# Pokémon TCG API

Connects Pokémon card databases to your assistant for set lookups, illustrator queries, market pricing, and image centering checks.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI
- Author: pokemontcgapi
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/pokemontcgapi/mcp-server
- Updated: 2026-10-17
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/pokemon-tcg-api

## What it does

This server exposes eleven query-oriented tools directly against pokemontcgapi.com. It covers worldwide, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese prints alongside translations across eight locales. Assistants can retrieve market observations complete with grade samples, identify illustrations, or scan card batches up to 100 entries at once.

Ten out of the eleven tools will fail without a valid `PTCG_API_KEY` environment variable. The only endpoint operating without credentials is the reference string lookup. Image recognition and centering measurements debit API credits per invocation, so running them repeatedly inside loops will quickly deplete trial quotas.

The server runs via npx and expects Node version 20 or newer.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `PTCG_API_KEY`, `PTCG_BASE_URL` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env PTCG_API_KEY=<PTCG_API_KEY> --env PTCG_BASE_URL=<PTCG_BASE_URL> --transport stdio pokemon-tcg-api -- npx -y @pokemontcgapi/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add pokemon-tcg-api --env PTCG_API_KEY=<PTCG_API_KEY> --env PTCG_BASE_URL=<PTCG_BASE_URL> -- npx -y @pokemontcgapi/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "pokemon-tcg-api": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@pokemontcgapi/mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PTCG_API_KEY": "<PTCG_API_KEY>",
                "PTCG_BASE_URL": "<PTCG_BASE_URL>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "pokemon-tcg-api": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@pokemontcgapi/mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PTCG_API_KEY": "<PTCG_API_KEY>",
                "PTCG_BASE_URL": "<PTCG_BASE_URL>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e PTCG_API_KEY=<PTCG_API_KEY> -e PTCG_BASE_URL=<PTCG_BASE_URL> pokemon-tcg-api npx -y @pokemontcgapi/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- fetch live card valuations factoring in grades and sample volume
- calculate card centering ratios directly from front-facing photos
- list card sets released within specific regions and calendar years
- audit artwork counts grouped by card illustrator

## Example prompts
- Find Japanese Charizard prints and retrieve their recorded market prices
- Measure card centering ratios on this uploaded card image
- List all 2024 Japanese sets along with their official card counts

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