Elite Trainer Box

The Elite Trainer Box, often shortened to ETB, is a sealed box from the Pokémon TCG that contains booster packs from one set together with accessories. It is designed as a starting point for people who want to play or collect, and it is regarded as one of the best-known product types in retail, after packs and booster boxes.

What an ETB contains

The contents vary between sets, but typically include:

• a number of booster packs from the set (the number has varied between releases)
• card sleeves with artwork from the set
• energy cards, dice and damage markers
• a storage box, often with divider cards and a player's guide
• in many cases a promo card that is not in regular packs

Since the contents are set by the publisher for each set, read the product description on the box. More on the category in general can be found under sealed products.

Relation to the booster box

An ETB contains fewer packs than a booster box, but adds accessories and often a promo card. That can make it attractive to someone who both plays and collects. Since packs are opened at random, the result is still unpredictable; see pull rates.

A collector's perspective

• Some ETBs have exclusive promo cards or artwork found only in them.
• Boxes that are fully unopened and undamaged are what count as sealed.
• The seal may have been tampered with; see resealed and weighed packs.
• Prices depend on the set and availability, and they change; look up current figures on the sealed products page.

A caveat

How many ETBs were printed is not officially known, and the distribution of cards in the packs has not been published either. Opening an ETB or leaving it closed is a choice with different characteristics, described in sealed versus singles.

In summary

The Elite Trainer Box combines packs and accessories in one box and exists for many sets. The contents are printed on the box, and that is what counts. If the box is sealed, the plastic and closure are what to check first. The accessories and any promo cards mean the box can hold interest beyond the packs themselves.