No Pokémon product quite encapsulates the thrill of the chase, that unwavering pursuit to pull a new must-have card, quite like boosters. Boosters are, after all, the throwback to the early days of the Pokémon TCG. Now, with sets like Stellar Crown and Shrouded Fable coming out of Scarlet and Violet, the legacy continues.
A single booster pack will contain 10 game cards: 4 commons, 3 uncommons, and 3 foils (at least one of which will be rare or higher). Each booster pack also contains 1 Energy card and 1 code card that can be redeemed in Pokémon TCG Live.
Boosters can be bought as single packs, bundles of 6, or as booster boxes, which contain a whopping 36 booster packs from the Pokémon TCG – enough to truly bulk out your binders.
Boosters Buying Guide
When buying Pokémon TCG boosters, you’ll want to consider what you are truly chasing. Are you after the excitement of the uncertainty, not knowing what you’ll receive, but hopeful of that 10/10 pull? Or do you prefer the certainty of buying the exact card you are chasing? If you’re a yes to the former, then packs are perfect.
It's also hugely beneficial to remember that the cards you pull from booster packs will almost always be in near mint or mint condition. For collectors, and specifically graders, this can make packs a greater allure. On the other hand, if you’re looking at individual cards, conditions can massively affect pricing. Though, of course, there is the risk of buying from unlicensed sellers.
Hard-to-find-cards are randomly inserted into booster packs. So, if you want to slash the odds to get those top pulls, you’ll find better value and greater cost-effectiveness in buying booster boxes than individual packs.
Top Picks for 2024
Looking at these products in 2024, there are a few standouts. If you are in hot pursuit of shiny Pokémon, Paldean Fates is the one. For collectors, this set, based on Japan's Shiny Treasure ex release, was likely one of many notches on the TCG calendar year.
The much-loved release teased trainers with a shiny illustration rare promo card of Mimikyu, before opening up like Pandora's box, introducing a swathe of incredible pulls to the TCG. These shot to the upper echelons of trainer’s chase lists and have primarily stayed there since. Among the notable names are shiny Mew ex, shiny Gardevoir ex, and obviously a shiny terastalised Charizard ex for good measure.
The introduction of Stellar Crown is another notable moment, bringing fresh verve around the Terastal phenomenon and introducing Stellar Form Terapagos to the Pokémon TCG. It’s not one to miss for collectors and competitive players alike, with special illustration and rare art cards that truly encapsulate the generation's nine forms of favourites in their terastalised types.
You needn’t look much further than Stellar Crown’s Hydrapple ex, which appears in a glorious mural-like form, and Lapras ex, which explodes with a crystalline colour. Though Terapagos ex, with its rainbow borders and mosaic background, sits on the pedestal of this new, exciting Elite Trainer Box release.
