It seems like just about every other kid in this day and age collects or trades Pokémon cards. And while buying more packs and more cards is always appreciated, there are other Pokémon card gifts that can be given to any collector, young and old!
If you’re not sure what all of the different Pokémon card boxes, packs, and tins contain, I have an article to run through that specifically.
For now though? Let’s talk 5 of the best gifts you can give to any Pokémon card collector!
VaultX Pokémon Card Binder
Let’s face it, there are a ton of Pokémon card binders out there. After all, binders are one of the best ways to protect Pokémon cards.
When it comes down to it though, one of the hands down best binders on the market is the Vault X Premium Exo-Tec® Zip Binder. They come in an even larger 12 Pocket, 480 card binder, a smaller 4 Pocket variation, and have several colors to choose from in case you needed options.
Ultimately though, this binder has it all. It’s sturdy on the outside, and is easy to get cards in and out while still holding them in place on the inside. It is a decently large binder, especially if you go for the 12 pocket. But most collectors agree that this is the one to get.
So as far as as gifts go? A great binder like this one is a great add.
Pokémon Card Grading as a Gift
This one isn’t quite as quick and easy as the others, but it is a great option for those who have cards that they want to keep protected for a long time. If you don’t know what “grading” is, you can check out my other article, but I’ll give you a quick rundown below as well.
Grading refers to a process where you send Pokémon cards into a grading company where they get a “grade” from 1-10 based on the quality of the card. They are then sent back to you in a case like ones you can see above.
The reason this can be a great gift option is because it helps to protect cards that the person may really like for a long time. On top of that, grading can increase the value of the card as well depending on the grade.
There are two main downsides to this as a gift
- It usually costs $25+ per card based on how many you send and how expensive they are
- It will take between 30-90 days to get the cards back (assuming you paid for the cheapest service)
If you have no problem with those two downsides, then you can select the grading company you want to use and follow their instructions for submission! There are three I would suggest sticking with particularly
PSA
PSA or “Professional Sports Authenticator” is the gold standard for value and resell ability in the Pokémon card world. The main criticism for them is that their slabs don’t look as nice as most other grading companies.
Beckett (BGS)
Beckett is an incredibly highly respected grading company. Their slabs are one of if not the nicest looking in the market and their sub-grades give cards an additional benefit that others don’t. On top of that, they have the most highly valuable grade on the market, the Pristine 10 Black Label.
The main downside of Beckett is that they are known to be a harsher grader than others. Outside of that, Beckett is a great choice for grading!
CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)
CGC is a great company to use for grading Pokémon cards. While not as valuable or resell able as the above two, they tout economical prices and a VERY quick turnaround time.
Let’s get to the next gift idea!
Unique Pokémon Card Sleeves
Some Pokémon card collectors may be incredibly picky about their card sleeves. Kids and certain collectors though appreciate a bit of diversity in their sleeved collection.
So if the person you’re buying for has a favorite Pokémon, do a quick Amazon search for (Pokémon name here) Card Sleeves and you may find exactly what you are looking for!
It’s also worth noting that Elite Trainer Boxes and others come with unique sleeves as part of the bundle!
If you would like some other ideas, I’ve linked some other sleeves below!
- Black Holographic Card Sleeves
- Mimikyu Card Sleeves
- Charizard EX Card Sleeves
- Rainbow Poké ball Card Sleeves
And if you want to stick with the basics? You can never go wrong with Ultra Pro Card Sleeves.
Pokémon Battle Academy Game Box
The Pokémon Battle Academy Game Box is an excellent way to get people into playing the Trading Card Game who might not know where to start otherwise. There are three pre-built decks with rules of how to play and all of the extras you would need.
There is another version as well with some different decks you can play with. Kids and adults alike though can get into the Pokémon Trading Card Game with nothing more than this set!
Pokémon Squishmallows + Plush
Alright, this one might not be for older collectors as much as younger ones. For kids though? The Squishmallow train is real and Pokémon has decided to get their piece of it. My kids personally have a small army of these at home already… and more continue to be released.
You can shop all of their plush items here but there are quite a few Squishmallow Pokémon that are sure to be appreciated by any Pokémon lover!
Custom Pokémon Cards
Not to be confused with proxy Pokémon cards, custom Pokémon cards are usually created as gifts or just to show off some incredible art skills.
There are hundreds of ways this can be done, but I’ve given a few different ideas below!
- Re-create their favorite Pokémon card with an artist through Etsy
- Get them created as their own Pokémon card
- Make them a custom pack with whatever cards you want as a gift!
Again, there are a lot of custom cards out there, so a little bit of searching and you may be able to find something unique for the person you’re buying for!
Summary
Hopefully this list was able to give you a few gift ideas for Pokémon card enthusiasts! If there is anything I missed, please sent me a message at [email protected] or reach out via my Facebook page!
Thanks for reading!