Example card
- Name: Pikachu, near the top
- Collector number: 025/165, near the bottom
- Set code: MEW, in the small box near the bottom
- Language marking: EN, alongside the set code
Pikachu · Scarlet & Violet—151 · 025/165 · English · Non-holo
Name
Start with the name printed near the top. Many different cards feature the same Pokémon, so ‘Pikachu’ alone won’t identify a particular card.
Set
The set, also called an expansion, is the release the card belongs to. Look for a small set symbol or code, often near the bottom of the card. The location and format vary between releases.
On this example, MEW is the set code for Scarlet & Violet—151. The full set name is supplied in our caption; it isn’t printed in full on the card.
A tin or collection box is a product, not a set name.
Card number
Look for the collector number, usually near the bottom edge. On this card it is 025/165. Record the full number and use it alongside the set.
Don’t confuse it with ‘NO. 0025’ beneath the artwork—that is Pikachu’s Pokédex number.
For this set, 165 is the main numbered set size. Additional cards have numbers beyond it, including Pikachu 173/165. The number after the slash is not the number of copies printed, and an above-total number alone doesn’t establish whether a card is genuine.
Language
Read the text on the card itself. This example also has an EN marking for English beside its set code. Cards in different languages can share artwork, so compare more than the picture.
Version
Matching the name, set and collector number may still leave a version difference. For example, Pikachu 025/165 from 151 has both non-holo and reverse holo versions.
Check the finish and any relevant stamps or edition details. Rarity and finish are separate details, and foil patterns vary between releases. If a photo doesn’t show the finish clearly, leave that detail unconfirmed.
A search that works
Combine the details you’ve identified:
Name + full collector number + set + language + version.
Pikachu 025/165 151 English non-holo
If you don’t know the set or finish yet, start with the name and full collector number. Compare the artwork, set markings and other details before adding the missing information. Don’t assume the first result is the same version.
Worth remembering
Knowing which card you have is different from knowing its condition, whether it's genuine, or what it's worth.