This article provides comprehensive ‘all you need to know’ information about Pokémon Booster Packs.
Contents
What are Pokémon Booster Packs?
Where are Booster Packs found?
What cards are in Booster Packs 1999 – 2022
What cards are in Booster Packs 2023 – 2024
What are Pokémon Booster Packs?
Pokémon Booster Packs are foil packs that contain Pokémon cards. They are called Booster Packs because they boost a player’s deck or card collection. The foil packs are printed on the outside with artwork that is unique for each expansion set.
Most regular expansion sets have four different designs of Booster Packs but some have five. Special sets generally have a single design but some, like the recent Shrouded Fable set have four.
Booster packs measure 9.7 x 0.3 x 17.3 cm (3.8 x 0.1 x 6.8 in). Unopened Booster Packs for current sets tend to retail at around £4 – £5 ($4 – $5), while those from older, out of print sets cost more.
For example sealed booster packs from the popular 2016 XY Evolutions set cost around £25 in the UK and $20 in the US. A sealed 1999 Base Set booster pack will set you back upwards of £350 in the UK and at least $300 in the US.
Where are Pokémon Booster Packs Found?
With the exception of promo cards and special release cards, Pokémon trading cards can only be obtained by opening Booster Packs. Booster Packs can be found in a range of products which varies depending on whether the expansion is a regular expansion set or a special expansion set. They can also be purchased individually from hobby stores or auction sites where they generally retail for £4 – £5 / $4 – $5.
Regular Expansion Sets
The quantity of Pokémon Booster packs included varies with different products. For regular expansion sets the following products are generally available:
Booster pack – 1 booster pack
Booster bundle – 6 booster packs
Booster box – 36 booster packs
Elite trainer boxes – 8 – 10 booster packs
Collection boxes – 4 – 6 packs
Pin collection boxes – 3 – 4 packs
Collector tins – 4 – 5 packs
Mini tins – 2 packs
Special Expansion Sets
For regular expansion sets the following products are generally available:
Elite trainer boxes – 8 – 10 booster packs
Collection boxes – 4 – 8 packs
Pin collection boxes – 3 – 4 packs
Collector tins – 4 – 5 packs
Mini tins – 2 packs
What cards can be found inside a Pokémon Booster Pack?
1999 – 2022
The 12 cards inside Booster Packs from 1999 – 2022 were:
1 x Online Code card – This can be used to play the Pokémon game online. The code cards can be green or white. A white code card often signifies that there will be a rare holographic or art card in the pack.
1 x Basic Energy card – Energy cards are attached to Pokémon to increase their power and are used in the Trading Card Game.
1 x Rare card – This may be a full art or a half art card, a holo (holographic) or a non-holo rare card. Rare cards are signified by a small black star next to the card number.
3 x Uncommon cards – These include character cards, Trainer cards and special energy cards. Uncommon cards are signified by a small black diamond next to the card number.
5 x Common cards – Common cards are all character cards and are signified by a small black circle next to the card number.
1 x Reverse Holo card – These cards are known as reverse holos because the bottom of the card is holographic rather than the top. There are reverse holo counterparts for each non-holo card in the set. They carry the same rarity as their non-holo counterparts.
Some of the later Sword and Shield series sets, contained Trainer Gallery, Amazing Rare or Radiant cards. Where these were included they took the place of the Reverse Holo card.
2023 Onwards
Beginning with the Scarlet and Violet Series, the cards found inside a booster pack changed. Non-holo rare cards were discontinued and art cards were given new rarity names and symbols.
The 12 cards found inside booster packs from Generation IX onwards are:
1 x Online Code card – This can be used to play the Pokémon game online. The code card design has not yet been revealed
1 x Basic Energy card – Energy cards are attached to Pokémon to increase their power and are used in the Trading Card Game.
1 x Rare Holo card – This is a standard card with a holographic image Rare Holo cards are signified by a small black star.
3 x Uncommon cards – These include character cards, Trainer cards and special energy cards. Uncommon cards are signified by a small black diamond.
4 x Common cards – Common cards are all character cards and are signified by a small black circle.
2 x Reverse Holo cards – These cards are known as Reverse Holos because the bottom of the card is holographic rather than the top. There are Reverse Holo counterparts for each non-art card in the set. They carry the same rarity as their non-holo counterparts.
Double Rare Holo cards may take the place of the rare card in a Booster Pack. They are marked with two black stars.
An Illustration Rare, Ultra Rare, Special Illustration Rare or a Gold Hyper Rare card may take the place of one of the Reverse Holo cards.
Illustration Rare cards are always an alternate art version of a Common, Uncommon or Rare card and are identified by a single gold star.
Ultra Rare cards are always an alternate art version of a Trainer or ex card and are identified by two white stars.
Special Illustration Rare cards are alternate art versions of Trainer or Double Rare cards. They are signified by two gold stars.
Gold Hyper Rare cards, previously known as Gold Secret Rare, these cards are gold foil versions of Trainer cards or Double Rare cards. They are marked with three gold stars.
