Where to Buy Pokemon Booster Boxes and Which Edition?

furythree on 26/10/2022 - 00:35

Hey all

looking to buy a pokemon booster box for my sons birthday

however having been out of the game for 20 years the number of new editions is too overwhelming

does anyone have any quick tips on

1) where the best places to look to buy a booster box? I have a 200$ budget. but if i can save a buck, of course id prefer a bargain

2) Which edition to buy

Hes only little so this wont be for an investment purpose. more that i want him the experience of ripping dozens of packs and getting a few rares
(i dont even know whats considered rare these days)

So whilst im not looking to find $200 rares in a box. It would still be cool to have the chance to get something he can showoff if he did get one

thanks

General Discussion

Comments

  • NEO-R26B on 26/10/2022 - 00:46
    +2

    Does he have a favourite Pokemon? I'd probably just go with a booster box of Fusion Strike, a booster box can be had for $165 + delivery @ Collectible Madness/Gameology. Of the still readily available sets it has some of the nicer rares (Mew & Celebi). You can chuck the extra budget at a folder to put the holos in, lugging around my folder as a kid was a core memory for me.

    • furythree on 26/10/2022 - 01:14
      +1

      he plays pokemon unite and watches the latest anime on netflix

      but outside of the main characters theres no main favourite

      i think what you suggested sounds great. variety is really all im after

      cheers!

    • furythree on 26/10/2022 - 01:16
      +1

      is there a simple explanation between the differences in the various editions?

      like chilling reign
      vivid voltage
      battle styles
      brilliant stars
      etc

      theres also like a 2x difference in shield and sword prices

      • NEO-R26B on 26/10/2022 - 01:53
        +8

        For casual collection purposes there's no difference, 36 boosters in all main set booster boxes.
        Each booster pack will have 1 guaranteed reverse holo, and a rare which has a chance of being one of the ultra/secret rares.
        The prices will vary depending on the age of the set, and the popularity which is generally driven by the quality of the chase cards.
        Of all the sets you listed only Brilliant Stars was particularly sought after due to the Charizard chase card.
        If you can find heaps of stock of an 'older' set on shelves, it's probably because it was average.

        Short list of main set release dates, number of cards in set, & the chase card for reference:
        - Vivid Voltage | November 13, 2020 | 203 | Rainbow VMAX Pikachu Secret Rare - Who doesn't want a rainbow chonky-chu.
        - Battle Styles | March 19, 2021 | 183 | Tyranitar V Alternate Full Art - The fact that an alternate art card is the most sought after as opposed to a gold or rainbow card speaks to the average quality of this set.
        - Chilling Reign | June 18, 2021 | 233 | Blaziken VMAX Alternate Art Secret Rare - This set has 'some' nice rares, but it has 233 cards and most of the rares are kinda boring.
        - Evolving Skies | August 27, 2021 | 237 | This set is awesome, there isn't really 1 standout chase card, instead it's most of the eevee-lution full arts and Rayquaza variants. You'll be hard pressed to find a booster box at under retail now though.
        - Fusion Strike | November 12, 2021 | 284 | Espeon/Gengar VMAX Alternate Art Secret Rare - Similar to Chilling Reign the chase cards are nice, the difference here is that because the box art Pokemon is Mew, even the less rare cards are also great like Mew & Celebi.
        - Brilliant Stars | February 25, 2022 | 216 | Charizard V Alternate Art & Rainbow Charizard VSTAR Secret Rare - As is tradition, any set with a Charizard is hype, and the prices & stock levels reflect accordingly.
        - Astral Radiance | May 27, 2022 | 246 | Various Palkia V variants & A Machamp V Alternate Art - If Diamond & Pearl generation legendaries are your thing this is the set, but it's huge.
        - Lost Origin | September 9, 2022 | 247 | Giratina V Alternate Art - Another huge set, lots of alternate arts for the die hard collectors.
        - Silver Tempest | November 11, 2022 | 190+ | Probably a Lugia Secret Rare - Not yet released, but Lugia is a fan favourite, this is sure to be a hit.

        TL;DR: Regardless of the set you buy, a booster box will give you enough variation that it'll be an exciting experience to open.

        • furythree on 26/10/2022 - 02:00
          +2

          thank you! this is exactly the breakdown i was after

          so it was really just the chase cards that made people want it

          a further bit of price checking i assume the XY evolution edition was because it was as close to the OG collection as one could get right

          the prices on those are ridiculous.

          i should probably sell my first edition blastoise at these prices lol

          i might pre order the silver tempest too for myself

          ….aaaand the addiction has slowly crept back in

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