In our Collector Feature series, we highlight collectors of all kinds and share the stories, passion, and advice that have shaped their collections.
For more from Valdo and his collection, follow @Darthvaldo on Rare Candy!
Fast Facts
Name: Valdo Macedo, also known as Darthvaldo
Age: 33
Location: Massachusetts
Collects: Visually expressive Pokémon cards, Game Boy (GB) promo cards, Slowpoke cards, Pokémon art
Crown Jewels: Japanese Challenge from the Darkness Blaine’s Charizard, Japanese Sun & Moon Promos Easter's Pikachu, SWSH Black Star Promos Special Delivery Pikachu and Special Delivery Bidoof, GB Promo Venusaur, Japanese Awakening Psychic King full-art Alakazam EX
Currently Seeking: GB promo Charizard, GB promo Blastoise
The Journey Begins
For Osvaldo Macedo, who goes by Valdo, Pokémon captured his imagination from an early age. “I remember catching the very first episode of the anime on TV,” Valdo recalls. The next day, he was surprised to find that his entire school had also discovered it. “It was just crazy to me that this random thing I watched on TV turned into this cultural phenomenon overnight.” As the child of immigrant parents, Valdo’s first cards were gifted to him by friends. “It was really hard to justify spending money on cardboard,” he says with a laugh, remembering how friends would give him duplicates. Those cards were simple, but they were enough to spark a lifelong passion.
Valdo’s true collecting journey began years later in 2014 when he stumbled across the Pokémon TCG World Championships. One player laid down a full-art Shaymin from the Legendary Treasures set. “I didn’t know Pokémon cards looked like that,” Valdo says. “I immediately bought the card on eBay, and that was it—I was hooked again.”
From there, his collection grew rapidly. Valdo found himself drawn to the artistic evolution of modern Pokémon cards. As an art and design major in college, he’s always appreciated beautiful, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing designs. “I’m really into the artistic side of it. If it looks cool, if it’s something I can display, I’m into it.”
Inside Valdo's Collection
One of Valdo’s favorite pieces in his collection is the GB Promo Venusaur featuring the original artwork from Pokémon Green. “Venusaur was my first starter and has always been one of my favorites. I actually traded for the Venusar GB Promo at the World Championships in Hawaii,” Valdo explains. “I had pulled the secret rare sleeping Tyranitar from Battle Styles, and I knew I wanted to trade it. When I saw the Venusaur, it just felt right.” The trade was a dream come true for Valdo, combining his love of his first Pokémon with a hard-earned card.
The World Championships in Hawaii was also where Valdo first experienced trading cards with other collectors in person. “It was my first time trading with fellow collectors in real life, and it was an amazing experience,” Valdo says. He describes a moment with other content creators as incredibly wholesome: “We were all there in the media room, getting to know each other and flipping through binders. I even traded for a shiny Wigglytuff I had been trying to pull for ages. It really filled a hole in my childhood that I never got to experience.”
Valdo also owns two Pikachu Easter promos, gifted to him by his mother-in-law from Japan. “She happened to be in Japan during an Easter promotion at the Pokémon Center and brought me back a couple,” he says. “It was just a really special moment to share with her.” Other prized cards include a Japanese Blaine’s Charizard and the Special Delivery Pikachu and Bidoof promo cards.
From Call of Duty to Pokémon
While in his day-to-day Valdo works as an assistant director at a library, he’s also amassed quite a following as a creator across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch and X. As DarthValdo, he began his journey as a content creator with a very different focus: Call of Duty. Valdo started by streaming gameplay and sharing insights, but found little growth or excitement in that space. Instead, he started making Pokémon content and quickly saw a major response.
“I made a video about a shiny Clefairy mystery gift in Pokémon Sword and Shield, and it got 50,000 views in the first hour,” Valdo says. “I realized then that people wanted this content, and I shifted my focus entirely to Pokémon.” His content skyrocketed when Pokémon Legends: Arceus came out, and he began providing tutorials and news updates, gaining over 45,000 followers.
Valdo found his passion in creating content that helped others engage with Pokémon in new ways, from guides and news to tips on building a TCG collection. “I’ve always wanted to share what I love about Pokémon,” he explains. “The art, the memories, the sense of community—it’s all part of what makes this journey so special for me.”
Bulbasaur, I Choose You!
Valdo has several favorite Pokémon, but his first starter, the seed Pokémon Bulbasaur, holds a special place in his heart. “He's my first starter in Pokémon Blue when I started my journey way back when,” Valdo says. “He's great.” He also loves Treecko, the agile grass-type that accompanied him in Pokémon Sapphire, and Heracross, whose quirky personality in the Pokémon anime made him a fan favorite for Valdo.
Slowbro, another one of Valdo's favorites, came to the forefront when he started playing Pokémon Unite. “I just thought it was really cool to see Slowbro be so dominant in something. It became my little partner, and anytime someone saw me playing, they’d know I was probably using Slowbro,” Valdo says.
As for mythical Pokémon, Valdo’s favorite is Shaymin. “I just really like him,” Valdo admits. “I remember watching Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior with Shaymin and Giratina, and Shaymin's sky form just really stood out to me. It's such a cute Pokémon, and it always makes me smile.” Another classic favorite, Mewtwo, also has a nostalgic significance for Valdo, as he recalls the thrill of catching it in Cerulean Cave without any prior spoilers. “It was such an intense moment for me as a kid. I was freaking out! I felt like I had the coolest Pokémon ever, and a lot of my friends at school didn't know about it yet.”
Training the Next Generation
For Valdo, there's also a special joy in passing down the magic that first captured him as a child. Now, one of the most heartwarming aspects of Valdo’s Pokémon journey is sharing it with his young daughter. “She just turned five, and she loves opening packs with me,” Valdo says, smiling. “She’ll ask what each Pokémon is, and sometimes she’ll decide to keep one for her own little collection.”
Valdo also cherishes how she’s starting to develop her own favorites and wants to actively participate in their collecting sessions. “Recently, we were out shopping, and she picked out a Squirtle-themed charm for her Crocs. It was one of the proudest dad moments I’ve ever had.”
Advice for Collectors
Valdo’s advice for collectors is simple and genuine: “Collect what you like.” He emphasizes that by focusing on the joy of the hobby, appreciating the art, and savoring the connections made along the way, Pokémon collecting becomes something much greater than just acquiring rare cards. “If you collect for the love of it, there’s always something beautiful to find.”
