If you’re reading this, you’ve probably told yourself this would be the month you wouldn’t buy more Pokémon cards. Same here. Yet, we find ourselves eyeing another lineup of Elite Trainer Boxes and tins, much like life choices we might already regret but will undoubtedly make again.
Pokémon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs
$29.99 at Amazon
Pokémon TCG: Stacking Tin (Q1 2025) - 3 Packs, Stickers (Random Design)
$19.99 at Amazon
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paradox Rift: Elite Trainer Box - Roaring Moon
$56.77 at Amazon
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Walking Wake
$53.64 at Amazon
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Iron Leaves
$55.24 at Amazon
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
$57.98 at Amazon
The Scarlet & Violet sets keep releasing impressive products, both in terms of visuals and competitive play, and unfortunately for our wallets, some of these boxes are genuinely worth opening.
Pokémon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs
Pokémon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs
Contains 2 x Surging Spark Boosters
$29.99 at Amazon
This tin is surprisingly solid. You get five booster packs from a diverse mix of sets — Surging Sparks, Stellar Crown, Temporal Forces, and Obsidian Flames — along with one promo featuring either Kyogre, Dialga, or Xerneas. It’s essentially Pokémon’s take on a loot box, and yes, I bought two. With the potential to pull chase cards like Pikachu ex, Terapagos, or Raging Bolt from the included sets, the odds of getting something exciting are pretty good. I'm not usually a fan of tins, but I'd definitely grab another one.
Pikachu ex - 238/191
$399.99 at TCG Player
Milotic ex - 237/191
$140.00 at TCG Player
Pikachu ex - 247/191
$95.97 at TCG Player
Hydreigon ex - 240/191
$79.99 at TCG Player
Alolan Exeggutor ex - 242/191
$55.99 at TCG Player
Pokémon TCG: Stacking Tin (Q1 2025) - 3 Packs, Stickers (Random Design)
Pokémon TCG: Stacking Tin (Q1 2025) - 3 Packs, Stickers (Random Design)
Contains 1 x Surging Sparks Booster
$19.99 at Amazon
I didn’t have high expectations for this one. I picked it up mainly for the sticker sheets and the chance of a Surging Sparks pack. It delivered on both fronts. Three packs, one of which might yield a card like Pikachu ex or Latias ex, and a tin that now serves as a holder for absolutely nothing. I can’t even be upset. There’s a slim chance you’ll pull something like Milotic ex or Ceruledge ex if you’re lucky with the packs, and if not? You spent twenty dollars to take a chance and got some mildly useful storage in return. That's more than I can say for half the cereal I’ve bought this year.
Alolan Exeggutor ex - 242/191
$55.99 at TCG Player
Lisia's Appeal - 246/191
$54.99 at TCG Player
Jasmine's Gaze - 245/191
$54.94 at TCG Player
Latios - 203/191
$36.79 at TCG Player
Archaludon ex - 241/191
$34.99 at TCG Player
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paradox Rift: Elite Trainer Box - Roaring Moon
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paradox Rift: Elite Trainer Box - Roaring Moon
$56.77 at Amazon
I initially got this box for the sleeves, but stayed because Roaring Moon ex is essentially what happens when a Pokémon decides it's done playing fair. If your goal is to end games with one powerful move and look great doing it, this is the card for you. Paradox Rift might not have as many chase cards, but the ones it does have — like Iron Valiant ex and Groudon — feel like they were drawn by someone who knows we’ll be admiring them like ancient art in 30 years.
Groudon - 199/182
See it at TCG Player
Altaria ex - 253/182
$65.99 at TCG Player
Roaring Moon ex - 251/182
$59.99 at TCG Player
Garchomp ex - 245/182
$39.49 at TCG Player
Steelix - 208/182
$34.99 at TCG Player
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Walking Wake
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Walking Wake
$53.64 at Amazon
The Walking Wake Elite Trainer Box comes with a full-art Flutter Mane and nine additional Temporal Forces packs, giving you another chance to pull some of the best art from the Scarlet & Violet era. This version focuses on the ancient theme, and I picked it up mainly to increase my chances of getting Walking Wake ex. Is it competitively viable? That's debatable. But it looks like it wandered out of a dream I had after eating too much sushi. With its vibrant blues and prehistoric drama, the vibe alone justified the price. Plus, the sleeves are sleek, and I like to pretend I care about those.
Raging Bolt ex - 208/162
$112.94 at TCG Player
Iron Crown ex - 206/162
$65.11 at TCG Player
Walking Wake ex - 205/162
$149.95 at TCG Player
Gouging Fire ex - 204/162
$56.88 at TCG Player
Gastly - 177/162
$50.36 at TCG Player
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Iron Leaves
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Iron Leaves
$55.24 at Amazon
Iron Leaves ex achieves the rare feat of being both playable and beautifully illustrated. It looks like it’s mid-leap from a sci-fi anime, which is exactly the kind of energy I want from my pulls. Other standout cards — like Iron Crown ex and Gouging Fire ex — either hit hard or look like they're about to. Raging Bolt ex, however, steals the show. It's loud, dramatic, and perfectly balanced between being a meta staple and a thunder god cosplayer.
Morty's Conviction - 211/162
$69.99 at TCG Player
Iron Leaves ex - 203/162
$38.01 at TCG Player
Bianca's Devotion - 209/162
$35.87 at TCG Player
Sawsbuck - 166/162
$32.07 at TCG Player
Metagross - 178/162
$29.95 at TCG Player
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
$57.98 at Amazon
Shrouded Fable subtly introduces cards like Houndoom, whose illustration is so striking it commands reverence, and Persian, which looks like it’s plotting something cinematic. The promos and sleeves are nice, but I was really after this box for the Illustration Rares that not only look amazing but also tell a story. Fezandipiti ex, for instance, is the Swiss Army knife of support attackers, while Cassiopeia brings straight-up character drama in a foil rectangle. The art direction in this set is almost pretentious, and I mean that as a compliment.
Persian - 078/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable
$67.61 at TCGPlayer
Cassiopeia - 094/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable
$59.98 at TCGPlayer
Fezandipiti ex - 092/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable
See it at TCGPlayer
Houndoom - 066/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable
$49.99 at TCGPlayer
Duskull - 068/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable
$49.88 at TCGPlayer
