This article presents a complete Pokémon Elite Trainer Box artwork timeline with images of every box.
Pokémon Elite Trainer boxes first appeared in 2011 with the launch of the Pokémon Black and White series.
Contents
What is an Elite Trainer Box?
Pokémon Elite Trainer Box Artwork Timeline
What is a Pokémon Elite Trainer Box?
A Pokemon Elite Trainer Box is a premium product in the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) that contains various items that are useful for those that play the game and also for those wishing to complete a Pokémon card collection. The boxes typically includes card sleeves, dividers, dice, markers, and a collector’s box to store cards. They also sometimes include promotional cards.
An Elite Trainer Box also includes a number of booster packs from the set. Elite Trainer Boxes from regular sets usually contain 8 packs while those from special sets include 10 packs. Booster packs contain 10 Trading cards as well as a Basic Energy card and an online code card.
Elite Trainer Boxes are highly collectible as the box artwork usually features the expansion set mascot. Older sealed boxes often fetch a high price at auction.
Pokémon Elite Trainer Box Artwork Timeline
Trainer boxes are listed by expansion set ordered from the latest set to the oldest.
Twilight Masquerade 24th May 2024
Twilight Masquerade introduces Ogerpon to the Trading Card Game so its no surprise to see the Masked Pokémon featured on the Elite Trainer Box. Ogerpon is featured in its Teal Mask form. In this form it is a Grass Type Pokémon and the teal / green colouring of the box reflects this.
Temporal Forces 22nd March 2024
There are two Elite Trainer Boxes for the Temporal Forces expansion set with artwork featuring Paradox Pokémon Iron Leaves and Walking Wake. Iron Leaves is outlined in red against a background of a red central circle etched with lines and circles, surrounded by green segments with splashes of red. Walking Wake is outlined in purple against a background of a central purple circle with white markings surrounded by white segments with purple lines.
Paldean Fates – 26th January 2024
The Paldean Fates Elite Trainer Box artwork features Shiny Mimikyu in gold surrounded by shiny stars against a purple backdrop with black motifs with gold criss-cross lines.
Paradox Rift – 3rd November 2023
There are two different designs of Elite Trainer Box for the Paradox Rift expansion. One features Iron Valiant in pink outlined in dark green against a green and pink patterned background, while the other features Roaring Moon in yellow outlined in red against a blue background.
Scarlet and Violet 151 – 22nd September 2023
The Scarlet and Violet 151 Elite Trainer Box artwork features Snorlax outlined in blue against a window background of white surrounded by cartoon-type coloured images of the original 151 Generation I Pokémon.
Obsidian Flames – 11th August 2023
The Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box artwork features Charmander depicted in orange against a background of red and orange flames with a purple backdrop.
Paldea Evolved – 9th June 2023
The Paldea Elite Trainer Box artwork features the Scarlet and Violet series Starter Pokémon – Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly depicted in their type colours against a black background.
Scarlet and Violet Base Set – 31st March 2023
Two different Elite Trainer Boxes were released for this set featuring set mascots Koraidon and Miraidon. Both Pokémon are etched in gold with Koraidon set against a scarlet background and Miraidon against violet. The set includes 5 Koraidon and 5 Miraidon cards.
Crown Zenith – 20th January 2023
This final set of the Sword and Shield series saw the release of a single Elite Trainer box with artwork depicting Lucario. This Fighting / Steel type Pokémon is depicted in regular form. It is coloured black and outlined in gold against the Crown Zenith set pattern of alternating diamonds with crowns. The box includes a Lucario VSTAR promo card SWSH291, but there are no Lucario cards in the set.
Silver Tempest – 11th November 2022
Alolan Vulpix is the Pokémon featured on the Silver Tempest Elite Trainer box. In Alolan form Vulpix is an ice type Pokémon and this is reflected in the colouring of the artwork which sees a dark blue Vulpix outlined in silver against a blue background. The set contains 2 Alolan Vulpix V cards and 2 VSTAR cards.
Lost Origin – 9th September 2022
The Elite Trainer Box artwork for the Lost Origin expansion set features Origin forme Giratina. This Legendary Pokémon is depicted in black, outlined in gold against a red and black background. The set includes 6 Giratina cards.
Pokémon Go – 1st July 2022
The Pokémon Go expansion was a special expansion set with a single design Elite Trainer Box. Popular Psychic type Pokémon Mewtwo is featured in silver against a blue background. There are 5 Mewtwo cards in the set, one of which, 072/078 was one of the Chase Cards for the set.
Astral Radiance – 27th May 2022
The Astral Radiance ETB features Dark type Pokémon, Darkrai, drawn in red and set against a swirl of red and black stripes. The set features 2 Darkrai cards.
Brilliant Stars – 25th February 2022
The Brilliant Stars expansion was the first set of 2022 and released a single Elite Trainer Box. The set mascot, Arceus is depicted on the front of the box, outlined in gold on a white background and surrounded by a gold circle. The set features 6 Arceus cards.
Fusion Strike – 12th November 2021
The Fusion Strike expansion had a single design Elite Trainer Box. Set mascot, Psychic type Pokémon Mew, is depicted in pink against a background of purple and blue concentric circles. The set included 6 cards that depicted Mew in V or VMAX form.
Celebrations – 8th October 2021
The Pokémon Celebrations expansion set was a special set released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise. The Elite Trainer Box artwork featured a unique design of outlined characters against a white background. The 25th Anniversary emblem can be seen in the centre of the box.
Evolving Skies – 27th August 2021
The Evolving Skies expansion set saw two different Elite Trainer Box artwork designs produced. Each box features four of the eight Eeveelutions depicted in colours that reflect their type. The set is highly popular due to the large number of cards depicting all 8 of the Eeveelutions.
Chilling Reign – 18th June 2021
There were two ETB designs released for the Chilling Reign expansion, one predominantly blue while the other is purple. Both feature set mascot, Calyrex, one as Ice Rider Calyrex and the other as Shadow Rider Calyrex. The set includes 12 Calyrex cards, 6 of each form.
Battle Styles 19th March 2021
The two Elite Trainer Boxes released as part of the Battle Styles expansion depicted the two different forms of Urshifu. Fighting / Dark type Single Strike Urshifu is depicted in red while Fighting / Water type Rapid Strike Urshifu is depicted in blue. The set includes 24 Urshifu cards, 12 of each form.
Shining Fates – 19th February 2021
Shining Fates was a special expansion set and the first set released in 2021. The single design Elite Trainer Box features popular Pokémon Eevee in Gigantamax form. Eevee is coloured orange and outlined in black, set against a backdrop of black and gold geometric shapes. The set features just one Eevee card.
Vivid Voltage – 13th November 2020
Gigantamax Pikachu features on the front of the Vivid Voltage Elite Trainer Box. The popular Electric type character is depicted in yellow against a red background. The set includes four Pikachu Cards including a rainbow rare card.
Champion’s Path – 25th September 2020
The Elite Trainer Box artwork for the Champion’s path special expansion set features Gigantamax Charizard. This fan-favourite Fire type Pokémon is depicted in gold against a black and grey background of Pokémon energy symbols. The set features 2 Charizard cards, both of which are highly collectible.
Darkness Ablaze – 14th August 2020
Darkness Ablaze set mascot, Eternatus, takes centre stage on the artwork for the Elite Trainer Box. Poison / Dragon type Eternatus is depicted in red against a background of dark and light blue concentric circles. 3 Eternatus cards are included in this set.
Rebel Clash – 1st May 2020
The Rebel Clash Elite Trainer Box features Steel type Pokémon Copperajah depicted in dark green against an orange and yellow background. There are 4 cards featuring Copperajah in the set.
Sword and Shield Base Set – 7th February 2020
The first set of the Sword and Shield series saw two different designs of Elite Trainer Box produced. They feature the set and series mascots Zacian and Zamazenta. Zacian is depicted in blue against a red background while Zamazenta is in red against a blue background. The set features 3 Zacian cards and 3 Zamazenta cards.
SM Cosmic Eclipse – 1st November 2019
Cosmic Eclipse was the final set for the Sun and Moon Series. The single Elite Trainer Box features the Legendary Pokémon Arceus, Dialga and Palkia. Arceus is depicted in green, Dialga in blue and Palkia in red. The trio feature as a Tag Team on 4 different cards in the set.
Hidden Fates – 23rd August 2019
The Hidden Fates Elite Trainer Box artwork depicts the three Legendary birds – Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos. The three birds are depicted in bright red, yellow and blue against a black background. The set includes 3 cards depicting all three characters as a Tag Team.
Unified Minds – 2nd August 2019
Fan-favourite Pokémon Mew and Mewtwo are the two characters that feature on the Unified Minds Elite Trainer Box. A light pink Mew is placed in front of a deeper pink Mewtwo and both are depicted against a backgrop of ziz-zag stripes of pink and green. The set includes 3 Mew and Mewtwo Tag Team cards.
SM Unbroken Bonds – 3rd May 2019
The Elite Trainer Box for the Unbroken Bonds expansion set features Charizard and Reshiram. the former is depicted in orange while the latter is in white and both are set against a fiery red background. 3 cards with the pair as a Tag Team were included in this expansion.
SM Team Up – 1st February 2019
The Elite Trainer Box for the Team Up expansion features two popular Pokémon – Pikachu and Zekrom. A yellow Pikachu is depicted in front of a dark blue coloured Zekrom. Both are set against a background of black and grey stripes. Pikachu and Zekrom formed a Tag Team and appeared on 3 cards.
SM lost Thunder – 2nd November 2018
Zeraora is the mascot for the Lost Thunder expansion and features on the front of the box. This Mythical Electric-type Pokemon is depicted in yellow against a background of turquoise blue zig-zag stripes. Zeraora features on 3 cards in this set.
SM Dragon Majesty – 7th September 2018
Dragon Majesty was a special expansion set in the Sun and Moon Series. The Elite Trainer Box artwork features Poison / Dragon type Naganadel depicted in light blue against a purple and yellow background. A Naganadel GX Promo card was included in the box, but there were no Naganadel cards in the set.
SM Celestial Storm – 3rd August 2018
The Elite Trainer Box for the Celestial Storm expansion set features the set mascot Rayquaza. The Legendary Pokémon is depicted in lime green at the centre of a yellow circle filled with a yellow mesh type pattern. 3 Rayquaza GX cards were included in the set.
SM Forbidden Light – 4th May 2018
The mascot for the Forbidden Light expansion set is Ultra Necrozma. This Psychic / Dragon type Pokémon is depicted in yellow against a grey and black background. Ultra Necrozma GX was featured on 3 cards.
SM Ultra Prism – 2nd February 2018
There were two different designs of Elite Trainer Box released with the Ultra Prism expansion set featuring two different forms of Necrozma. Dawn Wings Necrozma is depicted in grey against a blue background while Dusk Mane Necrozma is depicted in grey against an orange background. 3 GX cards of each form were included in the set.
SM Crimson Invasion – 3rd November 2017
The Crimson Invasion expansion set features a single Elite Trainer Box. Set mascot, Legendary Pokémon Silvally, is depicted in silver, standing on a teal platform against a teal patterned backdrop. 3 Silvally GX cards were included in the set.
Shining Legends – 6th October 2017
Shining Legends was a special set in the Sun and Moon series that included a number of Shining Pokémon cards that have a distinct shimmering foil pattern. The Elite Trainer box for the set features Legendary bird, Ho-Oh, depicted in gold against a black background. A shining Ho-Oh Promo Card was included in the ETB but the character did not feature on cards in the main set.
Burning Shadows – 4th August 2017
The Burning Shadows Elite Trainer Box artwork features Necrozma the mascot for the Sun and Moon games. This Psychic type Pokémon is depicted in its regular form and is shown in silver against a black and grey background. This set included 3 Necrozma GX cards.
Guardians Rising 5th May 2017
Guardians Rising is the second set of the Sun and Moon series. The Elite Trainer box features the Legendary Tapu Koko. This Electric / Fairy type Pokémon is depicted in brown against a yellow patterned background. The expansion set included 3 Tapu Koko GX cards.
Sun and Moon Base – 3rd February 2017
There were two Elite Trainer Boxes released with the Sun and Moon Base Set. The two boxes featured the two mascots for the games Sun and Moon – Solgaleo and Lunala. Solgaleo is a Psychic / Steel type Pokémon and is depicted in grey in a circle with an orange and red geometric pattern. Lunala is a Psychic / Ghost type Pokémon and is depicted in lilac-grey within a circle with a purple and grey geometric pattern. There were 3 Solgaleo GX cards in the set and 3 Lunala GX.
XY Evolutions – 2nd November 2016
The Evolutions set was the final expansion set of the X and Y series. Two Elite trainer boxes were released featuring Charizard and Blastoise. Fire type Charizard is depicted in gold against a red background while water type Blastoise is shown in silver against a blue background. The set includes 4 Charizard cards and 3 Blastoise cards.
XY Steam Siege – 3rd August 2016
The set mascot, Volcanion takes centre stage on the Steam Siege Elite Trainer Box. This unique Fire / Water type Pokémon is coloured silver against a teal patterned background. Volcanion features on 4 cards in this set.
XY Fates Collide – 2nd May 2016
The XY Fates Collide Elite Trainer Box artwork depicts Alakazam in Mega form. This popular Generation I Psychic-type Pokemon is depiccted in gold with a purple background. The set includes 5 Alakazam EX cards.
XY Generations – 22nd February 2016
The XY Generations set was released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The Elite Trainer box featured the 20th anniversary design of grey cartoon type characters on a white background with a stylised Pikachu and the number 20 in the middle.
XY Breakpoint – 3rd February 2016
The BREAKPoint Elite Trainer Box features Mega Gyarados. This popular Dark / Water type Legendary Pokémon is depicted in gold against a red background. The set includes 5 Gyarados EX Cards.
XY Breakthrough – 4th November 2015
Two Elite Trainer Boxes were released with the launch of the XY BREAKThrough expansion set. One features Mega Mewtwo X, while the other depicts Mega Mewtwo Y. Both forms of Mewtwo are depicted in lilac, with Mewtwo X against a purple background and Mewtwo Y against pink. The set includes 10 Mewtwo EX cards.
XY Ancient Origins – 12th August 2015
The Elite Trainer Box artwork for the Ancient Origins set features a dark blue background with Dark / Psychic type Hoopa in Unbound form depicted in gold. The set features 2 Hoopa EX cards.
XY Roaring Skies – 6th May 2015
The popular Dragon / Flying type Legendary Pokemon, Rayquaza features in Mega form on the Elite Trainer Box for the Roaring Skies expansion set. Rayquaza is depicted in silver against a bottle green background. The set features 6 Rayquaza EX cards.
XY Primal Clash – 4th February 2015
The Primal Clash expansion set saw two different Elite Trainer Boxes released. The boxes feature Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. Primal Groudon is depicted in gold against a red background while Primal Kyogre is shown in sliver against a dark blue background. The set includes 5 Groudon cards and 5 Kyogre cards.
XY Phantom Forces – 5th November 2014
The XY Phantom Forces Elite Trainer Box artwork depicts Gengar outlined in silver against a mauve background. Gengar is a popular Ghost/Poison type Pokemon that was first introduced in the Pokemon Red and Blue video games. The set includes 4 Gengar EX cards.
XY Furious fists – 13th August 2014
The Elite Trainer Box artwork for the Furious Fists set features Fighting / Steel type Pokémon Lucario in Mega form. It is depicted outlined in silver against a brown background. The Furious Fists set includes 4 Lucario EX Cards.
XY Flashfire – 7th May 2014
No Elite Trainer box was released.
XY Base Set – 5th February 2014
There were two Elite Trainer Boxes produced for the XY Base set. The boxes featured the two set mascots Xerneas and Yveltal. Fairy type Xerneas is depicted outlined in silver against a blue background while Dark / Flying type Yveltal is depicted outlined in gold against a red background. The set includes 3 Xerneas cards and 3 Yveltal cards.
Legendary Treasures – 6th November 2013
No Elite Trainer Box was released.
Plasma Blast – 14th August 2013
The Plasma Blast expansion set saw the release of the second Elite Trainer Box. Featured on the front is Bug / Steel type Pokémon Genesect. It is outlined in gold against a mauve background. The Plasma Blast set included 3 Genesect cards.
BW Plasma Freeze – 8th May 2013
No Elite Trainer Box was released.
BW Plasma Storm – 6th February 2013
The release of the Plasma Storm expansion set saw the launch of a new product – the Elite Trainer Box – designed to include everything a player needed to get started with the game. Legendary Psychic / Flying type Lugia is outlined in gold against a black background. This box was the only one to include 7 Booster packs. Lugia EX features on 2 cards in the set.
