Trading Card Games & Spotting Fake Cards: Series 1 - Chinese Pokemon
Series 1: How to Spot Fake Chinese Pokemon Card Products
Chinese Pokemon sets have become one of the most exciting areas of the hobby. The artwork is premium, the gift boxes are unique, and some sets are exclusive to the region. But as demand grows, so do counterfeit products.
If you collect Chinese Pokemon, especially specific sets — this guide will help you confidently separate authentic product from fakes.
First: Know Which Chinese Pokemon You’re Buying
There are two official Chinese Pokemon TCG markets:
🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese (Mainland China)
🇹🇼 Traditional Chinese (Taiwan / Hong Kong)
They are both officially licensed Pokemon products — but they look different, are distributed differently, and come in different formats.
If a seller can’t clearly tell you which version you’re buying, that’s your first warning sign.
Let’s Talk About Popular Sets (Where Fakes Appear Most) Counterfeits almost always target high-demand or hyped releases.
Below are some real Chinese Pokémon set examples — and what to look for.
Chinese High-Class & Gift Box Style Sets
Modern Simplified Chinese releases often come in:
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Premium gift box formats
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Thick outer sleeves
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Magnetic lids or rigid packaging
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Exclusive promo cards inside
Fake versions dead giveaways:
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Use thin cardboard instead of rigid stock
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Have slightly blurred outer artwork
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Feature low-resolution Pokémon logos
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Contain loose or badly wrapped booster packs
Authentic Chinese gift boxes feel substantial. If it feels light or flimsy, something’s wrong.
Example: Chinese Versions of Modern Era Sets
Many Chinese sets (traditional) mirror Japanese releases in structure whereas Simplified is loosely based on existing releases (such as the CSV sets) but use different packaging with some expansions such as 151C are complete unique and exclusive to Chinese Pokemon.
When checking sealed booster boxes, check these details:
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Tight, factory-clean shrink wrap
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Correct barcode placement
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Clean colour saturation
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Sharp font edges
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Proper energy symbols
Common Fake Signs
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Washed-out colours
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Oversaturated reds/blues
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Misaligned side text
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Spelling inconsistencies
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“Too glossy” printing
Real Chinese Pokemon products are printed to extremely high standards, especially newer releases.
Spotting Fake Chinese Pokemon Singles
This is where many collectors get caught out.
Card Texture & Finish
Authentic textured cards:
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Have crisp, defined embossing
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Show consistent holo patterns
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Reflect light evenly
Fake cards often:
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Use random glitter foil
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Have no texture where there should be texture
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Feel thin or plasticky
If a card bends easily or feels glossy like laminated paper, avoid it.
Fonts & Micro Details
Chinese Pokémon cards still use standard Pokémon layout structure.
Check:
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Attack text alignment
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Energy symbol proportions
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Set numbering format
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Copyright line clarity
Counterfeiters usually get small typography details wrong. Let's take a look at a few of the key features that you can look for that will indicate whether a card is real or fake.
3 of the most common features that you can look for that will identify a card as authentic even from just a brief visual inspection:
- Boarders: are proportional in thickness, cleanly cut (including corners) textures match the card surface and colours, as previously mentioned, washed out colours or inconsistent gradients can really be a key indicator of authentic or fake.
- Texture: cards that are most commonly targeted for the creation fakes are special releases, rare promos and high rarity cards. Usually, these cards have a unique texture which is due to a specific use of material and manufacturing processes that is not easy to replicate. Texture can be a big giveaway
- Fonts & Spacing: One thing fake cards get wrong a lot, is font types. If you hold a fake uo next to the real thing, you will notice that the font type is close, but it just isn't quite there. This teamed with the fact that the spacing and sometimes font size itself is not inline.
What about price?..... The “Too Cheap” Rule
If a sealed Chinese booster box that normally retails £70–£100 is listed for £20–£30…
It’s not a clearance sale. It’s almost certainly fake.
Chinese Pokemon products are not “budget Pokémon.” They are official, licensed releases with real production costs.
Massively discounted listings on unknown marketplace accounts are the most common counterfeit channel.
Why Chinese Sets Are Targeted
Chinese Pokemon products are increasingly popular because:
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They feature exclusive promos
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Some sets are region-unique
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Gift box formats feel premium
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Print quality is excellent
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They are newer to Western collectors
New collectors + high demand = counterfeit opportunity. Unfortunately, like a lot of industries, where there is opportunity to take advantage for the purpose of short term gain, you can guarantee there are a small percentage of a huge industry ready to spoil it for everyone.
That’s simply how the secondary market works sometimes, so understanding the market will keep you safe.
Before buying any Chinese Pokémon product (or any product for that matter):
- Confirm Simplified or Traditional Chinese
- Ask for sealed photos (not stock images)
- Check shrink wrap quality
- Inspect fonts & logo sharpness
- Compare with verified retailer images
- Avoid “too good to be true” pricing
If a seller refuses extra photos, that’s information in itself.
Again, whether it is retail, or independent or even a friend. The rule of "too good to be true" will almost certainly keep you right.
Eduction is key, like any hobby, trading card games are very nuanced and even some of us who have been in the business and hobby space for a lot of years are still learning!
But if you want a stress free journey through this type of hobby, the solution is simple...
Buy from trusted retailers with a track record of doing good business. Reputable retailers like ourselves already work hard in the background sourcing top quality suppliers, have the infrastructure and staff to quality assure sealed products and take the risk out of your purchasing decision.
With that in mind, take a look at our growing Chinese Pokemon Collection here!
Stay safe out there Pokemon fans.