What are Secret Rare Pokemon Cards?

Usually called Rainbow Rare Pokemon Cards, these special cards are known as Secret Rares. They can be extremely rare and huge chase cards for some fans. If you’re lucky enough to pull one from a booster pack, you’ll know immediately that they stand out from the rest but there are other ways you can tell them apart from the usual rare cards.

How to Tell if a Pokemon Card is Secret Rare

The number on the bottom bottom left of a Pokemon card can tell you a lot of information. If you look, you’ll see a number formatted like a fraction. Here’s an example.

X / Y

Simply put, the X value identifies the card that you’ve pulled, and the Y value is how many cards are in the set it came from. For example, this _ is number _ in Astral Radiance and we know that this set has a total of _ known cards. However, there are usually more cards in each set than this Y value, these are called Secret Rares. If the X value on your card is higher than the Y value on your card, then you have pulled a Secret Rare card!

X > Y = Secret Rare

But how rare are Secret Rare cards?

How Rare Are Rainbow Pokemon Cards?

Secret Rares are usually a lot more rare than normal pulls, besides Alt Art cards in most cases. They can also become some of the most valuable cards in the set. Even if you pull a Secret Rare card that isn’t high in price, they always have a nice look and texture to them that makes them special. Not all Secret Rares have a rainbow tint, some of them are golden, and some have alternate art illustrations on them.

Where to Buy Booster Packs

If you’re looking to open some Pokemon booster packs for the chance to pull one of these Secret Rares, GameStop is a great source for that! Not only will you be getting packs from a trusted source, for a good price, PokePatch also earns commission on qualifying purchases, so you’ll be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

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Top 5 Best Places to Buy Pokemon Cards

Where To Buy Pokemon Cards

Sometimes it can be difficult to find Pokemon cards from a trusted source and for a good price. Earlier this year, it was hard to find Pokemon cards in stock at all! Luckily in store stock has gotten a lot better, but it’s good to know where you should be getting your TCG products from. If you’re looking for where to buy cheap Pokemon cards, there are plenty of places where you can get good deals without worrying about the packs being resealed or fake. Here are the best places to get Pokemon cards.

Pokemon Center

The Pokemon Center is an official Pokemon website and is one of the main places to get Pokemon booster packs. You can’t buy indivdual cards from this website, but they have tons of Pokemon related stuff like clothes, plushies, figures, TCG products, and a lot more. Since it’s directly from The Pokemon Company, many fans go here for their booster packs and ETBs but there are other sources where you may find a better deal.

GameStop

GameStop is one of the best sources for sealed Pokemon products. Not only are you getting it from a trusted source, but they often have good prices, sales, deals, and their powerup rewards pro program can save you a lot of money if you find yourself buying Pokemon cards at least once a month. By signing up for their pro rewards program, you’ll get a $10 welcome reward in points, a $5 monthly reward, and you’ll earn more points with each purchase! PokePatch earns a commission from qualifying purchases from GameStop, so you’ll also be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

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Ebay and TCGPlayer

Two online platforms that are great for Pokemon card collectors and players are Ebay and TCGPlayer. These websites are specifically good for obtaining specific chase cards that you want. You can also buy packs from them but they’re usually the go to places for individual cards. You can even use these websites to sell your own cards. The prices are based on the current market in the Pokemon community, so they’re usually pretty accurate and you can see how much your Pokemon cards are worth.

Local Card Shops

Local card shops, often called an LCS in the Pokemon community, can be a great source for individual cards and booster packs. Prices will vary drastically depending on which one you go to and where you live, so make sure to visit a few local card stores before you make a decision on which one is better. Find one that will give you the best deal and you may find yourself coming back more often if they treat their customers right.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Full Main Theme Song & Plushies Revealed

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is the next mainline Pokemon game in the series. With the game releasing November 18, 2022, fans are on the watch out for any new teaser content that may come out before the release date. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be a free roam Pokemon game, which takes game mechanics from previous titles, Legends Arceus and Sword & Shield. New details are slowly being released about this new game such as new region, Pokemon, and gameplay details. That includes today, when a video was uploaded on the official Japanese Pokemon YouTube channel with the full theme song for the upcoming Pokemon game.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Music

In this new teaser, they show and orchestra playing some new music from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Some fans have pointed out that they’re going back to the traditional sounds of Pokemon instead of moving towards electronic music, which should match the region more. Toby Fox, the creator of the highly rated indie game, Undertale, has confirmed to be working on music for this upcoming Pokemon game. It’s not clear what tracks they’re working on yet, but knowing how good the music was in Undertale, it would be a great addition of talent to make the music in Pokemon even better than it was.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Plushies Teased

In the same video with the orchestra playing the new theme song, we can see plushies of the 3 new starter Pokemon. It’s not clear if these will become available to consumers but it’s safe to assume they would sell these in the future. Plushies like this are usually sold after the games come out on the Pokemon Center website.

Preorder Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

If you’re hyped about the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games, now is the time to preorder. Pick Scarlet or Violet based on which Legendary you like more. Preordering from GameStop is reliable and PokePatch makes commission on qualifying purchases, so you’ll also be helping keep our website up. Thank you!

PokePatch Pokemon Scarlet logo
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How to Get Free Pokemon Code Cards

If you’re like me and you’re into opening up modern Pokemon booster packs, you may have noticed there is a code card in every pack you open. PTCGO codes can be used to redeem packs in Pokemon Trading Card Game Online. In this game you can open those virtual packs to get more cards to build a deck with and play the game online! But booster packs are usually $3.99 and that can add up quickly if you’re buying a lot of packs. Here’s how you can get Pokemon TCG Online codes free.

Pokemon TCG Online Free Codes

PokePatch will provide you with 3 free code card codes just for following us on Twitter. Once you’ve followed our Twitter account, make sure to direct message us, asking for code card codes or else we might not see it. You’ll receive 3 code card codes for free! Here’s a quick step by step guide. Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to get free Pokemon code cards.

Notice: This offer won’t last forever, make sure to check the replies on the tweet below for any updates.

  1. Follow us on Twitter @PokePatchNews
  2. DM us on Twitter, ask for PTCGO codes
  3. Claim your 3 free codes!
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

How to Claim Pokemon Code Cards

To claim code cards in PTCGO, download the game from the official Pokemon website, create and account or login. From there, click the shopping cart in the menu and select “Redeem Codes“. Enter your codes manually or scan the QR codes with a webcam and submit. You can enter up to 10 codes at a time but make sure to click “Claim Now” after you’ve entered your codes.

  1. Open Pokemon TCG Online
  2. Login
  3. Click the Shopping Cart
  4. Select Redeem Codes
  5. Enter your codes
  6. Click Claim Now

What is a Pokemon TCG Trainers Toolkit For?

Pokemon TCG Trainers Toolkit

If you’ve been buying Pokemon booster packs lately, you may have come across a Trainers Toolkit box and you may be wondering What is a Trainer’s Toolkit? This new Pokemon TCG box comes with a bunch of stuff to get you started if you’re interested in playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It will help you build your own deck and help you learn how to play the TCG. Some Trainer’s Toolkits will be different colors, there are blue, purple, and red ones. The contents of these products are slightly different, but the concept is the same, they’ll all help you build a deck of Pokemon cards and learn how to play.

What Does the Trainer’s Toolkit Contents?

The items that come with a Trainer Toolkit will vary but most Trainer Toolkits will come with the following items. Make sure to check on the box or item description before making a purchase to know what’s included in that specific product.

  • 50 cards for a deck
  • 100 energy cards
  • 4 booster packs
  • 65 card sleeves
  • A Deck Building guide
  • 6 damage counter dice
  • 1 Pokemon coin
  • 2 condition markers
  • 1 Code card

Where to Buy a Trainer’s Toolkit

If you find yourself looking for a Trainers Toolkit, a great place to get one is GameStop. Not only will you be getting it from a trusted source, for a good price, but PokePatch earns a commission on qualifying purchases, so you’ll also be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

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When Did Pokemon GO Come Out & How Much Has It Changed?

When Did Pokemon GO Release?

The Pokemon GO release date was July 6th, 2016. If you were around during this time, you’ll know that the game was very different compared to what it is now. Of course, the original concept of walking around IRL and catching Pokemon was the selling point, but a lot of features we know, and love today weren’t available until years later.

Old Pokemon GO Features

Firstly, it was hard to track down Pokemon with the tracking system they had in place. It vaguely showed players how far a nearby Pokemon was from them, but it was anyone’s guess at which direction they should go. This made cooperation more important when looking for Pokemon, as friends would have to split up to search for a Pokemon and report back when they found it. This was fun for short while but there were also players complaining that this system wasn’t intuitive, and developers changed it into the system we know today. Now, nearby Pokemon will be near Pokestops or landmarks so players can easily find Pokemon they’re looking for.

Some other Pokemon GO features that were added later or changed over time were Pokemon IVs, trainer battles, gyms, and a lot more. When the game first came out it was pretty simple, you catch and collect Pokemon. Luckily, they added several other features that made it more engaging, competitive, and more fun overall.

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What Pokemon Can Be Ditto in Pokemon GO

If you’ve played Pokemon GO, you may know how hard it is to find a Ditto. There are players that have played for years and never been lucky enough to find one but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tips to help you catch one. There are specific Pokemon to look for that will greatly increase your odds of catching a Ditto if you focus on catching those Pokemon. Here’s how to catch a Ditto in Pokemon GO.

How to Catch Ditto Pokemon GO

When learning how to find a Ditto in Pokemon GO, knowing which Pokemon it can disguise itself as is really helpful. When looking for a Ditto, you don’t actually see Ditto in it’s true form, they usually transform to look like another Pokemon. The Pokemon a Ditto can disguise itself as in Pokemon GO changes from time to time but here are the updated Ditto disguises.

  • Bidoof
  • Dwebble
  • Ekans
  • Finneon
  • Gastly
  • Lillipup
  • Natu
  • Numel
  • Spinarak
  • Surskit
  • Swirlix

How to Tell if a Pokemon is Ditto in Pokemon GO

Sadly, there aren’t any telling signs that a Pokemon is a Ditto before you catch it. The only way to find out if the wild Pokemon you found is really a Ditto is to catch it. The Pokemon will then transform itself back into a Ditto before going into your Pokemon storage. The only sign that might indicate a Pokemon is a Ditto is when a common Pokemon is surprisingly difficult to catch. Dittos have a lower catch rate than the Pokemon it disguises itself into. This isn’t a sure way of telling if a Pokemon is a Ditto or not but can help encourage those who are about to give up.

How to Get Coins in Pokemon GO for Free

Pokemon GO coins, also known as Pokecoins, can be really helpful especially for player who have been playing for a while. These coins aren’t just used for cosmetics and avatar items, but they can be used to increase Pokemon storage, item storage, and buy useful items that will make progress go by faster in the game. The bad part about this is the most common way to get Pokecoins is by buying them with real world money through microtransactions. Luckily enough, this isn’t the only way to obtain Pokecoins, you can also get them by playing. Here’s how you can get free Pokemon GO coins.

How to Get Free Pokecoins

There is only one way to get free coins in Pokemon GO and that is by leaving your Pokemon to defend gyms. The longer your Pokemon stays at a gym, the more Pokecoins you’ll get! For every one of your Pokemon that stays at a gym, you get 10 Pokecoins and 500 stardust per day. This might not seem like much at first but if you drop off your Pokemon at multiple gyms and wait the Pokecoins will start to add up pretty quickly. Once your Pokemon is defeated, they’ll return back to you, so don’t worry about losing them. The key is being consistent with it because there will probably be local competition, fighting to take over your gyms but that’s just a part of the fun.

How to Tell if a Pokemon Card is Fake or Real

How To Spot Fake Pokemon Cards

Fake Pokemon cards are actually quite rare because you’d have to be stupid to try to sell them. You shouldn’t be worried about fake products or fake Pokemon cards as long as you’re buying them from a reputable source. But if you’re buying it from somewhere you’re not familiar with, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here’s how to spot a fake Pokemon card.

What Are Fake Pokemon Cards?

Some might see packs that look suspicious and mistake them for fake cards. Fake Pokemon cards are different from re-sealed packs. A pack that is re-sealed means that the seller already opened and looked through the pack, and they may have even replaced cards. You don’t want to buy resealed packs either because you’re not likely to get any good pulls from them. If a card is fake, it means it wasn’t manufactured by the official company that makes Pokémon cards. There are several ways you can tell the real from the fake, but some are surprisingly convincing.

What To Look Out For

Here’s how to tell if a Pokemon card is fake. The first thing to look out for is the packaging that it’s in. Obviously, you can’t inspect the cards before buying them so be sure to take a close look at the pack that it’s in. If you have the time, you can even look up the pack that it’s in and compare pictures online to the product that you see. If you don’t see anything wrong with the packaging and you’re still suspicious of the cards that you pulled, there are more signs to look for.

Another thing you want to look for are spelling and grammar errors. Its more common for fake cards to have these types of errors but some real cards have errors as well, so if your card has an error, make sure to look up if that error is real. Many fake cards also aren’t as crisp and high quality as real ones. Watch out for any faded colors or smudging. Comparing the size and shape of a real card to your card is another good way to tell the authenticity. All cards are the same size. Some may be cut poorly, and the centering will be off, but the size is always the same.

Are Fake Pokemon Cards Illegal?

Though the seller might think they’re making a lot of money, it is illegal to knowingly sell a counterfeit product. You can fall into a lot of legal trouble if you do this. Whether you’re buying Pokémon cards online or at a local card shop, it’s best to be safe to look out for any suspicious signs that they might be fake cards.

The Rip Test

The final and most reliable test is called the rip test. This is when you rip the card in half to verify your suspicions and should only be done when either when you’re completely sure it’s a fake or you don’t care about the card. When real Pokémon cards are being made, there is a small layer of black ink that goes in the middle layer of the card. Ripping the card will expose this ink more clearly, if you see a black line, it’s a real card. Luckily, before you accidentally rip a real card in half, you can do the rip test without actually tearing your card. Look at the sides of your card, you should be able to see white with a tiny black line in the middle. This black line is the ink mentioned before and also confirms your card is real.

All Alternate Art Cards from Pokemon GO TCG Set

What are Alt Art Cards?

Alternate Full Art cards, Alt Art for short, are like other rare or ultra-rare cards with art the deviates from the normal theme. Usually, a set will be consistent with the art style it uses and cards such as V and VMAX don’t add much background art to the illustrations. Alt art cards add a lot of detail to Pokemon and the background environment. On top of having amazing art, they’re also usually very rare, making them some of the most expensive cards you can get from modern sets of Pokemon cards.

Pokemon GO Alt Art Cards

There are only 2 Pokemon GO Alt Arts. Recently, sets have been containing 4 or more Alt Art cards so this set is on the low end if you’re just looking for alternate art but it still has some great cards to offer. Here are all Pokemon GO Alt Arts.

Mewtwo V Alt Art

As of writing this, the Alternate Art Mewtwo V is the most expensive card in the Pokemon GO set. What makes it the most valuable card is a combination of popularity and rarity. It’s not the rarest card according to the pull rates but it is a huge chase card for many fans because Mewtwo is a popular Pokemon and the art looks amazing!

Conkeldurr V Alt Art

Conkeldurr V alt art

The second and final alt art card in the Pokemon Go set list is this Conkeldurr V Alternate Full Art. The art gives Sword and Shield vibes featuring the Pokemon in the middle of a giant stadium but sticks to the Pokemon GO art style that we see throughout the set. This card isn’t super valuable in terms of money but is still very rare and definitely a great pull if you’re lucky enough to get it.

Which chase card is your favorite from the Pokemon GO TCG set? Let us know in the comments below!

Buy Pokemon GO Cards

If you’re looking to get some Pokemon GO packs yourself, a great place for cards is GameStop! Not only will you be getting packs from a reliable source for a good price, but PokePatch earns a commission on qualifying purchases, so you’ll be helping our website stay up. Thank you!

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