Pokémon Booster Packs are so named because they contain cards to boost a player’s deck.
Booster Packs are made out of foil which is printed on the outside with artwork that is unique for each expansion set. They can be purchased individually or in booster boxes. They are also included in Elite Trainer Boxes and other collection boxes and tins.
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.
Generally there are 4 or 5 different designs for Pokémon booster packs, some of which have become collector items.
Where are Pokémon Booster Packs Found?
With the exception of promo cards and special release cards, Pokémon trading cards can only be obtained from opening booster packs. The products which contain packs varies depending on whether the expansion is a standard expansion set or a special expansion set.
Standard Expansion Sets
Pokémon Booster packs for standard expansion sets can be obtained by purchasing the following products:
Booster pack – 1 booster pack
Booster bundle – 6 booster packs
Booster box – 36 booster packs
Elite trainer boxes – 8 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
Pokémon Booster packs for special expansion sets can be obtained by purchasing the following products:
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 are inside a Pokémon Booster Pack?
1999 – 2022
Up to and including the Sword and Shield Series, there are 12 cards inside each pack:
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.
3 x Uncommon cards – These include character cards, Trainer cards and special energy cards. Uncommon cards are signified by a small black diamond.
5 x Common cards – Common cards are all character cards and are signified by a small black circle.
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 can be rare, uncommon or common and their rarity is signified by a black star, diamond or circle.
In the Sword and Shield sets, Trainer Gallery, Amazing Rare or Radiant cards may take the place of the Reverse Holo card.
2023 Onwards
From the Scarlet and Violet Series onwards the cards found inside a booster pack will change and non-holo rare cards will no longer be printed. The cards found inside booster packs from Generation IX onwards will be:
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 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 can be rare, uncommon or common and their rarity is signified by a black star, diamond or circle.
Illustration Rares, signified by a single gold star ★ or Special Illustration Rares, signified by two gold stars ★★ may take the place of one of the Reverse holo cards.
Double Rare Holo cards (half art), signified by two black stars ★★, Ultra Rare Holo cards (full art), signified by two white stars ★★ and Ultra Rare Holo cards (gold secret), signified by three gold stars ★★★, may take the place of the Holo Rare.
