If you’re reading this, you’ve probably also told yourself this would be the month you don’t buy more Pokémon cards. Same. And yet here we are, staring down another lineup of Elite Trainer Boxes and tins like they’re life choices we already regret but will definitely make again.

Pokémon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs

0$29.99 at Amazon

Pokémon TCG: Stacking Tin (Q1 2025) - 3 Packs, Stickers (Random Design)

0$19.99 at Amazon

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paradox Rift: Elite Trainer Box - Roaring Moon

0$56.77 at Amazon

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Walking Wake

0$53.64 at Amazon

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Temporal Forces: Elite Trainer Box: Iron Leaves

0$55.24 at Amazon

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box

0$57.98 at Amazon

The Scarlet & Violet sets continue to release impressive cards, both visually and competitively, and unfortunately for our wallets, some of these boxes are truly worth opening.

Pokémon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs

Pokémon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs

0Contains 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 a promo card featuring either Kyogre, Dialga, or Xerneas. It’s essentially Pokémon’s version of a loot box, and yes, I ended up buying two. With chase cards across the included sets like Pikachu ex, Terapagos, and Raging Bolt, the odds of pulling something exciting are quite good. I’m not usually a fan of tins, but I’d definitely pick up another one.

Pikachu ex - 238/191

0$399.99 at TCG Player

Milotic ex - 237/191

0$140.00 at TCG Player

Pikachu ex - 247/191

0$95.97 at TCG Player

Hydreigon ex - 240/191

0$79.99 at TCG Player

Alolan Exeggutor ex - 242/191

0$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)

0Contains 1 x Surging Sparks Booster$19.99 at Amazon

I didn't expect much from this tin, but I bought it for the sticker sheets and the promise of a Surging Sparks pack. It delivered exactly what it promised. Three packs, one of which could potentially yield a Pikachu ex or Latias ex, and a tin that I now use to store... well, nothing. But I’m not upset. There’s a slim chance you might pull a Milotic ex or Ceruledge ex if you’re lucky with the packs, and if you don’t? You paid twenty dollars for a roll of the dice and got some handy storage in return. That’s more than I can say for half the cereal I’ve bought this year.

Alolan Exeggutor ex - 242/191

0$55.99 at TCG Player

Lisia's Appeal - 246/191

0$54.99 at TCG Player

Jasmine's Gaze - 245/191

0$54.94 at TCG Player

Latios - 203/191

0$36.79 at TCG Player

Archaludon ex - 241/191

0$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

0$56.77 at Amazon

I bought this box mainly for the sleeves, but I stayed because Roaring Moon ex is the kind of card that doesn't play fair. If your goal is to end games with one powerful move and look good doing it, this is the card for you. Paradox Rift may not have as many chase cards, but the ones it does, like Iron Valiant ex and Groudon, feel like they were designed by someone who knows we’ll be admiring them for years to come.

Groudon - 199/182

0See it at TCG Player

Altaria ex - 253/182

0$65.99 at TCG Player

Roaring Moon ex - 251/182

0$59.99 at TCG Player

Garchomp ex - 245/182

0$39.49 at TCG Player

Steelix - 208/182

0$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

0$53.64 at Amazon

The Walking Wake Elite Trainer Box includes a full-art Flutter Mane and nine more Temporal Forces packs, giving you another chance to pull some of the best art from the Scarlet & Violet era. This box emphasizes the ancient theme, and I picked it up hoping to increase my chances of pulling a Walking Wake ex. Is it playable? That's up for debate. But its vibrant blues and prehistoric vibe made it worth the price. Plus, the sleeves are stylish, and I pretend to care about those.

Raging Bolt ex - 208/162

0$112.94 at TCG Player

Iron Crown ex - 206/162

0$65.11 at TCG Player

Walking Wake ex - 205/162

0$149.95 at TCG Player

Gouging Fire ex - 204/162

0$56.88 at TCG Player

Gastly - 177/162

0$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

0$55.24 at Amazon

Iron Leaves ex is a rare find that’s 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. The other heavy hitters, like Iron Crown ex and Gouging Fire ex, either hit hard or look ready to do so. However, Raging Bolt ex steals the show with its loud, dramatic flair, balancing perfectly between "meta staple" and "thunder god cosplayer."

Morty's Conviction - 211/162

0$69.99 at TCG Player

Iron Leaves ex - 203/162

0$38.01 at TCG Player

Bianca's Devotion - 209/162

0$35.87 at TCG Player

Sawsbuck - 166/162

0$32.07 at TCG Player

Metagross - 178/162

0$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

0$57.98 at Amazon

Shrouded Fable quietly introduces cards like Houndoom, with illustrations so stunning they command respect, and Persian, which looks like it’s plotting something cinematic. The promos and sleeves are nice, but I really wanted this box for the Illustration Rares that don’t just look cool — they tell a story. Fezandipiti ex is the Swiss Army knife of support attackers, and Cassiopeia adds character drama to your collection. The art direction in this set is sophisticated and engaging, and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Persian - 078/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable

1$67.61 at TCGPlayer

Cassiopeia - 094/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable

0$59.98 at TCGPlayer

Fezandipiti ex - 092/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable

0See it at TCGPlayer

Houndoom - 066/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable

2$49.99 at TCGPlayer

Duskull - 068/064 - SV: Shrouded Fable

0$49.88 at TCGPlayer