Pokemon cards glossary
More and more questions were coming to us and in the Pokemon community about certain terms. What does this term mean? What does it stand for? What does the seller mean by this term? And so on, as there are very many abbreviations and terms within the Pokemon community that beginners know nothing about. The new members cannot know this at all either, these are purely terms that have arisen within the Pokemon cards community. Today we dive deeper into this especially for you. We take you through all the Pokemon terms out there and explain them neatly for you. We also call this the pokemon cards glossary. So be sure to read through the rest of this Pokemon blog to learn all the terms. If you still don’t understand certain terms after reading the glossary below? Then you can always contact us. The Pokemon Glossary:
CO (Counter Offer)
CO is the abbreviation for ´Counter Offer´. Imagine someone asking 100 euros for their Pokemon card. Then someone else can post a CO 80, this literally means that the other does not agree with the asking price of 100 euros and wants to pay 80 euros for it. It is then up to the seller to agree to the 80 euro CO or not. You are never obligated as a seller to accept a counter offer but you can do it.
Anti-Snipe
Anti-Snipe is a term that occurs only in community auctions. Suppose you auction a Pokemon card and the auction lasts until 20:00, then when someone bids just before the end then the auction extends by 2 minutes. Just until no one within the extended 2 minutes bids along. Very useful to apply to your own auctions, so you may find that your card ends up being a lot higher in price.
Alt Art
Alt Art is the abbreviation for ´Alternate Art´. These are the most sought-after Pokemon cards in modern sets, we are talking about an alternative art (image) on the Pokemon card.
WOTC
WOTC is the abbreviation for “Wizardsof the Coast. This company printed all Pokemon cards from 1999 to 2003, then it was acquired by The Pokemon Company itself. The term WOTC is very common, people mean they are looking for older Pokemon cards/items.
Vintage
Vintage is a collective term for products that fall within a certain time period. This would refer to older Pokemon products, but from when to use the term is different for each collector. Some find only the WOTC items vintage, others again from 2016.
Modern
These are the modern Pokemon cards, from Pokemon Sword & Shield to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet and present. So you can also say new Pokemon items.
Condition and/or State
This is about what condition and/or state the Pokemon card is in. There are 10 different terms for this, which we highlight below. It is ultimately up to each collector himself to learn this and be able to name all the states by card. You need some patience for that, especially when you are new. Grading companies also do this and then grade it.
Gem Mint
This is the very best condition a Pokemon card can have, we are talking about PSA 10 here.
Mint
The map is almost to quite perfect, but unfortunately there is just something not quite right, we are talking about a PSA 9 here.
Near Mint / Mint
There are at least 2 flaws in the card, it is still very nice but for the experts just a little less, we are talking about a PSA 8.
Near Mint
The card looks fine, but also has its damages this is equivalent to PSA 7.
Excellent / Near Mint
From here the cards already become very damaged and in most cases it is no longer useful to grade them, we speak here of PSA 6.
Excellent
Nice for your binder, we’re talking PSA 5 here.
Very Good / Excellent
From here you can really see the damage already on the card, so we speak of a PSA 4.
Very Good
A damaged Pokemon card, we speak of PSA 3.
Good
A super very damaged card, we speak here of PSA 2.
Poor
The very worst condition a Pokemon card can be in, we refer to it as a PSA 1.
Bulk
The simple cards that come from the Pokemon packs, the uncommons and commons. When you offer very many cards at once you can also talk about bulk.
Pokemon stream / live show
When someone live on camera opens Pokemon products and packages for viewers. This is also called a Pokemon stream or live show. This could be on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitch.
Pokemon TCG (Trading card game)
Pokemon TCG stands for Pokemon Trading Card Game. So this literally means the card game you can play with it. Indeed, translated into Dutch, it is Pokémon trading card game.
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)
An American grading company, PSA stands for Professional Sports Authenticator. This is the very most famous and popular grader when it comes to Pokemon card grades.
Beckett (BGS)
Another American grading company. BGS stands for Beckett. They are the second most popular and are slightly stricter than PSA overall. They also work with a black label, which you only get when your card is absolutely perfect these are better than a PSA 10.
Certified Guaranty Company (CGC)
CGC stands for Certified Guaranty Company and is also from America. Previously they only did comic book degrees, but since 2020 they have also switched to Pokemon cards. They specialize best in error Pokemon cards degrees.
GRADE
Degree is a European grading company based in Italy.
AP Grading Service
AP is a European grading company based in Germany.
WOETOE Grading
Woetoe is a Dutch grading company.
Pokemon BB (Booster Box)
Pokemon BB means Pokemon Booster Box. This is about a sealed Pokemon box with 36 Pokemon booster packs in it.
Pokemon ETB ( Elite Trainer Box).
Pokemon ETB means Pokemon Elite Trainer Box. It varies by ETB how many booster packs are in it and whether or not it includes a promo card. This varies greatly by generation and set. Therefore, always look at the back of the box, it says exactly what is inside.
Pokemon Collection Box
These are the normal Pokemon boxes, also called Pokemon Collection Boxes. These are usually 4 booster packs with one or two promo cards in them. Note, again there are huge differences in this always look on the back of the box.
Pokemon UPC (Ultra Premium Collection)
Pokemon UPC means Pokemon Ultra Premium Collection box. These are the very largest Pokemon collection boxes out there, containing many more booster packs than normal Pokemon collection boxes. It also always includes fun promo cards, playmats and more accessories. Again, it varies greatly from box to box, so always check the back cover carefully.
Pokemon Booster
These are the Pokemon packs, on average there are 10 Pokemon cards in 1 Pokemon booster pack.
Pokemon Deck
These are ready-made decks that come out with each set. You can use these to play the trading card game right away so you already have a ready-made deck to play.
Pokemon Blister
These are Pokemon blisters, which then contain 1, 2 or 3 booster packs and a promo card. Please note that there are very many different blisters.
Pokemon game
These are the Nintendo and Gameboy games, which are very popular these days and have increased in price considerably.
Holo
The shiny Pokemon cards whose top square is shiny.
Reverse Holo
The shiny Pokemon cards whose exterior is shiny, so not the top square where the image is on.
Shiny Pokemon cards
These are all Pokemon cards that shine so both the Holo´s and Reverse Holo´s.
Gold
These are the rare Gold Pokemon cards, also called Gold Cards.
Rainbow
These are the rare rainbow glow cards, also called Rainbow Cards.
Shiny
When the Pokemon has a different color than normal, you can call it shiny. These are very rare and infrequent. In certain Pokemon sets, they specially released them.
Trainer
These are any support, trainer, item or stadium tickets.
Energy
The cards with an energy on them, usable only during the card game.
TG
TG stands for Trainer Gallery. Since 2021, Pokemon released sets that included a special Trainer Gallery set.
AR
AR stands for Art Rare. You can compare these to the trainer gallery cards.
SAR
SAR stands for Special Illustration Rare. You can compare these to the Alternate Art Pokemon cards.
Zard
Zard is the abbreviation for Charizard.
Closing Pokemon cards glossary
Hopefully through this blog we have been able to teach you a bit about all the concepts that exist in the Pokemon world. If there is something you still don’t understand or terms are missing? If so, please contact us. We try to update this list a few times a year because new terms and sets are constantly being added. Until the next blog!