Scarlet and Violet vs Paldea Evolved ETB: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 13, 2026 · 6 min read
Buy Scarlet and Violet (SV01) if you want the box that opened the entire Paldea era of Pokémon TCG. Buy Paldea Evolved (SV02) if you want the set that introduced Tera Pokémon ex and the three fully-evolved Paldean starters as ex cards.
Both launched at $49.99 MSRP, both contain nine packs. The differences lie in what those packs contain and what the ETB format gives you beyond the boosters.
At a glance
| Scarlet and Violet (SV01) | Paldea Evolved (SV02) | |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | March 31, 2023 | June 9, 2023 |
| MSRP at launch | $49.99 (pokemon.com) | $49.99 (pokemon.com) |
| Observed floor (Oct 2026) | $141.00 (Koraidon), $155.00 (Miraidon) | $167.99 (standard) |
| Pack count | 9 packs | 9 packs (standard), 11 packs (Pokémon Center exclusive) |
| ETB variants | Koraidon ex, Miraidon ex | Standard, Pokémon Center exclusive |
| Sleeve art | Koraidon or Miraidon | Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly |
| MSRP per pack | ~$5.56 | ~$5.56 |
| New mechanic introduced | Pokémon ex replaces V; Illustration Rares added | Tera Pokémon ex (first appearance) |
On this page 5 sections
Where Scarlet and Violet wins
The set that launched the SV era
Every Scarlet and Violet set from SV01 through SV09 uses the card design, rarity system, and ex mechanic that SV01 introduced in March 2023. The V, VMAX, and VSTAR designations ended with Sword and Shield; Pokémon ex (worth two Prize cards) began here. Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares appeared in the Scarlet and Violet base set for the first time in English.
A collector who wants a set that marks a clear era boundary owns SV01, not SV02.
Koraidon or Miraidon: two boxes, two mascots
SV01 is the only SV-era base set to come in two distinct ETB versions. The Koraidon ETB includes Koraidon-themed sleeves; the Miraidon ETB includes Miraidon-themed sleeves.
The packs inside are identical. Buying one does not complete your display of both Paldea Legendary mascots.
Collectors who want both mascot sleeves pay floor prices for both: $141.00 (Koraidon) plus $155.00 (Miraidon) at observed October 2026 prices equals $296.00 for the pair. That is $128 more than buying a single Paldea Evolved ETB at floor. The dual-variant format is a display consideration, not a card-access one.
Where Paldea Evolved wins
The first Tera Pokémon ex cards
Tera Pokémon ex made their English debut in Paldea Evolved. The mechanic adds a Tera type crystal overlay to a Pokémon ex card, changing its weakness and enabling specific Tera-only attacks or abilities.
Chien-Pao ex, Ting-Lu ex, and Pikachu ex appear in the Paldea Evolved set as the first Tera Pokémon ex printed in English. SV01 has no Tera Pokémon ex at all.
If the Tera mechanic is your collecting focus, SV02 is where it begins. That is a sharper reason to own Paldea Evolved than the set's release order alone.
Fully-evolved Paldean starters as ex cards
Scarlet and Violet base (SV01) features Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly as basic Pokémon. Paldea Evolved introduces their fully-evolved forms: Meowscarada ex, Skeledirge ex, and Quaquaval ex. All three received Special Illustration Rare treatments that collectors and players have pursued since launch.
The sleeve art follows the same logic. SV01 ETBs feature the Paldea Legendaries; SV02 features the three starters. For a buyer who wants the full Paldean starter line on their shelves, the second ETB completes what the first one started.
The Pokémon Center exclusive option
Paldea Evolved shipped in a Pokémon Center exclusive ETB configuration unavailable for SV01's standard release: 11 booster packs instead of 9, plus two foil Pikachu promo cards (one with the Pokémon Center logo, one without). Observed secondary market prices for the PC exclusive range from $503.99 to $631.99 in October 2026. It is a distinct product from the standard ETB, and collectors who want the Pikachu promos have no alternative path.
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box (ETB)
$167.99 USD
The deciding question
The collector question comes down to era markers versus mechanic milestones. SV01 is the set that opened the era: new card design, new rarity structure, and a new ex tier replacing V.
Owning it is owning the first chapter. SV02 is where the Paldean story got its first major mechanic addition: Tera types arrived here, not in the base set.
For players, the choice tracks to which competitive deck you want the keys for.
Miraidon ex drove Electric Turbo strategies that defined early SV competitive play. Chien-Pao ex built aggressive Water decks. Neither is in the other's set.
For gift buyers: both ETBs are sealed products trading well above MSRP in October 2026. Neither is a casual impulse purchase at current prices.
If the recipient wants to open packs, a newer SV-era ETB closer to MSRP is a better value. See our 30th Celebration ETB vs UPC comparison for a current-era premium box, or browse the Journey Together vs Brilliant Stars ETB guide for newer SV set options.
Buying both SV01 and SV02 to own the complete opening run of Paldea At floor prices in October 2026, you are looking at $141.00 (Koraidon) plus $155.00 (Miraidon) plus $167.99 (Paldea Evolved) for $463.99 total. That is the honest cost of the complete base-era ETB set.
Frequently asked questions
How many packs are in the Scarlet and Violet ETB?
Nine Scarlet and Violet booster packs. Both the Koraidon ex and Miraidon ex variants contain nine packs. The Pokémon Center exclusive variant of Paldea Evolved ETB (not SV01) contains 11 packs.
What is the difference between the Koraidon and Miraidon Scarlet and Violet ETB?
The packs inside are identical. The difference is the sleeve art and box artwork: Koraidon ETB includes 65 Koraidon-themed card sleeves, and Miraidon ETB includes 65 Miraidon-themed sleeves. Chase cards can be pulled from either box at the same rate.
Does Paldea Evolved have more cards than Scarlet and Violet base set?
Yes. According to Serebii's Paldea Evolved set list, SV02 is a larger set than the base Scarlet and Violet expansion, adding the fully-evolved Paldean starters, Paradox Pokémon, and the Tera type mechanic cards not present in SV01.
Are Scarlet and Violet ETBs still worth buying in 2026?
Both ETBs are trading well above their $49.99 launch MSRP in October 2026. As sealed collector items, they hold value for completionists building the SV-era ETB run.
As pack-opening products, newer SV-era ETBs closer to MSRP offer better pack-per-dollar value. The choice depends entirely on what you are collecting.
Which ETB has better chase cards, SV01 or SV02?
Both sets have SIR and IR-tier chase cards. SV01's Miraidon ex and Koraidon ex SIRs are the most sought from that set.
SV02's Chien-Pao ex SIR, Pikachu ex (Tera) SIR, and Meowscarada ex SIR drove secondary demand for Paldea Evolved. Neither set's ETB guarantees a hit: nine packs is nine packs.
Browse every SV-era Elite Trainer Box currently listed across independent Pokémon shops at DexHaul's Elite Trainer Box collection, including Scarlet and Violet, Paldea Evolved, and all subsequent SV sets from multiple sellers in your currency.
Catch 'em all
More Scarlet and Violet and Paldea Evolved ETB listings from independent shops.