What a way to start this blog, with a thought-provoking question such as this.

For me, it’s not necessarily just Pokémon that I collect. So I guess there’s also the question of How do I collect? Or what do I collect?

When it comes to Pokémon cards, for me it’s impossible to even attempt to master a set, as it would be too expensive. What I enjoy, is the act of opening the packs and not knowing what you are going to get. That’s the same for any other TCG for that matter. I’m not limited to just Pokémon cards, I’ve opened packs from Match Attax, Slam Attax (WWE), Panini Adrenalyn XL, Minecraft, The Spoils, Magic The Gathering and Cardfight Vanguard.

I’ve also opened many packets of football stickers and in fact that is what takes me furthest back to my childhood, the act of opening Merlin Premier League football stickers back in the 90s. It was the almost addictive quality of opening those packs and not knowing what you’d get. That is what drives me to open packs of trading cards.

The reason I primarily focus on Pokémon, is that it’s a franchise that is again from my childhood, and there’s an element of nostalgia to it. The fact that Pokémon cards can have increased value over time, is also a nice added bonus. I don’t collect specifically to make money. I do it because I enjoy it. I appreciate the artworks of the cards.

And for all of the above card games I’ve mentioned, it is the collecting aspect I look at, more so than the competitive playing of the games.

Don’t get me wrong, I have dabbled in MTG Arena and Pokémon TCG Live and have got a level of enjoyment out of it but sometimes with standard card rotation it can be difficult to keep up with the competitive side of things.