Best Pokemon card packs to buy in 2023 and where to get them: Scarlet & Violet Base Set, Crown Zenith & more

Zackerie Fairfax
best pokemon card packs to buy

The Pokemon TCG is as popular as ever in 2023 with the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet era being well and truly underway. A lot of new and returning players are getting into the game, and if you’re wondering exactly where to start we’ve got a full list of recommendations for the very best Pokemon TCG packs to buy in 2023.

There are a handful of brand-new Pokemon TCG expansion packs released every year and the sheer volume of sets now available can be overwhelming to new and even returning players.

If you’re a competitive player, a collector, or you’re looking to purchase some cards as a present for a loved one, it can be tricky trying to figure out what the best sets but we’ve got you covered with a curated list of recommendations right here.

Here are the very best Pokemon card packs to buy in 2023 and where you can find them.

Contents

Best Pokemon card packs to buy (2023)

Scarlet & Violet Series – The freshest cards from the Paldea region

The Pokemon Trading Card game was taken into a new era with the Scarlet & Violet base set, which launched in March 2023. And unlike the Sword & Shield Base Set, Scarlet & Violet has many beautiful cards for players to chase after.

It also reintroduces “ex” cards that will be essential for competitive play in the future. And this set can be found in single blister packs in retail stores near you, meaning you won’t have to shell out $50-$60 on a collector’s box or ETB to get in on the fun.

Since this is the inaugural set for the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet run, there are likely a few cards you won’t want to miss out on. And this will be the first time Gen 9 Pokemon will be featured in the TCG.

Make sure you take a look at the brand-new Obsidian Flames expansion, as well, as it expands on the Paldea Pokemon available in the TCG and introduces som lovely type-shifted Tera Pokemon ex cards.

You can purchase Scarlet & Violet Base Set packs here: (via Amazon)

Elite Trainer Box | Booster Box

Crown Zenith – The latest High-Class Packs

pokemon tcg crown zenith pack

Crown Zenith is the international adaptation of the Japanese VSTAR Universe set, and it was finally released on January 20, 2023. As a send-off to the Pokemon Sword & Shield era of the TCG, this is a set that needs to be on every collector’s radar. That’s because this is yet another High-Class set, meaning every pack guarantees at least one V, VMAX, or VSTAR pull.

This set also includes the chance of obtaining a “god pack.” It’s about a 1/600 chance, and every card in a “god pack” is an exclusive full-art that creates one big picture when placed together. This also means that Elite Trainer Boxes will be flying off shelves.

However, Crown Zenith packs are only sold in Elite Trainer Boxes (~$50) and Special Collections (~$20)

This is one set you won’t want to miss because the artwork is some of the best in recent history. There are over 160 cards and 70 Special Art cards, on top of the 11 shiny Pokemon that can be found in the set.

You can purchase Crown Zenith packs here: (via Amazon)

Elite Trainer Box | Crown Zenith Collection

Silver Tempest – A new beginning

pokemon silver tempest pack

Silver Tempest released on November 11, 2022, and its Secret Rare Alt Arts and Full Art Trainer Gallery cards make it well worth collecting. There are 30 new Trainer Gallery cards, three new Radiant cards (shiny Pokemon), and some incredible Alternate Artwork.

The chase cards are already mounting as Regidrago V and Unown V have captured the attention of avid collectors. These packs can be pre-ordered via hobby shops and will start appearing in the wild in stores like Target, Walmart, Gamestop, Walgreens, and Dollar General in the US.

As a rule of thumb, it’s safe to assume that new sets going forward are worth picking up. Unless the Scarlet & Violet base sets turn out to be as underwhelming as Sword & Shield’s, we will have to wait and see how those sets shape up in 2023.

You can purchase Silver Tempest packs here (via Amazon).

Astral Radiance, Brilliant Stars, & Lost Origin – Decent pulls for a fair price

pokemon tcg must buy packs

In 2022, The Pokemon Company released three Sword & Shield TCG expansions, and they’re all some of the best Pokemon card packs on the market. Starting with Brilliant Stars, the Pokemon TCG reintroduced Trainer Gallery cards which feature a trainer alongside the Pokemon. These can be found in the Reverse holo slot giving collectors an extra shot at a hit with each pack.

These are available in all three sets mentioned, and they also feature some of the best alternate artworks in the entire TCG. Not to mention, these sets can regularly be found at any retailer that stocks licensed Pokemon cards meaning you don’t have to rely on second-hand sellers to start collecting. It’s only a matter of which cards you want to chase more.

You can purchase these packs right now (via Amazon):

Astral Radiance | Brilliant Stars | Lost Origin

Shining Fates, Hidden Fates, & more – A collector’s dream

pokemon hidden fates shining fates pakcs

One of the best feelings when opening Pokemon Cards is seeing a nice shiny holographic at the end of the stack, and with the Pokemon TCG’s “Fates” expansions you can get that in every pack. Both of these sets are jam-packed with Shiny Pokemon and incredible trainer cards, and there’s even a chance of opening a “god pack” where every card inside is a holo.

Not to mention every pack offers a guaranteed holo or better, making them worth the price of admission. However, these packs have grown to be quite expensive, as they are a few years old and rarely still found in stores. This means you’ll likely need to buy Pokemon Fate’s pack from a third party.

That being said, the latest high-class set, Crown Zenith, releases this month and offers more high-value cards than ever before.

You can purchase these packs right now (via Amazon):

Shining Fates | Hidden Fates

Fusion Strike, Evolving Skies, & Chilling Reign – Never give up on the chase

pokemon card packs

Finally, you have some really solid Sword & Shield expansions… if you can find them. Fusion Strike, Evolving Skies, and Chilling Reign were released in 2021 during the massive resurgence in Pokemon TCG collecting, and some of the chase cards in these sets are the best as seen in our “Best Pokemon cards of all time” guide.

These are arguably the best Pokemon card packs if you can still find them. Luckily, these turn up quite frequently in tins or as single packs in stores like Dollar General and Walgreens. The seeding for these packs doesn’t feel as great as the newer sets, but there are still some immaculate cards within the set that makes them worth picking up.

You can purchase these packs right now (via Amazon):

Fusion Strike | Evolving Skies | Chilling Reign

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For more Pokemon news, lists and guides, be sure to check out our main page and the following links below.

Most expensive & rarest Pokemon cards ever | Best Pokemon cards of all time | Best Pokemon card packs to buy | How many Pokemon cards are there? | Most valuable cards in Scarlet & Violet expansion | Most valuable cards in Crown Zenith expansion | Most valuable cards in Silver Tempest expansion | Is the Pokemon GO TCG set worth it?

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About The Author

Zackerie is a former Senior Writer for Dexerto who covered a wide variety of games and entertainment. He has a degree in Creative Writing and was previously the editor of The LaRue County News. Zackerie switched to games media in 2020 writing for outlets such as Screen Rant, Fortnite INTEL, and Charlie INTEL.