Intro to Pokémon Products
Boosters
The overview has to start with booster packs. Boosters are the primary product how Pokémon cards are distributed and are part of other Pokémon products. They are aimed at more experienced players that want to enhance their decks. A booster pack contains11 random cards from a given set. One of the cards is a guaranteed 'Reverse Holo' foil card and one is always a guaranteed Rare or higher rarity card.
Each booster pack also contains a code for a digital booster pack for the Pokémon TCG Online client.
A price of one Pokémon booster is around 100 CZK.
tip:
For the best experience when opening a pack, take the pack contents and put the PTCGO code card aside. Then bring the last four cards to the front of the pack. Then go through the pack card by card. The last two cards will be a foil card and a rare.
Booster boxes
A booster box may be idea for you if you are serious about Pokémon and have a higher budget for the game. A Booster box (also referred to as 'display') is a box containing (usually) 36 boosters at a better price than you'd get when buying single boosters. Pokémon booster boxes do not offer special kind of promo cards or boosters like other card game booster boxes (there's no 'Box topper' or a 'Buy-a-Box' promo)
Booster box prices start around 3000 Kč.
If you are thinking about investing money into Pokémon, sealed booster boxes sell for much higher price few years after their release.
Elite Trainer Boxes
One of the products that is being released with each set alongside booster boxes is Elite Trainer Box.
The product is very similar to Magic: The Gathering 'Fat Pack'.
Elite Trainer Boxes (“ETB”) are aimed at advanced players or collectors. They contain 8-10 boosters of given set, basic energy cards, sleeves, dice set, Poison and Burn counters, and set guide. All this is packed into a reusable box that can hold up to 400 sleeved cards.
Elite Trainer Boxes prices start at around 1000 Kč.
Sometimes there are special sets which aren't sold in individual boosters. In that case, buying ETB boxes is the best way to buy more boosters from that set (for example Shining Fates or Champion’s Path).
Trainer’s Toolkit
Trainer's Toolkit is usually being released once per year. It is aimed at beginner players who want to build their own first decks. It contains a fixed chosen collection of pokémon and trainers that can be used in different decks. Apart from these cards the product contains 4 boosters of current sets, basic energy cards, sleeves, dice set and counters. All this is packed in reusable box that can hold up to 400 sleeved cards.
Mini Tin
Mini Tins are aimed at collectors and those that like to open packs but don't want to spend too much money. Mini tins contain 2 boosters, Pokémon coin and Pokémon art card. Mini tins are released in a serie of 5. Their cover illustration usually form one panorama.
Mini Tins prices are around 300 CZK.
Ball Tin
Ball Tins are also aimed at collectors and those who like to open packs. Ball Tins are designed to look like one of the Pokéballs (Ultra Ball, Great Ball, Master Ball etc.).
In each Tin you will find 3 boosters, one often being from an older set, and a Pokémon coin.
Ball Tins prices are around 300 CZK.
Collector chest
Collector chests are aimed at younger players. They are released twice per year, during spring and autumn. The chest contains boosters of new sets, promo cards and other items with Pokémon theme - pocket album, stickers, coins, notepad and pens.
Tin
Tins contain a promo card with alternate art and 4 boosters from new sets. The box comes handy at storing stuff.
The prices start at around 500 CZK.
Box sets (V Boxes/pin/playmat)
Box sets can vary in contents. The products usually contain one or more promo cards that are often exclusive to this product. Apart from promo cards there are booster packs. There can be a oversized version of the promo card, pin with featured Pokémon, or even a playmat or Pokémon mini.
The price starts at around 350 CZK for small box sets containing 3 boosters but can go up to 1500-2000 CZK for bigger premium collection boxes.
Theme decks
With each set two or three Theme decks are released. Theme decks are ready-to-play preconstructed deck aimed at new players. Each product contains a 60 card deck built around one specific Pokémon, rule book, paper playmat, and paper damage counters.
One Theme deck usually costs around 250-300 CZK.
Each Theme deck also contains a Pokémon TCG Online code for the deck. There you can join an event where players play against each other with these decks.
Battle Decks
Battle decks do not have a set release date. They are usually released twice or three times per year. Battle decks are also preconstructed decks but are aimedd at more experienced players. The power level of these decks is much higher than Theme decks. They are usually built around a GX or V Pokémon and contain many useful Trainer cards. Battle decks are released in pairs and are meant to be used against each other.
World Championship Decks
Each year there is a Pokémon World Championship. The best decks from World Championship are then featured in these World Champion Deck products. The product features an exact copy of the best decks but they have a special card back, silver card borders and are signed by their pilot. This means that the cards are not legal at any official tournament. They still give players the possiblity to play the top decks for cheap.
The prices of these decks start at 400 CZK.
Build and Battle Kits
Before each set is released there are Prerelease events where players can play with the cards from the new set before it becomes available for purchase. Each player receives a prerelease kit called Build and Battle. This pack contains a promo card, 22 card evolution pack that will form the base of the player's deck, and 4 boosters to upgrade the base deck.
If you' missed the prerelease and still would like to experience it you can buy these and battle against your friends.
Due to limited amount of the product, there may be limitations to how many one customer can buy.
What to buy if I want to start playing Pokémon?
Even though Theme decks are the obvious choice, I would recommend paying more money and buy a Battle deck (or a pair of Battle decks). You will get your hands on powerful V or GX pokémon and powerful Trainer cards as well.
Even though majority of the products contain a guide on how to play the game, the best way to learn the game is to play the game on Pokémon TCG Online. PTCGO has a tutorial that will show you the basic mechanics of the game and there is also a single player campaign in which you will learn about some of the strategies found in the game.
Useful links
Pokémon TCG online
https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/play-online/
Cardmarket - the biggest European market place with Pokémon single cards
https://www.cardmarket.com/en/Pokemon
Rarity overview
Do you want to know how rare your cards are? On the bottom part of the card, either in the left or right corner, you will find set icon, collector's number and rarity symbol.
Common (●) - common cards are well common. Basic Pokémon are found at common rarity. There are 5 common cards in each booster pack.
Uncommon (◆) - uncommon cards are less common than common cards. Majority of Trainer cards and evolved Pokémon are found at uncommon rarity. Each pack contains 3 uncommon cards (the last 3 cards after basic energy card)
Rare (★) - rare cards are of the highest rarity. Final evolution Pokémon, legendary Pokémon, stronger Pokémon variants (EX//GX/V etc) and cards with special treatment are found at rare rarity.
Rare cards are either:
- regular Rare - neither part of the card is foil
- Holo Rare - a card with foil art
- regular EX/GX/V Rare
- Full Art Rare
- Secret Rare
Promo (black asterisk with “PROMO” written on the card) cards are cards that were released because of a special occasion (certain special tournament) or they are found in premium product (promo cards from tins or box sets)
Majority of cards exist in Reverse Holo variant (abbreviated RH). These cards are more rare and are foil except the art.
