https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ Collecting guides, set deep-dives and honest TCG market analysis — from the people who run the EV numbers. en https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/alt-art-premiums.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/alt-art-premiums.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing The alt art card premium explained with real numbers - why art-driven cards outperform gold rares, when the premium holds, and when it breaks. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/booster-box-expected-value.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/booster-box-expected-value.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Booster box expected value explained with real numbers: how EV is computed from pull rates and prices, and what it hides — variance, fees, liquidity. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/booster-bundle-vs-loose-packs.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/booster-bundle-vs-loose-packs.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Booster bundle vs packs, priced with live data: when the bundle's sealed guarantee is worth it, when loose packs are cheaper, and the reseal risk. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/brilliant-stars-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/brilliant-stars-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Brilliant Stars set guide: Charizard V alt art prices, Trainer Gallery pull-rate estimates, and box EV around -69% that says buy the singles. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/buying-singles-vs-packs.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/buying-singles-vs-packs.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Buying singles vs packs, with real EV numbers: most packs return 50-80 cents per dollar, when ripping is defensible, and what you actually pay for. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-centering-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-centering-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Learn to measure card centering like a grader - the 60/40 and 55/45 rules PSA, BGS and CGC use, plus how to screen cards at home before paying fees. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-condition-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-condition-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting A practical card condition guide - what NM, LP, MP and HP actually mean, how to inspect cards with a light, and how much each grade cuts the price. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-grading-explained.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-grading-explained.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Card grading explained in plain terms - the 1-10 scale, what PSA, BGS and CGC actually check, real costs and turnaround, and when grading pays off. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-market-liquidity.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-market-liquidity.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Trading card liquidity decides what your collection really converts to in cash. Learn spreads, days-to-sell by tier and why listed prices mislead. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-market-manipulation.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/card-market-manipulation.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing How card market manipulation works - wash trades, Discord pumps, shill listings and cornered supply - plus the red flags that expose each one. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/celebrations-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/celebrations-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Celebrations set guide: gold Mew near $75, Classic Collection reprints, and why -84% to -93% EV margins make every sealed product a hard avoid. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/chase-card-economics.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/chase-card-economics.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Chase card economics explained — one card often anchors a huge share of set EV. Real July 2026 prices show the concentration and what breaks it. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/crown-zenith-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/crown-zenith-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Crown Zenith set guide: Galarian Gallery odds, chase card prices, and why the best pull rates in modern Pokemon still lose you money per pack. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/dbsfw-awakened-pulse-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/dbsfw-awakened-pulse-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Awakened Pulse guide: a $619 alt-art Goku tops the chase while boxes rip at -64%, among the worst EV we track. The Fusion World launch, priced honestly. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/destined-rivals-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/destined-rivals-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Destined Rivals set guide: Team Rocket chase card prices, realistic pull-rate estimates, and product EV numbers that say buy singles, not sealed. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/digimon-beginning-observer-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/digimon-beginning-observer-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Beginning Observer guide: a $937 textured Magnamon tops the chase, secret rares land 1-in-5 packs, and box EV runs -30%. The honest rip math. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/digimon-secret-crisis-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/digimon-secret-crisis-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Secret Crisis guide: four textured ACE chases from $286 to $595, community pull-rate estimates, and box EV at -20% — the least-bad rip in Digimon. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/diversifying-across-tcgs.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/diversifying-across-tcgs.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Why a TCG portfolio spread over ten games isn't really diversified - shared buyers, shared publishers, shared cycles - and what allocation helps. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/error-cards-and-misprints.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/error-cards-and-misprints.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Error cards and misprints value guide: which factory mistakes carry real premiums, which add nothing, and how to tell a true error from damage. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/etb-vs-booster-box.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/etb-vs-booster-box.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting ETB vs booster box settled with real per-pack math: snapshot prices show boxes run 25-80% cheaper per pack, plus what ETB extras are actually worth. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/evolving-skies-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/evolving-skies-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Evolving Skies set guide: Moonbreon near $1,930, brutal alt art pull-rate estimates, and why a $2,600 booster box rips into just $473 of EV. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/fab-heavy-hitters-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/fab-heavy-hitters-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Heavy Hitters guide: $77 boxes ripping for about $200 of EV, a +167% margin. Where the Marvel chase sits, and the liquidity catch nobody prices in. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/fab-part-the-mistveil-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/fab-part-the-mistveil-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Part the Mistveil guide: $71 boxes carrying about $155 of EV, a +151% paper margin, the Enigma Marvel chase, and the liquidity fine print that follows. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/first-edition-shadowless-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/first-edition-shadowless-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting First edition, shadowless and unlimited Pokemon Base Set explained: how to identify each print run in seconds, the price ladder, and common scams. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/grading-arbitrage.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/grading-arbitrage.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Grading arbitrage can turn clean raw cards into graded profit — sometimes. We run the gem-rate math, the screening rules, and where the edge died. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/hidden-fates-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/hidden-fates-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Hidden Fates set guide: shiny Charizard GX legacy, $45 packs against $15 EV, Shiny Vault pull-rate estimates, and the sealed-vs-singles call. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/holding-sealed-product.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/holding-sealed-product.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing How long to hold sealed product, with real numbers — five-year box outcomes range from 2x to 18x, while fees, storage and damage risk compound. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-pull-rates-work.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-pull-rates-work.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Pokemon pull rates explained: where the numbers come from, how the slot model works, why every published rate is a community estimate with error bars. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-sell-trading-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-sell-trading-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting How to sell trading cards for the most cash: TCGPlayer, eBay, buylists and local deals compared on what you actually keep from a $100 card sale. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-ship-trading-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-ship-trading-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting How to ship trading cards safely: the sleeve-and-toploader sandwich, PWE vs bubble mailer by card value, tracking thresholds and customs traps. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-spot-fake-pokemon-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-spot-fake-pokemon-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Learn how to spot fake Pokemon cards with 9 reliable checks - the light test, texture, fonts, back color, and where counterfeits cluster online. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-store-trading-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/how-to-store-trading-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Learn how to store trading cards without damaging them - the sleeve-to-box hierarchy, what actually ruins cardboard, and cheap setups that work. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/insuring-a-card-collection.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/insuring-a-card-collection.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Card collection insurance, decided: what homeowners policies actually cover, when a rider or specialty policy makes sense, and the proof you need. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/is-sealed-pokemon-a-good-investment.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/is-sealed-pokemon-a-good-investment.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Sealed Pokémon can pay off, but most boxes lag the hype. We use real 2026 box prices and margins to show when sealed investing works and when it fails. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/japanese-card-arbitrage.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/japanese-card-arbitrage.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Japanese pokemon card arbitrage once printed easy money. Fees, shipping and repriced JP markets closed most of the gap — here's what edge is left. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/japanese-vs-english-pokemon-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/japanese-vs-english-pokemon-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Japanese vs English Pokemon cards compared: print quality, earlier releases, pack structure, price gaps, and what each means if you grade or sell. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-azurite-sea-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-azurite-sea-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Azurite Sea guide: an $89 enchanted Tigger tops a flat chase board, boxes return $53 on $93, and the gift set is the one product to actively avoid. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-market-analysis.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-market-analysis.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Lorcana market analysis three years after launch - real box EV and enchanted prices, what the 2023 shortage did, and where the money goes now. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-shimmering-skies-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-shimmering-skies-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Shimmering Skies value check: the $237 enchanted Mufasa chase, a 2% enchanted rate, and box EV of $52 on $104 — the case for buying singles. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-ursulas-return-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lorcana-ursulas-return-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Ursula's Return collector guide: real enchanted prices led by a $102 Ariel, one enchanted every two boxes, and box EV that says buy the singles. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lost-origin-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/lost-origin-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Lost Origin set guide: Giratina V alt art price, pull-rate estimates, and why ripping this aging Sword & Shield set is a -70% proposition today. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/master-set-collecting.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/master-set-collecting.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Master set Pokemon collecting, costed honestly: set vs master set defined, what a real chase board costs, and why singles-first is the only way. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/monte-carlo-pack-openings.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/monte-carlo-pack-openings.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing A monte carlo pack simulation opens a box thousands of times to expose what averages hide: median outcomes, percentiles and your real profit odds. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/mtg-bloomburrow-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/mtg-bloomburrow-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Bloomburrow set guide with real numbers: $600 raised-foil chases, play boosters at -40% EV, and why the cutest Magic set still loses you money. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/mtg-foundations-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/mtg-foundations-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides MTG Foundations explained: five-plus years of Standard legality, $700 fracture foil chases, and why an evergreen print run kills the sealed thesis. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/mtg-modern-horizons-3-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/mtg-modern-horizons-3-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Modern Horizons 3 by the numbers: $8 play boosters returning $5.24, a flat chase topping out near $77, and the fairest bad deal in modern Magic. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/nostalgia-cycles.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/nostalgia-cycles.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing The nostalgia collectibles cycle explained - peak earnings age, lessons from sports cards and comics, and where each TCG sits on the curve today. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/one-piece-tcg-market.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/one-piece-tcg-market.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing A sober look at the One Piece TCG market - real box EV numbers, manga rare economics, Bandai's supply strategy, and whether the boom can hold. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op07-500-years-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op07-500-years-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides OP07 500 Years in the Future guide: chase prices topped by a $2,000 manga Boa Hancock, honest pull-rate estimates, and box EV that says buy singles. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op08-two-legends-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op08-two-legends-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides OP08 Two Legends breakdown: the $640 manga Rayleigh chase, real box EV around $74 against a $227 price, and why singles beat ripping this set. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op09-emperors-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op09-emperors-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides OP09 Emperors in the New World: four chase cards over $1,000, a $595 box returning $84 in EV, and the honest math on why you should not rip it. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op10-royal-blood-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/op10-royal-blood-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides OP10 Royal Blood by the numbers: an $828 manga Law chase, box EV near $81 on a $221 box, and where this set actually sits in the One Piece lineup. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/organize-card-binder.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/organize-card-binder.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Organize a card binder with a system that survives growth: set-number order, side-loading pages, the leave-gaps trick, and when to split binders. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pack-fresh-isnt-gem-mint.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pack-fresh-isnt-gem-mint.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Straight from the pack doesn't mean PSA 10. How rollers, rough cuts and holo curl damage cards at the factory, and how to handle fresh pulls right. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/paldean-fates-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/paldean-fates-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Paldean Fates set guide: shiny Mew ex and Charizard prices, guaranteed shiny slot odds, and why pack EV still beats price two years after release. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-151-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-151-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Pokemon 151 set guide: Charizard ex SIR price, the Kanto chase list, pull rates, and why ripping $29 packs is the worst deal in modern Pokemon. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-card-bubble-2021.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-card-bubble-2021.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing The pokemon card bubble of 2020-21 sent prices vertical before supply caught up. Here's the mechanism, what round-tripped and what held its ground. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-cards-vs-stocks.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-cards-vs-stocks.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Pokemon cards vs stocks is a fair fight only if you count fees, taxes, storage and the losers. Here's the honest side-by-side most hype skips. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-go-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-go-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Pokémon GO TCG set guide: Mewtwo VSTAR chase prices, peel-off Ditto gimmick, pull-rate estimates, and EV margins from -50% to -76% explained. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-rarity-symbols.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-rarity-symbols.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting All the Pokemon rarity symbols decoded - circles, diamonds and stars, the modern SV tiers from double rare to SIR, and how rarity maps to price. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-set-price-lifecycle.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/pokemon-set-price-lifecycle.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Pokémon sets follow a price lifecycle — release spike, supply glut, print stop, slow climb. We map every phase with real July 2026 prices and sets. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/positive-ev-products.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/positive-ev-products.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Positive EV booster boxes exist — Yu-Gi-Oh rarity collections show +400% to +880% margins in our snapshot. Here's why, plus the catches that remain. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/print-runs-and-scarcity.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/print-runs-and-scarcity.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Modern card scarcity is a production decision — publishers print to demand. How print runs, wave printing and reprints really drive card prices. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/prismatic-evolutions-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/prismatic-evolutions-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Prismatic Evolutions set guide: Umbreon ex and Eeveelution prices, shiny slot odds, and why pack EV beats pack price — plus the variance catch. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/promo-card-values.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/promo-card-values.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Pokémon promo card value explained: why print-to-demand promos stay near worthless, and the event, staff and early-era exceptions that don't. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/protect-cards-humidity-heat.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/protect-cards-humidity-heat.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Protect cards from humidity, heat and UV damage: the safe ranges, the storage spots that quietly ruin collections, and fixes that cost under $30. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/psa-10-premiums.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/psa-10-premiums.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing How the PSA 10 premium works - 10-vs-9 price ratios by era, pop report effects, premium compression, and when buying the PSA 9 is the smarter trade. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/psa-vs-bgs-vs-cgc.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/psa-vs-bgs-vs-cgc.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting PSA vs BGS vs CGC compared honestly - resale premiums, strictness, fees and turnaround, plus a straight answer on which grader fits your cards. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/reprint-risk.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/reprint-risk.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Reprint risk is the biggest threat to card prices: publishers reprint whatever gets hot. Case studies from Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon, plus real hedges. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/reverse-holo-explained.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/reverse-holo-explained.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting What is a reverse holo? How reverse foils differ from regular holos and full arts, why every pack has one, and when reverse holos carry real value. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/rotation-and-card-prices.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/rotation-and-card-prices.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Rotation wipes out competitive demand and crushes staple prices in every TCG. See how each game rotates, which cards are immune, and when to sell. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/selling-a-card-collection.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/selling-a-card-collection.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing How to sell a card collection without tanking prices - channel comparison, sequencing high-value cards, drip-feeding, and timing around set cycles. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/selling-fees-eat-profits.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/selling-fees-eat-profits.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Card selling fees quietly cut profit by 15% or more once shipping and supplies stack up. See the real math at $5, $50 and $500 and how to keep more. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/set-release-price-patterns.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/set-release-price-patterns.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Buy pokemon set release prices and you pay the week-one premium. The restock cycle, the 3-6 month trough and the rare exceptions, with real numbers. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/shining-fates-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/shining-fates-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Shining Fates set guide five years on: shiny Charizard VMAX legacy, collapsed singles prices, and EV margins near -70% to -88% across products. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/should-you-grade-modern-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/should-you-grade-modern-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Grading modern Pokemon cards only pays when the math works - fees vs PSA 10 premiums, realistic gem rates, and a worked break-even example in dollars. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/sleeves-toploaders-binders.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/sleeves-toploaders-binders.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Toploader vs sleeve vs binder, settled by card value - protection tiers for bulk, $20 hits and $100+ chase cards, plus mistakes that damage cards. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/special-sets-vs-main-sets.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/special-sets-vs-main-sets.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Special set vs main set pokemon value, settled with data: pack prices, EV and margins show which products hold up and which are engineered hype. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/star-wars-unlimited-market.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/star-wars-unlimited-market.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Star Wars Unlimited market health check with real numbers - falling pack prices, stable showcase values, FFG supply discipline, and what it means. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/start-collecting-pokemon-2026.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/start-collecting-pokemon-2026.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Start collecting Pokemon cards in 2026 the smart way: pick a lane, spend $30 on supplies, buy singles before packs, and skip repacks entirely. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/stellar-crown-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/stellar-crown-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Stellar Crown set guide: chase card prices, pull-rate estimates and product EV. A sleeper for singles buyers, a money pit for almost everyone else. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/surging-sparks-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/surging-sparks-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Surging Sparks set guide: Pikachu ex SIR price, the alt-art bench, pull-rate estimates, and which product loses you the least money right now. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/swu-shadows-of-the-galaxy-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/swu-shadows-of-the-galaxy-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Shadows of the Galaxy value check: Cad Bane and Mando-era showcase prices, pull-rate estimates, and pack EV near -52% that points to singles. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/swu-spark-of-rebellion-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/swu-spark-of-rebellion-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Spark of Rebellion guide: showcase chase cards up to $219, honest pull-rate estimates, and pack EV around -51% that says buy the singles instead. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/swu-twilight-of-the-republic-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/swu-twilight-of-the-republic-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Twilight of the Republic guide: Yoda and Anakin showcase prices, pull-rate estimates, and $2.71 packs at -51% EV. The Clone Wars set, priced honestly. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/taxes-on-card-sales.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/taxes-on-card-sales.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Taxes on trading card sales in plain English - collectibles capital gains, 1099-K forms, hobby vs business rules, and the records worth keeping. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/tcgplayer-seller-fees.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/tcgplayer-seller-fees.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting TCGPlayer seller fees explained with worked examples at $5, $50 and $500: commission, payment processing, shipping, and what you actually net. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/temporal-forces-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/temporal-forces-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Temporal Forces set guide: Paradox Pokémon chase card prices, ACE SPEC odds, and the least-bad booster box margin in the Scarlet & Violet era. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/track-your-card-collection.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/track-your-card-collection.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Track your card collection properly: the nine spreadsheet columns that matter, apps vs sheets, repricing cadence and insurance-ready records. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/twilight-masquerade-set-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/twilight-masquerade-set-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Twilight Masquerade set guide: Greninja ex SIR price, the Ogerpon-era chase list, pull-rate estimates and honest EV math on every sealed product. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/variance-and-bankroll.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/variance-and-bankroll.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Pack opening variance means most boxes land below the advertised average. Use poker bankroll rules to size rips, survive swings and skip tilt buys. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/weiss-hololive-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/weiss-hololive-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides hololive Weiss Schwarz guide: signed SP cards from $196 to $375, why boxes rip at -48% and sell anyway, plus restock waves and fake-box warnings. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/weiss-spy-x-family-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/weiss-spy-x-family-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides SPY x FAMILY Weiss Schwarz guide: Anya and Yor chase cards up to $200, pull-rate estimates, and box EV at -49% that says buy singles, not boxes. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/what-to-do-with-bulk.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/what-to-do-with-bulk.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting What to do with bulk Pokémon cards: six realistic options from vendor buylists to donation, with per-thousand rates and honest time-cost math. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/where-to-buy-cards.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/where-to-buy-cards.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Card Collecting Where to buy trading cards without overpaying or getting scammed: local shops, card shows, eBay, TCGPlayer and Facebook compared on price and risk. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/why-boxes-are-negative-ev.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/why-boxes-are-negative-ev.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT TCG Investing Every Pokémon booster box in our July 2026 snapshot is negative EV, from -25% to -82%. See the real margins and the market math that keeps it so. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-25th-rarity-collection-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-25th-rarity-collection-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection guide: staple reprint chase, QCSR prices, and a +400% box EV margin — plus the liquidity catch behind it. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-burst-protocol-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-burst-protocol-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Burst Protocol set guide: $3 packs with +120% EV, Starlight chase prices near $170, and why new core set margins decay faster than you can sell. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-rarity-collection-2-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-rarity-collection-2-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Rarity Collection II guide: $78 boxes against $746 of paper EV — an +884% margin — and the singles liquidity math that explains the whole gap. https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-rarity-collection-5-guide.html https://smerphy.github.io/pokemon-pack-calculator/blog/ygo-rarity-collection-5-guide.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Set Guides Rarity Collection 5 guide: Starlight Mirrorjade near $635, a +540% box EV margin three months post-release, and the decay curve coming for it.