Get in the queue, trainer. The Pokémon Center has surprised fans with a drop for Elite Trainer Boxes belonging to much older generations of trading card sets. The sets are a mix of unusual selections as well as some of the most desirable Pokemon TCG products of the modern era. It's not the 30th anniversary TCG drop, but fans who score will be extremely happy nonetheless.
Pokémon Center ETBs are special. These are exclusive drops that have extra Pokémon booster packs compared to ETBs from other retailers. The promo cards in Pokémon Center ETBs also have a special stamp. The Pokémon Company is also not in the habit of dropping ETBs more than a couple of times, and it's usually close to the release date of the product. It's even rarer to get ETB releases for older sets — so expect these new bundles to sell fast.
What ETB is The Pokémon Center releasing in August?
These are the confirmed bundles:
- Brilliant Stars Elite Trainer Box and Pokemon Legends: Arceus Poke Ball Replica Bundle
- Scarlet and Violet Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box and Premium Binder Bundle,
- Lucario VStar Premium Collection and 30th Playmat bundle
- Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box, Card Sleeves, and Eevee figure bundle
- Scarlet and Violet - Journey Together Booster Display Box and Accessories Bundle
What is out of stock at The Pokémon Center?
By the time you read this, it's likely that Elite Trainer Box bundles for Prismatic Evolutions, Destined Rivals, as well as the Lucario VStar Premium Collection, will be out of stock. The Journey Together product is more expensive and less desirable compared to the other drops — so the stock may survive for a while.
If you're new here, there are some things you should keep in mind for the drop. Avoid reloading your page as much as possible, even if the page goes blank. Unless you get an error of some sort, the page will refresh itself. Don't be alarmed if your timer is erratic, especially at the start. The numbers are estimates, and they can change rapidly. If possible, try a wired connection over a mobile or Wi-Fi one.
If your checkout doesn't go through, don't be afraid to try until you get a confirmation page. The Pokémon Company will not grant multiple orders. Confirmation emails can be slow to arrive, so you'll want to screenshot the purchase page for your personal records. You won't get charged until closer to release. Really, unless you get flagged as a bot (otherwise known as error 17), don't sweat it too much. One week from now, we'll probably be back with another Pokémon Center queue. If all else fails, the upcoming Delta Reigns set is just around the corner.