Should Have Kept It Sealed - How to Identify Fake Cards

 

Introduction

As the popularity and value of Pokémon Trading Cards continue to grow, so does the prevalence of counterfeits. Being able to distinguish between a genuine card and a fake one is crucial for collectors and players alike. Fakes often have poor print quality, incorrect materials, and can devalue a collection or lead to disappointment. In this article, we at the Paradox Team are going to give you some key tips and pointers on how to avoid fakes, and keep your collection - and your wallets safe.

Key Indicators of Authenticity

When examining a Pokémon card, focus on the following core areas:

1. The Card Stock & Feel

A genuine Pokémon card is printed on high-quality, layered card stock.

Feature	Real Card	Fake Card
Texture/Feel	Smooth, but slightly textured, often raised. Feels sturdy and substantial.	Often feels too smooth, waxy, slick, or overly thin and flimsy. It may feel like cheap photo paper.
Bend Test	Difficult to tear or crease. If gently bent, it should spring back to its original shape without leaving a permanent crease.	Tears easily. Will often leave a permanent, noticeable crease when bent, or may snap/break quickly.
Light Test	When a strong light source is shone through the card, the light should be heavily diffused and difficult to see through due to the layered card stock.	Often lets a lot of light pass through easily, sometimes appearing translucent, due to being printed on thinner paper.

 

2. Print Quality and Clarity

The printing quality of an authentic Pokémon card is sharp, vibrant, and consistent.

Feature	Real Card	Fake Card
Text/Font	Crisp, clear, and perfectly centered. The font used for the card name, attacks, and HP is uniform across all legitimate cards.	Text may appear blurry, pixelated, too thin, too bold, or "bleeding" at the edges. Incorrect or inconsistent font usage is a major red flag.
Color Saturation	Colors are vibrant but not overly intense or neon. Consistent color shading.	Colors are often dull, washed out, or conversely, too bright and saturated (fluorescent-like). Shading may be poor or non-existent.
Holographic/Foil Pattern	Holographic patterns are intricate, reflective, and typically diagonal, vertical, or starburst. The pattern is usually distinct and well-defined.	Foil patterns may be simple, messy, have a 'glitter' appearance, or be just a simple sheen with no underlying pattern. The reflection quality is usually inferior.

 

3. Energy Symbols & Specific Details

Pay close attention to the small details, as these are often overlooked by counterfeiters. 

• Energy Symbols: On real cards, the energy symbols (Fire, Water, Grass, etc.) are always crisp and uniformly shaped. Fakes often have distorted, blurry, or improperly sized symbols.

• Set Symbol: Every card belongs to a specific set, indicated by a small symbol or set code (e.g., a Two overlapping stars for Neo Genesis, PFL for Phantasmal Flames). This symbol should be clear and match the expected symbol for the set. Fakes may use the wrong symbol or have a poorly rendered one.

• Borders: The yellow borders on the front of the card should be uniform in thickness. Uneven or extremely thick/thin borders can indicate a fake.

4. Back of the Card

The back of the card is a critical piece of evidence but takes a careful eye to spot.

• Color and Imagery: The blue and white Pokémon logo and border should be a specific shade of blue. Fakes often have a slightly off-color blue (too light, too dark, or too purple).  

• "Pokémon" Logo: The text should be perfectly legible and crisp. Blurriness or strange color breaks in the logo are signs of a fake.

5. Packaging

In some cases you can even identify a fake before the pack has been opened. Packs that have been resealed or counterfeit also may not look like your regular booster packs you will find at other trading card game stores.

• Crimped Cuts:  Packs with sharp, jagged edges are a definitive sign that is illegitimate. Normal packs have a smooth and straight cut along the top and bottom of the packaging.

• Artwork: Various Pokémon may appear on the graphic that are either not included in the set or contain artwork that is not created by the Pokémon company.

• Text & Set Symbols: The Pokémon logo itself can be off centered, or include different set names entirely.

In the example provided below, we can identify a few key details such as the sharp perforated edges on the top and bottom of the booster pack. The art on the left pack does not match Temporal Forces pack art printed by the Pokémon Company. The second pack does include the same artwork, however in addition they have added Pikachu’s artwork from the popular Paldean Fates booster packs.

 

Advanced Techniques for Verification

If after following these steps you are still unsure, you can employ a few additional techniques:

• Rip Test: This is destructive method and only recommended for a card you are certain is fake. A real card, when torn, should show a thin black or dark gray line in the middle of the cross-section, indicating the carbon layer used in the card stock. Fakes usually show only white paper layers.

• Comparison: Always compare the suspicious card side-by-side with a known, authentic card from the same set. Pay attention to the height, width, weight, and subtle color differences.

• Smell Test: Bear with me. While subjective, real cards have a distinct, slightly sweet cardboard smell. Fakes cards often smell strongly of cheap ink or chemicals.

 

Conclusion

Unfortunate as it may be, with the games popularity fake cards are only getting better with time as well.