Pokémon Elite Trainer Box Artwork Timeline

 

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.

 

Prismatic Evolutions 17th January 2025

Prismatic Evolutions Logo

Prismatic Evolutions includes all evolutions of Eevee and includes Tera Stellar Pokémon. The front of the box shows Eevee in Tera Stellar form.

Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box

 

Surging Sparks 8th November 2024

Pokémon Surging Sparks Logo

Surging Sparks focuses heavily on Tera Stellar Pokémon and the front of the Elite Trainer Box features Tera Stellar Pikachu. 

Surging Sparks ETB

Stellar Crown 13th September 2024

Stellar Crown Logo

Stellar Crown sees the debut of Terastal Pokémon Terapagos and this Pokémon is depicted on the front of the Elite Trainer Box. 

Stellar Crown Elite Trainer Box

 

Shrouded Fable 2nd August 2024

Shrouded Fable Logo

Shrouded Fable features the Loyal Three – Okidogi, Munkidori and Fezandipiti and these three characters are depicted on the front of the Elite Trainer Box. 

Shrouded Fable ETB

 

Twilight Masquerade 24th May 2024

Twilight Masquerade Card List

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. 

Twilight Masquerade Elite Trainer Box

 

Temporal Forces 22nd March 2024

Temporal Forces Logo

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.

Iron Leaves Elite Trainer Box

 

Paldean Fates – 26th January 2024

Paldean Fates logo

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.

Paldean Fates Elite Trainer Box

 

Paradox Rift – 3rd November 2023

Paradox Rift Logo

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.

Paradox Rift ETBs

 

Scarlet and Violet 151 – 22nd September 2023

Scarlet and Violet 151

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.

Scarlet and Violet 151 Elite Trainer Box

 

Obsidian Flames – 11th August 2023

Obsidian Flames Logo

The Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box artwork features Charmander depicted in orange against a background of red and orange flames with a purple backdrop.

Obsidian Flames ETB

 

Paldea Evolved – 9th June 2023

Paldea Evolved SV02

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. 

Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box

 

Scarlet and Violet Base Set – 31st March 2023

Scarlet & Violet Logo

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.

Scarlet and Violet Elite Trainer Boxes 

 

Crown Zenith – 20th January 2023

Crown Zenith

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.

Crown Zenith ETB 

 

Silver Tempest – 11th November 2022

Silver Tempest

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.

Silver Tempest ETB 

 

Lost Origin – 9th September 2022

Lost Origin Chase Cards

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.

Lost Origin Elite Trainer Box

 

Pokémon Go – 1st July 2022

Pokémon Go

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. 

Pokémon Go Elite Trainer Box

 

Astral Radiance – 27th May 2022

Astral Radiance Logo

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.

Astral Radiance Elite Trainer Box 

 

Brilliant Stars – 25th February 2022

Brilliant Stars

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.

Brilliant Stars Elite Trainer Box 

 

Fusion Strike – 12th November 2021

Fusion Strike Logo

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.

Fusion Strike ETB

 

Celebrations – 8th October 2021

Pokémon Celebrations

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.

Celebrations Elite Trainer Box

 

Evolving Skies – 27th August 2021

Evolving Skies

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. 

Evolving Skies ETB

 

Chilling Reign – 18th June 2021

Chilling Reign logo

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.

Chilling Reign ETBs featuring Calyrex

 

Battle Styles 19th March 2021

Battle Styles Expansion Set

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.

Battle Styles Elite Trainer Boxes

 

Shining Fates – 19th February 2021

Shining Fates Logo

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.

Shining Fates ETB

 

Vivid Voltage – 13th November 2020

Vivid Voltage Logo

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

Vivid Voltage ETB

 

Champion’s Path – 25th September 2020

Champion's Path logo

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.

Champion's Path Elite Trainer Box

Darkness Ablaze – 14th August 2020

Darkness Ablaze Logo

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.

Darkness Ablaze ETB

Rebel Clash – 1st May 2020

Rebel Clash Logo

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.

Rebel Clash ETB

 

Sword and Shield Base Set – 7th February 2020

Sword and Shield Base Logo

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.

Sword and Shield Base Set Elite Trainer Boxes

 

SM Cosmic Eclipse – 1st November 2019

Cosmic Eclipse Logo

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.

Cosmic Eclipse Elite Trainer Box

 

Hidden Fates – 23rd August 2019

Hidden Fates

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.

Hidden Fates ETB

 

Unified Minds – 2nd August 2019

Unified Minds Alolan Cards

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. 

Unified Minds Elite Trainer Box

 

SM Unbroken Bonds – 3rd May 2019

Unbroken Bonds Logo

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.

Unbroken Bonds ETB

 

SM Team Up – 1st February 2019

Team Up Logo

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.

Team Up ETB

 

SM lost Thunder – 2nd November 2018

Lost Thunder Logo

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.

Lost Thunder Elite Trainer Box

 

SM Dragon Majesty – 7th September 2018

Dragon Magesty

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.

Dragon Majesty ETB

 

SM Celestial Storm – 3rd August 2018

Celestial Storm

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. 

Celestial Storm ETB

 

SM Forbidden Light – 4th May 2018

Forbidden Light Logo

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. 

Forbidden Light ETB

 

SM Ultra Prism – 2nd February 2018

Ultra Prism Logo

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. 

Ultra Prism Elite Trainer Boxes

 

SM Crimson Invasion – 3rd November 2017

Crimson Invasion Logo

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. 

Crimson Invasion Elite Trainer Box

 

Shining Legends – 6th October 2017

Shining Legends Logo

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.

Shining Legends ETB

 

Burning Shadows – 4th August 2017

Burning Shadows Logo

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.

Burning Shadows ETB

 

Guardians Rising 5th May 2017

Guardians Rising Logo

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.

Guardians Rising ETB

 

Sun and Moon Base – 3rd February 2017

Sun and Moon Logo

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.

Sun and Moon Base Set ETBs

 

XY Evolutions – 2nd November 2016

XY Evolutions

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 Evolutions ETBs

XY Steam Siege – 3rd August 2016

Steam Siege Logo

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. 

Steam Siege ETB

 

XY Fates Collide – 2nd May 2016

XY Fates Collide

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 Fates Collide ETB

 

XY Generations – 22nd February 2016

XY Generations

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 Generations Elite Trainer Box Artwork

 

XY Breakpoint – 3rd February 2016

XY Breakpoint

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 Breakpoint ETB

 

XY Breakthrough – 4th November 2015

BREAKThrough Logo

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 BREAKThrough ETB

 

XY Ancient Origins – 12th August 2015

Ancient Origins Logo

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. 

Ancient Origins Elite Trainer Box

XY Roaring Skies – 6th May 2015

XY Roaring Skies

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 Roaring Skies Elite Trainer Box

 

XY Primal Clash – 4th February 2015

XY Primal Clash

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. 

Primal Clash Elite Trainer Boxes

 

XY Phantom Forces – 5th November 2014

Phantom Forces Card List

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 Phantom Forces

 

XY Furious fists – 13th August 2014

XY Furious Fists Card List

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 Furious Fists Elite Trainer Box

 

XY Flashfire – 7th May 2014

XY Flashfire

No Elite Trainer box was released.

 

XY Base Set – 5th February 2014

XY Base Set Card List

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. 

XY Base Set Elite Trainer Boxes

 

Legendary Treasures – 6th November 2013

BW Legendary Treasures Logo

No Elite Trainer Box was released.

 

Plasma Blast – 14th August 2013

Plasma Blast Logo

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.

Plasma Blast ETB 

BW Plasma Freeze – 8th May 2013

Plasma Freeze Logo

No Elite Trainer Box was released.

 

BW Plasma Storm – 6th February 2013

Plasma Storm Logo

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.

Plasma Storm Elite Trainer Box artwork

 

 

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