Pokémon tin, collection box or Elite Trainer Box: which should you pick?
Tin, collection box or ETB: all three contain boosters, but they are made for different things. Here is how to choose.
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- Tin, collection box or ETB: all three contain boosters, but they are made for different things. Here is how to choose.
Pokémon tin, collection box or Elite Trainer Box: which should you pick? All three contain booster packs, but they are made for different things. This way you know what you are paying for and what fits how you play, collect or give gifts.
What is in a Pokémon tin?
A tin is a metal case with artwork on the lid. Inside there is usually a small number of booster packs, often together with a special promo card. How many packs you get and which promo is included differs per tin, so always check the product page. The case itself is a bonus: after opening you can keep dice, damage counters or a few cards in it. That is why a tin is a popular gift, or a good pick if you mostly like the artwork on the lid.
What is a collection box?
A collection box is a cardboard box built around one theme, often one Pokémon or one card. You get booster packs, one or more promo cards of that theme and sometimes an oversized card, which is a card larger than a normal one. It is more a product for collecting than for playing. Play accessories such as sleeves or dice are usually not included. The contents vary a lot per box, so read the description before you choose.
What is in an Elite Trainer Box?
An Elite Trainer Box, or ETB, is the complete starter box for one set. It usually holds 9 booster packs of that set, a promo card, sleeves, energy cards, dice and damage counters, and a deck box to keep it all in. Often there is also a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. You can read what to do with it in our article on TCG Live codes. More about the box itself is in our guide on what an Elite Trainer Box is.
Which one fits you?
Do you play and want to start right away? Then the ETB makes sense: you get boosters and play accessories in one box. Do you mostly collect one Pokémon or a certain theme? Then a collection box or a tin fits better, because the promo card and the theme come first. Looking for a gift? A tin is compact and easy to wrap. An ETB feels bigger and is a good choice for someone who is already a fan of a set.
Do you want as many booster packs as possible? Then count the packs per product, because that differs a lot and you also pay for what comes with them. Whatever you pick: put the cards you pull straight into sleeves and keep them in a binder.
Ready to choose? Browse our Elite Trainer Boxes. The product page always shows the current contents and stock.