u/HeavensDoor99

Hey everyone!

Like many of you, I recently decided to take on the massive challenge of building a physical National Dex Binder (collecting at least one TCG card for all 1,025+ Pokémon).

It’s incredibly fun, but I quickly realized something: buying modern packs blindly is a mathematical trap. Once you hit around 40% completion, the duplicate rate is brutal, and you end up wasting a lot of money.

I wanted to find a way to balance the thrill of opening packs with actual mathematical efficiency, so I built a small open-source project and I wanted to share it with this amazing community!

So here is: National Dex TCG Optimizer

I created a GitHub repository that includes a complete 4-phase strategy guide and a Python script that helps with the maths.

Here is how the script works:

1. You track your collection using a simple Google Sheets template (which I also provided).
2. The Python script reads your "Missing" list and queries the official Pokémon TCG API.
3. It calculates the exact probability of pulling a new Pokémon for every single expansion currently on the market.
4. It spits out a ranked list telling you: "The best booster for you is Crown Zenith with a 72% chance of a new hit!"

What’s included in the repo:

• The Plan: A step-by-step guide on when to buy packs, when to buy bulk, and when to switch entirely to singles.
• Google Sheets Tracker: A ready-to-copy template with all 1,025 Pokémon and color-coding rules already set up.
• The Python Script: The optimizer.py file to run your own stats.
• Visual Placeholders: Printable PDFs to put in your empty binder pockets so you can see exactly what you are missing (massive help!).

You can check it all out here: [https://github.com/Yoru3791/national-dex-tcg-collection-optimizer]

Disclaimer: I built this originally just for my own personal use, so the math might not be 100% flawless, and the code is pretty straightforward. I’m just a collector trying to save some money and share the tools!

If you have any feedback, want to contribute to the code, or just want to share pictures of your own National Dex binders in the comments, I’d love to see them.

Hey everyone!

Like many of you, I recently decided to take on the massive challenge of building a physical National Dex Binder (collecting at least one TCG card for all 1,025+ Pokémon).

It’s incredibly fun, but I quickly realized something: buying modern packs blindly is a mathematical trap. Once you hit around 40% completion, the duplicate rate is brutal, and you end up wasting a lot of money.

I wanted to find a way to balance the thrill of opening packs with actual mathematical efficiency, so I built a small open-source project and I wanted to share it with this amazing community!

Introducing the National Dex TCG Optimizer 🚀

I created a GitHub repository that includes a complete 4-phase strategy guide and a Python script that does the heavy lifting for you.

Here is how the script works:

1. You track your collection using a simple Google Sheets template (which I also provided).
2. The Python script reads your "Missing" list and queries the official Pokémon TCG API.
3. It calculates the exact probability of pulling a new Pokémon for every single expansion currently on the market.
4. It spits out a ranked list telling you: "Hey, your best bet right now is Crown Zenith with a 72% chance of a new hit!"

What’s included in the repo:

• 📖 The Master Plan: A step-by-step guide on when to buy packs, when to buy bulk, and when to switch entirely to singles.
• 📊 Google Sheets Tracker: A ready-to-copy template with all 1,025 Pokémon and color-coding rules already set up.
• 💻 The Python Script: The optimizer.py file to run your own stats.
• 🖨️ Visual Placeholders: Printable PDFs to put in your empty binder pockets so you can see exactly what you are missing (massive help!).

You can check it all out here: [https://github.com/Yoru3791/national-dex-tcg-collection-optimizer\]

Disclaimer: I built this originally just for my own personal use, so the math might not be 100% flawless, and the code is pretty straightforward. I’m just a collector trying to save some money and share the tools!

If you have any feedback, want to contribute to the code, or just want to share pictures of your own National Dex binders in the comments, I’d love to see them. We are all in this challenge together!