I feel like secret rares should be much more limited in number, having them surpass the normal set by 100+ cards just seems silly and defeats the point of it being rare imo.
Theyre still very rare, just because theres alot of different ones doesnt mean theyre not rare. They get printed in way smaller quantities than all the commons and uncommons and the fact that theres lots of different ones makes every individual secret rare even rarer
I agree they need to be lowered... however Paldean fates only has so many because of the absurd number of shinies... They could have just as easily included those numbers in the main set instead of stopping at 95.
I 100% Agree with you, however it does actually make them more rare to find a specific one. I still think when they surpass 20+ it becomes weird and feels a bit like a money grabbing thing from Pokemon as a company.
Master set definition to me: "Anything that can be pulled directly from a pack of that set" - All black star promos go into it's own binder for that era of pokemon, if you have extras I might stick them into the master set binder at the end but i don't count them still for completion. - All "non"/"unnumbered" black star promos I ignore (gamestop, pokemon center, anything else, etc.)... These are all typically more expensive, rare, printed in mass, and are just printed on purpose for scarcity (aka region locked ones). I don't see a need for these, some holo types are ugly, and some are just printed in common. It's very cluttery and messes up the vibe of the set no matter where you put them. Otherwise you have to constantly be on top of your binders for future/unknown reprints, and a set may never be "complete" ------------------------------------------------------------------- Alternative definition: "Anything that can be seen in the back of an ETB book" The ETB book for 151, for example, does include the black star promos and different promos for products of that set. So technically if you want to go off the ETB books that is where I would draw the line for master sets.
Exactly how I see it. I would hate to have to buy every single stamped promo from all the random stores across the world that releases them, just for a little stamp 😅
Yess the ETB is a great reference to me for promos that count. Tho I personally still don’t like having a black star promo binder and there will inevitably be cards that do not fall into a set like the Paldea treasure cards, I ended up saving space for them within the Paldean fates section but that had to be done quite after the set release
That's the exact way I consider my mastersets. I include the ETB/UPC promos in my mastersets but I do not consider them an actual prerequisite to finishing the masterset, they are just bonuses to me.
I think we should have four tiers: Complete Set: No secret rares or promos. Just the total number of cards in the bottom corner (e.g. 102 for Base Set, 165 for SV151) Master Set: Complete Set + Reverse Holos and Secret Rares Expert Set: Master Set + Promos included in the official Player's Guide Card List Grandmaster Set: EVERYTHING (stamps, variants, etc) Btw love the videos. You can see the effort and skill this takes to research, script, storyboard, and edit this!
Do you count error cards as variants? Edit: By error cards I'm talking about print batches that were containing errors such as forgetting to print "HP", and then were fixed with a new print batch, etc.
@@mightymeowz only official cards with the intent to be released. There could always be an error out there that is unknown so including errors would not be wise.
Grandmaster Sets are practically impossible and never ending these days. Way too many weird products like reprinting cards from previous sets released years later that get used in some obscure exclusive stamped card pack that is only available to players of the TCG or something unobtainable by your average collector. I say only anything that can be pulled from an english/japanese pack should count and anything else is just extra.
I’m old fashioned I guess, and only go for the set number. Too many secret rares and extra stuff these days. I just wanna get the main set completed and anything else I open in the process is just bonus
For TCG players, there's a similar but distinctly different term to Master Set which is more relevant to us - Full Playset. This refers to having all cards in the maximum deck-legal capacities. That would be 4 copies of each card, with alternate variants counting as the base card (Charizard ex could be 4 of the regular print, or one each of 4 different prints and count). Exception is made to Basic Energies and Ace Spec/Radiant cards, which have no limit per deck and a hard once per deck limit, respectively. It's impressive in a different way. Owning a full playset allows you to build any deck you want with those cards.
I’m in the camp that a lot of other people seem to be in - fill out the ETB booklet entirely and that concludes the master set binder. Usually the ETB booklet covers important or relevant black star promos, and the extra cosmos foil or stamped variants I stick into the binder if I happen to come across them, otherwise I don’t try to actively collect it
4:52 In my opinion, i see several types of “complete” sets. You can have a regular complete set, with all base cards (for example if there are 150 cards in the set /150, I would have all cards 1/150 - 150/150.) then there are master sets just like you describe, having all cards, all variants of artworks, etc.
That’s what I go for, I collect the set number and all of the extra stuff I get on top is just bonus. If I get reverse holo versions of cards I just take out the non holo one and put it in bulk.
@@ZekeLawl yup! If I just happened to get lucky and pull a chaser, or more than expected, I may buy singles to get close to a master set, but generally too expensive to go for a master set for EVERY single set released 😅
Hey, that's a really cool concept, Grandmaster Set! That got me curious and because I have too much time on my hands, I came up with some theoretical extension, of course they are theoretical, so its extremely hard to complete them and in case of some sets, they are probably not humanly possible, but I just wanted to share it. Progressive/In Progress Set (Common) - As the named suggests, a set which is still being worked on, so cards and being added in it. Complete Set (Uncommon) - All cards including Reverse Holos, but excluding Secret Rares. Master Set (Rare) - All cards including Secret Rares, basically everything that can be found in a booster pack. Grandmaster Set (Epic) - All cards including Variants (ex. in Base Set, 1st Edition, Unlimited Shadowless, Unlimited, and 1999-2000 Copyright Unlimited, etc.), and Promotional Cards from that set. Champion Set (Legendary) - Everything included above but also including every single Errors. Emperor Set (Mythical) - Everything included in Champion Set but... IN EVERY SINGLE LANGUAGE. So, every. single. card. variant. which has even a small difference counts. Of course, as I said before these are theoretical extremes, so I highly doubt its humanly or financially possible, maybe its possible in some cheap sets, but definitely not in something like Base Set.
I also, tried finding out how many cards will be in each set for Base Set. So here: Complete Set: 102 cards - 102 cards in the set, all can be found in booster packs except Machamp, but I decided to include it because why not. Master Set: 102 cards - It's the same since Secret Rares were introduced in Team Rocket, so it doesn't affect this. Grandmaster Set: 101 + 102 + 102 + 102 + 60 + 60 + 1 + 3 + 3 = 534 - 101, 102, 102, 102 are from 1st Edition, Unlimited Shadowless, Unlimited and 1999-2000 Copyright Unlimited respectively, there's 101 in 1st Edition because all Machamps have 1st Edition Stamp, so you can't distinguish from a 1st Edition Shadowless and Unlimited Shadowless from the 2-Player Starter Set.) - 60, 60 are from Player Deck A and B, differentiated by their Player Deck A and B stamp on the backside. - 1 is from the Cosmos Holofoil 1st Edition Machamp you get from 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set from Base Set 2 (it's probably from Base Set since it doesn't have a set symbol) and there's no other variants of this version since Base Set 2 was only printed in Unlimited English. - 3 is from "Black Flames" Ninetales and "Red Cheeks" Pikachu you can get from booster packs, every single 1st Edition and Shadowless Ninetales are "Black Flames", so we don't count them a second time, but Unlimited "Black Flames" Ninetales have been spotted, so I added 1 to that, and for the other 2, there are Yellow Cheeks and Red Cheeks variants of Base Set Pikachu in 1st Edition and Shadowless. There is no Unlimited Red Cheeks Pikachu. 3 is from May 1999 E³ Expo Pikachu, which has a E³ foil symbol and Red Cheeks, September 1999 Nintendo Power Magazine Pikachu, which has a E³ foil symbol and Yellow Cheeks, and PokéTour 1999, Australia Pikachu, which has a Pokétour 1999 stamp. - There's the Korean Base Set Print Pikachu from the Pikachu World Collection 2000, but I decided not to count it since it comes in its own Binder Sheet with the other 8 Pikachu so it can be deduced that it is its own set, althought its just a single sheet, so you can +1 if you'd like to add that. - There's also Top Deck Magazine February 2000 Pikachu, but it's Jumbo, so I didn't include it. Champion Set: 534 + 875 + 1 + 3 = 1,413 - OK, WOW, I was NOT expecting for THIS MANY Errors to be there, of course getting a number of every single Error is extremely hard, so the actual number can be more or less from this, these are all the errors I counted: 1st Edition Back Stamp (1st Edition Commons, Uncommons), Yellow Shifts (1999-2000 Commons), Crimps (All 102 Unlimited Cards), Dark Gold Border (Shadowless Non-Holo Rares, Uncommons, Commons, and Unlimited 1st Edition Machamp), Grey 1st Edition Stamp (All 102 1st Edition Cards), Holo Shifts (Unlimited Holo Rares excluding Machamp), Inverted Backs/Fronts (Unlimited Holo Rares, Uncommons, Commons), White 1st Edition Stamp (All 102 1st Edition Cards), Yellow Oversaturated (Unlimited Holo Rares), Yellow Stain (Shadowless Holo Rares), Missing Holofoil (Shadowless, Unlimited Holo Rares), Holo Bleed (Unlimited Holo Rares), Screen Holo (Unlimited Holo Rares), White Ink Stains (Unlimted Holo Rares), Blurry Double Prints (Unlimited Holo Rares), Grayscale Filler (All 102 Unlimited Cards), and 77 Individual Unique Errors (ex. Illus. Error Blatoise, Blue Slash Charmeleon, Evolution Box Wartortle, etc.) - 1 is the one the biggest HOLY GRAILS of Pokémon TCG, the PRERELEASE stamp Base Set Raichu, which was accidentally produced when making the PRERELEASE Jungle Clefable, only 15 or 16 of this Raichu exists. Extremely Rare. - 3 is the 3 Blastoise test runs of WotC way before Base Set, extremely rare too, they were made to show the japanese Pokémon executive that WotC can make quality cards or something like that, these all have the number 009/165R, they differentiate from each other as such "Magic: The Gathering Backside, Black Border, Mirror Holofoil", "Magic: The Gathering Backside, Gold Border, Mirror Holofoil" and "White Blank Backside, Starlight (the usual holofoil from Base Set to Fossil) Holofoil" Emperor Set: 1,413 + (204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 172) + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 3,427 - 204 x9 are from No Rarity and Unlimited Japanese, and 1st Edition and Unlimited versions of Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and 172 are from 1st Edition and Unlimited versions of Spanish version with 1999-2000 Copyright, but the Copyright was on Non-Holofoil cards only - The 3 are from Unnumbered Japanese Promo Cards, Fushigibana, Lizardon, and Kamex (Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise) - The 1 are English versions print in Japan as Unnumbered Promotional Cards, Pikachu with the Pikachu Records symbol, and there's also a Charizard, but it's Jumbo, so I didn't include it. - The 1 is a German Growlithe printed with a Magic: The Gathering backside error. - The 1 is an error Japanese Fushigibana (Venusaur) which was printed in some No Rarity Cards with a #63 dex number, but it should be #3
I have an obsession. I’ve been trying to collect ALL variants of every card from SM Guardians Rising. Promos, alternate bubble holofoil arts of cards from the set, tin variants of the GXs, world championship cards, nonholo variants of holo cards & and vice versa. I even have most of the paper products like collectors booklets n stuff. It’s way overkill for some people I know, but it makes me happy.
Master Set for me means collecting everything in that ETB booklet because it also shows things like the stamped promos with the set stamped on it & the promos than come with the single or triple blisters.
Noooo…. , the layers upon layers, grandmaster blew my mind then that guy brought up the player set and now ULTRA GRANDMASTER!!!! I’m going to stick to niche sub sets. I guy I met at a con that is only collecting female trainers🤷
I don't like having the same cards twice in my "master set" next to each pther just in different rarities. For my 151 "master set" i just put every card in as a reverse holo and skipped the non-holos. the notmal holo versions of the cards that actually got one (i think all ex cards) are all together after the secret rares and in the end i put the swirl holo energies and all the promos that came included in the 151 products (no stamp variant, that would be to excessive). I know most collectors wouldn't count it as a master set since non-holos are missing, but i just don't like to include them for visual reasons. I call it a master or complete set, but if others want to call it diferently, i don't mind 🤷🏻♂️ i like my binder as it is and wouldn't change it 😊
Love your videos, excellent editing, pacing and information! One of the fascinating things about this hobby is the countless ways to put together a collection. I organized my SV 151 master set (excluding promos): 360 card binder (40 pages x 9 cards). 207 cards including the secret rares fill the first 23 pages, then the 153 reverse holos on the last 17 pages. The only other modern master set I have completed is Pokemon Go. For that set I put the reverse holos and any other variant holo beside the normal version (like you did with 151).
For modern sets, a Masterset is every card that is stated in the booklet of the ETB (including the promo's and only the promo's that are displayed in it) Everything else is just a personal add-on to your Masterset.
Bit unrelated, but you really make the best pokemon card content. No over the top screaming/ fake voice. No filler, just great videos with interesting topics. Congrats on 8k! I know you'll keep growing a lot!
Thanks for the informative video! I just got back into collecting and came across your channel recently. I've been focusing on collecting 151 like most people. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get my hands on all the promos since 151 is just so hard to get in general now. But I'm not stressing too much about it after seeing this. Keep it up!
Really clear and concise explanations - thank you so much! I've only just started my collection and this helps clear a lot of things up. You've earned a sub sir! :)
This is a very thought out and well put together video, and I agree on this. I have what you would call a "Master Set" plus parts of said "Grandmaster Set" I have every card in the set + reverse holo counterparts, as well as every promo from every country including Pokémon Together as well as Gamestop, EB Games, Best Buy and Pokémon Center. However the Voltorb Professor Program cards haunt me, I'm probably never going to be able to get them. To add fuel to the fire they now released 4 new "Unnumbered Promos" for Costco in the US which is impossible for me in Norway to get which brings me to a thing someone said on Reddit that might be relevant. The person on Reddit said: A master set that includes all promos will be different from everyone as it will include cards only obtainable for you in the continent that you live. So for me that would be without any of the promos outside of Europe which narrows them down quite a bit, although I chose to get every single promo from every single country. 151 "Grandmaster set" seems to be an endless chase at this point since they newly announced a new type of Premium Collection coming out in February 2025 featuring water type Pokémon and probably more promos to follow, so I think I'll just stick to what I have and call it done 😅 Also not to mention the Charmander and Charmeleon that just got released inside of the $80 Charizard Super Premium Collection that is in fact a part of MEW 151 set as what would be "Unnumbered Promo"
As usual, an informative video which is super clear! Although I won’t be going for any master sets, I love your video and understand why people collect them for sure!
This was very helpful. For me, I use the term "complete set" for what I do, which is collecting every card in a set, including secret rares, but not including reverse holos. Not sure if it's considered to be more of a "master set" than a "complete set," but I'm very happy with how I collect regardless lol
The Ultimate Grandmaster Set would include the grandmaster set... Across all languages. And the Final Grandmaster Set would be 4x of each card, from each ultimate grandmaster set. Then, you can aim for completing every single set as a Final Grandmaster Set. Every single card, released Base Set to today, all Promos, all stamps, all holo variants, in all languages, with every reverse, secret, and what have you. This collection would be the single most impressive collection of Pokemon Cards ever.
@@sleevenocardbehind I honestly didn’t realize how deep that 151 rabbit hole was!! Also, I loved the idea of a Grandmaster set. Wild that we need it but… we need it 😂
@@tcgbuyersclubBe prepared for the Prismatic Evolutions set (Eevee set in January)… they’re bringing the master balls to the US set (unsure about the JP one like they swapped for 151 with and all, haha.
I love how you explain this! Very well put together. I am a content creator (This is my hobby channel but I have a monetized channel where I show my face and all but it's a tutorial / how to channel not related to Pokemon) and I truly appreciate how clear you are at explaining! Plus you have gorgeous B roll! 7.4K subs is NOT enough for your knowledge, keep it up.
I am so close to completing the Astral Radiance Grandmaster Set. Missing only 4 cards that are way too rare and way too expensive. Also, I would say for the grandmaster set deck cards with different backings should not count because they are not tournament legal.
There actually is an official Master Set. It's just not sold or usually seen outside of the TPCi offices. They come in little white boxes and they contain one copy each of every card you can get out of a booster pack. So that is the definition: every card that can come from a booster pack.
Not a huge deal but you/anyone reading this should also be aware that there are SEVERAL PROMO eras/blocks that were never printed completely and likely never will be (looking at you B&W…). You COULD get the Japanese versions if you wanted to have a way of somewhat doing it. However, even many Japanese promo sets were never completely printed either; so you might be SOL in some cases. So you’ll never technically complete/master some promo sets, ah well. My OCD sometimes knows no bounds and really annoys me, but thankfully, Grandmaster sets don’t concern me in the slightest! Nothing wrong with trying to master sets folks, but collect what you like to look at first and foremost (to avoid burning out).
Here’s how I see it, a master set should be all the cards in the set in its most complete original version. That is to say the black star promos should be with the master set since they are typically part of the Japanese set and the only reason they’re not numbered in English is because they just happened to pick them out for promos. To put it another way, I think a very reasonable baseline definition of a master set would be everything you can get from the set’s product line. I have a master set of 151 for example and have the box promos as well as the alternate holo cards included. I would start defining the grandmaster set at the cards you cannot get from a product, such as the GameStop promo, Pokémon center squirtle, etc. I think the small adjustment from a master set being everything you can pull from a pack to everything you can pull from the product line makes the most sense. However, at the bare minimum I think a master set should include every card found in the Japanese set since that’s the original full set.
Something this video lacks, but I wish to mention, is that the Cereal Pack Sets (e.g the 25th Anniversary General Mills packs) and things like the Trick-or-Trade sets can count as their own master set if you pull all of the obtainable cards.
i feel like master set should refer to all the basic cards and if you have all the basic cards holos reverses and secret rares should be referred as the "grand master set"
To add on to the Black Star promos, a number of these (especially in the SV era) are cards cut from sets. For example: the Mew ex, Mewtwo and Snorlax shown in the video are in the Japanese version of 151 as cards you can pull but internationally they’re only available as promos. Even if they aren’t required for a master set by definition, I feel most collectors will include them anyway because of that.
For me, I define a master set as completing 3 particular subsets: 1) The Base Set: All regular numbered cards 2) The Reverse Set: All Reverse Holo cards 3) The Secret/Extra set: All secret rare cards or cards from a specially numbered subset, like Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery Promo cards and variant cards, like the stamped cards, do not count at all towards a master set. They're their own thing and get treated as such.
For me the SV era and 151 situation is fairly clear the Play pack cards are a stand alone set along with there regionals or professor variants and like McDonald's or trick or trade.
Cheers. I’ve got master set for base set unlimited, fossil, rocket, jungle and evolutions. Trying to complete base set 2, 151 Japanese and Stella Crown.
I’ve a Brilliant stars GRANDmasterset and i like those special extra cards. Cosmo foil holo’s, non holo’s from the prerelease, prerelease stamp, usa exclusive promo’s, prize pack series, professor program cards and tournament promo’s. I skipped the staff cards and all those special top 8 ones. Looks cool tho
I like to use bulbapedia to see all the cards in each set. They do a good job of showing all the variants. It is outrageous thought. S&V base set has over 100 different variants.
Thats a term which i use now "GRANDMASTER SET" cause i hate that 151 get more and more stamp cards which i cant get easily in germany (or for many many money) Love it!
Seeing 1:06 dark raichu hurts me because I actually had that card as a kid!! And since I was little at the time, I didn’t took good care of it! I still have it and it’s not in good condition anymore and it just upsets me because if I learned at the time that pokemon cards would cost so much years later, I would’ve taken much better care of it 😭 This is exactly why I wanted to start a new pokemon card collection this year after not having Pokemon cards for a few years. Anytime I find a rare or full art card, I have to put it in a sleeve to keep it protected and see how much I can sell them. But yea, just seeing that dark raichu card hurts me 😭😂😅
I think of sets like this: A complete set: one of each numbered card Standard master set: all numbered cards, regular and reverse (I also include related numbered promos and variants like stamps and cosmo foil but not necessary) Grandmaster set: master set but requiring all related promos and variants including hard to get ones like your voltorb example and ‘variants’ like different print runs (slight differences of same card)
For my Pokemon 151 Master set I'm just going to go with: - Numbered 1 to 151 - Reverse Holos - Secret Rares and Maybe Promos that I can get my hands on.
Great video, really helpful and clear. I wanted to know what binder you have your 151 set in? I'm wanting to complete my Master set and haven't got a binder yet! Thank you
I feel with the voltorb, you could have elaborated about how exactly you get it, even in passing. It's not that it's hard to get, it's more a measure of progress for people within the Professor Program (A friend of mine is part of the team that hands them out) The requirements for getting one is pretty jarring. The cards are also allocated to the judge, meaning you can't just walk in, steal a bunch and runaway, the cards are actually recorded, who got them and for what reason. Naturally, judges are volunteers, and recoup their costs in many ways, so for some, selling their promos is just part of the job. I do want to note, I don't want to out my friend, he does a lot for the community, This is what they said directly to me, but they may have omitted information that shouldn't be known outside of the program, take it as more of a "this is pretty much how it works" sort of thing. Thank you for the video though, definitely subscribing :)
I’m in the middle of a Master Set for the Sword & Shield set, and approaching completion. It was one of the last sets before Illustration Rates came along, so it avails of the wider print runs reducing card costs without the downside of tons of expensive chase variants. Wavering on whether to go for Grandmaster, as it had 140-odd extra cards, only 40 of which I have. It has a few Jumbo cards, which is a vexing addition I’m unsure whether they count, but also two jumbo variants of Zacian and Zamazenta V, signed by Atsushi Nagashima & Kitano Yuji, which as far as I can tell were given out to the first twenty people to buy SSH product at a midnight release in Game Mania Utrecht in Feb 2020. Never seen them pop online yet, lord knows how much they’d go for…
@@sleevenocardbehind And of course I didn’t know until I’d already started. Which is why I’m either gonna settle with a Master set, or do a Grandmaster that DOESN’T include jumbo cards.
I've been collecting for years and I still haven't figured out a good way to keep track of the exclusive holo/stamp variants, a completionist's nightmare!
23 дня назад
Hey! Loved the video! Quick question: what variant is that Ditto you showed when talking about the Grand Master set?
Almost every black star promo is intended to be part of a set. Best example being Ampharos ex (SVP) that is clearly meant to be played with the Mareep and Flaaffy from SV Base. Also, what many forget to include in their Guardians' Rising master set is the non-holo Mimikyu from the Lunala theme deck. Non-holo variants in general tend to be forgotten (another recent example would be Professor's Research)
Promos are still their own sets and aren’t required for master sets (per TPCi themselves). Doesn’t matter too much since almost every Promo era is forever incomplete so you can never master them truly anyways.
i see most 'master sets' selling on ebay dont include the promos & pre-releases. I've got a Darkness Ablaze master set that I've put together but I've made sure to include all the promos, pre-releases , 'Thank You' cards & a few others I think 👍🏼👍🏼 The only card I dont have is the jumbo card, which i might have to include at some point.
Hey man, loving the videos. I found your page a few days ago and it’s been nothing but great. Please make the end are showing your other videos a little longer. I e clicked on the wrong, RUclips suggested video, like 6 times already by mistake
The fact that you waited until the end to include a distinction between language made me think you were going to introduce a secret tier above grand master to include all available languages with all print runs, etc.
Nice video, though I'm personally not going for any master/grandmaster sets I am going after a species set for my favorite pokemon line: Aron/Lairon/Aggron. Thanks to my LCS I have gotten 9/23 Aron (counting from first print in Ruby & Sapphire), 5/23 Lairon, and 6/24 Aggron (including V/VMax/Mega/EX). While I could go for the Grandmaster Set of them including Holo/Reverse Holo, that would be possible years worth of chasing since the line of cards is middle of the pack for rarity and value.
I think one way to stir up the collection side of the TCG market is to have a shiny variant of every Pokemon based card. And the pull rate for every single one I 1:8169
I always assumed Master Sets were similar to what we call a play set in MTG where you have the maximum number of each card allowed to be played in a deck (usually 4) since saying you have a "complete set" means you have 1 copy of every card in a set
I don't have the money to realistically do a master set, so I've settled on a more realistic goal: Get every single Mimikyu Card (In English/Language Exclusive) ever printed. So far I have managed to get my hands on every card before they shot up in price, except for the Mimikyu SCREAM promo, which... yeah, there is a good reason I'm omiting that card from being required. I bring this up because reprints can be annoying, since sometimes they have different numbers, or have stamps which make the master collection super annoying: For example: Paldea evolved Mimikyu has a grand total of 7 variants of the same exact card, 10 if you could the shiny variants, since it is technically the same card. The cards are the Paldea Evolved Holo/Rev Holo, Halloween Stamp 2023, Reverse Holo/Holo from Paldean Fates, the Pokemon League Stamp, and the 2024 Halloween Stamp Cosmic Holo. They aren't expensive, but the fact that you have to get your hands on 7 of almost the same exact card to technically get a master collection for Mimikyu 7-7'
I think there are definitely some sets; mostly special sets like Celebrations and Detective Pikachu, where some promo cards should definitely be included in the master set; I think it'd be a bit silly to put cards like the delta species mimikyu or gold star greninja (or any other card with the Celebrations stamp) with the SWSH promo cards rather than Celebrations. There's also a few XY promos that are clearly intended to specifically go with XY Evolutions (like the holo Snorlax, Pikachu 202/211, and the TRU-stamped Charmander & Electabuzz). I think it's also worth considering if metal cards count for master sets. I personally don't include them, as I see them more as side memorabilia like the coins, pins, etc, but there is an argument to be made.
I recently came across a listing of pokemon cards with the title: complete base master set of stellar crown. I was flabbergasted, it was just the main set with reverses except no "secret rares". Never heard of this before but appearantly it's a thing
Great video! Though I think for base set, do t we technically have first edition/first edition shadowless versions of cards as well for that “extended master set”?
Complete Set = One of each card in the main set Master Set = All the cards available in the set through packs Grandmaster Set = Every card in every variation
Exactly. People here state things as the "objective thruth" which is basically misinformation. The closest we get to actually defining these terms is through what the community mostly uses. And what you state is exactly that: The most commonly used definitions. So they should be used or else stated that any difference is personal preference, as long as it's not officially settled.
Lets talk about black star promo. Im currently working on Scarlet&Violet Base master. In my decision, to complete a master set u need every card that has the same set symbol on it. For instance, 151 has MEWen. The same goes for Scarlet&Violet Base, SVIen. As long as the Black Star Promo card has these set symbols. It belongs to the master set. The same goes for every instance of Stamped cards. Set Symbol. If the card doesnt have the correct one. Throw it out. If the stamped or black star card has the correct SET Symbol then it is necessary for master set. I even found these battle academy stamped ones with many different numbers. But it has the same SET symbol as SVIen, that i need for my collection. So i bought them. And there is most likely to pop up even more various stamped cards that has yet to be discovered in the SVIen set.
Then again. Those black star promo, they have two different set symbols. First off is SVP for scarlet violet era. And then the various expansion set symbols. MEWen, SVIen and so on and so forth. What i cant figure out is where to get the expansion set symbol promo cards. For instance. If you look up Scarlet Violet Base etb’s. Youl soon see these promo has only SVP set symbol. So where does promo SVIen come in? Where do i get those?😅
@@wantsomecoffe Just to make it clear. There are no SVIen / MEWen / etc promo symbols. The "promo's" of the normal sets (so not the Black Star SVP set) are not considered real promo's but just variants of the normal cards in the sets. For example the Charmander MEW004 you need the normal one and the reverse one for the masterset. (You can just pull them from a pack) If you want the "promo" variants (which again are not real numbered promo's just variants) then you would need the Gamestop stamp & the EB Games stamp which could only be obtained through the stores themselves. I would suggest just focus on the cards you can pull and the official SVP black star promo's and forget about all the variants because they are almost never accessible anyway (like that Voltorb)
Thanks for touching on unnumbered promos. Because I started adding the play stamp promo Eeveelutions to my evolving skies binder and was wondering if other people do that too. My evolving skies master set is soooo overly complete that I would love to show you and see what you think about it.
For me a master set is a set of cards only are pullable from one specific set. no less, no more. All AAs, all foilings, everything. Promos like unnumbered promos, tins, special giveaways, tournament price cards etc. has its own "set". Like every event or giveaway or produkt is its own little "set". Thats why i have different binders for promos. I dont mix them with my regular booster sets or starterdecks.
This is what I think I think all u need for master set is what is pullable via packs. All promos/ holo variations/etc are a grandmaster set. Deluxe Grandmaster set would be multiple languages. Very slippery slope 🤣
Had a full set for XY evolution as far as every reverse and non reverse, secrets, can’t remember about promos but it would’ve had anything that came in 3 pack boxes, or tins, or trainer boxes. and sold it in 2019 for about $450. Huge regret as I’ll most likely never make a full set again.
I would personally never hunt the reverses for a set. I get why people want them, but as far as im concerned, I only care about having cards of different set numbers or arts. So thus, SRs belong, and in some cases promos might (like prerelease promos) but not reverses. To each their own, though!
This is the more normal way to complete sets. Pokemon collectors always feel the need to get more and make the chases harder and harder to prolong filling their voids. Some people have no cut off points for "master sets". Simply the best way to collect a set is to get every card in the set.
As someone who collects play stamp cards I wouldn't include them into a masterset since play stamp cards come out of there own booster have their own holos and have their own set list and they aren't specificly tied to any set they are just what is competitively viable at that time and since they are not specifically tied to any set unless you want to pure bones definition grand master set a set I wouldnt pay them any mind
I think there needs to a term for a master set that doesn't have all the reverse holos. This is far less of an issue in the japanese sets, as reverse holos are not as common.
A master set is every card version of the cards in the set. This includes pre release stamped version or later rerelease versions of the cards in the set. For example ,if gamestop reprints a dragonite that is in a particular set, you would need that card for your master. A complete set is just 1 of every card of the set including all foil types. A base set collection is just a run of the numbers in the cards with no secrets. that can be only foil or non foil. There are very few Master Set collectors. Most are Master/complete hybrid collectors.
Simply not true. A Master Set is by far majority regarded as everything that can be pulled out of Boosters. Basically anything listed in the modern ETB Booklets.
Well to me a master set doesn't include reverse holos. I dont see a rulebook that states what a master set is, it can be whatever you think it is. I dont care if you think my 151 master set isnt complete without revers holos, to me it is.
@@roostre5254 it all just depends on what rules you want to follow in life. Words are used to communicate ideas. When we start to change the meaning of words, all that does is confuse people and diminish the standards created by that society of people. A masters has always been the third degree throughout history. The first degree of education is 4 years of high school, followed by 4 college, followed by 4 additional to receive masters. Three fours. this principle was used to describe tcgs because the first degree is just the base set with reverses. Second degree is base with secrets. Third and masters is all cards found outside of the set as well. The idea translated from masters is going above and beyond the required effort to complete the set. If you wish to believe a pear can also be an apple, then if that makes you happy so be it.
@@MrPelletty Show me where Master set is defined. Did they do it in Merriam-Webster? Or did they use some other dictionary? Language is always changing, if I say cap you probably think hat, but kids use it to mean lie. Im not bringing my master set to some master set competition where there are rules as to what a master set entails. I can choose what I want for my master set because it is my set and my collecting goal. If you want to be an asshole about it, then go ahead, if that makes you happy.
I'm in the process of Lost Origin grandmaster set. The amount of cards it has is insane. Giratina is absolutely nothing. Try to get those rare staff-promos
I feel like an actual master set doesn’t require both reverse and non reverse cards. At that point it becomes unrealistic for the average collector. If you find a reverse of anything other than a holo, then swap it out, that’s what I do, and i feel like it works best because it ensures that the task at hand doesn’t become ridiculous. Master set should include one of every card you can pull out of a set, and reverses replace the std card, not holos. That’s my definition of it!
I might actually hit 8,000 subscibers today!! Thank you so much!!
Would you consider making some videos explaing what grandmaster sets should be like you did for 151?
@@frankwhite3369 For each expansion? Like "How to build a Surging Sparks Grandmaster set"?
@sleevenocardbehind exactly maybe make a series. There almost no info to follow online. A guide of some sorts would be most helpful.
I’ll strongly consider this, thanks
I feel like secret rares should be much more limited in number, having them surpass the normal set by 100+ cards just seems silly and defeats the point of it being rare imo.
Theyre still very rare, just because theres alot of different ones doesnt mean theyre not rare. They get printed in way smaller quantities than all the commons and uncommons and the fact that theres lots of different ones makes every individual secret rare even rarer
I agree they need to be lowered... however Paldean fates only has so many because of the absurd number of shinies... They could have just as easily included those numbers in the main set instead of stopping at 95.
I 100% Agree with you, however it does actually make them more rare to find a specific one. I still think when they surpass 20+ it becomes weird and feels a bit like a money grabbing thing from Pokemon as a company.
The 100+ cards are not the same card/artwork/pokemon tho
wait why do we want less cool cards in our sets now
Master set definition to me: "Anything that can be pulled directly from a pack of that set"
- All black star promos go into it's own binder for that era of pokemon, if you have extras I might stick them into the master set binder at the end but i don't count them still for completion.
- All "non"/"unnumbered" black star promos I ignore (gamestop, pokemon center, anything else, etc.)... These are all typically more expensive, rare, printed in mass, and are just printed on purpose for scarcity (aka region locked ones). I don't see a need for these, some holo types are ugly, and some are just printed in common. It's very cluttery and messes up the vibe of the set no matter where you put them. Otherwise you have to constantly be on top of your binders for future/unknown reprints, and a set may never be "complete"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative definition: "Anything that can be seen in the back of an ETB book"
The ETB book for 151, for example, does include the black star promos and different promos for products of that set. So technically if you want to go off the ETB books that is where I would draw the line for master sets.
I like this
Exactly how I see it. I would hate to have to buy every single stamped promo from all the random stores across the world that releases them, just for a little stamp 😅
Yess the ETB is a great reference to me for promos that count. Tho I personally still don’t like having a black star promo binder and there will inevitably be cards that do not fall into a set like the Paldea treasure cards, I ended up saving space for them within the Paldean fates section but that had to be done quite after the set release
That's the exact way I consider my mastersets.
I include the ETB/UPC promos in my mastersets but I do not consider them an actual prerequisite to finishing the masterset, they are just bonuses to me.
I agree. I always see the ETB book as the Master Set
I think we should have four tiers:
Complete Set: No secret rares or promos. Just the total number of cards in the bottom corner (e.g. 102 for Base Set, 165 for SV151)
Master Set: Complete Set + Reverse Holos and Secret Rares
Expert Set: Master Set + Promos included in the official Player's Guide Card List
Grandmaster Set: EVERYTHING (stamps, variants, etc)
Btw love the videos. You can see the effort and skill this takes to research, script, storyboard, and edit this!
Thank you for noticing my hard work!
What about a person who collects every card from a block?
Or we use Pokémon terms to define them. Poke’Set, Great set, Ultra set, Master Set
Do you count error cards as variants?
Edit: By error cards I'm talking about print batches that were containing errors such as forgetting to print "HP", and then were fixed with a new print batch, etc.
@@mightymeowz only official cards with the intent to be released. There could always be an error out there that is unknown so including errors would not be wise.
Grandmaster Sets are practically impossible and never ending these days. Way too many weird products like reprinting cards from previous sets released years later that get used in some obscure exclusive stamped card pack that is only available to players of the TCG or something unobtainable by your average collector. I say only anything that can be pulled from an english/japanese pack should count and anything else is just extra.
I’m old fashioned I guess, and only go for the set number. Too many secret rares and extra stuff these days. I just wanna get the main set completed and anything else I open in the process is just bonus
For TCG players, there's a similar but distinctly different term to Master Set which is more relevant to us - Full Playset. This refers to having all cards in the maximum deck-legal capacities. That would be 4 copies of each card, with alternate variants counting as the base card (Charizard ex could be 4 of the regular print, or one each of 4 different prints and count). Exception is made to Basic Energies and Ace Spec/Radiant cards, which have no limit per deck and a hard once per deck limit, respectively.
It's impressive in a different way. Owning a full playset allows you to build any deck you want with those cards.
You keep crushing it! Your growth speaks for itself. Keep up the super informative videos
Thank you Grandmaster 🫡
I’m in the camp that a lot of other people seem to be in - fill out the ETB booklet entirely and that concludes the master set binder. Usually the ETB booklet covers important or relevant black star promos, and the extra cosmos foil or stamped variants I stick into the binder if I happen to come across them, otherwise I don’t try to actively collect it
4:52 In my opinion, i see several types of “complete” sets. You can have a regular complete set, with all base cards (for example if there are 150 cards in the set /150, I would have all cards 1/150 - 150/150.) then there are master sets just like you describe, having all cards, all variants of artworks, etc.
That’s what I go for, I collect the set number and all of the extra stuff I get on top is just bonus. If I get reverse holo versions of cards I just take out the non holo one and put it in bulk.
@@ZekeLawl yup! If I just happened to get lucky and pull a chaser, or more than expected, I may buy singles to get close to a master set, but generally too expensive to go for a master set for EVERY single set released 😅
Hey, that's a really cool concept, Grandmaster Set! That got me curious and because I have too much time on my hands, I came up with some theoretical extension, of course they are theoretical, so its extremely hard to complete them and in case of some sets, they are probably not humanly possible, but I just wanted to share it.
Progressive/In Progress Set (Common) - As the named suggests, a set which is still being worked on, so cards and being added in it.
Complete Set (Uncommon) - All cards including Reverse Holos, but excluding Secret Rares.
Master Set (Rare) - All cards including Secret Rares, basically everything that can be found in a booster pack.
Grandmaster Set (Epic) - All cards including Variants (ex. in Base Set, 1st Edition, Unlimited Shadowless, Unlimited, and 1999-2000 Copyright Unlimited, etc.), and Promotional Cards from that set.
Champion Set (Legendary) - Everything included above but also including every single Errors.
Emperor Set (Mythical) - Everything included in Champion Set but... IN EVERY SINGLE LANGUAGE. So, every. single. card. variant. which has even a small difference counts.
Of course, as I said before these are theoretical extremes, so I highly doubt its humanly or financially possible, maybe its possible in some cheap sets, but definitely not in something like Base Set.
I also, tried finding out how many cards will be in each set for Base Set.
So here:
Complete Set: 102 cards
- 102 cards in the set, all can be found in booster packs except Machamp, but I decided to include it because why not.
Master Set: 102 cards
- It's the same since Secret Rares were introduced in Team Rocket, so it doesn't affect this.
Grandmaster Set: 101 + 102 + 102 + 102 + 60 + 60 + 1 + 3 + 3 = 534
- 101, 102, 102, 102 are from 1st Edition, Unlimited Shadowless, Unlimited and 1999-2000 Copyright Unlimited respectively, there's 101 in 1st Edition because all Machamps have 1st Edition Stamp, so you can't distinguish from a 1st Edition Shadowless and Unlimited Shadowless from the 2-Player Starter Set.)
- 60, 60 are from Player Deck A and B, differentiated by their Player Deck A and B stamp on the backside.
- 1 is from the Cosmos Holofoil 1st Edition Machamp you get from 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set from Base Set 2 (it's probably from Base Set since it doesn't have a set symbol) and there's no other variants of this version since Base Set 2 was only printed in Unlimited English.
- 3 is from "Black Flames" Ninetales and "Red Cheeks" Pikachu you can get from booster packs, every single 1st Edition and Shadowless Ninetales are "Black Flames", so we don't count them a second time, but Unlimited "Black Flames" Ninetales have been spotted, so I added 1 to that, and for the other 2, there are Yellow Cheeks and Red Cheeks variants of Base Set Pikachu in 1st Edition and Shadowless. There is no Unlimited Red Cheeks Pikachu.
3 is from May 1999 E³ Expo Pikachu, which has a E³ foil symbol and Red Cheeks, September 1999 Nintendo Power Magazine Pikachu, which has a E³ foil symbol and Yellow Cheeks, and PokéTour 1999, Australia Pikachu, which has a Pokétour 1999 stamp.
- There's the Korean Base Set Print Pikachu from the Pikachu World Collection 2000, but I decided not to count it since it comes in its own Binder Sheet with the other 8 Pikachu so it can be deduced that it is its own set, althought its just a single sheet, so you can +1 if you'd like to add that.
- There's also Top Deck Magazine February 2000 Pikachu, but it's Jumbo, so I didn't include it.
Champion Set: 534 + 875 + 1 + 3 = 1,413
- OK, WOW, I was NOT expecting for THIS MANY Errors to be there, of course getting a number of every single Error is extremely hard, so the actual number can be more or less from this, these are all the errors I counted: 1st Edition Back Stamp (1st Edition Commons, Uncommons), Yellow Shifts (1999-2000 Commons), Crimps (All 102 Unlimited Cards), Dark Gold Border (Shadowless Non-Holo Rares, Uncommons, Commons, and Unlimited 1st Edition Machamp), Grey 1st Edition Stamp (All 102 1st Edition Cards), Holo Shifts (Unlimited Holo Rares excluding Machamp), Inverted Backs/Fronts (Unlimited Holo Rares, Uncommons, Commons), White 1st Edition Stamp (All 102 1st Edition Cards), Yellow Oversaturated (Unlimited Holo Rares), Yellow Stain (Shadowless Holo Rares), Missing Holofoil (Shadowless, Unlimited Holo Rares), Holo Bleed (Unlimited Holo Rares), Screen Holo (Unlimited Holo Rares), White Ink Stains (Unlimted Holo Rares), Blurry Double Prints (Unlimited Holo Rares), Grayscale Filler (All 102 Unlimited Cards), and 77 Individual Unique Errors (ex. Illus. Error Blatoise, Blue Slash Charmeleon, Evolution Box Wartortle, etc.)
- 1 is the one the biggest HOLY GRAILS of Pokémon TCG, the PRERELEASE stamp Base Set Raichu, which was accidentally produced when making the PRERELEASE Jungle Clefable, only 15 or 16 of this Raichu exists. Extremely Rare.
- 3 is the 3 Blastoise test runs of WotC way before Base Set, extremely rare too, they were made to show the japanese Pokémon executive that WotC can make quality cards or something like that, these all have the number 009/165R, they differentiate from each other as such "Magic: The Gathering Backside, Black Border, Mirror Holofoil", "Magic: The Gathering Backside, Gold Border, Mirror Holofoil" and "White Blank Backside, Starlight (the usual holofoil from Base Set to Fossil) Holofoil"
Emperor Set: 1,413 + (204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 204 + 172) + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 3,427
- 204 x9 are from No Rarity and Unlimited Japanese, and 1st Edition and Unlimited versions of Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and 172 are from 1st Edition and Unlimited versions of Spanish version with 1999-2000 Copyright, but the Copyright was on Non-Holofoil cards only
- The 3 are from Unnumbered Japanese Promo Cards, Fushigibana, Lizardon, and Kamex (Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise)
- The 1 are English versions print in Japan as Unnumbered Promotional Cards, Pikachu with the Pikachu Records symbol, and there's also a Charizard, but it's Jumbo, so I didn't include it.
- The 1 is a German Growlithe printed with a Magic: The Gathering backside error.
- The 1 is an error Japanese Fushigibana (Venusaur) which was printed in some No Rarity Cards with a #63 dex number, but it should be #3
IMO, a simple “master set” is just owning all the cards that are listed in the ETB booklet for modern sets. The store extras are exactly that Extra.
I have an obsession. I’ve been trying to collect ALL variants of every card from SM Guardians Rising. Promos, alternate bubble holofoil arts of cards from the set, tin variants of the GXs, world championship cards, nonholo variants of holo cards & and vice versa. I even have most of the paper products like collectors booklets n stuff. It’s way overkill for some people I know, but it makes me happy.
Bud if it makes you happy that's the important thing. And if it helps at all, that sounds fucking sick to me
Master Set for me means collecting everything in that ETB booklet because it also shows things like the stamped promos with the set stamped on it & the promos than come with the single or triple blisters.
We need one more tier even above this:
Ultra Grandmaster Set: Everything... In all languages!!!
That and EVERY TROPHY CARD. There’s only like 1-2 people doing that though. Dubsy comes to mind. Those Dubai love their collectibles!
Noooo…. , the layers upon layers, grandmaster blew my mind then that guy brought up the player set and now ULTRA GRANDMASTER!!!! I’m going to stick to niche sub sets. I guy I met at a con that is only collecting female trainers🤷
I’m not mentioning my niche , cause I’ve already skewed the market in my region, lmao
I was honestly searching for a video like this one explaining what is a master set requirements.
I don't like having the same cards twice in my "master set" next to each pther just in different rarities. For my 151 "master set" i just put every card in as a reverse holo and skipped the non-holos. the notmal holo versions of the cards that actually got one (i think all ex cards) are all together after the secret rares and in the end i put the swirl holo energies and all the promos that came included in the 151 products (no stamp variant, that would be to excessive). I know most collectors wouldn't count it as a master set since non-holos are missing, but i just don't like to include them for visual reasons. I call it a master or complete set, but if others want to call it diferently, i don't mind 🤷🏻♂️ i like my binder as it is and wouldn't change it 😊
I like that. You can have the normal duplicates at the end of the binder, but don't even look at them! lol I'll be doing it this way too.
Ah, the complete bling-bling set
@@Matiasaapj i like the sound of that 😂
Love your videos, excellent editing, pacing and information!
One of the fascinating things about this hobby is the countless ways to put together a collection. I organized my SV 151 master set (excluding promos): 360 card binder (40 pages x 9 cards). 207 cards including the secret rares fill the first 23 pages, then the 153 reverse holos on the last 17 pages. The only other modern master set I have completed is Pokemon Go. For that set I put the reverse holos and any other variant holo beside the normal version (like you did with 151).
For modern sets, a Masterset is every card that is stated in the booklet of the ETB (including the promo's and only the promo's that are displayed in it) Everything else is just a personal add-on to your Masterset.
Wow, I wish I had seen this months ago. I spent way too much time trying to figure all this out myself so well put together. Thank you.
Bit unrelated, but you really make the best pokemon card content. No over the top screaming/ fake voice. No filler, just great videos with interesting topics. Congrats on 8k! I know you'll keep growing a lot!
Thank you for the compliment!
Thanks for the informative video! I just got back into collecting and came across your channel recently. I've been focusing on collecting 151 like most people. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get my hands on all the promos since 151 is just so hard to get in general now. But I'm not stressing too much about it after seeing this. Keep it up!
Welcome to the channel! I hope you’re able to complete your 151 set! 😎
This video came at a perfect time as my uncle and I are trying to complete our first master set! (Crown Zenith)💜💙
Really clear and concise explanations - thank you so much! I've only just started my collection and this helps clear a lot of things up. You've earned a sub sir! :)
You are so welcome!
This is a very thought out and well put together video, and I agree on this. I have what you would call a "Master Set" plus parts of said "Grandmaster Set" I have every card in the set + reverse holo counterparts, as well as every promo from every country including Pokémon Together as well as Gamestop, EB Games, Best Buy and Pokémon Center. However the Voltorb Professor Program cards haunt me, I'm probably never going to be able to get them. To add fuel to the fire they now released 4 new "Unnumbered Promos" for Costco in the US which is impossible for me in Norway to get which brings me to a thing someone said on Reddit that might be relevant. The person on Reddit said: A master set that includes all promos will be different from everyone as it will include cards only obtainable for you in the continent that you live. So for me that would be without any of the promos outside of Europe which narrows them down quite a bit, although I chose to get every single promo from every single country. 151 "Grandmaster set" seems to be an endless chase at this point since they newly announced a new type of Premium Collection coming out in February 2025 featuring water type Pokémon and probably more promos to follow, so I think I'll just stick to what I have and call it done 😅 Also not to mention the Charmander and Charmeleon that just got released inside of the $80 Charizard Super Premium Collection that is in fact a part of MEW 151 set as what would be "Unnumbered Promo"
As usual, an informative video which is super clear! Although I won’t be going for any master sets, I love your video and understand why people collect them for sure!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
This was very helpful. For me, I use the term "complete set" for what I do, which is collecting every card in a set, including secret rares, but not including reverse holos. Not sure if it's considered to be more of a "master set" than a "complete set," but I'm very happy with how I collect regardless lol
It sounds like you have a good system! :)
The Ultimate Grandmaster Set would include the grandmaster set... Across all languages. And the Final Grandmaster Set would be 4x of each card, from each ultimate grandmaster set. Then, you can aim for completing every single set as a Final Grandmaster Set. Every single card, released Base Set to today, all Promos, all stamps, all holo variants, in all languages, with every reverse, secret, and what have you. This collection would be the single most impressive collection of Pokemon Cards ever.
Brilliant info as usual, I loved it!!
It’s been a while since I’ve tried to master set anything though 😅
I feel that. It's a deep rabbit hole. Especially 151
@@sleevenocardbehind I honestly didn’t realize how deep that 151 rabbit hole was!!
Also, I loved the idea of a Grandmaster set. Wild that we need it but… we need it 😂
@@tcgbuyersclubBe prepared for the Prismatic Evolutions set (Eevee set in January)… they’re bringing the master balls to the US set (unsure about the JP one like they swapped for 151 with and all, haha.
I love how you explain this! Very well put together. I am a content creator (This is my hobby channel but I have a monetized channel where I show my face and all but it's a tutorial / how to channel not related to Pokemon) and I truly appreciate how clear you are at explaining! Plus you have gorgeous B roll! 7.4K subs is NOT enough for your knowledge, keep it up.
Amazing compliment to receive from a fellow creator. Thank you so much
I am so close to completing the Astral Radiance Grandmaster Set. Missing only 4 cards that are way too rare and way too expensive.
Also, I would say for the grandmaster set deck cards with different backings should not count because they are not tournament legal.
There actually is an official Master Set. It's just not sold or usually seen outside of the TPCi offices.
They come in little white boxes and they contain one copy each of every card you can get out of a booster pack. So that is the definition: every card that can come from a booster pack.
Not a huge deal but you/anyone reading this should also be aware that there are SEVERAL PROMO eras/blocks that were never printed completely and likely never will be (looking at you B&W…). You COULD get the Japanese versions if you wanted to have a way of somewhat doing it. However, even many Japanese promo sets were never completely printed either; so you might be SOL in some cases.
So you’ll never technically complete/master some promo sets, ah well.
My OCD sometimes knows no bounds and really annoys me, but thankfully, Grandmaster sets don’t concern me in the slightest!
Nothing wrong with trying to master sets folks, but collect what you like to look at first and foremost (to avoid burning out).
Here’s how I see it, a master set should be all the cards in the set in its most complete original version. That is to say the black star promos should be with the master set since they are typically part of the Japanese set and the only reason they’re not numbered in English is because they just happened to pick them out for promos.
To put it another way, I think a very reasonable baseline definition of a master set would be everything you can get from the set’s product line. I have a master set of 151 for example and have the box promos as well as the alternate holo cards included.
I would start defining the grandmaster set at the cards you cannot get from a product, such as the GameStop promo, Pokémon center squirtle, etc.
I think the small adjustment from a master set being everything you can pull from a pack to everything you can pull from the product line makes the most sense. However, at the bare minimum I think a master set should include every card found in the Japanese set since that’s the original full set.
Something this video lacks, but I wish to mention, is that the Cereal Pack Sets (e.g the 25th Anniversary General Mills packs) and things like the Trick-or-Trade sets can count as their own master set if you pull all of the obtainable cards.
i feel like master set should refer to all the basic cards and if you have all the basic cards holos reverses and secret rares should be referred as the "grand master set"
I quit collecting a while ago, but with pocket releasing I'm probably going to get back into completing sets the digital way.
To add on to the Black Star promos, a number of these (especially in the SV era) are cards cut from sets.
For example: the Mew ex, Mewtwo and Snorlax shown in the video are in the Japanese version of 151 as cards you can pull but internationally they’re only available as promos.
Even if they aren’t required for a master set by definition, I feel most collectors will include them anyway because of that.
For me, I define a master set as completing 3 particular subsets:
1) The Base Set: All regular numbered cards
2) The Reverse Set: All Reverse Holo cards
3) The Secret/Extra set: All secret rare cards or cards from a specially numbered subset, like Crown Zenith's Galarian Gallery
Promo cards and variant cards, like the stamped cards, do not count at all towards a master set. They're their own thing and get treated as such.
For me the SV era and 151 situation is fairly clear the Play pack cards are a stand alone set along with there regionals or professor variants and like McDonald's or trick or trade.
🤩 Awesome video! As another collectibles video creator I found it very inspiring!! taking notes 🙌✍️
This could be the start of a series, explaing the master set for every set, or at mon interesting ones
Cheers. I’ve got master set for base set unlimited, fossil, rocket, jungle and evolutions. Trying to complete base set 2, 151 Japanese and Stella Crown.
I’ve a Brilliant stars GRANDmasterset and i like those special extra cards. Cosmo foil holo’s, non holo’s from the prerelease, prerelease stamp, usa exclusive promo’s, prize pack series, professor program cards and tournament promo’s. I skipped the staff cards and all those special top 8 ones.
Looks cool tho
Absolutely excellent video. I recently started collecting master sets. My favorite way to collect.
Thank you for this video. I needed that! Now i try to collect grandmaster set of Lost Origin like a fanboy of Giratina! ❤
Such an underrated channel. Keep up the awesome videos!!!
I appreciate you!
I like to use bulbapedia to see all the cards in each set. They do a good job of showing all the variants.
It is outrageous thought. S&V base set has over 100 different variants.
Thats a term which i use now "GRANDMASTER SET" cause i hate that 151 get more and more stamp cards which i cant get easily in germany (or for many many money)
Love it!
Seeing 1:06 dark raichu hurts me because I actually had that card as a kid!! And since I was little at the time, I didn’t took good care of it! I still have it and it’s not in good condition anymore and it just upsets me because if I learned at the time that pokemon cards would cost so much years later, I would’ve taken much better care of it 😭
This is exactly why I wanted to start a new pokemon card collection this year after not having Pokemon cards for a few years. Anytime I find a rare or full art card, I have to put it in a sleeve to keep it protected and see how much I can sell them. But yea, just seeing that dark raichu card hurts me 😭😂😅
I think of sets like this:
A complete set: one of each numbered card
Standard master set: all numbered cards, regular and reverse (I also include related numbered promos and variants like stamps and cosmo foil but not necessary)
Grandmaster set: master set but requiring all related promos and variants including hard to get ones like your voltorb example and ‘variants’ like different print runs (slight differences of same card)
For my Pokemon 151 Master set I'm just going to go with:
- Numbered 1 to 151
- Reverse Holos
- Secret Rares
and Maybe Promos that I can get my hands on.
Great video, really helpful and clear. I wanted to know what binder you have your 151 set in? I'm wanting to complete my Master set and haven't got a binder yet! Thank you
I’m using the vaultx 12-pocket zipper binder
Beautifully crafted video. Nice job 🗣️🔥
I feel with the voltorb, you could have elaborated about how exactly you get it, even in passing. It's not that it's hard to get, it's more a measure of progress for people within the Professor Program (A friend of mine is part of the team that hands them out) The requirements for getting one is pretty jarring. The cards are also allocated to the judge, meaning you can't just walk in, steal a bunch and runaway, the cards are actually recorded, who got them and for what reason.
Naturally, judges are volunteers, and recoup their costs in many ways, so for some, selling their promos is just part of the job.
I do want to note, I don't want to out my friend, he does a lot for the community, This is what they said directly to me, but they may have omitted information that shouldn't be known outside of the program, take it as more of a "this is pretty much how it works" sort of thing.
Thank you for the video though, definitely subscribing :)
I’m in the middle of a Master Set for the Sword & Shield set, and approaching completion. It was one of the last sets before Illustration Rates came along, so it avails of the wider print runs reducing card costs without the downside of tons of expensive chase variants.
Wavering on whether to go for Grandmaster, as it had 140-odd extra cards, only 40 of which I have. It has a few Jumbo cards, which is a vexing addition I’m unsure whether they count, but also two jumbo variants of Zacian and Zamazenta V, signed by Atsushi Nagashima & Kitano Yuji, which as far as I can tell were given out to the first twenty people to buy SSH product at a midnight release in Game Mania Utrecht in Feb 2020. Never seen them pop online yet, lord knows how much they’d go for…
God speed! That sounds like a nightmare
@@sleevenocardbehind And of course I didn’t know until I’d already started. Which is why I’m either gonna settle with a Master set, or do a Grandmaster that DOESN’T include jumbo cards.
I've been collecting for years and I still haven't figured out a good way to keep track of the exclusive holo/stamp variants, a completionist's nightmare!
Hey! Loved the video! Quick question: what variant is that Ditto you showed when talking about the Grand Master set?
That is a non-holo Ditto variant from the newest trainer toolkit 👍🏻
@ Thanks for the answer!
Almost every black star promo is intended to be part of a set. Best example being Ampharos ex (SVP) that is clearly meant to be played with the Mareep and Flaaffy from SV Base.
Also, what many forget to include in their Guardians' Rising master set is the non-holo Mimikyu from the Lunala theme deck. Non-holo variants in general tend to be forgotten (another recent example would be Professor's Research)
Promos are still their own sets and aren’t required for master sets (per TPCi themselves).
Doesn’t matter too much since almost every Promo era is forever incomplete so you can never master them truly anyways.
i see most 'master sets' selling on ebay dont include the promos & pre-releases. I've got a Darkness Ablaze master set that I've put together but I've made sure to include all the promos, pre-releases , 'Thank You' cards & a few others I think 👍🏼👍🏼 The only card I dont have is the jumbo card, which i might have to include at some point.
Hey man, loving the videos. I found your page a few days ago and it’s been nothing but great. Please make the end are showing your other videos a little longer. I e clicked on the wrong, RUclips suggested video, like 6 times already by mistake
Sorry about that
The fact that you waited until the end to include a distinction between language made me think you were going to introduce a secret tier above grand master to include all available languages with all print runs, etc.
02:16 I've never seen this card in my life! 👀
Nice video, though I'm personally not going for any master/grandmaster sets I am going after a species set for my favorite pokemon line: Aron/Lairon/Aggron. Thanks to my LCS I have gotten 9/23 Aron (counting from first print in Ruby & Sapphire), 5/23 Lairon, and 6/24 Aggron (including V/VMax/Mega/EX). While I could go for the Grandmaster Set of them including Holo/Reverse Holo, that would be possible years worth of chasing since the line of cards is middle of the pack for rarity and value.
Great video, very informative. Eb games and game stop promos are terrible, I will never add them to my sets, they literally ruin a card.
I think one way to stir up the collection side of the TCG market is to have a shiny variant of every Pokemon based card. And the pull rate for every single one I 1:8169
I always assumed Master Sets were similar to what we call a play set in MTG where you have the maximum number of each card allowed to be played in a deck (usually 4) since saying you have a "complete set" means you have 1 copy of every card in a set
That's called a Play set not a Master set.
I don't have the money to realistically do a master set, so I've settled on a more realistic goal: Get every single Mimikyu Card (In English/Language Exclusive) ever printed. So far I have managed to get my hands on every card before they shot up in price, except for the Mimikyu SCREAM promo, which... yeah, there is a good reason I'm omiting that card from being required. I bring this up because reprints can be annoying, since sometimes they have different numbers, or have stamps which make the master collection super annoying: For example: Paldea evolved Mimikyu has a grand total of 7 variants of the same exact card, 10 if you could the shiny variants, since it is technically the same card. The cards are the Paldea Evolved Holo/Rev Holo, Halloween Stamp 2023, Reverse Holo/Holo from Paldean Fates, the Pokemon League Stamp, and the 2024 Halloween Stamp Cosmic Holo.
They aren't expensive, but the fact that you have to get your hands on 7 of almost the same exact card to technically get a master collection for Mimikyu 7-7'
There’s also new(er) non-holo variants of Scarlet and Violet holo rare cards found within the pre-made decks 😅
Yup. Makes sense.
I think there are definitely some sets; mostly special sets like Celebrations and Detective Pikachu, where some promo cards should definitely be included in the master set; I think it'd be a bit silly to put cards like the delta species mimikyu or gold star greninja (or any other card with the Celebrations stamp) with the SWSH promo cards rather than Celebrations. There's also a few XY promos that are clearly intended to specifically go with XY Evolutions (like the holo Snorlax, Pikachu 202/211, and the TRU-stamped Charmander & Electabuzz).
I think it's also worth considering if metal cards count for master sets. I personally don't include them, as I see them more as side memorabilia like the coins, pins, etc, but there is an argument to be made.
For Celebrations, I included every card with the 25th anniversary pikachu stamp. Just goes to show how many ways there are to collect a set
Another informative video. Keep 'em coming!
what about set stamps, eb games, game stop, proffessors program , play !, world championship stamp cards, european championship cards
I recently came across a listing of pokemon cards with the title: complete base master set of stellar crown. I was flabbergasted, it was just the main set with reverses except no "secret rares". Never heard of this before but appearantly it's a thing
I recently saw one: “Complete base set 1999 master set. Only missing 6 cards!!” Haha
@@sleevenocardbehind Haha people these days! Almost forgot to mention but the listing also was missing 3 reverses and an ace spec
Dark chameleon was available in Canada as well in a magazine
Great video! Though I think for base set, do t we technically have first edition/first edition shadowless versions of cards as well for that “extended master set”?
Thanks For this Am New to the Hobby and Cleared The air Abit💯
Welcome to the hobby! 😁
I have never heard this grand master term before but I like it
Man I need to get one of those ETB books for every set.
Complete Set = One of each card in the main set
Master Set = All the cards available in the set through packs
Grandmaster Set = Every card in every variation
Exactly. People here state things as the "objective thruth" which is basically misinformation. The closest we get to actually defining these terms is through what the community mostly uses. And what you state is exactly that: The most commonly used definitions. So they should be used or else stated that any difference is personal preference, as long as it's not officially settled.
But if they officially settle it, people might realize how much money they’re spending on this……….
Lets talk about black star promo.
Im currently working on Scarlet&Violet Base master.
In my decision, to complete a master set u need every card that has the same set symbol on it.
For instance, 151 has MEWen. The same goes for Scarlet&Violet Base, SVIen.
As long as the Black Star Promo card has these set symbols. It belongs to the master set. The same goes for every instance of Stamped cards. Set Symbol. If the card doesnt have the correct one. Throw it out. If the stamped or black star card has the correct SET Symbol then it is necessary for master set.
I even found these battle academy stamped ones with many different numbers. But it has the same SET symbol as SVIen, that i need for my collection. So i bought them. And there is most likely to pop up even more various stamped cards that has yet to be discovered in the SVIen set.
This is a good point I wish I included in the video actually. The set symbol is a good guide to use.
Then again. Those black star promo, they have two different set symbols. First off is SVP for scarlet violet era. And then the various expansion set symbols. MEWen, SVIen and so on and so forth. What i cant figure out is where to get the expansion set symbol promo cards. For instance. If you look up Scarlet Violet Base etb’s. Youl soon see these promo has only SVP set symbol. So where does promo SVIen come in? Where do i get those?😅
@@wantsomecoffe Just to make it clear. There are no SVIen / MEWen / etc promo symbols. The "promo's" of the normal sets (so not the Black Star SVP set) are not considered real promo's but just variants of the normal cards in the sets. For example the Charmander MEW004 you need the normal one and the reverse one for the masterset. (You can just pull them from a pack) If you want the "promo" variants (which again are not real numbered promo's just variants) then you would need the Gamestop stamp & the EB Games stamp which could only be obtained through the stores themselves. I would suggest just focus on the cards you can pull and the official SVP black star promo's and forget about all the variants because they are almost never accessible anyway (like that Voltorb)
i have a 151 bulbasaur promo if you need it, still sealed as well
Fantastic video tyvm for the info
Great video as always!
I appreciate that
such an interesting video! bravo! 🤩
Thanks for touching on unnumbered promos. Because I started adding the play stamp promo Eeveelutions to my evolving skies binder and was wondering if other people do that too. My evolving skies master set is soooo overly complete that I would love to show you and see what you think about it.
I would love to see it actually. Consider joining my Discord server
awesome content dude
You also need the costco cosmo starter pokemon. K'mon there's some limits to obsession
forgetting all the non holo rare options that come in the prerelease decks. this spans all the way back to the legendary cards as well.
For me a master set is a set of cards only are pullable from one specific set. no less, no more. All AAs, all foilings, everything.
Promos like unnumbered promos, tins, special giveaways, tournament price cards etc. has its own "set". Like every event or giveaway or produkt is its own little "set".
Thats why i have different binders for promos. I dont mix them with my regular booster sets or starterdecks.
This is what I think
I think all u need for master set is what is pullable via packs.
All promos/ holo variations/etc are a grandmaster set.
Deluxe Grandmaster set would be multiple languages.
Very slippery slope 🤣
Had a full set for XY evolution as far as every reverse and non reverse, secrets, can’t remember about promos but it would’ve had anything that came in 3 pack boxes, or tins, or trainer boxes. and sold it in 2019 for about $450. Huge regret as I’ll most likely never make a full set again.
I would personally never hunt the reverses for a set. I get why people want them, but as far as im concerned, I only care about having cards of different set numbers or arts. So thus, SRs belong, and in some cases promos might (like prerelease promos) but not reverses. To each their own, though!
This is the more normal way to complete sets. Pokemon collectors always feel the need to get more and make the chases harder and harder to prolong filling their voids. Some people have no cut off points for "master sets". Simply the best way to collect a set is to get every card in the set.
As someone who collects play stamp cards I wouldn't include them into a masterset since play stamp cards come out of there own booster have their own holos and have their own set list and they aren't specificly tied to any set they are just what is competitively viable at that time and since they are not specifically tied to any set unless you want to pure bones definition grand master set a set I wouldnt pay them any mind
I think there needs to a term for a master set that doesn't have all the reverse holos. This is far less of an issue in the japanese sets, as reverse holos are not as common.
My favorite way to collect is grandmaster sets of individual Pokemon. Long live Exeggutor! One day - Poliwrath!
A master set is every card version of the cards in the set. This includes pre release stamped version or later rerelease versions of the cards in the set. For example ,if gamestop reprints a dragonite that is in a particular set, you would need that card for your master. A complete set is just 1 of every card of the set including all foil types. A base set collection is just a run of the numbers in the cards with no secrets. that can be only foil or non foil. There are very few Master Set collectors. Most are Master/complete hybrid collectors.
Simply not true. A Master Set is by far majority regarded as everything that can be pulled out of Boosters. Basically anything listed in the modern ETB Booklets.
@@DrPlonk that would be a complete set. To be a master you would need every version of the cards in that set. some are not found in those packs.
Well to me a master set doesn't include reverse holos. I dont see a rulebook that states what a master set is, it can be whatever you think it is. I dont care if you think my 151 master set isnt complete without revers holos, to me it is.
@@roostre5254 it all just depends on what rules you want to follow in life. Words are used to communicate ideas. When we start to change the meaning of words, all that does is confuse people and diminish the standards created by that society of people. A masters has always been the third degree throughout history. The first degree of education is 4 years of high school, followed by 4 college, followed by 4 additional to receive masters. Three fours. this principle was used to describe tcgs because the first degree is just the base set with reverses. Second degree is base with secrets. Third and masters is all cards found outside of the set as well. The idea translated from masters is going above and beyond the required effort to complete the set. If you wish to believe a pear can also be an apple, then if that makes you happy so be it.
@@MrPelletty Show me where Master set is defined. Did they do it in Merriam-Webster? Or did they use some other dictionary? Language is always changing, if I say cap you probably think hat, but kids use it to mean lie.
Im not bringing my master set to some master set competition where there are rules as to what a master set entails. I can choose what I want for my master set because it is my set and my collecting goal. If you want to be an asshole about it, then go ahead, if that makes you happy.
I'm in the process of Lost Origin grandmaster set. The amount of cards it has is insane.
Giratina is absolutely nothing. Try to get those rare staff-promos
Quick question, what binders do you use?
In this video you see the Beast Binder and also the VaultX 12 pocket zipper binder
Great video mate
I appreciate you watching!
I feel like an actual master set doesn’t require both reverse and non reverse cards. At that point it becomes unrealistic for the average collector. If you find a reverse of anything other than a holo, then swap it out, that’s what I do, and i feel like it works best because it ensures that the task at hand doesn’t become ridiculous. Master set should include one of every card you can pull out of a set, and reverses replace the std card, not holos. That’s my definition of it!