expect 10/10 grades. This also makes it more exciting when you actually do get a grade 10.

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The upcoming Pokemon TCG set will be a very special set for multiple reasons. It will be the first ever Pokemon GO themed TCG set of Pokemon cards. That alone is something fans of both Pokemon GO and the Pokemon TCG have been asking for years. Not only is it a Pokemon GO TCG set but it has Radiant Pokemon, AKA Shiny Pokemon, and now they’re introducing hidden Peelable Ditto cards! Here’s what they look like.

Hidden Ditto Cards Information

Ditto is a Pokemon that’s known for disguising into other Pokemon. So, when seeing a Diglett, Bidoof, or another Pokemon you won’t immediately notice that it’s actually a Ditto until you look at certain details. It’s the same concept with these new Pokemon cards. They’ll look like normal Pokemon cards but if you look closely, you’ll notice it’s a sticker. Peeling back this sticker will reveal the Ditto in it’s true form!

The new Peelable Ditto Card in the #PokemonGO TCG set is such a cool idea #PokemonTCG pic.twitter.com/SUw8OC6RKU

— PokePatch (@PokePatchNews) May 20, 2022

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How To Tell If You Have a Ditto Card

The example we see is of a reverse holo card. With this information, we’re assuming all Ditto sticker cards will be reverse holo, meaning they’ll likely be found in the Reverse Holo slot in a booster pack. You’ll want to check all Reverse Holo cards from Pokemon GO packs and look closely at the bottom left corner. Here is where you’ll see a Ditto icon if it’s a holo Ditto card.

What Cards Can Be Ditto

The cards you want to look for are all Reverse Holo and it can only be a few different Pokemon. The Pokemon that can be a hidden Ditto card are Spinarak, Bidoof, and Numel.

To Peel or Not To Peel

No doubt this card has created immediate hype for the Pokemon GO set but it’s not Pokemon if there isn’t some controversy. Some fans are debating what’s the best way to collect these peelable Ditto cards. Should you peel them or leave them unpeeled? Some have pointed out that the glue may warp or damage the cards over time if left unpeeled. This can’t really be confirmed so all we can do is speculate. If we look at vintage sticker packs from the 90s, we see that the stickers have stayed in very good condition for 20+ years. Of course, they aren’t the same material as a card, but it might be worth the risk if they turn out to be fine in the future. What do you think? Should you peel Ditto cards? Let us know in the comments below!

Buy Pokemon GO Cards

One of the best places to get Pokemon cards from is GameStop! Not only will you be getting them from a reliable source for a good price, but PokePatch earns a commision on qualifying purchases, so you’ll be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

The newest Pokemon TCG set, Astral Radiance, comes out this month on May 27th and fans are looking forward to seeing what Astral Radiance chase cards they’ll get. It’s too early to tell what these alt art cards will cost or their resale value because not many are in circulation, but we do know what these cards look like and we even know Astral Radiance pull rates for certain types of cards. Thankfully all of these cards were in recent Japanese Pokemon TCG sets such as Space Juggler and Time Gazer, so we can see what these cards look like early. Here’s a list of all Alternate Art cards in Astral Radiance.

161 Beedrill V

163 Hisuian Lilligant V

167 Origin Forme Palkia V

172 Machamp V

175 Hisuian Sneasler V

177 Origin Forme Dialga V

Let us know which out of all alt art cards in Astral Radiance is your favorite in the comments below! Which cards are you chasing?

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Where To Buy Astral Radiance Packs

One of the best places to buy Astral Radiance packs is GameStop. Not only will you be getting them from a trusted source for a good price, PokePatch earns commission from some orders, so you’ll be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

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