If you’ve ever tried to complete a Pokémon TCG master set such as Evolving Skies, Celebrations, or even Base Set, then you know that it’s expensive and tiresome. Massive sets like Evolving Skies are going to drain your energy and bank account.
I’ve selected 5 sets that are relatively easy to complete and completely affordable for the average collector. Of course, there are a lot more than 5 so let me know in the comments if you want to see a part II. I hope you like my picks!
5. McDonald’s Collections
Ok, we’re starting off with the McDonald’s Collection sets.
With the exception of a 5-year gap, McDonald’s has run a Pokémon TCG campaign almost every year since 2002. Some sets are as small as 5 cards, while recent sets can be up to 25 (or 50 if you collect both holo and non-holos).
The 2002 set of McDonald’s cards was released in Japan only and are quite expensive these days, so be ready for big spending if you’re going after this set. Otherwise, most sets are rather affordable.
For example, the 2022 set features only 15 cards and can be purchased altogether for about $30-$40. What makes this set so cool though, is that they came in booster packs.
The McDonald’s Collection 2022 Features:
- Unique booster packs that contain 4 cards
- Reprints from previous sets
- A total set number of 15 cards (6 holos)
- A total cost of about $30-$40 on eBay
4. Prism Star Cards
Ok, maybe this isn’t such a small set, but it is easy to complete and cheap!
Prism Star cards were introduced with the Ultra Prism set (surprise!) and came out with a bang. The set contained 6 Prism Star cards which were all very useful in the actual TCG.
However, the hype was never really for Prism cards. While many collectors love them, most didn’t care at all. This is probably because rainbow, full art, and gold cards were making a splash.
That being said, Prism cards are really cool. They feature a holo prism shape in the lower text portion of the card and represent a very powerful Pokémon. The borders are black too, instead of yellow. The best part is that most Prism Star cards cost <$5, so start collecting!
Here are the sets that contain Prism Star cards:
Sun & Moon: Ultra Prism
- Giratina
- Lunala
- Darkrai
- Solgaleo
- Cyrus
- Super Boost Energy
Sun & Moon: Forbidden Light
- Volcanion
- Diancie
- Arceus
- Lysandre
- Beast Energy
Sun & Moon: Celestial Storm
- Jirachi
- Latias
- Latios
Dragon Majesty
- Victini
- Lance
Sun & Moon: Lost Thunder
- Celebi
- Xerneas
- Ditto
- Heat Factory
- Life Forest
- Lusamine
- Thunder Mountain
Sun & Moon: Team Up
- Shaymin
- Tapu Koko
- Black Market
- Wondrous Labyrinth
3. Amazing Rares
Here’s a set you might have already completed: Amazing Rares.
There are only 9 Amazing Rare cards and they come from only two sets, Vivid Voltage, and Shining Fates. If you’ve opened Vivid Voltage packs before, you probably already have a few.
Here’s a breakdown of which cards come from which sets:
Sword & Shield: Vivid Voltage
- Celebi
- Raikou
- Zacian
- Zamazenta
- Jirachi
- Rayquaza
Shining Fates
- Reshiram
- Kyogre
- Yveltal
If you’re like me and you appreciate the small details, you’ll understand that a 9-card set fits perfectly into a 9-pocket binder page. It is really nice to have a small 9-card collection presented all at once, in sequence.
2. Radiant Cards
Crown Zenith, the final set of the Sword & Shield era, brought us the final Radiant cards.
Throughout history, both Wizards of the Coast and The Pokémon Company have printed cards for Shiny Pokémon. It is just a regular Pokémon, but with a color palette swap, and is very rare.
The latest implementation of Shiny Pokémon for the TCG has been Radiant cards. The Japanese version translates to “Sparkling” which makes sense since Shiny Pokémon are often depicted with a sparkle around them.
The Radiant cards have been a huge hit among collectors and have brought both easy (like Hawlucha) and tough pulls (like Charizard). Spanning 5 expansion sets plus a promo, you probably already managed to pull one or two since 2022.
Why You Should Collect The Radiant Cards
- They span 5 sets, plus a promo
- 16 cards in total
- All have a special full hollo pattern
- The set contains 2 Charizards
- Many favorites like Blastoise, Greninja, and Eevee
- Of course, the Pokémon is Shiny
1. Pikachu World Collections
There are 2 different Pikachu World Collections, each with very cool cards.
The first Pikachu World Collection was released in September 2000, to accompany the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. The Olympics bring multiple nationalities together, so the Pikachu World Collection did the same by printing 9 reprinted Pikachu cards in 9 different languages.
In 2010, a second Pikachu World Collection was released alongside the Japanese set Clash at the Summit and was only available at select Pokécenters. This time the 9 Pikachu cards were not reprints, but unique.
You can pick up each one of these sets sealed in the package for a few hundred bucks, or you can buy the cards one by one when you have the extra cash laying around. If you’re a Pikachu collector, these are absolute staples for the collection.
Pikachu World Collection 2000
- 9 reprinted Pikachu cards such as Base Set Pikachu, and many Black Star promos
- Released alongside the 2000 Olympics
- Each card is in a different language
Pikachu World Collection 2010
- 9 unique Pikachu cards, each representing a different country
- Each card is in a different language
- Two different versions, blue (Pokécenter exclusive) or green (7/11 exclusive)
- Gold holo borders
Honorable Mention
The Kellogg’s Game Tip Cards set exclusive to Canada in 1999
This is a super easy non-TCG 20 card set that is still very affordable. These cards were found in Kellogg’s cereal boxes in 1999 as a promotion and feature tips for some Pokémon games.
Check out the full article (with pictures!) here:
Final Thoughts
So that’s it, 5 small sets you can easily complete. Yes, I know the last one is a little pricey, but it really is amazing. Remember, it’s easy to lose track and purchase random cards that you want, but the dopamine rush of completing a whole set, even if it is small, can’t be understated. Good luck to everyone who pursues one of these sets!
