You don’t need to know the rules of the game to pick a good Pokémon gift. Two things matter: how much you want to spend, and whether the person opens packs or keeps them sealed.
What Pokémon gift do you buy for a kid?
Kids want to open packs. A booster bundle has 6 packs in a small box, and an Elite Trainer Box adds sleeves, dice and a box to keep the cards in. On a small budget, a surprise pack with lots of cards is a safe hit.
What do you buy for a collector?
Collectors value products that are hard to find: Pokémon Center editions, out-of-print sets and premium collections. Many keep them sealed, so the condition of the box matters. If you know which set they like, pick from that set.
In short, by budget
- small: a booster pack or a surprise pack
- medium: a booster bundle or an Elite Trainer Box
- large: a booster box or a premium collection
English or Japanese?
English cards are the usual choice and can be played in tournaments in Europe. Japanese cards are sought after for their print quality and come out earlier, but they are for collecting.
The TCG Hits machine at Promenada Mall is open daily, weekends included. Check what is in stock now before you go.