Buy the right Pokémon figures in Sweden, 3 buyer profiles and Japan import tips
Should the figure withstand play or stand in a display case? That determines everything. If you want a durable figure to play with, go for a hard plastic battle figure. If you want to build a collection for display, select/deluxe or a POP figure are best suited to that ambition. If you are after budget-friendly volume or an investment, gashapon and Scale World from Japan are often the smartest way to go, especially opened copies from the second-hand market.
In short:
- Hard plastic Battle figures are best for play and can withstand rough handling, while select/deluxe figures are more detailed for the collector.
- For collections with high resale value, you should go for sealed select/deluxe figures or limited edition statues, while battle figures sell for almost the same price regardless of condition.
- Buy through Swedish stores for fast delivery or import from Japan for the full range of gashapon and Scale World figures, but be careful about shipping costs and customs.
- Always check ad images carefully to assess the figure's condition and missing small parts, as this affects the value the most on the second-hand market.
- Always determine the purpose of your collection to avoid making the wrong purchase, as play, display, and investment require completely different purchasing strategies.
Table of contents
- What types of Pokémon figures are there?
- How do you choose the right figure for your purpose?
- Where do you buy Pokémon figures in Sweden and from Japan?
- How do you spot fakes and assess the condition of the figure?
- Why trust this guide about Pokémon figures?
- Where do you find other collectors to trade and talk with?
- How do you best store and display your figurine collection?
- What does experience tell us about building a good collection?
- Selected purchases for different types of collectors
- More resources for in-depth study
- Sources
What types of Pokémon figures are there?
The market is divided into five clear categories, and being able to differentiate between them will save you both money and disappointment.
- Battle figures: Simpler hard plastic figures made to withstand hands, floors and siblings who play hard. Low level of detail, low price, high wear resistance.
- Select/deluxe figures: more detailed lines with better coloring and sometimes articulated parts, aimed at collectors who want figures that look good on a shelf.
- Funko POP: Vinyl figures with the famous stylized style. Simple in shape but very collected thanks to variant editions and exclusive colors.
- Gashapon and Scale World: Japanese capsule vending machine and prize figures in smaller scale, often in 1/20, with a surprisingly high level of detail for the price.
- Prize figures and statues: larger display pieces, often from Japanese arcade machines (UFO-catcher) or premium series, with resin details and a higher price.
The difference in materials makes a big difference. Battle figures are molded in hard PVC to survive drops. Select/deluxe and statues often use painted resin or vinyl with separate parts glued or assembled, making them more delicate but more detailed. Retail categories show that the market offers both robust battle figures intended for play and more detailed select/deluxe lines aimed at collectors, a clear signal that the manufacturers themselves see these as two separate needs rather than a single product category.
Value is best held by limited edition figures: exclusive POP variants, older Scale World series that have ceased production, and numbered edition statues. Battle figures rarely sell for more than their new price, regardless of condition.
How do you choose the right figure for your purpose?
Before you click “buy,” you need to answer one simple question: should the figure be used or viewed? The answer determines everything else.
- Children and play: Choose battle figures or simpler multipack sets. Check that the articulation (movable joints) can withstand twisting without cracking, and avoid loose small parts if the child is under five years old.
- Hobby collectors with a limited budget: Opened but complete gashapon or Scale World figures provide the most detail per dollar. An opened figure without damage works great on a shelf where you don't need the original packaging left.
- Display collectors who want to maximize value: Go for sealed select/deluxe figures, exclusive POP variants or numbered statues. Here, unopened packaging is often a requirement to maintain resale value.
Size and material determine both price and use. A 9 to 15 centimeter POP vinyl figure usually costs a fraction of a 1/6 scale resin statue, but lacks the same level of detail in the face and clothing. Articulated battle figures with more moving points cost more to manufacture and therefore also more in stores.
Pro tip: Ask yourself if the figure will survive a move in a moving box. If the answer is unclear, choose a figure with fewer loose parts, no matter how nice the detailed version looks in the picture.
Where do you buy Pokémon figures in Sweden and from Japan?
Swedish online stores give you the fastest delivery and easiest return policy, but rarely the rarest Japanese series. Direct import from Japan opens up the entire Scale World and gashapon range, at the price of longer delivery times and customs risk.
- Swedish retailers and online stores: easiest for new releases and famous characters like Pikachu and Charizard. Swedish store categories show that buyers often prioritize famous characters, fast delivery and price, making these channels best for gift purchases and impulse purchases.
- Direct import from Japan via proxy services: provides access to gashapon, arcade prize figures, and Scale World that are never officially sold outside of Japan. Japanese advertising texts and marketing routines differ from Swedish ones, so you need to learn basic keywords to find the right one.
- Secondhand and auctions: Bid hunts can yield big discounts, but require you to read the condition description carefully before placing a bid.
The import process has four clear steps: search with the right Japanese keywords, place a bid or buy directly through a proxy service, consolidate multiple purchases with the same agent before shipping, and choose a shipping method based on weight and customs limit. Consolidating multiple purchases before shipping significantly reduces the cost per figure, because shipping and service fees would otherwise eat up the entire savings from lower Japanese prices.
At auctions, the most common trap is that the bid looks low but the final price including service fee and shipping ends up being higher than a finished Swedish store listing. Always calculate the total cost before you bid, not just the starting price.
How do you spot fakes and assess the condition of the figure?
Japanese advertisements use their own vocabulary for condition, and misunderstanding it is the most common reason for disappointed purchases. 未開封 means sealed in original packaging, 開封済 means opened, 中古 means used, and 欠品 means missing parts.
- Always require a photo of the bottom and back of the figure, where the manufacturer's markings and copyright stamp are located.
- Compare the packaging's font and logo to official images from the manufacturer; counterfeits often differ in color tone and print quality.
- Ask the seller to photograph any damage in natural light, not just in studio lighting which can hide scratches.
- Ask specifically if all accessories (tripod, extra hands, cards) are included, as 欠品 rarely specifies exactly what is missing.
Missing small parts detract more from the value than superficial scratches, especially on figures with interchangeable hands or facial expressions. A figure marked 欠品 without a clear list of what is missing should always be traded with the right to return if the contents are not correct.
Pro tip: Opened but complete figures are often the smartest purchase for display, you don't pay for a seal you plan to break anyway.
Why trust this guide about Pokémon figures?
Animefigurer.se is a specialized e-commerce which sells official and detailed collectible figures from series like Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer and Pokémon, built on the same logic that governs the rest of this guide: authenticity and the right figure for the right purpose.
- The range covers everything from play figures to exclusive collector's series, with a focus on verified authenticity rather than cheap copies.
- Fast deliveries and secure payment solve what often stops Swedish buyers from daring to import themselves.
- Broad categorization makes it easy to compare battle figures against more detailed display series before purchase.
What separates a good collection from a messy shelf is rarely the money you spent, it's whether each figure actually fulfills a role: play, display, or future value.
Author Teo covers the anime and collectibles market with a focus on practical purchasing decisions rather than hype, and this guide is based on the same research that underlies Animefigurer's own range.
Where do you find other collectors to trade and talk with?
Swedish Pokémon collectors mostly gather in international forums and social groups rather than the purely Swedish community, simply because the supply of rare figures is too small to support their own local network. Reddit forums dedicated to Pokémon merchandise are the broadest source for price comparisons and authenticity advice, where experienced collectors can quickly confirm if an ad looks suspicious.
Facebook groups for Nordic Pokémon collectors work well for bartering and local meetups, saving both shipping and risk compared to trading with unknown sellers on the other side of the globe. Discord servers linked to specific figure series, like Scale World or specific POP releases, give you access to collectors who know exactly which variants are rare and why.
Before trading or selling with an unknown person in a group, always ask for fresh pictures dated the same day and check the profile's previous posts. Established members with a long history in the group are much safer to trade with than new accounts that pop up and just want to sell.
Auction forums connected to Japanese platforms have their own rules for bidding and refunds, read them before participating for the first time.
How do you best store and display your figurine collection?
Direct sunlight is the single biggest enemy of a Pokémon figure. UV radiation will fade the color pigments on plastic and vinyl within a few months if the figure is in a window, while the same figure on a shady shelf can retain its color for decades.
Glass display cases with UV-filtered glass provide the best protection for the more expensive display figures, especially statues and select/deluxe series where the coloring is a large part of the value. For a larger collection of smaller figures, such as gashapon or POP, open shelves are usually sufficient as long as the room is not in direct sunlight for part of the day.
Moisture and temperature changes cause cracks in vinyl figures over time, so never store figures in garages, attics or basements without climate control. Original packaging should be stored upright, not lying down, to avoid the cardboard from deforming under the weight.
Dust is an underestimated problem: a soft brush designed for camera lenses removes dust without scratching painted surface texture, unlike rags that can pull on loose details. Rotate which figures are in front if you have more than the display area allows, this reduces sun exposure per figure and gives variety to the collection.
What does experience tell us about building a good collection?
The most common misconception among new collectors is that sealed packaging is always best. This is only true if you plan to resell or if the figure will sit untouched in a display for its entire life. For most display collectors, an opened but complete figure is the better buy, giving you the same visual value at a significantly lower cost.
Conventional advice focuses too much on rarity and too little on usage. A rare figure sitting in a box you never open gives you any more value than a common figure in the same box. Instead, prioritize figures you actually want to see every day, then rarity as a secondary bonus rather than the main argument.
If I were to give a single piece of advice to a new collector: decide on the purpose before the budget. Play, display, or investment require three completely different purchasing strategies, and mixing them up is the quickest route to a collection full of the wrong purchases.
— Theo
Selected purchases for different types of collectors
Are you looking for figures that fit right into what you just read about display and gift buying? Animefigurer has a range built for exactly three profiles: the display collector, the gift buyer and the one who wants to start a collection right away.
For the POP collector looking to build a thematic shelf, the Witch Watch POP! Animation Vinyl Figure Magami 9 cm is a good choice, keeping the compact 9-centimeter scale that allows multiple figures to fit without competing for space. Gift buyers often find the Witch Watch POP! Animation Vinyl Figure Nemu 9 cm right, a figure that works just as well as a first gift for a new fan as an addition to an established collection. If you want to start wider or give away several figures at once, the Sonic – The Hedgehog POP! Vinyl Figures 4-Pack Sonic is an effective way to gain volume without having to hunt for four separate ads.
All figures in the range are official, delivered quickly and paid for securely online, the same principles this guide recommends when buying from other sources. Want to see the full range before you decide, visit Anime characters and filter by series or price range.
More resources for in-depth study
- The Scale World guide from OneMall explains the import process from Japan in detail.
- Japanese Pokemon Figures Guide helps you interpret Japanese advertisements correctly.
- About Anime Characters describes the range and delivery promises.
- The sale page at Anime Figures shows current offers on figures.