The Pull Rate Puzzle: Are Your Pokémon Packs Lucky or Just Lacking?

If you’ve ever opened a Pokémon booster pack and walked away with three Reverse Holo Energy cards and a non-holo Dugtrio… yeah, you’re not alone. And yes, it stings every time.

Pull rates are one of the biggest mysteries in the Pokémon TCG world. Whether you're ripping into Scarlet & Violet packs or hunting Alt Arts from Evolving Skies, the chase is part thrill, part heartbreak.

What Are Pull Rates?

Pull rates are the unofficial odds of pulling certain rarity levels of cards—like EXs, Full Arts, or Secret Rares—from booster packs. The Pokémon Company keeps these numbers under wraps, so the community pieces together data from mass pack openings, YouTube breakdowns, and Reddit spreadsheets.

Opening a Pokémon booster pack

So, What Are the Odds?

Community data from newer sets like Obsidian Flames and Paradox Rift suggest:

Ultra Rares (EX/VMAX): ~1 in 6 packs
Full Art Trainers: ~1 in 30 packs
Special Illustration Rares: ~1 in 40–50 packs
Secret Rares (Gold, Hyper Rare): ~1 in 60+ packs

Dark Charizard Rare Holo 4/82, Dark Charizard Non-Holo 21/82 & Shining Charizard 107/105.

Keep in mind:

Booster Boxes = more consistent pull rates
Sleeved Packs = pure chaos
ETBs = somewhere in between

Luck vs. Logic

Let’s be real—pulling cards is 10% math, 90% superstition. Maybe you only get hits on Wednesdays. Maybe your dog has to sniff the box first. It doesn’t really help… but it doesn’t not help either.

Tips for Trainers

Don’t expect every pack to be a jackpot
Buy singles if you want a specific card
Treat pack ripping as entertainment
Share your pulls—it makes the hobby even more fun

Final Thoughts

Whether your next pull is a bulk Houndoom or a full-art Gardevoir ex, it’s all part of the thrill. Just remember—every hit makes the misses worth it (kind of). Good luck out there, and may Arceus bless your next booster box!

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Check out our latest Pokémon TCG releases and booster packs here — ready to rip and (hopefully) reward!

The Pull Rate Puzzle: Are Your Pokémon Packs Lucky or Just Lacking?