I gifted the Pokemon Battle Academy set this year to my nephews (both 9yo). BA is boxed like a board game, it has three decks, two basic decks which are pre-sorted to play a tutorial game, and one advanced unsorted deck, along with guides for playing both decks, a full game guide, coin, damage counters, and a board which guides you on how to play. I also bought them sleeves and a couple of boosters that I told them they could use later.

I was there when they opened the box, told them about how I convinced their grandpa when I was their age to get me my first deck, and how I didn’t play with anyone for a long time because no one in school had cards, and how lucky they were to have each other to play with. In the spirit of letting them do their Christmas thing, I told them “do you need me to teach you how to play?” they said they were ok, and I went to do other things around the house.

15 minutes later I come back and all cards are basically scattered around the room. One of my nephews is negotiating to trade 20 cards of their pre-constructed deck for the holo that comes on the other’s deck. The advance deck is nowhere to be found, it’s probably now part of their mega deck. The board, counters, coin and guides are still in the box.

They never battled, but all in all, they stayed trading cards all morning until they had to leave. One of them showed the other how to open their boosters the way youtubers open them (by putting the rare ones at the end for maximum content) and the importance of sleeving their holos.

I guess collecting is more fun these days. I’m happy they found joy in that.

Maybe we battle next year.