The most valuable Elite Trainer Boxes in the Pokemon TCG

Collecting cards may be the main way to enjoy the Pokemon TCG outside of playing the game, but sealed products continue to gain popularity as collectibles. Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs) offer plenty of space to let stunning works of art take center stage, while some of the best booster boxes offer limited space to enjoy a set's distinctive style.

While modern ETBs are generally mass-printed, some previous generations, namely the Sun and Moon and XY eras, offered much smaller runs. As The Pokemon Company International (TPCI) printed fewer ETBs in these eras, their value increased exponentially due to their rarity and gorgeous cover art.

Elite Trainer Boxes are sorted based on TCGplayer market prices. Only individual ETBs with available market prices are included.

7

Celestial Storm (Sun and Moon) – $388.22

The color of money

Celestial Storm features several wonderful cards, so it's no surprise to see this among the most expensive ETBs 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 iconic Legendary Pokemon color palette.

As a rule, sealed products tend to increase over time, as limited supply decreases. Modern sets receiving reprints, such as Crown Zenith, may lose value as supply is replenished, but sets that are no longer in print typically increase in price.

2024 was a big year for Celestial Storm; this ETB started the year at around $275, but after all was said and done ended up around $100.

6

Dragon Majesty (Sun and Moon) – $394.37

Rarity > Pursuit Cards

While many aging Pokemon sets feature cards that reach impressive values, the most expensive cards in Dragon Majesty have significantly lagged behind the price of sealed products. While the all-gold Ultra Necrozma GX hunting card might tickle your fancy, the style hasn't been as well received by collectors.

However, Chase cards are only one factor in determining the value of an ETB, since the short run and the ever decreasing number of sealed boxes play an important role. Dragon Majesty flirted with the $400 mark in early 2024 and even dropped to around $350 before regaining its footing and rising to its current market price.

5

Cosmic Eclipse (Sun and Moon) – $482.11

Tons of tag teams

Cosmic Eclipse is an example of a well-rounded set that continues to grow across the board, with singles, ranked cards, and sealed products fetching impressive prices.

With the most valuable cards in Cosmic Eclipse continuing to set new highs, the ETB is expected to rise, especially considering the the price of the booster box, which is more than double the cost of an ETB; however, it contains 28 more packages. However, packs take a backseat to rarity, as this set saw far fewer ETBs produced than the Sword and Shield era sets.

4

Unbroken Bonds (Sun and Moon) – $482.48

An exclusive Sun and Moon set

Unbroken Bonds features a remarkable mix of valuable cards that almost justifies opening one of these precious ETBs, but it's probably best to keep them sealed considering its increasing rarity.

Considering its newer 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 2024 the trajectory paints a clear picture, as does it started just over $350 and ended the year just before the $500 mark.

3

Generations (XY) – $623.31

Iconic in every way

Generations is a special set which did not have the entire product range printed like most standard versions. Since this ETB is typically the best way to string together several packages, it immediately featured higher than usual demand.

Despite this ETB's rarity and its distinction as a celebratory release commemorating 20 years of Pokemon, this ETB has fallen on hard times in 2024, proving that sealed products aren't always guaranteed to perpetually rise. Although the drop from $640 to around $560 was significant, it failed to contain this decline, as it recovered to surpass the $600 mark again.

2

Team Up (Sun and Moon) – $807.07

The pinnacle of the sun and moon

Team Up is one of the most recognizable modern sets of recent times, featuring a collection of exquisite cards, led by the iconic alternate graphics of Latias and Latios GX Tag Team. However, opening one of these ETBs in search of the set's hunt card is still a losing proposition.

When ETBs reach prices of nearly 20x the MSRP, there is no way to justify opening them if you want to profit from the cards you get. As a collector's item, this ETB features gorgeous box artwork to appreciate, plus the convenience of knowing that the price of this box has nearly doubled 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 Pokémon TCG, being one of the first examples of this type of product that stands out for its mix of value cards and another low print run.

Unsurprisingly, it is nearly impossible to find active listings of this ETB on TCGplayer, and only a few sales have been recorded. While a value above $1,200 is already staggering, this ETB is likely to continue its upward trend, although it is understandably difficult to find many buyers with both the money and interest in purchasing this incredibly rare ETB.