Collecting cards might be the primary way of enjoying the Pokemon TCG besides playing the game, but sealed products continue to gain popularity as collectible items. Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) feature plenty of room for stunning artwork to take center stage, while some of the best booster boxes offer limited space to enjoy a set’s signature style.
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While modern ETBs are typically printed en masse, some earlier generations, namely the Sun & Moon and XY eras offered much more limited print runs. Given that The Pokemon Company International (TPCI) printed fewer ETBs in these eras, their values have increased exponentially due to their rarity and gorgeous box art.
Elite Trainer Boxes are ordered according to their TCGplayer market prices. Only individual ETBs with available market prices are included.
7
Celestial Storm (Sun & Moon) – $388.22
The Color Of Money
Celestial Storm features several gorgeous cards, so it’s no surprise to see this ETB among the most expensive of all time. Rayquaza’s appearance on the box art makes this ETB one of the most striking, with an all-green background to complement the Legendary Pokemon’s iconic color palette.
As a rule, sealed products tend to trend upward over time, as the limited supply dwindles. Modern sets that receive reprints, like Crown Zenith, can lose value as supply is replenished, but sets that are no longer in print typically rise in price.
2024 was a big year for Celestial Storm; this ETB began the year at around $275 but finished roughly $100 higher after all was said and done.
6
Dragon Majesty (Sun & Moon) – $394.37
Rarity > Chase Cards
While many aging Pokemon sets feature cards that rise to impressive values, the most expensive cards in Dragon Majesty have noticeably lagged behind the price of the sealed products. While the all-gold Ultra Necrozma GX chase card might tickle your fancy, the style hasn’t been received as well by collectors.
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However, chase cards are only one factor in determining an ETB’s value, as the scarcity of the print run alongside the ever-shrinking number of sealed boxes plays an important role. Dragon Majesty flirted with the $400 mark at the beginning of 2024 and even dropped to about $350 before regaining its foothold and ascending to its current market price.
5
Cosmic Eclipse (Sun & Moon) – $482.11
Tons Of Tag Teams
Cosmic Eclipse is an example of a well-rounded set that continues to rise across the board, with singles, graded cards, and sealed products commanding impressive prices.
With the most valuable cards in Cosmic Eclipse continuing to set new highs, it’s expected to see the ETB rise, especially considering the booster box’s price, which sits at over double the cost of an ETB; however, it has 28 more packs in it. However, packs take a backseat to rarity, as this set saw far fewer ETBs produced than sets from the Sword and Shield era.
4
Unbroken Bonds (Sun & Moon) – $482.48
A Signature Sun & Moon Set
Unbroken Bonds features a notable blend of valuable cards that almost justifies opening one of these valuable ETBs, but is probably better off kept sealed considering its increasing rarity.
Considering its more recent release date, compared to some of the other valuable ETBs from the XY era, this set is hard to find, with only a handful of listings available on TCGplayer. However, this set’s 2024 trajectory paints a clear picture, as it began just over $350 and finished the year just shy of the $500 mark.
3
Generations (XY) – $623.31
Iconic In Every Way
Generations is a special set that didn’t have the entire range of products printed that most standard releases do. Given that this ETB is typically the best way to get several packs together, it immediately featured higher-than-usual demand.
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Despite this ETB’s rarity and its distinction as a celebratory release commemorating 20 years of Pokemon, this ETB fell on hard times in 2024, illustrating that sealed products aren’t always guaranteed to increase perpetually. While the pullback from $640 to around $560 was significant, it couldn’t keep this set down, as it rallied to cross the $600 mark again.
2
Team Up (Sun & Moon) – $807.07
The Apex Of Sun & Moon
Team Up is one of the most recognizable modern sets in recent memory, with a collection of exquisite cards, led by the iconic Latias & Latios GX Tag Team alt art. However, opening one of these ETBs in search of the set’s chase card is still a losing proposition.
When ETBs reach prices of almost 20 times the MSRP, there’s no way to justify opening them if you want to profit from the cards you get inside. As a collectors’ item, this ETB features gorgeous box art to enjoy, alongside the comfort of knowing that this box nearly doubled in price in 2024.
1
Ancient Origins (XY) – $1,297.00
The Rayquaza Effect
Ancient Origins claims the crown as the single most valuable ETB in the Pokemon TCG, as one of the earliest examples of this type of product standing out thanks to its blend of valuable cards and another low print run.
Unsurprisingly, it’s nearly impossible to find active listings of this ETB on TCGplayer, and there are only a few sales recorded. While a value over $1,200 is already jaw-dropping, this ETB is likely to continue its upward trend, though it’s understandably difficult to find many buyers with both the money and interest in purchasing this incredibly rare ETB.
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