Pokémon TCG products explained: boosters, ETBs, tins and boxes

The shelf of a Pokémon Trading Card Game section can be confusing: dozens of boxes in different shapes, all promising cards. Almost all of them are built from the same ingredient, the booster pack, with different extras around it. Once you know what each format contains, it becomes much easier to choose.

Booster packs

A booster pack is a sealed foil wrapper of randomly assorted cards from one expansion. English packs contain around ten cards, usually with a mix of common and uncommon cards, at least one rare or better, and a reverse holo, plus a code card for the official online game. Because contents are random, packs are the core of the "opening" fun, but also the least predictable way to complete a set.

Booster boxes, sealed displays of many packs, are often bought by collectors who want to open a lot of one set, or keep sealed for the long term.

Elite Trainer Boxes

An Elite Trainer Box, or ETB, is a sturdy storage box packed with extras for players: usually nine booster packs, card sleeves, a stack of basic Energy cards, dice and damage counters, condition markers, card dividers and a player's guide to the set. Many include a promo card. ETBs are a popular gift because the box is useful long after the packs are opened.

Tins, blisters and collection boxes

• Tins typically contain several booster packs and a featured promo card, in a metal tin that doubles as storage.
• Blister packs are hanging card-backed packs with one to three boosters and often a promo card or coin. They are easy to find in supermarkets and toy shops.
• Collection boxes are themed around a particular Pokémon and usually include promo cards, an oversized display card and a number of booster packs. Premium collections add pins, figures or other extras.
• Build and battle or deck products are aimed at players, with a ready-to-use or partly random deck.

Contents vary from product to product, so always read the panel on the back of the box before you buy.

Collecting or playing?

Collectors and players want different things. A collector may chase a particular artwork, a full set or a special illustration rare, and care deeply about condition. A player wants specific cards for a deck and needs them sleeved and playable. For players, buying individual cards ("singles") from a reputable seller is usually far cheaper than opening packs in the hope of a pull. For collectors, packs and boxes are part of the experience, but singles are still the reliable route to a specific card.

Set rotation in general terms

The main competitive format, Standard, only allows cards from recent sets. Each card carries a small regulation mark, a letter printed near the bottom. Roughly once a year, the oldest marks leave Standard. Rotated cards are still legal in the Expanded format and in casual games at home, and rotation does not affect a card's collectability. If you are buying for a young player who wants to attend events, check that the cards are current.

A note on sealed product

Some collectors keep products sealed as a long-term hobby. Treat this as collecting, not investing: popular sets are often reprinted, and nobody can promise future demand. Keep sealed boxes away from sunlight and damp, and enjoy the hobby for its own sake.

General information only. Product contents, rules and policies change, so check the current details with the manufacturer or seller. Brand names are trademarks of their owners; this guide is independent and sells nothing.