Pokemon cards are a lot of fun, but playing with them when you’re worried about damage may be stressful. When getting them ready for play, just as with any TCG, it’s crucial to consider their size! It might have an impact on how you move and store them.
Brief overview of the Pokémon TCG and why card size matters
The dimensions of Pokemon trading cards are 2.5 by 3.5 inches or 6.3 x 8.8 cm. This implies that any standard-sized card sleeves will accommodate both MTG and Flesh and Blood cards as well as Pokemon cards. Some Pokemon cards, though, have larger printings.
That makes maintaining your Pokemon cards a lot simpler. Your Pokemon cards can be used in just about any card binder, sleeve, or box without having to worry about the size being off. However, why were Pokemon cards designed in the size they are?
Where and when did Pokemon originate?
Satoshi Tajiri developed Pokemon in Japan in 1995. It also goes by the name Pocket Monsters in Japan. Originally, it was a trading card game with graphic cards. It quickly changed into a video game as well and became wildly popular.
Nintendo, a well-known maker of video games, founded and still owns The Pokemon Company. Pokemon cards are among the most valued possessions of many youngsters throughout the world who have spent their entire childhoods playing Pokemon video games.
What is the size of Pokemon cards?
The size of all real Pokemon cards is uniform. The actual dimensions of the normal cards are 6.3 x 8.8 cm, or 2.48 × 3.56 inches. Jumbo cards are another option; they are, as their name implies, substantially larger.
Jumbo Pokemon cards vary in size from one another. It depends on the series they are a part of and the production date. A true Jumbo Pokemon card could measure up to 8 inches long.
The standard size of Pokemon cards
A card size of 2.5 x 3.5 has some history, even if not everyone finds that history especially fascinating. Playing cards reached Europe in the 1370s, but the 2.5 x 3.5 inch poker size became standard much later. These cards were employed in a number of games in a manner that was somewhat similar to that of contemporary playing cards.
The sizes of playing cards today vary, with casinos choosing to use somewhat smaller cards to save money. However, the dimensions of poker cards remain 2.5 x 3.5.
The cards don’t appear to be this size for any specific reason, as slightly larger or smaller cards frequently function just as well when used for parlor games. The 2.5 by 3.5-inch size persisted, nevertheless, and has been the norm up until the present.
Wizards of the Coast chose to print Magic the Gathering using the regular poker card size so that they could utilize the same facilities that produce poker cards. It makes it reasonable that Wizards of the Coast would continue to print using the same size since they also manufactured the first several Pokemon sets.
In order for their players to utilize the same infrastructures as Magic and Pokemon, most other TCGs have cards that are the same size as those used in the two most well-known card games in the world. Players can use standard-size items like sleeves, card storage, and binders for many kinds of games. While some Japanese games like Yu-Gi-Oh and Card Fight Vanguard are excluded, the majority of modern trading card games tend to use regular poker-size cards. The standard size was ultimately only a tradition that was carried down by many games and corporations.
Safeguarding Pokemon Cards
Due to the fact that Pokemon cards are the standard card size, it is simple to purchase deck boxes that will be perfect for your cards. Both the reputable brands Dragon Shield and Ultra-Pro are simple to shuffle, do a wonderful job of safeguarding your cards, and are of high quality. Their sleeves with a matte finish are very potent.
Binders are a fantastic method to store your collection of Pokemon cards. Since they may keep out damp and apply additional pressure to prevent bending, binders are excellent for cards that aren’t currently being used in a deck. Although Ultra Pro is the leading manufacturer of trading card binders, most models—including the one provided by the Pokemon Company—are functional.
When deciding between three-ring and fixed page binders, ring binders are superior since they can accommodate a growing collection while fixed page binders cannot. Ring binders might, however, suffer from excessive wear and tear, whereas fixed page binders are a little more secure. However, both will adequately secure your cards, so you can choose whatever you believe will best suit your collection.
Are there oversized Pokemon cards?
Pokemon cards that are “oversized” or “jumbo” are typically utilized as giveaways at special events or as a part of exclusive bundle sets. The first huge card in the history of Pokemon was a 6 by 8-inch variant of Pikachu from the base set. huge cards have been around ever since.
There is no gameplay use for bigger Pokemon cards, in contrast to other games where certain gameplay variations permit their use. Despite the fact that collecting these cards can be a lot of fun, they are only intended for aesthetic reasons.
Even while their worth is unlikely to catch up to cards that are popular in the current format or cards that have a strong nostalgic appeal, enormous cards have a tendency to increase in value over time because they are printed in such small amounts. Despite this, the majority of large cards may be purchased and exchanged for less than $10.
The Pokemon Company chose to expand the size of large cards to somewhere about 8 × 9 inches after taking complete control of the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG). Even lenticular graphics would be used to print some of these cards.
How to protect the oversized cards
Despite the challenge of finding covers for large cards, there are a few things available for collectors who want to protect their Jumbo cards.
First off, the majority of stores that sell Pokemon cards carry the Pokemon Company’s own big card binder. This is excellent for those who have just recently begun to collect large cards. Unfortunately, this may not be the best option for you if you have some of the larger 6 x 9 cards.
The 6 x 9 Ultra Pro top-loading transparent sleeves would be a better option. For those who are unfamiliar with trading card games, Ultra Pro is a reputable producer of sleeves and other add-on items for different types of trading cards. Their sleeves are typical of decent quality, and a 6 x 9 will likely fit even the largest cards available.
However, bigger cards don’t require as much protection as regular cards do. They are less likely to naturally curl than other inferior cardstock since they are often constructed from thicker cardboard. They won’t be damaged that way either because no one will be playing with them. Overall, they simply don’t require as much.
The 6 x 9 Ultra Pro top-loading transparent sleeves would be a better option. For those who are unfamiliar with trading card games, Ultra Pro is a reputable producer of sleeves and other ancillary products for a variety of these games.
Trick shuffling, the most popular kind of cheating, is frequently employed since it is simple to execute and can be done with cards that are fully compliant with tournament rules. As many players who have exited a competition only to discover that their opponent had cheated can attest, cheating of any form is obviously detrimental to the game.
