Singles vs Booster Packs: What's Better Value?
Every Pokemon card collector faces this question: should I buy individual singles or rip open booster packs? The answer depends on your goals, budget, and what you find most enjoyable. Let's break down the economics and experience of both approaches.
The Economics of Booster Packs
A standard Pokemon booster pack costs around AED 20-25 in the UAE and contains 10 cards. On average, most packs contain commons, uncommons, and a reverse holo — cards worth a fraction of the pack price. The chance of pulling a valuable rare, ultra rare, or SIR is low. Statistically, you need to open many packs to pull a specific card. For example, a Special Illustration Rare might appear in roughly 1 in 200+ packs. At AED 20 per pack, that is AED 4,000+ in expected cost to pull one specific SIR — when you could buy it as a single for a fraction of that.
The Economics of Singles
When you buy singles, you pay the market price for exactly the card you want. There is no gambling, no bulk cards you do not need, and no disappointment. For competitive players building decks, singles are dramatically more cost-effective — you can build a complete competitive deck for AED 100-300 by buying individual cards, versus spending thousands on packs hoping to pull the right cards. For collectors targeting specific cards, singles save both money and time.
When Booster Packs Make Sense
Booster packs are not without merit. The experience of opening packs is genuinely exciting — the anticipation, the reveal, the possibility of a big pull. It is entertainment, and there is real value in that enjoyment. Packs also make sense when starting a new set and you need many cards from it. Opening a booster box (36 packs) gives you a broad base of cards from a set plus guaranteed hits. Sealed product can also appreciate in value over time if stored properly.
The Hybrid Approach
Many experienced collectors use a hybrid strategy: open a limited amount of sealed product for fun, then buy singles to complete their collection. For example, you might open one booster box of a new set to experience the set and get a foundation of cards, then buy the specific chase cards you did not pull as singles. This gives you the best of both worlds — the entertainment of pack opening plus the efficiency of targeted buying.
Cost Comparison Example
Let's say you want a specific SIR from a new set. Option A: Buy booster packs until you pull it — expected cost AED 3,000-5,000+ with no guarantee. Option B: Buy the single for AED 200-600 depending on the card. Even accounting for the value of other cards pulled from packs, singles almost always win on pure economics. The only exception is when a set contains multiple cards you want and the expected value per pack is high relative to cost — which is rare in practice.
Why Tatemon TCG Focuses on Singles
At Tatemon TCG, we specialise in singles because we believe it is the smartest way for most collectors to build their collection. Every card in our store has a clear price, verified authenticity, and listed condition. You browse, you find what you want, you buy it — no luck required. Whether you are completing a set, building a deck, or investing in high-value cards, singles give you control over your collection and your budget.