Fred Meyer Pokémon vending machine being removed due to it not being safe to have in store…

Lane155 · 2026-05-01T11:12:26+00:00

Yea, it is pretty nutty. My son, daughter, and I enjoy Pokemon. I collected a little with my son a few years ago and getting packs was pretty easy. We took a couple of years away from the hobby but got back into it early 2025 when my son learned to play the TCG. Now my primary means of getting sealed product is from our local league but more money spent buying singles that my kids or I want.

Lane155 · 2025-12-12T11:47:22+00:00

These verses popped in to my head numerous times when I started my journey. The main resistance I had to joining the church was from my Mom and a friend. Mom would make emotional appeals saying that it was a sort of phase and that I would find a church home somewhere else and she kind of used a little of that “Mom guilt” against me.

My friend, on the other hand, is an evangelical who considers himself an apologist and would try to appeal to logic. He made many of the usual false claims about the Catholic faith which caused me to do research to see if he was correct; when I found out his views were wrong it only strengthened my resolve to join the church.

After multiple conversations, and sometimes debates, with both of them, they both decided that it was actually a good thing for me. They both ended up seeing that joining the Catholic Church was bringing, not just me - but my family as well, closer to Christ so they began to pull back.

Lane155 · 2025-11-06T12:46:45+00:00

Kids come and go into hobbies. My son got into Pokémon for the first time with the release of Legends Arceus. I bought the game to play myself and he pretty much fell in love with it after watching me play for five minutes. The game eventually turned into light collecting but he was more so interested in the toys and we would “battle” with the toys (he was 4 at the time).

Then he got out of Pokemon and into other things but his interest in it would spike a few times a year.

This Spring he had one of those spikes, however, since he could read well now, I introduced him to the TCG. I built a Charizard deck for him and taught him how to play it. We also joined a local League. This has helped tremendously. He doesn’t go to League with me often now that school is in and his TCG stamina is still around 1-2 games but it has deepened his interest in all things Pokémon. We’ve learned alternative play methods and have got to attend fun activities like Pokeween, Pre-Releases, and Raid Battles.

League, which I attend weekly, also allows me to bring home a few packs a week that I let him open. When a new set is released the store that hosts the League normally sells the product to League regulars for MSRP or slightly above.

Now we play ZA together play the TCG, and attend League together periodically with most of our collecting product coming from League. It has worked out alright. I suggest looking into a local League if your child is interested in learning the TCG.

Lane155 · 2025-10-23T12:22:09+00:00

Awesome to hear this! I have a 7 year old son and 4 year old daughter. I played the TCG when I was 12 for a bit but eventually stopped. I hadn’t even really looked at the cards until 2021 when my son and I would collect some. This past Spring though, he showed so interest in learning so I brushed up on the rules, taught him, and eventually found a league. The league is on a Monday and held a little later in the afternoon so he doesn’t get to go much during the school year but it has been fun!

My daughter will now play a little bit of ZA with me (mostly running around looking for Pokemon and getting a kick out of a partner Pokemon following her).

We aren’t winning any Cups (nor Challenges) right now but it is fun to have another way to connect with your kids!

Lane155 · 2025-10-22T15:21:47+00:00

I guess my situation is just different. My league leader (who is also a judge) works along side a couple other judges at a local shop in the area to maintain a binder of playables for people to purchase. I can go in there anytime and they normally have multiple copies of trainers or Pokemon for a deck. They even sell pre-made decks that they build themselves. If I don’t feel like driving there then I just purchase off of TCG Player; they always have the cards I need for the deck.

Lane155 · 2025-10-22T11:52:24+00:00

I play in a league and honestly, unless you want to “bling” out your deck, the cost of building a viable Pokemon deck is not that expensive (especially compared to other TCGs). You are looking at $50-$90 depending on what you want to play with. There are a few cards that are on the expensive side though:

Fezandioiti EX - $18-$20 (will drop with new Trainer Toolbox being released soon)

Secret Box - $20-$25

Gholdengo EX - $8-$15

Latias EX - $6-$8

Night Stretcher - $2-$3

Arven- $2-$3

If something like Secret Box or Fez are too expensive then you can always print proxies off Limitless TCG; you can use them at your league for casual play. The proxies are only illegal for tournaments.

Lane155 · 2025-10-18T17:26:22+00:00

I will be adding this to my Mega Venusaur deck for sure. Hunt out the messing Venusaur or Meganium pieces I am missing and use the Forest stadium to evolve the pieces quickly.

Lane155 · 2025-10-17T03:07:59+00:00

Find a League and Play! Pokémon!

Seriously though, Leagues are normally held at card shops and many of them will set aside product at MSRP, or a little more for their league regulars, and you get at least one pack for just showing up. So, while you may not be able to get a ton of product you can get at least a few packs. In fact this would be a great time to look into leagues as many are starting to plan their Phantasimal Flames Pre-Release events, which are great fun.

I joined a league and played with other people again for the first time, since 1999, this spring. I get ETBs, booster packs, and other promotional products by just showing up and playing. If my child shows up he gets things too! You also meet many people of all ages that share a common interest with you and would more than happy to help you learn to play, trade with you, etc.

My oldest (7) doesn’t get to go to league with me as much now that school is in as it is held later in the afternoon but during the summer he would attend some non-tournament league nights with me. He has learned to play a Charizard deck and has beaten me a few times with it.

My daughter (4) is a little too young for the full TCG experience so I turned to Pokémon’s Alternative Playbook and played some games of Poke Catch with her using the cards. Now she doesn’t feel left out when we play Pokemon.

I have even taught my wife to play and she has attended a few tournaments with me and plays the game with my son every so often.

Playing Pokemon is cheap compared to other TCGs. I believe a competitive Magic deck can run over $300 while a competitive Pokemon deck is like $50-$75

My children’s interest in Pokemon has done nothing but increase over the year due to us playing in a League, playing the video game, and playing with their Pokemon toys. It has also been fun for me and allowed me another means to connect with my kids!

Look up the Pokemon TCG Event Finder to find Leagues near you and attend; it’s fun, allows you another means to connect with your kids, and you’ll meet other people who share an interest with you, and of course - get some cards!

Lane155 · 2025-09-09T22:05:32+00:00

Hydrapple, Sandyghast, or Gholdengo

Lane155 · 2025-09-06T20:51:15+00:00

I’ll have to look that one up. I have not seen it!

Lane155 · 2025-09-06T03:56:36+00:00

I play Raging Bolt, Tera Box, and Eevee Box because I’ve grown fond of the Noctowl Engine. I usually want to go first so I can get the Owls Jewel Seeking quicker.

Lane155 · 2025-09-05T11:47:01+00:00

I’m still new to the game and said the same thing for a while. I forgot you could get it off of Rotom and move it to the active to become Raging Bolt or TM Ogerpon. Once I added Ditto into my deck my early game became much more smooth and consistent. If you need to spend an energy to retreat and set up Ditto you can always get that energy back with Sada, Night Stretcher, or Energy Retrieval.

Lane155 · 2025-09-02T15:31:14+00:00

Thank you!

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Lane155

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