How to Legit Check Simplified Chinese Pokemon Cards | KrystalKollectz

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Just because a Pokemon card is from China, doesn't mean it's fake. However, you also don't need to be able to read or understand Chinese to determine if a Pokemon card from Mainland China is real or not. 

This article will give you some pointers on how to legit check any Simplified Chinese Pokemon card. Thankfully, Pokemon China considered the potential production of counterfeits and therefore went the extra mile to help collectors confirm whether they're buying the real deal or not.

Before getting into detail, please note that there are TWO separate categories of Chinese Pokemon cards: Traditional ( 寶可夢) & Simplified ( 宝可梦). If you don't know the differences between them, I recommend watching this explanation video from my Youtube Channel (KrystalKollectz) to learn the differences before reading further.

Language comparison 
Pokémon in Simplified Chinese = 宝可梦  | Mainland China 🇨🇳
Pokémon in Traditional Chinese = 寶可夢 | Taiwan & Hong Kong 🇹🇼🇭🇰

Some major signs of legitimacy to look out for include:

- A holographic circular sticker on the packaging. This sticker will display the official English & S-Chinese Pokemon logos along with a number beneath them (which seems to be unique for each individual item - even booster boxes of the same set will each have different numbers). These holographic stickers are also found on tags of official Pokemon plushies from Mainland China and packaging of collectible figures (by Funism, for example).
         

- A Pokemon logo embossed into the bottom left corner of any card with holofoil (GX, V, VMAX, ex, ARs, SARs, etc.); With this being said, you won't see the logo on the common & uncommon Pokemon cards*. Since this logo is essentially textured, it will be difficult for counterfeits to be made (especially if the fakes are photocopied). If you see a Pokemon logo, but it's not obviously textured, then it's likely a counterfeit card. Be mindful that this logo can be hard to capture on photos due to the lack of color contrast - it's much easier to see these logos in person.

*NOTE: Traditional Chinese ( 寶可夢) Pokemon cards from Taiwan & Hong Kong WON'T have the Pokemon logo on the bottom left corner
                         
- this includes the 5th anniversary Pikachu promo (NOT a Simplified Chinese release)

          alternates to a Poke Ball logo (depending on how the light reflects on it).
                             

                 
                       (Poké Ball logo showing)
(Card: Tera Forretress ex 005/130 RR from csv3C)

                                    (Sun & Moon era) 
                                   

                             
                        (Scarlet & Violet era)

       

                (no Poké Ball logo shrink wrap)

                  (with Poké Ball shrink wrap)