What to Collect, How to Start & Where to Begin
For Kabir Malhotra, a marketing executive from Pune, one booster pack bought on a whim turned into a serious TCG habit within months. Trading card games span a wide universe — Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, and cricket-themed card sets — each with its own rarities, mechanics, and passionate fan base. What makes TCG collecting so addictive is the blend of gameplay, artistry, and the thrill of pulling a rare card from a fresh pack.
Sanjana Rathi in Bengaluru got into TCGs through Pokemon nostalgia, while Aryan Bedi in Delhi is drawn to the competitive deck-building side of the hobby. For anyone exploring TCG for beginners, the advice from veterans stays consistent: pick one game to focus on first, learn card rarities and set names before buying, and always verify a seller’s authenticity before purchasing singles or sealed packs.
Nikhil Chandra, who runs a small TCG stall at conventions in Chennai, says most newcomers make the mistake of chasing every popular card at once. Instead, he recommends starting with a starter deck or a single booster box, learning the game’s terminology, and letting a personal collection take shape one thoughtful pull at a time.
