If you’re a Pokémon TCG collector, you may find yourself wondering which are the best Pokémon booster boxes to buy or open in 2024. It’s a tricky question, because many of them are no longer available, or are so extremely rare that you’d have to spend a fortune to get them.
So when compiling this list of the best Pokémon booster boxes, we’vefocusedon the ones that are still readily available and that you won’t have to spend more than a thousand dollars on. We want to actively help you to expand your collection, rather than taunt you with the most expensive rare Pokémon cards you may never be able to get your hands on.
Understandably, that means that our focus is on the more recent Pokémon TCG expansions, but that is absolutely no comment against their quality, as there have been some fantastic releases in recent times, with some of the best Pokémon cards around. Any one of these booster boxes would be an excellent opportunity for you to expand your collection, get some of themost powerfulPokémon, and start building the ultimate deck.
The best Pokémon booster boxes are:
1. Pokémon Crown Zenith Elite Trainer Box – The final Sword and Shield Pokémon booster box
2. – A booster box that begins a new era
3. Pokémon Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box – A fantastic modern set
4. Pokémon GO Elite Trainer Box – A booster box with lots of added extras
5. – A modern booster box with neat chase cards
6. Pokémon XY – Evolutions – An anniversary Pokémon booster box
7. – The first Pokémon booster box for Sun and Moon
Pokémon Crown Zenith Elite Trainer Box
The final Sword and Shield Pokémon booster box
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Pokémon Crown Zenith Elite Trainer Box specifications:
| Release date | January 20, 2023 |
| Number of packs | 10 |
| Promo card | Lucario VSTAR |
Reasons to buy
- Considered to have great pull rates
Reasons to avoid
- Most singles prices are low
Closing out an era,Pokémon Crown Zenith released January 2023, and is the last Sword and Shield set to comeout before Scarlet and Violet.Pokémon Crown Zenith is a ‘high class’ set, where every pack features a V, VSTAR or VMAX card or a super-rare card.
As well as some powerfulPokémon cards, it stars hits like Arceus VSTAR and Mewtwo VSTAR, and cool cards like Glaceon and Leafeon. Plus there’sall the fantastic different art cards we’ve come to expect from a modernPokémon set, including some basic ‘mons that combine to form a sweet collage.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet base set
A Pokémon booster box that kicks off a new era
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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet base set specifications:
| Release date | March 31, 2023 |
| Number of packs | 36 |
Reasons to buy
- A great introduction to the hobby
Reasons to avoid
- Set likely to be in stock for a long while
- No massive chase cards
Sword & Shield’s era is over, so now it’s time for Scarlet & Violet. The first Scarlet & Violet base set Pokémon booster box launched on March 31, 2023 and provided our first look at the PaldeaPokémon (Oh, godhow manyPokémon are there now?) in trading card art.
If you’re buying Pokémon cards just for their monetary value, the Scarlet & Violet base set isn’t the bestPokémon booster box to open. However, it’s great if you’re looking for a fun opening experience, with all kinds of alternate arts and card varieties to collect. Hit rates seem to be really high for thisPokémon booster box too – which is perhaps one reason for the lower card prices.
Pokémon Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box
A Pokémon booster box for a fantastic modern set
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Pokémon Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box specifications:
| Release date | 23 August, 2019 |
| Number of packs | 10 |
| Promo card | Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GX |
Reasons to buy
- Awesome set with interesting cards and shinies
Reasons to avoid
- Massive reprinting has hurt set’s price
- Heavily bought up during the pandemic boom
Another high class pack that promises a holo card in each pack, Pokémon Hidden Fates is a much-touted set for a few reason. It boasts the first triple tag teamPokémon, featuring Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, and also more than 75 shinyPokémon. Some of these shiny cards, like Umbreon GX and Charizard GX are getting pretty damn expensive now, too.
Pokémon GO Elite Trainer Box
A Pokémon booster box with plenty of added extras
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Pokémon GO Elite Trainer Box specifications:
| Release date | July 1, 2022 |
| Number of packs | 10 |
| Promo card | Mewtwo V |
Reasons to buy
- Promo card still sees play in top decks
- Fun to try and collect the entire set
Reasons to avoid
- Surprisingly low prices considering the hype
The Pokémon GO Elite Trainer Box, released July 2022,is another one that many fans are going to want to get their hands on. Thismerging of Pokémon GO and the Pokémon TCG is really cool to see. Not only do the cards in this expansion feature beautiful artworkthat captures the feeling ofPokémon appearing in the real world, but you also get items and characters from the mobile game as Trainer Cards.
A few highlights include: Poké Stops, Lure Modules, and Blanche as Trainer Cards, with Pokémon including Mewtwo, Radiant Blastoise, Melmetal, Alolan Exeggutor V, and many others.
Elite Trainer boxes like this one, and others on our booster box list, include a few extras that players may find handy. In addition to ten booster packs, it also includes six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, two acrylic condition markers, and one acrylic VSTAR marker.
Pokémon Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars
A modern Pokémon booster box with some neat chase cards
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Pokémon Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars specifications:
| Release date | February 25, 2022 |
| Number of packs | 36 |
Reasons to buy
- Valuable and strong Charizard/Arceus cards
- Widely regarded as the best Sword and Shield set
Reasons to avoid
- Lots of collectors have snapped it up already
While Elite Trainer Boxes come with a few extra bells and whistles alongside their booster packs, we’re back to just booster packs with the Brilliant Stars Booster Box. Released in February 2022, it features the introduction of the new VSTAR mechanic, which allows for more powerful abilities and evolutions.
The selection of Pokémon includes many from Pokémon Sword & Shield, as well as a few found in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl. Highlights include Arceus VSTAR, Charizard V, and Charizard VSTAR – the main chase cards from the set.
Pokémon XY – Evolutions
An anniversary Pokémon booster box
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Pokémon XY – Evolutions specifications:
| Release date | November 2, 2016 |
| Number of packs | 36 |
Reasons to buy
- Many cool versions of gen 1 Pokémon (including classic Charizard)
- Set is dripping in nostalgia – may become valuable again
Reasons to avoid
- Prices were inflated by Logan Paul-related hype and have since dropped
This was the final expansion based on Pokémon X & Y, and it was also a special expansion made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon TCG. Because of this, Pokémon XY Evolutions featured many iconic Generation I Pokémon, and it remains a sought after set for fans. While you can still find booster boxes, they’re quite expensive (although still under a thousand dollars, unlike many of the older sets).
Highlights of this expansion include: Mewtwo-EX, Machamp BREAK, Starmie, BREAK, Zapdos, and Porygon. For those looking to build up a deck filled with nostalgic childhood favourites, the XY – Evolution booster boxes are going to be a good choice… if you can afford them.
Pokémon Sun & Moon (Lunala) Elite Trainer Box
The first Pokémon booster box for Sun and Moon
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Pokémon Sun & Moon (Lunala) Elite Trainer Box specifications:
| Release date | February 3, 2017 |
| Number of packs | 8 |
Reasons to buy
- Great set with many playable cards
- Valuable trainer cards like balls and supporters
Reasons to avoid
- No guaranteed promo card
- Only 8 packs
This is another Elite Trainer Box. That means it only comes with eight booster packs, but it does also include all of following: 65 card sleeves featuring Lunala, 45 energy cards, a player guide to the Sun & Moon expansion, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, two acrylic condition markers, and an acrylic GX marker. It’s definitely a good buy for anybody who’s just starting out with Pokémon TCG.
Cards you might get in this expansion include: Umbreon GX, Espeon GX Lapras GX, the Supporter card Lillie and many more. As the name gives away, this expansion was made to tie in with Pokémon Sun & Moon – indeed, it was the first of the expansions to include elements from those games.
Fans of Pokémon TCG might also want to take a look at our article on the best Pokémon cards. Also, our guide on how to play Pokémon cards will come in handy for anybody who’s just starting to get into the world of Pokémon TCG.
