If you’re new to opening Pokemon card packs, you might have noticed that the best cards rarely appear at the very back of the pack right out of the wrapper. The order of the cards isn’t fully randomized—there is a specific, methodical structure to every booster pack.
Over the years, the Pokemon TCG community has normalized a method of opening packs called the “card trick.” This technique moves the rarest cards to the very end of your pack, building suspense and ensuring the final card you reveal is your guaranteed rare or “hit.”
Here is your ultimate guide on how to open booster packs safely and how to perform the Pokemon card trick for every set.
How to Open Pokemon Booster Packs Safely
Before doing the trick, you need to get the cards out without bending, creasing, or cutting them.
- Avoid Scissors: Some people cut packs open with scissors, which is incredibly risky. One slip, and you might accidentally cut the top off of a valuable chase card.
- The “Pinch and Pull” Method: The easiest and safest way to open a pack is to grab the loose flap on the back of the wrapper and pinch the front seam. Gently pull the pack apart from the top until the seal gives way. You shouldn’t have to use extreme force; if you are pulling too hard, you risk bending the cards inside.
Once you carefully slide the cards out of the foil, it’s time to sort them so your final reveal is the rarest card in the pack.
What is the Pokemon Card Trick?
The Pokemon card trick is incredibly simple. Once the cards are out of the pack, keep them face down (so the blue Pokemon logo is facing you). Remove the code card, and then grab a specific number of cards from the back of the stack and move them to the front.
When you flip the stack over and thumb through the cards one by one, your 2nd to last card will generally be a reverse holo, and your final card will be your rare, ultra-rare, or secret illustration rare!
Why does Pokemon do this? The Pokemon Company likely prints and sorts booster packs this way to position the most valuable card near the middle of the pack. This provides an extra layer of protection—if the back or front of the booster pack gets dinged in transit, the rare card remains safe in the center.
The Card Trick for Each Era
Because pack structures change, the trick depends on the specific era of the set you are opening.
Scarlet & Violet Era (Move 1 Card)
For modern packs, remove the code card and move 1 card from the back to the front (this is the basic Energy card). Many collectors simply discard the Energy instead of moving it.
| Set Name | Cards to Move |
|---|---|
| Scarlet & Violet Base | 1 |
| Paldea Evolved | 1 |
| Obsidian Flames | 1 |
| Pokémon Card 151 | 1 |
| Paradox Rift | 1 |
| Paldean Fates | 1 |
| Temporal Forces | 1 |
| Twilight Masquerade | 1 |
| Shrouded Fable | 1 |
| Surging Sparks | 1 |
| Prismatic Evolutions | 1 |
| Journey Together | 1 |
| Destined Rivals | 1 |
| Black Bolt | 1 |
| White Flare | 1 |
Sword & Shield Era (Move 4 Cards)
Move 4 cards from the back to the front. This sets up your reverse holo in the second-to-last slot and your rare or hit in the final reveal.
| Set Name | Cards to Move |
|---|---|
| Sword & Shield Base | 4 |
| Rebel Clash | 4 |
| Darkness Ablaze | 4 |
| Champion’s Path | 4 |
| Vivid Voltage | 4 |
| Shining Fates | 4 |
| Battle Styles | 4 |
| Chilling Reign | 4 |
| Evolving Skies | 4 |
| Celebrations | 4 |
| Fusion Strike | 4 |
| Brilliant Stars | 4 |
| Astral Radiance | 4 |
| Pokémon GO | 4 |
| Lost Origin | 4 |
| Silver Tempest | 4 |
| Crown Zenith | 4 |
Sun & Moon Era (Move 4 Cards)
Just like Sword & Shield, move 4 cards from the back to the front to save the rare card for the final reveal.
| Set Name | Cards to Move |
|---|---|
| Sun & Moon Base | 4 |
| Guardians Rising | 4 |
| Burning Shadows | 4 |
| Shining Legends | 4 |
| Crimson Invasion | 4 |
| Ultra Prism | 4 |
| Forbidden Light | 4 |
| Celestial Storm | 4 |
| Dragon Majesty | 4 |
| Lost Thunder | 4 |
| Team Up | 4 |
| Detective Pikachu | 4 |
| Unbroken Bonds | 4 |
| Unified Minds | 4 |
| Hidden Fates / Shiny Vault | 4 |
| Cosmic Eclipse | 4 |
XY & Black & White Eras (Move 3 Cards)
Move 3 cards from the back to the front across all XY and Black & White releases.
| Set Name | Cards to Move |
|---|---|
| XY (Base, Flashfire, Furious Fists, Phantom Forces, Primal Clash) | 3 |
| XY (Roaring Skies, Ancient Origins, BREAKthrough, BREAKpoint) | 3 |
| XY (Generations, Fates Collide, Steam Siege, Evolutions) | 3 |
| Black & White (Base, Emerging Powers, Noble Victories) | 3 |
| Black & White (Next Destinies, Dark Explorers, Dragons Exalted) | 3 |
| Black & White (Boundaries Crossed, Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze) | 3 |
| Black & White (Plasma Blast, Legendary Treasures) | 3 |
Vintage & Classic Era (WotC to Platinum)
Most classic boosters require moving 3 cards from the back to the front, with a few notable exceptions in the e-Reader era.
| Set / Era | Cards to Move | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wizards of the Coast (Base, Jungle, Fossil, Base 2, Team Rocket) | 3 | Classic 3-card trick |
| Gym Heroes & Gym Challenge | 3 | Standard trick |
| Neo Era (Genesis, Discovery, Revelation, Destiny) | 3 | Standard trick |
| Legendary Collection | None | No card trick possible |
| Expedition Base Set & Skyridge | 3 | e-Card Series |
| Aquapolis | 2 | e-Card Exception |
| Ruby & Sapphire to Power Keepers (EX Series) | 3 | Standard trick |
| Diamond & Pearl & Platinum Eras | 3 | Standard trick |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver / Call of Legends | 3 | Standard trick |
Scarlet and Violet Card Trick (1 Card)
For the modern era, the Scarlet and Violet card trick is incredibly easy: just move 1 card from the back to the front.
- Note: The single card you are moving is the basic Energy card. Many collectors choose to simply remove the code card and toss the Energy card aside instead of moving it to the front.
- Applies to: Base Set, 151, Paldean Fates, and the Paradox Rift card trick.
Sword and Shield Card Trick (4 Cards)
The Sword and Shield card trick requires you to move 4 cards from the back to the front. This will seamlessly set up your reverse holo and rare card for the final two pulls.
- Applies to: Base Set, Evolving Skies, Lost Origin, and the highly popular Crown Zenith card trick.
Sun and Moon Card Trick (4 Cards)
Just like the SwSh era, moving 4 cards from the back to the front will push your rare card to the very end of the pack.
Vintage & Classic Era Card Tricks (3 Cards)
If you are lucky enough to be opening older packs, the formula is almost universally 3 cards from the back to the front.
- XY Era: 3 cards
- Black & White Era: 3 cards
- HeartGold & SoulSilver (HS): 3 cards
- Platinum: 3 cards
- Diamond & Pearl: 3 cards
- Wizards of the Coast (Base Set, Jungle, Fossil): 3 cards
(Note: The one major exception for older sets is the e-Reader era. For sets like Aquapolis or Expedition, the trick is only 2 cards from the back).
