Sun and Moon vs Guardians Rising ETB: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 30, 2026 · 5 min read
Buy Guardians Rising if you want the lower price-per-pack at today's aftermarket prices and the set's key competitive card, Tapu Lele-GX. Buy Sun and Moon Base if you want the original Alola opener experience or are specifically hunting Espeon-GX and Umbreon-GX.
Both are eight-pack Sun and Moon era Elite Trainer Boxes that launched at $39.99 MSRP in 2017. Neither is widely available at anywhere near that price today: you are buying into the vintage sealed market. The question is which set gives you more for your money right now.
Sun and Moon vs Guardians Rising ETB: at a glance
| Sun & Moon Base (SM1) | Guardians Rising (SM2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | February 3, 2017 | May 5, 2017 |
| MSRP at launch | $39.99 | $39.99 |
| Booster packs (ETB) | 8 | 8 |
| Sleeve art (ETB) | Solgaleo | Tapu Koko-GX |
| Cards in set | 149 numbered | 145 numbered + 24 Secret Rares |
| Observed price (Oct 30, 2026) | from $249.99 | from $140.00 |
| Price per pack (at lowest observed) | $31.25 | $17.50 |
Price-per-pack figures are DexHaul calculations: observed low ÷ 8 packs, as of October 30, 2026. They show what you are paying per pack on the sealed market, not what individual packs trade for. Sealed prices move; check current listings before buying.
On this page 6 sections
Where Sun and Moon Base wins
The Sun and Moon Base Set is where the modern GX era began. It introduced Pokémon-GX cards to English players and holds the original printings of some of the most collected Eeveelution cards in the entire Sun and Moon series.
Espeon-GX and Umbreon-GX in one set
Sun and Moon Base contains both Espeon-GX (61/149) and Umbreon-GX (80/149), each with a Full Art alternate print as well. These two cards have a renewed collector following in October 2026, coinciding with the release of the 30th Celebration Battle Decks featuring Espeon ex and Umbreon ex. Collectors building across-era sets of Espeon and Umbreon cards treat the SM1 copies as the entry point for the GX era.
The original Alola opener
SM1 is where the Alola region and its Pokémon-GX mechanic first appeared in English. Solgaleo-GX and Lunala-GX lead the set. For collectors who want the first chapter, this is the box.
Where Guardians Rising wins
Guardians Rising entered the market three months after SM1 and landed one of the most significant competitive cards of the entire Sun and Moon era. It also offers better value per pack at today's sealed prices.
Tapu Lele-GX: the universal search card
Tapu Lele-GX (GR 60/145) was used in essentially every competitive Sun and Moon–era deck as a universal search engine: it let players grab any Supporter card from their deck on entry. Its demand drove Guardians Rising pack prices for years.
Full Art and Rainbow Rare copies remain heavily collected. This single card is what separates GR from nearly every other second-series set in the SM era.
Lower sealed entry price
At a low observed price of $140.00 from independent shops as of October 30, 2026, Guardians Rising offers a $17.50 price per pack versus $31.25 for Sun and Moon Base at its current low. If your goal is to open packs rather than display a sealed box, the math favors Guardians Rising clearly. Browse the Elite Trainer Box collection on DexHaul to compare current listings from independent shops.
The deciding question
The right ETB depends on what you want from it.
If you want to open packs
Guardians Rising is the better choice at today's prices. You pay roughly $17.50 per pack versus $31.25 for Sun and Moon Base. That gap is significant enough that unless Espeon-GX or Umbreon-GX is specifically on your want list, Guardians Rising returns more pack-opening value per dollar.
See the DexHaul price-per-pack reference for how these compare across the broader Sun and Moon era.
If you are a sealed collector or gifter
Sun and Moon Base carries more nostalgia weight as the first entry point of the GX era. The Solgaleo box art and the Espeon-GX and Umbreon-GX pulls make it the better shelf piece, especially alongside the 30th Celebration Battle Decks that release this week. For a gift to a serious Pokémon collector, SM1 is the more recognisable name.
If you want both
They are not substitutes for each other. Guardians Rising is the better opener; Sun and Moon Base is the better collector display piece. Some buyers who work through the Sun and Moon era pick up both, alongside comparisons like Burning Shadows vs Crimson Invasion to round out the era's ETB set.
Shop both sets
Both ETBs are available from independent shops. Prices observed on October 30, 2026; check current listings for the latest.
Frequently asked questions
How many packs are in a Sun and Moon or Guardians Rising Elite Trainer Box?
Both ETBs contain 8 booster packs. That pack count was standard for the entire Sun and Moon series; SWSH-era ETBs later moved to 8 packs as well. Each also includes 65 card sleeves, 45 Basic Energy cards, dice, a coin die, and a player's guide.
Which set has better cards to pull: Sun and Moon Base or Guardians Rising?
Guardians Rising has the edge for competitive value because of Tapu Lele-GX, one of the most-played cards of the Sun and Moon era. Sun and Moon Base is stronger if you specifically want Espeon-GX and Umbreon-GX, Solgaleo-GX, or Lunala-GX.
Are Sun and Moon ETBs worth buying in 2026?
They are collector and vintage-opener purchases, not investments. At $249.99 and up for SM1 or $140.00 and up for Guardians Rising, you are paying well above the $39.99 original MSRP. Whether that is worth it depends on whether you want the experience or the sealed display piece, not on price speculation.
What is the difference between Sun and Moon Base and Guardians Rising?
Sun and Moon Base (SM1) released February 3, 2017, introduced the GX mechanic, and contains 149 cards. Guardians Rising (SM2) released May 5, 2017 with 145 numbered cards plus 24 Secret Rares, and introduced the Alolan guardian deities including Tapu Koko-GX and Tapu Lele-GX.
Can I find these ETBs from independent shops?
Yes. Both sets are listed by multiple independent sellers through DexHaul.
Prices and availability vary by shop; all listings link directly to the merchant's product page. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Both the Sun and Moon Base and Guardians Rising ETBs are available from independent shops on DexHaul. If you are working through other SM-era ETBs, the Sun and Moon vs Cosmic Eclipse comparison covers the bookends of the series.
Catch 'em all
More Sun and Moon era Elite Trainer Boxes from independent shops.