Month: November 2025

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My Sealed Pokemon Pack Collection Part 1

A little while ago we had to post a very frustrating post on our Facebook following a theft from the shop. That theft wasn’t even from our shop stock which is what made it hurt even more. It’s not even like it was worth a huge amount financially… but it was mine. It was from my own personal pokemon collection.

We never managed to retrieve them but have got cctv in the area and I think we must have just missed the time window by the time we noticed when I was cataloguing the collection ready for a binder. But anyway lesson learned, that collection doesn’t live in arms reach any more!

Two sealed Pokémon trading card booster packs from the Sword & Shield Chilling Reign expansion, featuring artwork of legendary Pokémon on the front.
Three sealed Pokémon Champion's Path booster packs arranged side by side, featuring colorful artwork of various Pokémon characters.
Two Pokémon trading card game booster packs featuring White Flare on the left and Black Bolt on the right, showcasing sleek designs with distinct colors and characters.
Five sealed Pokémon trading card booster packs from the Astral Radiance set, featuring various Pokémon artwork.

Now we’re about a month down the line from that and somehow I’m still waiting for my binder to arrive. I went for a cheap binder designed for slabs because I couldn’t find a decent reasonably priced one for packs and when it arrives I’ll do an update for you. For now though I wanted to share my very modest starter collection of pack arts and reveal what’s my favourite at the moment.

So why sealed pokemon booster packs?

Completing things like master sets these days, especially from pulling cards yourself has become incredibly difficult for your average collector. We know because we often can’t even get new sets ourselves from our wholesalers.

I currently have 3 different collections on the go:

  • A full English language pokedex
  • Magnemite and it’s evolutions (+ sandy shocks because why not)
  • Sealed booster packs (1 of each pack art) in English
Three Pokémon Trick or Trade booster packs featuring various Pokémon designs, including Gengar, Pikachu, and Mimikyu.
Two Pokémon Trading Card Game prize pack wrappers: Series Four and Series Five, displaying colorful designs and logos.
Three Pokémon trading card fun packs featuring Mega Evolution, Destined Rivals, and a fun pack from the Scarlet & Violet series.
A sealed Pokémon trading card booster pack from the Pokémon Go series featuring Mewtwo, Pikachu, and other Pokémon artwork.
A sealed Pokémon trading card booster pack from the Scarlet & Violet 151 set featuring a design with Mew and a Pokéball.

I find, and I often recommend when people ask what should I collect, that one of those routes is a lot of fun and also far more affordable and less stressful in most cases. After all, collecting (especially for kids) should be a fun and accessible activity.

Plus the pokemon design guys put a lot of work in to their packs… they have to! That’s their marketing after all, and as a result you get a beautiful product with amazing designs that often get overlooked in collections.

Aren’t all sealed product collectors just scalpers?

This is something I hear a lot and I think it’s absolutely ridiculous, especially from someone who does collect sealed product and does so for the sake of the product. Take me as an example, I own a shop so I have an outlet. If I wanted to make a quick couple hundred pounds – and trust me those couple hundred quid would be handy some times… I’d just sell my sealed product. But I won’t because this is my collection and I genuinely cherish it.

Plenty of people hold on to 1 etb, sealed packs, a sealed booster box… they always have done. It’s always been a huge part of collecting trading cards. Especially with magic the gathering or sports cards in the past, it was common to buy 2 booster boxes. 1 to put in your binder and 1 to forget about at the bottom of your cupboard.

Collecting sealed or even keeping hold of a product or two as an investment is not the same as scalping. It’s smart collecting.

Four sealed Pokémon Mega Evolution booster pack arts displayed on a white background, featuring different Pokémon characters.
Four sealed Pokémon trading card booster packs from the Rebel Clash set, featuring various Pokémon characters on the packaging.
Four sealed Pokemon booster packs from the Sword & Shield Vivid Voltage set featuring various Pokemon designs.
Four Pokémon Sword & Shield Battle Styles booster packs displayed in a square arrangement, featuring illustrated artwork of various Pokémon.
Four Pokémon Scarlet & Violet booster packs featuring different designs and characters from the game.
Four Pokémon trading card booster packs from the Obsidian Flames set, featuring vibrant artwork on each pack.

Scalpers are an ever growing problem in the pokemon community and are part of the reason why small shops like us just can’t get new pokemon sets or why kids no longer play the game. Buying a shelf load of booster packs from Walmart or emptying a vending machine, opening it all and then selling your hits because you’re not collecting yourself. That’s scalping. You absolutely can collect sealed and if that’s what you want to do, don’t listen to the haters, collect what makes you happy.

So with my rant out of the way, what are my favourite pack arts?

For me, the best set in my collection is absolutely Prismatic evolutions. Those packs are absolutely stunning. They look cool, they look classy and who doesn’t love an eeveelution. I will say I’m also a sucker for Team Rocket and a red / black colour combination so I think Destined Rivals probably comes a fairly close second. However if I had to pick 1 individual pack, I’d have to go with the fat pikachu from Vivid voltage. Not because it’s the best looking (although it is very nice) but because when I got back in to collecting pokemon this was the first pack I got and that got me hooked. After that, for some reason that fat pikachu also seemed to become my lucky pack when ever I got it in a tin!

Four sealed Pokemon trading card booster packs from the 'Destined Rivals' set, featuring various characters and vibrant artwork.
Four sealed Pokémon Prismatic Evolutions booster packs featuring various Pokémon designs.

What’s missing from my collection?

There are so many packs missing and from here on out they’re just going to get more expensive but here are a few bits I need that stand out more than others:

  • The sets that got stolen. Twilight masquerade (and this is how I know they just grabbed a stack they could reach because who steals Twilight masquerade), paldean fates, pladea evolved, brilliant stars and crown zenith.
  • I’m missing 3 packs from chilling reign, 5 prize packs and from what I can tell 4 mcdonalds packs from the UK.
  • To fill in some easy gaps I want the other 1 pack art (not counting promo packs) sets – celebrations, Detective pikachu and crown zenith comes up again here too.
Four Pokémon trading card game booster packs from the Scarlet & Violet: Temporal Forces set, featuring different Pokémon artwork.
Four sealed Pokémon Booster Packs from the Scarlet & Violet Paradox Rift series, featuring various Pokémon designs.
Four sealed Pokémon booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable set, featuring vibrant artwork and branding.
Four sealed Pokémon trading card booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet set titled 'Stellar Crown'. Each pack features vibrant artwork and branding, showcasing different Pokémon.
Four booster packs of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks, featuring colorful artwork and characters.
Four sealed Pokémon trading card booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet series titled 'Journey Together'.

From there on its just moving my way up and seeing what I can hunt down, including the promo fun packs and some of the more unusual bits like the topps chrome series. But things are going to get a lot more expensive from here on.

Watch this space for updates. I’m actually just about to pull the trigger on 6 fun packs but I’m impatient so am not going to wait until then to publish this.

Which packs do I actually have?

Just as a quick aside on the end here even though I have already shared all the photos. Here is a current (as of 12th November 2025) list of everything I have in date order starting from the most recent (and ending with the various in-between bits at the end):

  • Mega Evolutions (all 4 packs + fun pack)
  • Black Bolt & White Flare (both packs)
  • Destined Rivals (all 4 packs + fun pack)
  • Journey Together (all 4 packs)
  • Prismatic Evolutions (all 4 packs)
  • Surging Sparks (all 4 packs)
  • Stellar Crown (all 4 packs)
  • Shrouded Fable (all 4 packs)
  • Temporal Forces (all 4 packs)
  • Paradox Rift (all 4 packs)
  • 151
  • Obsidian Flames (all 4 packs)
  • Scarlet & Violet base set (all 4 packs)
  • Pokemon Go
  • Astral Radiance (all 5 packs)
  • Chilling Reign (2 of 5 packs – Moltres & Zapdos)
  • Battle Styles (all 4 packs)
  • Vivid Voltage (all 4 packs)
  • Champions Path (all 3 packs)
  • Rebel Clash (all 4 packs)
  • Trick or Trade (all 3 years)
  • Prize Pack Series (numbers 4 & 5 of 7)
  • UK McDonalds Promos (2025 from the last 5 years)

78 packs altogether.

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How to Spot a Fake Funko Pop — The Ultimate Collector’s Guide

At the time of writing my first article about fake Pops (the Captain Spaulding one — still floating around somewhere in the archives!), it surprised me how many people were being caught out. So here’s the updated, all-in-one guide for spotting a fake Funko Pop, no matter who the character is.

If you’re here because a deal looks a little too good to be true… you’re probably right to be suspicious.

Whether you’re new to collecting or knee-deep in grails, these are the steps that’ll save you from wasting your hard-earned cash on counterfeits.

Quick Checklist for Spotting a Fake Funko Pop

  • Does the seller’s location match where they say they’re based? (Lots of fakes come from China or Hong Kong.)
  • Is the seller using real photos of the item, not just stock images?
  • Do they have solid feedback or collector reputation?
  • Does the figure have a serial number on the back of the head or foot — and does it match the one printed on the box?
  • Is the paintwork crisp and accurate, without sloppy edges or excess plastic from molding?
  • Does the box design and colour scheme perfectly match the character? (Compare with official images if unsure.)
  • Is the price realistic? If it’s too cheap for a vaulted or exclusive figure, assume it’s fake until proven otherwise.
  • For newer releases, check for QR stickers and scan them (see below).

Why Fakes Exist (and Why You Should Care)

Just because a Pop only costs £14.99 new doesn’t mean it’s not worth counterfeiting. Many of the most faked Pops are exclusives, vaulted releases, or anything connected to a major fandom moment (like an actor passing away or a new movie launch).

Most fake Pops come from large-scale producers in Asia — and some of these factories literally advertise the ability to make “Funko-style figures.” The moulds, boxes, and paints are close enough to fool casual collectors, so knowing what to look for is crucial.

Buy From Trusted Sellers

The simplest way to avoid getting scammed is to buy from trusted sources.
If you’re buying a brand new release, especially an exclusive or chase, stick to official retailers and authorised Funko stockists.

Trusted UK & EU sellers include:

Independent comic and collectible stores are often great too — just check they buy direct from distributors and not from third-party resellers.

If you’re buying online from eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Amazon, double-check:

  • Seller location (if it says “UK” but ships from China — run).
  • Feedback quality.
  • Photos of the actual item — not stock images.

And remember: if it’s way cheaper than market value, it’s fake or faulty.

Serial Numbers and Box Checks

Every genuine Funko Pop figure has a serial number printed (or stamped) either on the back of the head or on one of the feet. This number should also appear on the bottom of the box.

Check these carefully:

  • If the Pop has no serial number at all, it’s a fake.
  • If it has one, compare it to the box — they should match.
  • But note: counterfeiters are getting better, and sometimes replicate the same numbers. So don’t rely on this alone.

Also pay attention to the box print quality:

  • Look for fuzzy edges, dull colours, or odd fonts.
  • Counterfeit boxes are often re-scanned and re-printed from photos of real ones, losing crispness in small details like copyright text or contact info.
  • If the cardboard feels cheap or floppy, that’s another red flag.

Paintwork, Plastic & Packaging

Even with all the right numbers, a fake still gives itself away in the details:

  • Real Pops have clean paint lines, sharp eyes, and properly filled colours.
  • Fakes often have messy paint, incorrect colours, or visible glue marks.
  • Some will even have bits of excess vinyl left from poor moulding.
  • The weight can also be off — some counterfeits are noticeably lighter or feel hollow.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off when you hold it, it probably is.

Modern Check: QR Stickers & the Funko App

As of late 2024, Funko has started rolling out a new QR + Code verification sticker system in partnership with Octane5 to help collectors authenticate their Pops.

Where to Find It

  • You’ll usually see it on the front of the box, where the special edition or exclusive sticker sits.
  • It includes a QR code and a unique serial number printed on the sticker.

How to Use It

  1. Scan the QR code with your phone camera.
  2. You’ll be redirected to an Octane5 verification page.
  3. Enter the unique code printed next to the QR.
  4. If it’s real, the page confirms it’s an authentic Funko product.

You can read more about this system here: Funko x Octane5 Official Announcement

The Funko App (Your Collector Companion)

The official Funko App is available for iOS and Android.
It lets you:

  • Scan barcodes to look up Pops in the official Funko catalog
  • Check current trending values (via their eBay integration)
  • Add Pops to your collection or wishlist
  • Verify that your Pop actually exists as an official listing

Important: The app can help verify details, but it’s not foolproof — counterfeiters often copy barcodes from real Pops, so some fakes will still scan correctly.

Use it as a helpful tool, but always double-check physical details.

Pro Tips from Collectors

  • Compare your Pop to official images on Funko.com.
  • Look up known fake comparisons on Reddit or collector forums.
  • Avoid “too good to be true” bundles from sellers outside your region.
  • For secondhand buys, ask for close-up photos of serials, box flaps, and sticker areas.
  • If the seller refuses detailed photos or rushes you — walk away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all Funko Pops have QR codes now?
No, only newer releases (mainly exclusives and event Pops) include the new QR/Octane5 stickers. Older Pops rely on traditional markings and box details.

Can I verify a Pop just by scanning it in the Funko App?
No — it helps confirm the Pop exists, but doesn’t guarantee your figure is real. Some fakes copy real barcodes.

If my Pop has no serial number, can it still be real?
Not likely. Every genuine Pop (except some older prototypes or errors) should have one on the figure itself.

Final Thoughts

Counterfeit Funko Pops have come a long way — and unfortunately, so have the scammers.
But with a bit of know-how and the right tools (including the Funko App and the new QR sticker system), you can stay ahead of the fakers.

Remember: trust your gut, buy from reputable sources, and don’t be afraid to ask questions in the community.

If this guide helped you, drop us a message or share it with your fellow collectors. Let’s keep the hobby real.

— The Nerd Life Shop Crew