Hello there, trainers! Today, we are kicking off a new series on Card-Codex.com, which focuses around interviewing creators in the Pokémon TCG space.
We sat down with collector, competitive player and content creator Nguyen (@Royalillest) to discuss the current landscape of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Nguyen focuses more on the competitive side of the games, with guides on how to play certain decks, tournament vlogs and videos explaining the current meta both for the tabletop and the online version of the game.
From the impact of the Pocket app to navigating the competitive meta and advice for budget players, here is his take on the hobby in 2025.
Q. With the massive success of the Pokémon TCG Pocket mobile app last year, have you noticed a change in the physical TCG community? Do you think it’s acting as a successful gateway for new players to jump into the real-world card game?
Nguyen: 100%. I noticed a wave of new players at my local tournament and after our games I would chat with them. I would say about 80% of them told me they started through TCG Pocket first.
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Start Tracking Now — It’s FreeQ. We’ve seen a huge wave of nostalgia recently (like the return to Kanto in 151 and the recent Prismatic Evolutions). Do you think the TCG is relying too heavily on nostalgia right now, or is the balance between old favorites and new mechanics like “Stellar Tera” healthy?
Nguyen: I think the TCG is doing a good job to balance between old favorites and new mechanics. At the end of the day, they have to keep their fan base and try to bring more people into the game.
Q. It often feels like there are two distinct hobbies: playing the game and investing in sealed product/graded slabs. In 2025, do you feel these two worlds are growing further apart, or are recent sets doing a good job of satisfying both crowds?
Nguyen: I think there is definitely a clear distinction between the two. Investing is definitely bigger than the player side. In my honest opinion, I feel like investors don’t really play the game, but players are most likely collector/investor as well.
Q. With the release schedule remaining very aggressive (new sets every 2–3 months plus special collections), does the hobby feel accessible to the average person, or is “burnout” becoming a real issue for the community?
Nguyen: Definitely burnout is a real issue. The hobby is not accessible to the average person which is extremely unfortunate. With so many sets coming out aggressively, I feel like people tend to skip certain sets to save money for a set they actually want to rip and collect.
Q. With mechanics like Mega Evolution returning in upcoming sets (referencing Legends: Z-A tie-ins), how do you think this impacts the current competitive meta compared to the Scarlet & Violet ex era we’ve been in?
Nguyen: Whenever something new comes out, the meta doesn’t shift that much since people are still comfortable with playing their old decks. It takes a little bit until you see new decks slowly get integrated into the meta. And of course, it takes a little bit until someone can really create and refine a good deck list for a new mechanic.
Q. If someone walked into a game store today with $50 and zero cards, what exactly would you tell them to buy to get the best start?
Nguyen: I always suggest everyone to just buy singles, but if they had to buy a specific product I would recommend the Dragapult or Marnie’s Grimmsnarl League Battle Deck. If not the Battle Deck, then I would recommend the Trainer Toolkit!
Q. For a socially anxious beginner, walking into a local game store for a tournament can be terrifying. What is the best way to break the ice at a local league?
Nguyen: Honestly the best way is to just do it and get yourself out there. I can tell you that the Pokémon community is great and has a lot of friendly players that are willing to help you. The amount of friends I made within the community is amazing. Of course, there are some people out there that aren’t too friendly, but those are rare. Definitely just fight through the social anxiousness and go out to your local game store for a tournament; once you get through your first one you will keep coming back.
Q. New players often get discouraged when they see empty shelves or inflated prices for popular sets. What is your best advice for a new player trying to find a product at retail price in the current market?
Nguyen: I can’t speak for all local game stores but at least for me in my area, a lot of my game stores prioritize their players. So if you come out to their local nights often they will notice that and help you get access to products either close to retail price or even retail price. You support them and they will return the favor!
Q. If money were no object, what single card would you add to your collection today and why?
Nguyen: My favorite Pokémon is Scyther and Flygon, so if I had infinite money I would buy up every single artwork of Scyther and Flygon!
Q. If you could force the entire community to play using the rules and cards from only one specific era (e.g., HeartGold SoulSilver, EX era, Sun & Moon), which era would you choose for the most fun gameplay?
Nguyen: Honestly I have only played since Sword and Shield so I don’t know the eras that well in the past. But I do recommend the Scarlet and Violet era. Compared to the Sword and Shield era, the current meta right now is a lot healthier with a variety of decks you can play that are fun and can perform well.
Q. If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about how The Pokémon Company manages the TCG right now (be it pull rates, card quality, or tournament structure), what would it be?
Nguyen: Back in the past they would give out a lot more exclusive promos for playing in tournaments, so I would love to see them bring that back!
Q. Where can people follow your journey?
Nguyen: You can find me on all social platforms @Royalillest, except on Instagram where my handle is @Royalillest.TCG.
