Buying Pokémon TCG Booster Packs? Here’s Everything to Know Beforehand

5th September 2024 EDT FEATURES

Buying Pokémon TCG Booster Packs? Here’s Everything to Know Beforehand

A general list of information to get the most out of any Pokémon TCG booster pack purchase.

Booster packs are the backbone of the Pokémon TCG. Whether a buyer purchases just one, an entire box of booster packs, or anything in between, everyone who buys one or more of these Pokémon card packs does so hoping to land the cards they have in mind—whether they might be the rarest, the most expensive, the best for tournament play, or even simply those which have personal sentimental value.

Additionally, it might not always be easy or cost-effective to buy a specific card on its own. Some buyers might prefer to just buy the much less expensive booster packs in hopes that the cards in mind happen to be hiding in that booster pack. At other given times, there might be no viable sellers of specific cards. In both cases, booster packs can come in clutch—especially if the buyer scores the desired pulls.

However, it’s crucial for buyers to ensure that they don’t go in blindly and are well-informed about the most important information surrounding Pokémon TCG booster packs. By doing so, the chances of picking up the desired cards can be greatly increased.

Here are some of the most important things to know before buying any Pokémon TCG booster pack.

Card Rarity Breakdown of the Set

This is perhaps the most important thing to know. It’s extremely important to be properly equipped with information about how many rare cards are in the set, the ratio of common to rare cards, the number of cards that come in holofoil, and other similar matters. Since all Pokémon TCG booster packs cost about the same amount of money, it’s advisable to focus on buying booster packs from sets which have a larger number of rare and valuable cards.

Sometimes, a set’s pull rates might be listed on a website. Pull rates are the chances that a given card will be drawn from a booster pack. However, it has to be kept in mind that pull rates never come from Creatures Inc.; they are estimates made by other ordinary buyers. As such, while pull rate lists can sometimes be helpful, it’s also necessary to take them with a grain of (Shoal) salt because they are inexact and thus can sometimes be inaccurate.

Booster Packs vs Booster Boxes

Another point to consider is whether to buy one or more booster packs or an entire booster box. Both have their own pros and cons. With booster packs, the financial burden isn’t as steep because the buyer can just buy fewer booster packs, thus spending less money. Booster packs are also good for those who are just starting a collection of a particular set. Since the buyer still won’t have most of the set’s cards at that point, for the most part it won’t really matter which cards the buyer receives from the booster pack.

However, for those seeking specific cards, booster packs might not necessarily be the best option. If a particular card is being sought, the buyer might have to go through dozens upon dozens of booster packs just to come across that one card. In addition, there’s no guarantee that any booster pack will contain any particularly rare or valuable cards unless Creatures Inc. has given prior confirmation on this matter.

Buying an entire booster box guarantees that the buyer will receive at least one card of notable rarity. If the buyer is specifically seeking one or more rare cards but doesn’t wish to commit a large amount of money to just one card, booster boxes are a suitable option. In general, it’s easier to land major pulls through a booster box. On top of that, on a per-card basis, booster boxes are better value for money than are booster packs.

On the other hand, booster boxes are notably more expensive than booster packs if the buyer doesn’t buy a large number of packs. There’s also the possibility that the buyer gets just one card of notable value in the entire booster box; as such, there’s also a distinct possibility that in totality, the purchase of a booster box might turn out to be an even bigger dud than buying booster packs supplemented by single cards.

Promotional Cards

Booster packs and boxes which have been confirmed to contain at least one promotional card are often good picks. In addition to the fact that the promotional card itself will usually be of notable value, packs and boxes associated with promotional cards tend to have more favorable pull rates. This is a deliberate choice on the part of Creatures Inc. in order to draw more attention to the promotional card(s). Those who plan to sell their best pulls should also take note of this because promotional cards often fetch significant prices.

The booster packs found in booster boxes linked to promotional cards often have impressive pull rates. As such, if Creatures Inc. have released such a booster box, it’s often worth buying because in addition to almost certainly containing a copy of the promotional card(s), the booster packs in the box are likely to be full of cards with relatively high values and significant rarities.

Miscellaneous Tips

We’ve covered all the main points, but before we finish, here are some other things to keep in mind when buying Pokémon TCG booster packs:

• Take advantage of discounts; buy booster packs when they’re being sold below usual retail price in order to maximize value for money
• Years ago, it was possible to determine if a booster pack contained more holofoil cards by weighing it as the holofoil material back then was slightly heavier than that of an ordinary card. This, however, is no longer the case.
• Once there are relatively few cards remaining in order to complete the set, stop buying booster packs or boxes. At that point it saves a great deal of money and time to just buy the remaining cards as singles.

By putting together all the points which have been brought up, anyone can easily enhance their experience collecting and purchasing Pokémon TCG cards and take a step closer to having the album they dream about.

For the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the SNKRDUNK Magazine and @snkrdunk on Instagram. Explore the SNKRDUNK App too and don’t forget to use our welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase. Additionally, you can even visit our stores in Singapore and Japan!

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