Melissa's Childhood Passion for Pokémon
For Melissa, Pokémon has been more than just a childhood pastime—it’s a lifelong passion rooted in fond memories with their older brother. Although he eventually moved on from the franchise, Melissa’s connection to Pokémon remained strong, with ebbs and flows as their life evolved. In fact, she actually competed in the TCG scene from 2011 to 2014. However, the constant set rotations and the financial burden of purchasing packs as a student made sustaining the hobby a challenging endeavour.
As a teen, the thrill of opening packs was enticing but unsustainable, and Melissa eventually stepped away, parting with most of their binders on Facebook. Still, she held onto a few sentimental cards—vintage Eeveelutions from their brother, a Groudon EX full art she traded for, a Victini FA gifted by a local TCG judge, and a Cobalion EX she used in their deck.
During their ITE days, she proudly carried the Victini and Cobalion cards on their school lanyard. These cards symbolized their fondest memories and deep love for Pokémon, even though the cards eventually suffered sun damage—a lesson they learned only after returning to collecting in 2024.
The Pull That Began Their Collecting Journey
One card in Melissa’s collection holds a special place in their heart: Rocket’s Articuno EX.
This was the first big hit she and their brother ever pulled together. They were just 10 and 11 years old, and the excitement of seeing the card emerge from a single pack bought with their saved-up pocket money is a memory she cherishes to this day.
Unlike some collectors, Melissa chooses not to grade their cards. She keeps them safe in binders, each one with its own designated spot. For them, the true value of the collection lies in the memories and the joy the cards bring, not in slabs or numerical grades.
A New Era; Discovering Illustration Rares
Melissa’s return to the hobby in late 2024 was sparked by a YouTuber completing a Gengar master set. Inspired, she saw the potential for collecting to be more meaningful and rewarding. However, settling on a focus for their collection was challenging.
There were so many choices, and she wasn’t sure which Pokémon to focus on because she had too many favorites. To curb their excitement, she bought a single pack of the cheapest set she could find. That pack introduced them to Illustration Rares (IRs), a card type she’d never seen before, with gorgeous and whimsical art that reignited their passion.
Some IR cards even inspired a new subcategory in their collection, one she affectionately refers to as The Sillies. This page in their binder is filled with IRs featuring funny, lighthearted designs that never fail to bring their joy. To keep the page visually consistent and highlight the artwork, she collects both English and Japanese cards for this unique category.
It's more rewarding if you collect cards for your own enjoyment, especially if have personal goals to chase after. Set some rules for yourself in how or what you wish to collect; it'll make your experience a lot more healthy and fun.
A Tale About Tandemaus and Maushold
Eventually, Melissa stumbled across Tandemaus and Maushold cards at the first friendly local game store she visited. In that moment, their goal became as clear as a sunny day. She had forgotten how much she loved these Pokémon while playing the video games, but the art on the cards immediately reawakened their affection for them. Their simple design, adorable concept, and the funny memes and jokes surrounding them solidified them as their all-time favorite Pokémon.
When choosing a Pokémon to collect, Melissa’s main requirement was that they had to have an Illustration Rare, and the collection shouldn’t be too difficult or expensive to complete. Since Tandemaus and Maushold were from the latest generation, the number of cards they had was manageable—not too big, but not too small—and the Illustration Rare was affordable.
Melissa recently completed their master set while writing this spotlight, and it’s been a fun and rewarding challenge. The experience was made even better because their partner, who also loves the Pokémon franchise, shares a similar passion for collecting. Together, they poured through binders, sorted jank piles, explored shops, and even started a Chonkychu collection!
Many members of the OFL community also helped them find the cards they needed, and Melissa shares that they’ve never had such a positive experience with trading card games until now :)
The Start Of Their PokéKyun Collection
While their main quest is complete, Melissa knows their collecting journey is far from over. Recently, she discovered the charming PokéKyun set and other cards that featured the green substitute plush in them. These unique cards have sparked their next potential collecting goal.
For Melissa, collecting has always been about more than just the cards. It’s the shared adventures and cherished memories—like opening booster packs with their partner or exploring shops for hidden treasures—that truly make the hobby so special.
Connect With Melissa And Follow Their Collecting Journey!
Want To Be Featured?
If you’re keen on being featured on our Collector Spotlight series, then reach out to us via our contact form!