SNKRDUNK Speaks to Lifelong Pokémon Fan and Content Creator Isabella on Her Pokémon TCG Story and Beyond

23rd December 2024 EDT FEATURES

SNKRDUNK Speaks to Lifelong Pokémon Fan and Content Creator Isabella on Her Pokémon TCG Story and Beyond

SNKRDUNK spoke to Isabella (@pokibun__), a Pokémon TCG, VGC, and UNITE streamer from Melbourne, Australia, not only on Pokémon TCG-related topics but also on other aspects of the Pokémon fandom she's been involved in.

A Pokémon TCG, VGC, and UNITE streamer from Melbourne, Australia, Isabella—who goes by the handle “pokibun__“—has been beginning to carve out a clear niche within the Pokémon community on social media; as of this post, she has over 13,000 followers across her five social media accounts.

SNKRDUNK recently spoke to her to find out more about her time within the Pokémon fandom and her Pokémon TCG experiences—as well as to settle an internal question which our staff have been discussing for quite some time.

How did you get into TCG collection?

I’ve loved Pokémon ever since I can remember. It started with being obsessed with the video games, then the anime, then needing absolutely everything The Pokémon Company would slap Pikachu’s face on, which inevitably lead me to Pokémon TCG!

What is it about TCG collection that keeps you coming back for more?

I don’t—think—this is a hot take, but the Scarlet and Violet era of illustration rares (IRs) have been gorgeous—I want a whole binder with just the IRs! This era of Trainer cards has also really stepped up from Gen 8.

And the new Eevee set (Terastal Festival ex [SV8a] / Prismatic Evolutions [PRE]) coming out…..oh no….. me and my wallet are in so much danger…..

Can you speak about your experiences with TCG products on the SNKRDUNK App, if any?

I haven’t bought on the app (yet) but whenever I go to Japan I always pick up a couple of slabs from SNKRDUNK for the collection.

What would you regard as the primary advantages of purchasing TCG products via an online store such as that of the SNKRDUNK App?

As much as we love the Pokémon community, there are so many SCAMMERS!!!! I see people all the time on Facebook Marketplace and eBay selling fake items (whether because they don’t know any better, or they’re trying to scam others who don’t know better).

With the SNKRDUNK App, all the items have been verified and you can see what the market rate of the item is too! The verification and price checking is done all in one place, and I think it’s a great place for new and experienced collectors!

In your time as a TCG collector, what has been your greatest experience?

I’ve loved streaming and posting pics about Pokémon-related content! It’s a community I didn’t know about when I was younger so I always felt a bit isolated when it came to my love for Pokémon, but meeting so many new people through the hobby has been the best part about it! Here in Australia it’s very tight-knit, and everyone I’ve met has been so lovely.

Do you have any favorite cards that you either own or are pursuing?

There’s too many! I have mini personal collection sets I’m trying to complete like all the alternate-art cards from Eevee Heroes [S6a], all the Poncho-wearing Eevee promotional cards, and someday all the Eeveelutions as Pokémon ☆ (I have a graded Jolteon from my personal collection ☆—so that’s one down!). More recently, I NEED the Milotic from Surging Sparks [SSP]—it’s so beautiful!!!!

How much is your entire collection worth?

I’ve been properly collecting since 2018, prior to that I was always just ripping packs. So over those years I would say maybe upwards of A$10,000 to 15,000? Maybe?

Which Pokémon TCG sets do you rate most highly?

I’m a firm believer that we took the sets from Gen 7 for granted, especially those with TAG TEAM Pokémon. Two of my all-time favourite sets are Cosmic Eclipse and Team Up—I hope to get booster boxes of them someday!

You’re into Pokémon VGC as well. Can you tell us more about that? How did you get into it, and what are some of your most memorable experiences in it, whether playing online, in a tournament or anything else?

I love playing the games but haven’t dabbled too heavily into the actual competitive side of it! There’s a steep learning curve but when I’m on stream, my chat helps me build competitively viable Pokémon! Apart from competitive VGC, I’ve recently gotten really into Pokémon UNITE….it’s so good I swear! Just give it a go and you’ll like it too (please play).

Do you play on Pokémon Showdown as well?

I do play on Showdown, but very casually!

What’s the best VGC team of 6 that you’ve ever put together?

I’ve never taken my VGC teams seriously because if I was a Trainer in the Pokémon world, I would hate to have a “copy and paste” team like everyone else.

But, when I make teams, I try and make my favorite Pokémon work how I need them to, like in Pokémon X and Y, I had Jolteon, Milotic, Salamence, Togekiss, Mega Charizard Y, and Honchkrow.

I got surprisingly far with it, again, mostly just matching with random people online and crossing my fingers—but this team would get crushed by the X and Y meta!

We have compiled a selection of staff-picked monotype Pokémon teams. (This is National Dex mode, so Terastallization is off; Mega Evolution has also been disabled.) The question is this (take all the time you need to answer it):

With all the teams in the hands of equally skilled players, which of these teams would you say have the best chance to win a tournament contested by all 18 of these teams? (No outside players—just these teams against each other.)

Again, I’m not super deep into competitive Pokémon but for sure, without a doubt, team #4—the Water monotype team (Swampert, Wash Rotom, Milotic, Aqua Breed Paldean Tauros, Hisuian Samurott, Toxapex). I might be a bit biased because Milotic is in the team, but it has a perfect combination of defensive and offensive Pokémon. It also just has the best vibes—the Pokémon team pic would go so hard.

Conversely, which of these would you say are the worst on the list and would be most likely to finish last?

Team #17 (Galvantula, Kilowattrel, Mow Rotom, Magnezone, Dracozolt, Toxtricity). Not only that—despite the fact it’s an Electric-type team, it doesn’t include any of my favorite Electric-type Pokémon. Where is Jolteon? Alolan Raichu? Ampharos?

Can we have a final message for your social media followers?

Hop on Pokémon UNITE 🫵

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