As a parent, you learn how to embrace change in life even if you’re not very fond of it in the first place. Kids grow up fast, and there’s nothing we can do about it except go with the flow. The nappy stocking is quickly replaced by toy stocking – cars for boys, dolls for girls.

Raising two boys, I had my share of die cast car obsession, learning all about the models, makes, and trends; something I never imagined myself doing. The latest obsession, you ask? The Pokémon trading card game.

The nostalgic element behind collecting and playing, along with the hype influenced by celebrities, plus the digital integration with apps explains why it’s still such a popular game. Surprisingly, it has become a hobby we enjoy as a family, and in a way it’s been something that’s boosted our bonding time – especially chasing rare cards in premium booster packs.

Are TCG Booster Packs Good?

I personally think they are worth the investment. Diving more into the Pokémon TCG community made me realise not everyone views the game, or the means, the same way, and this includes the booster boxes too. Be that as it may, I’m here to explain why these packs have their own value and deserve more attention from collectors, players and TCG fans altogether.

A Set of Quality

I get it that the initial price has a lot to do with the reason many aren’t in favour of booster over individual packs. But, if you’re looking for that full opening experience from a set, this is it. You may or may not be a collector, and you’re still going to enjoy the thrill of opening quality, sealed cards.

From six to 36 packs, there’s something for every fan. At the end of the day, if you think about the quality and the type of cards you get with these packs, you get to benefit from more cost-efficiency than buying small bundles or individual packs.

Sealed Collectible

Over the years, with the initial craze that happened in the 1990s, it’s understandable many fakes appeared on the market. Whether you like to collect them to play with them or keep them sealed, one thing is certain – the sealed booster packs give you the peace of mind you’re buying the real deal, which only adds to the liquidity and value of the product in the long run.

Sought-After Cards

Statistically, a booster box gives you more advantage of finding rares. And, even if you don’t, the thrill of looking for them as you unpack the different sets is what makes the game all the more exciting. If you’re looking for a specific card, this may not be your cup of tea, more so if the whole 36 pack set doesn’t give you what you’re in for.

However, if you’re up for composing a quality deck with some amazing cards, including the chance of finding some highly sought-after cards and making the most of what the game has to offer, then a booster pack with foil cards (rare and/or higher) is surely a worthwhile purchase. How many you get depends on the type of pack you choose; the standard booster pack gives you three foil cards, the collector boosters 9 to 11 out of a 15 card pack as opposed to the one foil card in a standard main booster pack.

How to Choose Booster Packs?

While there’s a thing called beginner’s luck, you can improve your chances of finding desirable cards, and overall quality, even if you’re well advanced in the game by keeping the following things in mind:

• The authenticity: Collector or not, buying the real deal is essential for a quality deck. This is where it’s important to learn a thing or two about Pokémon TCG fonts, colours, security features, lack of typos, uniform artwork, authentication markers like product code verification. The plastic wrap, quality packaging and neat organisation of the packs are other telling details you can check once you have the box.
• The collection goals: What’s more important to you and your set? Do you care about the artwork more than you do about how powerful a card is? Are you up for tournaments or building a collection? The answer to these questions is your guide on the packs you should choose.
• The budget: With so many incredible packs available, it’s easy to overspend. To avoid the budget issue that could end up talking you out of packs altogether, it’s essential to establish some limits. How much are you willing to spend on a pack? How often are you willing to shop? Once a month, once a week? Setting this limit can help avoid impulsive purchases down the road.
• Quality vs quantity: What’s more important – that you have more cards from all kinds of sets, even older and not that popular, or that you have more valuable cards and better pull rates from premium or new releases? Choosing between quality and quantity is another budgeting aspect you have to decide.
• The value: If you’re looking to turn this into a long-term investment, keep up the step with current market values, sought-after cards’ value, popularity and demand.