How to buy Pokémon singles in Australia

The four things that identify a Pokémon card

Two cards can share a Pokémon name and be completely different products at completely different prices. To buy the right one you need four pieces of information, and every listing on this site states all four in the title.

1. 1Set — the expansion the card was printed in, for example Prismatic Evolutions or 151.
2. 2Card number — the collector number printed at the bottom of the card, written as *card/set size*, for example 006/165.
3. 3Rarity or finish — common, reverse holo, holo, double rare (ex), illustration rare, special illustration rare, hyper rare, or a patterned holo like a Master Ball holo.
4. 4Language — English or Japanese print run. Our Japanese listings carry `(Japan)` in the title.

What the card number actually tells you

The number before the slash is the card's position in the set; the number after it is the size of the main set. When the first number is larger than the second — 232/091, 238/191, 161/131 — you are looking at a *secret rare*: a card printed beyond the numbered base set, which is where nearly all of the expensive artwork lives. That single rule lets you sort a set list into ordinary cards and chase cards at a glance.

Rarity tiers, in the order you will meet them

• Common, uncommon, rare — the body of any set. In our stock these sit largely under $2, which is why a binder page is cheap to finish.
• Reverse holo — an ordinary card printed with a holographic card body instead of a holographic artwork. Same card, different finish, usually a small premium. Around 418 of our English singles are reverse holos.
• Double rare (ex) — the two-star ex cards, the workhorse of modern sets. Blastoise ex 009/165 at $5 and Alakazam ex 065/165 at $10 are typical.
• Illustration rare — full-art illustration with the Pokémon in a scene. A clear step up in price without reaching chase territory.
• Special illustration rare — the extended-art chase cards, and the reason set prices look extreme. Pikachu ex 238/191 at $550 is one of ours.
• Hyper rare / gold — gold-bordered versions, typically the last card in a set.
• Patterned holos — Japanese-origin gimmicks like the Master Ball pattern. Umbreon Master Ball Holo 059/131 is $500 here.
• Promos — cards printed outside numbered sets (Black Star promos, tin and collection exclusives). They carry their own numbering, so quote the promo number when hunting one.

Japanese or English singles?

It is not a quality question. Japanese print runs are typically glossier with tighter centring, and the alternate artworks often reach Japan first. It is a usage question, and it decides itself quickly.

If you play, buy English singles. If you collect artwork and want more of it per dollar, Japanese singles are the better shelf — the same Eeveelution artwork appears as Umbreon ex 217/187 (Japan) at $580 against $2,000 for the English 161/131.

Condition, and what near mint means here

Every single we list is assessed by hand to a near-mint standard unless the listing says otherwise, sleeved and shipped in rigid protection. Where a card has a centring or edge issue worth knowing about, it goes in the listing rather than being left for you to find. We do not assign numeric grades to ungraded cards — a number on a card only means something when a grading company has assigned it and sealed the card, which is what the graded collection is for.

The buying path, start to finish

1. 1Decide the set — start from English singles or Japanese singles and use the Set filter, or go straight to a set page such as 151 or Prismatic Evolutions.
2. 2Use the card-number search on the collection page and type the number — `006/165` finds the card directly.
3. 3Check the price and stock on the card, then add it to your cart. Singles combine into one parcel.
4. 4At the cart, pick shipping: Australia Post Standard $10, Express $15, signature on delivery $3, free Standard on orders of $200 and over.

Common mistakes worth avoiding

• Buying by Pokémon name alone. Always confirm the card number; the same Pokémon exists at several numbers and several prices.
• Chasing one card through sealed product. If a named card is the whole reason you are shopping, buy the card — the arithmetic is worked through in are Pokémon booster boxes worth buying in Australia.
• Ignoring language on a play purchase. Japanese cards are not legal in Australian tournaments as printed.
• Paying separate postage per card. Build the order, ship once — and past $200 the Standard rate is free.