Pokémon is my bread and butter. I’ve graded hundreds of Pokémon cards—from Base Set Charizards to modern Alt Arts—and sold thousands more raw on eBay. This guide covers what I’ve learned about each era and how to maximize your returns.
Understanding the Eras
Pokémon cards aren’t one market—they’re several. Each era has different buyers, different price dynamics, and different grading strategies.
| Era | Years | What I Target | Grading Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOTC Vintage | 1999-2003 | Holos, 1st Editions | Always grade, PSA only |
| Ex Era | 2003-2007 | Gold Stars, ex cards | Grade NM+ only, PSA preferred |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2007-2011 | Lv.X cards | Undervalued, selective grading |
| Black & White | 2011-2013 | Full Arts | Starting to climb, watch this era |
| XY Era | 2014-2017 | EX cards, Evolutions | Evolutions is hot right now |
| Sun & Moon | 2017-2019 | Rainbow Rares, GX | CGC acceptable for budget |
| Sword & Shield | 2020-2023 | Alt Arts, VMAX | CGC for under $75, PSA for chase |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2023+ | Special Art Rares | Too early to grade most |
WOTC Vintage (1999-2003): My Highest ROI
What I Buy
- 1st Edition holos: Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Alakazam
- Shadowless Base Set: Any holo
- Neo Genesis/Destiny: Shining cards, Lugia, Typhlosion
Real Numbers From My Sales
From my last 50 WOTC submissions:
| Card | Avg Purchase | Avg Grade | Avg Sale | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Charizard (Unlimited) | $180 | 6.8 | $420 | 133% |
| Base Blastoise | $45 | 7.2 | $110 | 144% |
| Neo Lugia | $85 | 6.5 | $180 | 112% |
Key insight: Even low grades (5-7) add massive value to vintage. I’ve made money on PSA 4s.
Grading Strategy
- Always PSA: CGC vintage sells for 25-30% less
- Grade everything: Even damaged copies gain value in slabs
- Expect 6-7 average: These cards are 25 years old
Modern Chase Cards: Where Volume Lives
What Sells
From my eBay sales data, the modern cards that move fastest:
- Sword & Shield Alt Arts: Umbreon VMAX, Rayquaza VMAX, Moonbreon
- Scarlet & Violet SARs: Iono, Miraidon, Charizard ex 199
- 151 Set: Everything. This set has insane demand.
- Trainer Gallery: Full art trainers always sell
My Modern Grading Math
I only grade modern Pokémon when:
- Raw value is $75+ (otherwise CGC fees eat margins)
- Centering is 55/45 or better
- Surface passes loupe inspection
My PSA 10 rate on modern Pokémon: 42%. That means 58% come back as 9s or lower. Budget accordingly.
CGC vs PSA for Modern
From my sales data:
- Cards under $75 raw: CGC makes sense. Premium difference doesn’t justify PSA cost.
- Cards $75-150 raw: Coin flip. I usually go PSA for liquidity.
- Cards $150+ raw: PSA always. The premium is worth it.
The Evolutions Opportunity
Evolutions (2016) reprinted Base Set artwork. Nostalgia drives this set hard.
What I’ve Sold
- Evolutions Charizard Holo: $80-100 raw, $350-400 PSA 10
- Evolutions Charizard EX: $20-30 raw, $120-150 PSA 10
- Sealed Evolutions packs: $25+ each (don’t open these)
My Strategy
I hold sealed Evolutions. The supply is fixed and demand keeps growing. Every pack opened is one less available.
Timing Your Sales
When I List
From my eBay sales data by month:
- November-December: Best prices. Parents buying for kids, collectors treating themselves. I save my best cards for Q4.
- January-February: Prices drop 15-20%. I’m buying, not selling.
- July-August: Slow. Kids aren’t buying. I focus on vintage collectors instead.
- New set releases: Attention shifts to new product. I sell older stuff before releases.
Event Spikes I’ve Caught
- Pokémon announcements: When they revealed the Charizard 151 card, my Charizard inventory jumped 30% overnight.
- Tournament results: Winning deck cards spike. Sell within 48 hours.
- Influencer openings: Logan Paul opening anything = price spike.
Storage by Era
Vintage (WOTC/Ex Era)
These cards are 20+ years old. I treat them like antiques:
- Perfect fit sleeve (always)
- Toploader or Card Saver
- Team bag for extra protection
- Climate-controlled storage
- Silica gel in every box
Modern
Less paranoid, but still protected:
- Perfect fit for anything over $10
- Toploader for $20+
- Card Saver for grading candidates
Sealed Product
I hold sealed Evolutions, Hidden Fates, and Champion’s Path:
- Original shrink wrap is value—don’t remove it
- Store flat, away from light
- Climate-controlled only
Finding Undervalued Cards
Market Inefficiencies I Exploit
- Japanese cards: Often 40-50% cheaper than English for same card. Some buyers don’t care about language.
- Ex Era Gold Stars: Undervalued compared to WOTC. I’m buying these now.
- Error cards: Miscuts, crimps, print errors have small but passionate buyer base.
- Non-holo rares: Some WOTC non-holos are actually scarce. Research before dismissing.
Where I Find Deals
- eBay auctions ending at weird hours (3am snipes)
- Facebook groups (relationship-based deals)
- Local card shows (negotiate in person)
- Estate sales (rare but huge ROI when they hit)
Common Mistakes I Made
- Grading everything early on: Submitted $20 modern holos. Lost money on 9s.
- Ignoring Japanese: Missed deals because I only looked at English.
- Selling during hype: Held cards too long waiting for “more” gains. Take profits.
- Not tracking by set: Didn’t know which sets were actually profitable until I started tracking.
- Opening sealed: Opened an Evolutions booster box. Should have held it.
My Pokémon Portfolio Allocation
How I split my Pokémon inventory budget:
- 40%: Modern chase cards (quick flips)
- 30%: WOTC vintage (stable value, grade everything)
- 20%: Sealed product (long-term holds)
- 10%: Ex Era/DP sleepers (speculative)
Getting Started
$500 Budget
- Focus on modern singles $10-40 range
- Buy from FB groups and local shows
- Don’t grade yet—learn the market first
- Target 40-50% margins
$2,000+ Budget
- Add WOTC vintage (even lower grades)
- Start grading (5-10 cards/month)
- Hold some sealed product
- Track ROI by era
Related Guides
- PSA vs CGC vs Beckett – From my 3,000 submissions
- Is Grading Worth It? – Real ROI data
- Storage & Workflow – How I organize thousands of cards
- Deals Sourcing – Where I find cards below market
- Complete Guide – Full overview