How do booster packs work??

w0rmyxx

I'm new to Pokemon TCG and I wanna collect like booster packs and stuff but I'm not quite sure how they work? Like I know there are decks and stuff but the booster packs r 2 small 2 be decks, could someone help me out? Thanks!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ

DoubleCure

Those packs typically contain 10 random cards of a specific set, for example the latest set (Surging Sparks) Booster Pack will contain only cards (10 random) from Surging Sparks set.

About the decks, those are used to play against other players casually or in competitive events… a Standard format deck contains 60 cards (those cards can be from a variety of Standard legal sets), so what you buy will depend if you want to be a casual/serious collector or a casual/competitive player or anything else… I would say tho that buying individual packs it's not the best way to go if you want to take it serious.

If you want to have a large card selection a Booster Box it's usually way better and cheaper than individual packs.
There are also Battle Deck Boxs, some are actually a good starting point for someone that want to play the actual card game, but will depend if you want a specific deck/cards.
Then you also have ETB if you have the money and you like those beautiful art cards and all that additional cool stuff (usually more directed to collectors).

Eremas

if you are a toxic player you can hold off on packs with junk in them. Keeping them in your collection and just not playing the TCG. It is toxic unless the game is a CCG(collection card game).

w0rmyxx

https://community.pokemon.com/en-us/discussion/comment/60298#Comment_60298

I see, so booster packs are more for collecting, whilst Battle Decks are more for playing?

DoubleCure

@w0rmyxx About the Battle Decks yes, those are better for players since you get a ready to play deck… those decks aren't competitive tho, but it's a nice starting point especially for new players to try the basics of the physical game with friends or to just start building decks… eventually players will want to get additional cards in order to optimize the decks, opening Booster Packs it's a way to do that. But like I said before being a collector or player the Boster Boxs are better than individual Booster Packs.