Pokémon Prize Pack Series 5 - Everything We Know About These Promo Boosters!

Around a year ago, we saw the first Prize Pack series being released around the world. At the end of 2023, these products were finally available everywhere. Then, by 2024, Series 4 had been released, and now Series 5 is being released.

The Pokémon Company usually didn't release many details about the cards included in these series, and usually didn't even list them on their official websites. So, instead, the fans have been collecting all the information about these products since the first series came along. Because the community joined forces, we were able to build these lists before they were officially revealed on October 24th, 2023.

However, did you know that prize packs featured in sanctioned events have been around since the Ruby & Sapphire era? In this article, we'll show you everything we know about these Prize Packs and their history!

Recently, The Pokémon Company released more information about these promo boosters, which typically include cards from the Sword/Shield set stamped with the Play! Pokémon logo.

Pop Series: The Inspiration

These promo boosters were available at events sanctioned by the Pokémon Company during the Ruby/Sapphire era. They lasted until the beginning of the Diamond/Pearl era, so they were available from September 2004 to September 2009. Many of these boosters weren't available worldwide.

Each booster included two cards, and you could get holographic Pokémon ex from them. The Pokémon Company never posted an official, detailed list of each card variation included in these products - we only had a broad list of the cards we could find in each set. Seventeen cards were distributed among nine series.

The most popular cards from this time are the iconic Espeon ★ pop5 16 and Umbreon ★ pop5 17.

POP Series - List of Cards

All POP Series

► POP Series 1

► POP Series 2

► POP Series 3

► POP Series 4

► POP Series 5

► POP Series 6

► POP Series 7

► POP Series 8

► POP Series 9

Compared to Regular X Foil ex Cards

The History of Prize Packs

Five Prize Packs Series have been released so far, and all the cards in them have the Play! Pokémon logos. Furthermore, these cards are different from standard sets because they feature a unique holographic effect.

For instance, take a look at this Prize Pack version of Professor's Research SHF 60:

The first three series were released in the west from November 2022 onwards, and focused on the Sword/Shield block.

Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series One

► Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series One: Released on November 9th, 2022, this set includes cards from Sword/Shield: Base Set to Evolving Skies. It also includes cards from Shining Fates.

All cards in this series have rotated to the Expanded format, but you can still use them in formats like Journeys and Gym Leader Challenge.

Among them, stand out:

► Trainer - Supporter: Marnie SSH 169, Nessa VIV 157, Copycat EVS 143, Raihan EVS 152, Bruno BST 121, Boss's Orders SHF 58, Professor's Research SHF 60.

► Trainer - Item: Quick Ball SSH 179, Level Ball BST 129, Great Ball SSH 164, Fog Crystal CRE 140, Boost Shake EVS 142, Ordinary Rod SSH 171, Escape Rope BST 125, Evolution Incense SSH 163, Metal Saucer SSH 170, Switch SSH 183.

Note: Rare Candy SSH 180, from the Sword/Shield: Base Set, despite carrying the letter "D", is available in Standard because it is just an artistic variation. This card was reprinted in Standard in 2024 and is still valid.

► Trainer - Tool: Big Charm SSH 158, Tool Jammer BST 136, Big Parasol DAA 157, Exp. Share BST 126, Air Balloon SSH 156, Ordinary Rod SSH 171, Escape Rope BST 125, Switch SSH 183.

► Trainer - Stadium: Path to the Peak CRE 148, Crystal Cave EVS 144, Stormy Mountains EVS 161.

► Special Energy: Aurora Energy SSH 186, Twin Energy RCL 174, Capture Energy RCL 171.

If you're a collector, the eeveelutions available in the Evolving Skies set are:

These are some VMax eeveelutions with the Prize Pack logo included in this series:

Furthermore, Rayquaza V and Rayquaza VMax were also included:

Here are some examples of Rayquaza with the Prize Pack logo:

Finally, Charizard V, Charizard VMax, and "baby" Charizard from Vivid Voltage were also included:

Below, check out Charizard with the Prize Pack logo:

Which Cards in this Booster Are More Valuable?

All cards in these boosters are available in Standard until April 2025. It includes cards since the Brilliant Stars set until the end of the Sword/Shield set, including Silver Tempest and the Crown Zenith special set.

Just like in Prize Pack Series Two, several Pokémon stand out in this series, like Arceus V BRS 122, Arceus VSTAR BRS 123, Lumineon V BRS 40, Entei V BRS 22, and Raikou V BRS 48, which are the "ultra rare" options. Furthermore, smaller Pokémon, like Manaphy BRS 41 and Bibarel BRS 121 show up again. Moltres BRS 21, in particular, stands out, as it is an efficient "single prize" attacker.

The Astral Radiance set also stands out, as it includes signature Pokémon like Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR ASR 114 and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40. Dialga VSTAR in particular has synergy with cards that get you energies, like Magnezone ASR 107 and Metang TEF 114. Meanwhile, Palkia VSTAR works really well with Terapagos ex SCR 128.

The Lost Origin set is also a great option, as its cards focus on the Lost Zone mechanic, like Comfey LOR 79, Cramorant LOR 50, and Sableye LOR 70. It also features "ultra rare" Pokémon like Giratina V LOR 130 and Giratina VSTAR LOR 131. Then, there are essential Trainers, like Colress's Experiment LOR 155 and Mirage Gate LOR 163. Nonetheless, the Lost Zone set became a bit less popular after Kyurem SFA 47 came along in Shrouded Fable.

The Silver Tempest set gave us two incredibly popular Pokémon V: Lugia VSTAR SIT 139 and Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136.

Besides these two sets, Prize Pack series 3 introduced the Scarlet/Violet set bit by bit with notable Pokémon like Gardevoir ex sv1 86, Banette ex sv1 88, and Miraidon ex sv1 81.

Critical Pokémon V for the 2024/2025 Standard format:

Critical "Baby" Pokémon for the 2024/2025 Standard format:

A few more technical, yet still valuable, cards, like Trainers and Special Energies were also included:

► Trainer - Supporter: Irida ASR 147, Roxanne ASR 150, Arven sv1 166.

► Trainer - Item: Canceling Cologne ASR 136, Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146, Nest Ball sv1 181, and many others.

► Trainer - Tool: Forest Seal Stone SIT 156, Defiance Band sv1 169.

► Trainer - Stadium: Collapsed Stadium BRS 137, Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155, Lost City LOR 161, Beach Court sv1 167.

► Special Energy: Double Turbo Energy BRS 151 e V Guard Energy SIT 169.

If you're a collector, this series includes Radiant Pokémon, like the shiny Pokémon that were released from Astral Radiance to Crown Zenith. Among them, the ones that most stand out competitively are Radiant Greninja ASR 46, Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123, Radiant Alakazam SIT 59, and Radiant Charizard CRZ 20.

Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series Four

► Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series Four, released on February 14th, 2024, includes cards from many Sword/Shield sets, like Astral Radiance, Silver Tempest, and Crown Zenith. It also includes content from the Scarlet/Violet: Base Set, Paldea Evolved, and Obsidian Flames.

Card List

Which Cards in this Booster Are More Valuable?

All cards in this booster are available in Standard right now. Sword/Shield sets are legal until 2025, whereas Scarlet/Violet sets will be legal for even longer.

Critical Pokémon V and ex for the current Standard format:

Just like in Prize Pack Series Three, a few very popular cards were reprinted in this series, like Lugia VSTAR SIT 139 and Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136. Furthermore, Pokémon ex stood out, like Miraidon ex sv1 81, Gardevoir ex sv1 86, Squawkabilly ex sv2 169, Chien-Pao ex sv2 61, Pidgeot ex sv3 164, Charizard ex sv3 125, and Tyranitar ex sv3 66, which are all great in many strategies.

Critical "baby" Pokémon for the current Standard format:

Among the baby Pokémon included in this series , Kyogre CRZ 36 (legal until 2025) stands out, as well as Luxray sv2 71, which you can play directly on your bench if you're losing. Drifloon sv1 89 is also a good choice for decks that focus on Gardevoir ex sv1 86.

This series also includes great Pokémon for control strategies, and "lockdown" strategies. For instance, Klefki sv1 96, which disables abilities on basic Pokémon when it is your active Pokémon, and Spiritomb sv2 89, which disables abilities on basic Pokémon V.

There's also Mimikyu sv2 97, whose ability, Safeguard, protects it from damage dealt by Pokémon ex and V.

Another card that stands out is Baxcalibur sv2 60, which is essential for Water decks or decks that use colorless energies thanks to its ability, Super Cold. It is similar to the iconic Rain Dance.

The best Trainers and energies in this series are:

► Trainer - Supporter: Arven sv1 166, Iono sv2 185, Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172.

► Trainer - Item: Super Rod sv2 188 and Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189.

► Trainer - Tool: Forest Seal Stone SIT 156, Defiance Band sv1 169, and the new Bravery Charm sv2 173, which is great for decks with Drifloon sv1 89 and Scream Tail sv4 86.

► Special Energy: Jet Energy sv2 190 and Reversal Energy sv2 192.

Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series Five

► Play! Pokémon Prize Pack: Series Five, released on August 14th, 2024, includes cards from the Scarlet/Violet block, from the Base Set to Temporal Forces. It also includes fragments of the Scarlet/Violet: 151 special set, whose cards focus on the Kanto sets, like Dodrio sv3pt5 85 and Mew ex sv3pt5 151, all with the promo logo. Scarlet/Violet: Paldean Fates was also included, namely Atticus sv4pt5 77 and Moonlit Hill sv4pt5 81.

Card List

Which Cards in this Booster Are More Valuable?

Just like in Series Four, you can use all the cards in this series in Standard today, so it's a great choice for players that want to prepare themselves for the current meta.

Critical Pokémon ex for the current Standard format:

Besides the Miraidon ex sv1 81 and Gardevoir ex sv1 86 reprints, you'll once again be able to find cards like Squawkabilly ex sv2 169, Chien-Pao ex sv2 61, Pidgeot ex sv3 164, and Charizard ex sv3 125. New cards include Garchomp ex sv4 38, Roaring Moon ex sv124, Iron Hands ex sv4 70, Mew ex sv3pt5 151, and Raging Bolt ex TEF 123.

Critical "baby" Pokémon for the current Standard format:

Among the exclusive baby Pokémon in this series , highlights are Xatu sv4 72, which lets you attach energies to your benched Pokémon, and Flutter Mane TEF 78, which disables abilities on the active enemy Pokémon while it is in play. Dodrio sv3pt5 85 is also a good choice if you want to draw a bunch of cards and get ahead.

If you enjoy Ancient Box archetypes, you can also take advantage of "baby" Roaring Moon TEF 109.

The most strategic cards from this series include:

► Trainer - Supporter: Professor Sada's Vitality sv4 170, Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171, Explorer's Guidance TEF 147, and Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145.

► Trainer - Item: Earthen Vessel sv4 163, Techno Radar sv4 180, Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144, and Counter Catcher sv4 160.

► Trainer - Tool: Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178, Technical Machine: Devolution sv4 177, Rescue Board TEF 159, and Luxurious Cape sv4 166.

► Trainer - Stadium: Moonlit Hill sv4pt5 81.

► Special Energy: Mist Energy TEF 161.

► ACE SPEC: special ACE SPEC cards from Temporal Forces include Awakening Drum TEF 141, Reboot Pod TEF 158, Neo Upper Energy TEF 162, Prime Catcher TEF 157, Maximum Belt TEF 154, and Hero's Cape TEF 152. Among them, Prime Catcher TEF 157 is one of the most popular ones.

Besides essential to the current meta, many of these cards will also become collectible items in the future, particularly the eeveelutions, Rayquaza, Lugia, Mewtwo, Mew, Arceus, and Charizard. They're great if you're looking for competitive cards that are also great in your collection.

What did you think of this product? Would you get it? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!