The holiday season is a time for gifting, and fortunately it’s not too hard getting gifts forPokemonfans, as there are a plethora of products on the market. Whether a fan is looking for something to treat themselves to, or whether a family member wants to surprise a loved one, there were manyPokemon TCGproducts released in 2022 that would make for amazing gifts for both card collectors and competitive players.
Overall,Pokemon TCGhad a great year, reflected in the variety of products available. There is a collector’s chest available for those who need a safe place for their cards, and premium collections for beloved Pokemon like Charizard and Morpeko. This year also saw the card game collaborate with Niantic’s AR mobile game, resulting in some unexpected innovations and an excellent Elite Trainer Box.
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2022 Collector’s Chest Spring
Fornewcomers toPokemon TCG, or just for collectors who want somewhere to store all their cards, the 2022 Collector’s Chest is an excellent choice. The large metal chest features beautiful artwork of Arceus, and within the tin there is enough to make any fan happy. In addition to five booster packs, it also contains three holofoil promo cards featuring the popular starters Rowlet, Oshawott, and Cyndaquil fromPokemon Legends: Arceus. There are also plenty of sticker sheets featuring these three Pokemon, along with Arceus itself.
In addition to aPokemoncoin depicting Arceus, the chest also contains a notebook. Given the chest is aimed at collectors, it contains a collector’s album with 60 sleeves for fans to store their favorite cards. The product has great value and will light up the eyes of anyone looking to expand their collection or find a safe place to keep their most treasured cards.
Charizard Ultra Premium Collection
Pikachu reigns supreme as the most popular critter in the series. However,Charizard has also found its fair share of fame, especially in thePokemon TCGscene. In 2022, it received further recognition with the Charizard Ultra Premium Collection, a pricey product set in a white box with a luxury gold interior. It contains the Charizard V, Charizard VMAX, and Charizard VSTAR promo cards that will no doubt be worth holding onto as Charizard cards have a knack for accumulating value.
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In addition to a whopping 16 booster packs, it also has some of the goodies one would expect in an Elite Trainer Box, including an acrylic VSTAR marker, two metal condition markers, and six damage counter dice. The 65 card sleeves will please collectors, and the included playmat depicting Gigantamax Charizard will also put a smile on the faces of fans who need something extra for their competitive matches. Throw in a guide to theSword and Shieldgeneration of thePokemon TCG, and it becomes a product that any fan would be happy to receive.
Pokemon GO Elite Trainer Box
In 2022,Pokemon TCGcollaborated with Niantic to release a special set of cards that celebrate the highly successful AR game. ThePokemon GOcards feature monsters in various real-world locations, including the park, a living room, and the city. The set is also notable becauseit introduced a peelable Ditto cardthat initially looks like a regular Pokemon, but when the top layer is peeled away it reveals the mimic inside. With it being a relatively small set, it is easy to complete for those who appreciate its unique artwork.
ThePokemon GOElite Trainer Box is the premium product.It focuses on Mewtwo, which has an alternate art print that is among the most expensive in the set. Inside, fans will 10 booster packs and a dazzling promo card featuring Mewtwo V. There are also 65 blue card sleeves featuring Mewtwo, 45 energy cards, six damage counter dice, a coin-flip die, two conditions markers, a VSTAR marker, and four dividers. There is also a player’s manual to get fans acquainted with thePokemon GOset andPokemon TCGrules. BringingPokemon GOandPokemon TCGtogether, the Elite Trainer Box is the best of both worlds.
Morpeko V-UNION Special Collection
It has been a long-standing tradition for eachnew Pokemon generation to introduce a Pikachu clone. For theSwordandShieldgeneration, thatPokemonis Morpeko. The rodent initially looks cute, with a stripe of golden fur running down its middle vertically, but things take a dark turn when its hangry mode is engaged and the critter turns black and purple. It’s one of the most unique Pikachu clones yet, and its changing forms make Morpeko an interesting team member.
Pokemon TCGcelebrated the rodent with the Morpeko V-UNION Special Collection. It features four booster packs, an oversize card of Morpeko, and a card featuring Professor Burnet. The main attraction of the collection is the four cards it contains that form a larger image of Morpeko V-UNION. It is a fun gimmick that is far more alluring than the typicalPokemonTCGjumbo cards, and the product stands out from other special collections released this year.
It already seems like 2023 is shaping up to be another great year forPokemon TCG. In addition to theCrown Zenithset that will be the last romp in Galar, thePaldea TCG Collection has already been revealedand will be released in early January. There will be changes coming toPokemon TCGin the form of design edits and a price hike, but to make purchases still worth it for fans, changes will be made to all products - including adding an extra booster pack to Elite Trainer Boxes.
