How to start your vintage Pokémon figure collection

Collecting vintage Pokémon figures is easier than it looks — but a few early decisions save you money and regret. Here's the honest guide to getting started.

1. Define your goal

Before buying anything, decide which collection you want:

• Pure Tomy set — only the figures Tomy actually made. It's the "canon" of vintage collecting and has a clear finish line.
• Full Pokédex — one figure per Pokémon, the best available. Since Tomy never made a figure for the entire Pokédex, here you fill the gaps with the best available brand.

In PokéFig you switch between both modes with a toggle. If you don't know where to start, begin with Kanto (the first 151) in Tomy mode.

2. Loose or sealed

• Loose (out of package) is ~90% of the market, cheaper and perfect to start.
• Sealed (unopened) is worth more for scarce pieces or iconic blisters.

For a first collection, loose in good condition is the best value.

3. What to buy when there's no Tomy

For the Pokémon Tomy didn't make, there's a quality hierarchy: Zukan > Bandai Kids > Jakks > …. Not all brands are equal; PokéFig flags the best official substitute for each gap.

4. Watch out for bootlegs

The vintage market is full of copies. Don't overpay for a fake: learn the real signs, not the myths. The rule: no single mark proves authenticity — the signals converge.

5. Prices: reference, not investment

Figure prices go up and down. Use them as a dated reference, never as investment advice. The PokéFig Score gives you a sense of rarity with method, not by eye.

6. Track from day one

Keep record of what you have, what you're missing, and your wishlist. It saves in your browser (no account) and you can export a backup. That way you don't buy the same figure twice or lose sight of the gaps.

Welcome to the hobby. Start small, buy what you love, and let the collection grow on its own.