How to Build a Pokemon Chase List (and Actually Finish Your Set)
A chase list is the single most useful tool for completing a Pokemon set. It is simply the list of the exact cards you still need — no duplicates, no guesswork. With one in hand, card shows, trades, and online orders get far more efficient. Here is how to build and use one.
What is a chase list?
A chase list is a running list of the cards you are still hunting for to complete a binder, set, or master set. Instead of remembering which cards you own, you flip your logic around and track only what is missing. That short, focused list is what you carry into a card shop or pull up before placing an online order.
Why a chase list beats a mental note
- No accidental duplicates. The most common collecting mistake is re-buying a card you already own. A chase list eliminates it.
- Faster shopping. At a show, you can scan a seller's binder against your list in seconds instead of second-guessing yourself.
- Motivation. Watching the list shrink is genuinely satisfying and keeps a long set-completion project moving.
Step 1: Define the goal
Decide what "complete" means for this list. A standard set? A master set with reverse holos? A themed binder of one Pokemon? Your chase list is only as useful as the goal is specific.
Step 2: Mark what you own
Go through the set and mark every card as owned or missing. The cards left unmarked are your chase list. Doing this against a full set checklist ensures you do not miss reverse holos or secret rares.
Step 3: Keep it accurate
A chase list only helps if it stays current. Update it the moment you acquire a card, so it never sends you hunting for something already sitting in your binder. The easiest way is to track owned vs. missing in the same place you plan your binder, so the list updates itself.
Step 4: Make it portable
Print the list or keep it on your phone for card shows, and sort it by set and number so it matches how sellers organize their stock. A clean, ordered list is dramatically faster to scan than a jumbled one.
Build your chase list automatically
bindermap is a free Pokemon TCG binder planner that turns your binder into a chase list for you. As you mark cards owned or missing, bindermap knows exactly what is left and generates a printable chase list of the cards you still need — sorted and ready for the next card show. Plan the binder, track your progress, and let the chase list build itself.
For more on structuring the binder behind your chase list, see the best way to organize Pokemon cards by set.