Pull rate analysis
The best Pokémon packs to open, ranked by odds and value
Every set and sealed product we track, ranked by how much card value it returns per dollar and what it costs on average to pull a Special Illustration Rare.
Research
What the data actually says
Pull-rate breakdowns, investigations, and plain-English guides. Every number comes from our evidence registry and is re-checked when new openings come in.
- Investigation12 of 24sites matched their own source on every page
- Guide$4.49MSRP per pack in a booster pack, bundle, or box; an ETB costs more per pack
- Guide2reverse holo slots in a Scarlet & Violet or Mega Evolution booster pack
- Guide8steps from picking a card to getting the slab back
Latest
More research
Investigation
We audited pull rates on 24 websites. Half had errors.
We checked 42 pull-rate pages against the study each one cites. Figures on the wrong rarity, numbers from another set and double rounding turned up on some of the biggest pull-rate sites.
Guide
Pokémon packs explained: booster box vs ETB vs booster bundle
What's inside each sealed Pokémon product, what it costs per pack at MSRP and today, and your odds of a Special Illustration Rare in each, using measured pull rates.
Guide
Holo vs reverse holo Pokémon cards: how to tell them apart, and which is worth more
A holo has a shiny picture. A reverse holo has a shiny everything else. Here's how to spot each, where they come from in a pack, and what the price difference really is.
Guide
How to get Pokémon cards graded: a step-by-step guide
Picking cards worth grading, choosing PSA, CGC, or Beckett, filling out the submission, packing cards so they arrive safe, and what happens while you wait.
Guide
How to tell if Pokémon cards are fake: 10 checks that take two minutes
Fake Pokémon cards give themselves away in the print, the card stock, the foil, and the details on the front. Here's a step-by-step checklist, from the quick looks to the tests that need a real card to compare.
Guide
New Pokémon card sets: release dates for 2026 and every recent set
The newest Pokémon TCG set, the next one coming, and the English release date of every set since Sword & Shield, with links to pull rates for the sets we track.
Guide
Pokémon card rarity symbols: what every circle, diamond, and star means
How to read the rarity symbol on any Pokémon card, from a black circle to three gold stars, plus how often each rarity turns up in a pack and how to spot a secret rare.
Guide
Where to sell Pokémon cards: fees, payouts, and the best place for each card
TCGplayer, eBay, Whatnot, or your local game store? What each one takes from a sale, what you actually keep, and where bulk, singles, and high-value cards each sell best.
Guide
Are Pokémon mystery boxes worth it? The expected-value math
A mystery box is a booster pack with the odds taken away. Here's how to work out what one is really worth, the red flags to watch for, and when one can make sense.
Market analysis
Charizard ex price: what each 151 version sells for, and your odds of pulling one
Today's market price for every Charizard ex in 151, how often each one turns up in packs, and why buying the single beats chasing it.
Pull rate analysis
Destined Rivals pull rates: what 11,900+ opened packs tell us
Every rarity's odds from two verified openings, how the set stacks up against others, and whether opening packs beats buying singles.
Guide
How long does PSA take to grade cards? PSA, Beckett and CGC turnaround times
Current estimated turnaround for every PSA, Beckett and CGC tier in real weeks, what each PSA order stage means (including Assembly), and why your order can take longer.
Guide
How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card? PSA, CGC and Beckett prices
Every open grading tier at PSA, CGC and Beckett as of October 2026, what you'll pay beyond the fee, and a simple test for whether a card is worth grading.
Guide
How to check Pokémon card prices (and tell if a card is worth money)
Identify the exact card, find what it actually sells for, and spot the signs of a valuable one. Plus why most cards in a pack are worth less than a dollar.
Market analysis
Pokémon card price list: the most valuable cards in today's sets
The priciest cards across the sets we track, ranked by market price, with the odds of pulling each one and what it would cost to try.
Guide
PSA vs BGS: which grading company is better for Pokémon cards?
How PSA and Beckett grade, what a PSA 10 and a BGS 10 actually mean, what each sells for, and which one to choose for your cards right now.
Guide
How many packs does it take to pull one specific SIR?
Pulling any Special Illustration Rare and pulling the one you want are very different odds. Here's the math in plain numbers, set by set.
Guide
When does Target restock Pokémon cards? What's actually known
Target doesn't publish a restock day for Pokémon cards. Here's how in-store and online stock really work, and which product to grab when you find it.
Pull rate analysis
The worst Pokémon sets to open, ranked by pull rates and pack value
We ranked every set we track by how much card value an average pack returns and how hard its chase cards are to pull. At today's pack prices, none of them come close to breaking even.