For most people, a Pokemon booster pack is the first time they get their hands on Pokemon cards. For many kids, it is the only way they will ever buy Pokemon cards. So, what is a booster pack? Where do they come from? That is what we want to take a look at on this page!
A booster pack is a random assortment of Pokemon cards from a selected set. It is impossible to predict what Pokemon cards are included in each booster pack. A booster pack will normally come from a booster box. A booster box is a random assortment of booster packs from a set. Again, it is impossible to predict which cards you are going to get.
On this page, we are going to talk a little bit about what you may find in a booster pack or a booster box. We are also going to help you to decide whether it will be a worthwhile purchase for you.
What Is a Pokemon Booster Pack?
As we said, a Pokemon booster pack is a random selection of Pokemon cards from a specific set.
If you purchase a Pokemon booster pack, it can only include cards from the set that the booster pack comes from. If you wish to find out what potential cards you may get in a booster pack that you purchase, you will be able to find plenty of setlists online! If you purchase an Elite Trainer Box, then there will often be a set list guide included in the box.
To check the current price and availability of Pokemon Booster packs, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
What is a Pokemon Blister Pack?
A blister pack is just a booster pack that has been placed into a blister. They are designed to be placed on hooks in a store.
There is no difference between a Pokemon blister pack and a standard Pokemon booster pack other than the fact that it was never in a booster box.
Types of Booster Packs
Pokemon has offered a few different types of booster packs over the years.
The main type will always be the 10-card booster packs. These are the ones that are launched with each set.
On top of this, you will often find some promotional booster packs too e.g. Pokemon Generations. These will include fewer cards. In most cases, you will only be able to get these booster packs from promotional boxes.
Every so often, you may find cheaper booster packs on sale. These may contain 3-5 Pokemon cards, often for $1. Some of these are official products, but others are repackaged by the distributor.
Cards Inside a Booster Pack
As we said, the main type of booster pack will be the 10-card boosters. These boosters actually used to contain 11-cards. This is because they always included an energy card. However, recent expansions have eliminated the energy card. The only way to get energy cards nowadays is by purchasing them as singles, from theme decks, or elite trainer boxes.
Each booster pack will contain the following:
- 1 Rare
- 3 Uncommon
- 6 Common
At least one of the cards, at least from recent sets, will be a reverse holographic card.
The booster pack will be a mixture of Pokemon, trainer, and support cards.
Outside of knowing that you are guaranteed certain rarities, there is no way to predict which cards will be included in a booster pack. It will always be 100% randomized. If somebody tells you that you can predict which cards are in a booster pack, then they are lying to you.
Chances of Rares Inside a Booster Pack
There will always be a guaranteed rare inside of a normal booster pack.
The chance of extremely rare cards in a booster can vary wildly.
For example, a holo rare is around the 4% mark. A rainbow rare card is closer to 1%!
It is important to note that these rarities can change ever so slightly. For example, if there are more rainbow rare cards in a set, then the chances of pulling one will be ever so slightly higher.
Opening booster packs is never a guaranteed way to get anything other than a standard rare. Although, of course, if you do pull a card even rarer than this, then you are going to have a card that could potentially be worth a lot of money!
Prices of Booster Packs
The average price of a booster pack is between $3 and $5, depending on where you purchase the booster pack from.
As we said before, there are some companies that will offer $1 booster packs, although there will often be fewer cards in them.
If you are looking to buy a booster pack from a set that is no longer in print, then expect to be paying at least $5. However, the rarer the set, the more the booster pack will be. For example, an unopened booster pack from the earliest Pokemon Trading Card game sets could easily be upward of several hundred dollars!
Is It Worth Buying a Pokemon Booster Pack?
It depends on why you want a Pokemon booster pack.
If you are buying a Pokemon booster pack because you are targeting a specific card, then no. If you are buying a booster pack just because you want the excitement of opening a booster pack, then yes!
Cheapest Places to Purchase Pokemon Booster Packs in the United States
The following stores will likely offer the cheapest prices on Pokemon booster packs:
- Walmart
- Best Buy
- Dollar General
- Dollar Tree
What Is a Pokemon Booster Box?
A Pokemon booster box will be a box filled with booster packs.
In most cases, when you buy a Pokemon booster pack, you will be taking the booster pack from a box. However, some places will allow you to purchase an unopened booster box!
A booster box, like this Pokemon TCG: Sun & Moon Crimson Invasion Sealed Booster Box, is a box that contains thirty-six booster packs of Pokémon cards. Each pack contains an average of ten cards (some Pokémon packs will have 9, some 10, and some 11.)
How Many Booster Packs Come In a Pokemon Booster Box?
There will be 36 booster packs in a Pokemon booster box.
How Many Rares Do You Get In a Pokemon Booster Box?
You are guaranteed 36 rare cards inside of a Pokemon booster box. As we stated before, there will always be at least one rare card in each pack.
Beyond this, it is tough to predict what cards you will get.
For example, you may find a secret rare card for every 3 booster boxes (i.e. over 100 booster packs would need to be opened).
In most cases, you should get at least one rare full art card in a booster box. However, due to the way in which the cards are randomized by Pokemon, even this is not guaranteed.
How Much Does a Pokemon Booster Box Cost?
If you are purchasing a Pokemon booster box from a new set, then it is likely to cost you around $100 to $125.
If you are purchasing a Pokemon booster box from older sets, then the price can be dependent on how in demand that set is. Some could be several hundred dollars, while others could stretch to several thousand dollars.
What Is The Best Pokemon Booster Box To Buy?
It depends on why you want a booster box.
If you are looking to play the game and collect the latest cards, then a booster box from whatever sets are currently in standard is your best choice.
If you are looking to invest in older booster boxes and store them so they gain value, then the older sets are always going to be the best choice…assuming that you don’t open them. For example, while a Pokemon Base Set booster box can cost several thousand dollars, it is almost always going to go up in value.
Where Is The Best Place To Buy a Pokemon Booster Box?
Either online (eBay, Amazon, etc.) or from your local board game shop.
You can also find booster boxes and big national retailers like Target and Walmart. They tend to restock their Pokemon cards pretty often, so your chances of finding them there are high as long as you know how often they restock the shelves.
Is It Worth Buying a Pokemon Booster Box?
In most cases it is not worth buying Pokemon booster boxes.
It is always fun to open up a booster box, but they can be expensive. If you are looking for a specific card, it may be cheaper to purchase it as a single. After all, you are never guaranteed a certain card in a box.
If you are looking to make money by opening a Pokemon booster box, then it still isn’t going to be worth it. You would have to open a LOT of booster boxes for a chance of making even the smallest amount of cash.
Final Thoughts
If you are planning to get into the Pokemon Trading Card Game, you will likely open several booster packs. This is a quick way to expand your collection with randomized cards.
Once you start to seriously get into the Pokemon TCG, then it is probably going to be worth buying singles instead. If you want a specific card, it can be tough to track down just by opening boosters.
The most affordable way to purchase booster packs will be as a booster box. This could be as much as 50% of the price of buying booster packs individually.