Where to Buy Pokémon: Paradox Rift Cards in the US

The Pokémon TCG community is ending the year on a high note with the release of Paradox Rift – the fourth full set in the Scarlet & Violet series – on November 3rd, 2023. It comes just six weeks after they released the first special expansion of the series (151), but is expected to be the final release of 2023.

The addition of Paradox Pokémon (divided into two categories: Ancient and Future Pokémon) will define a new era of gameplay, while the return of Technical Machine cards is bringing back an old strategy that we haven’t seen in nearly 15 years – the hype train surrounding Paradox Rift is real!

Buying Pokémon cards isn’t as easy as most of us remember. Retailers rarely have Pokémon products on the shelves and most business is done online – which would be fine if the market wasn’t saturated with repackaged products and dominated by resellers. Unfortunately, that’s the type of market we have today.

The good news is there are plenty of options to consider when buying Pokémon: Paradox Rift cards from reputable and reliable sources in the US – you just need to be careful, especially when buying cards online. Don’t worry, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about how and where to buy Paradox Rift cards in today’s market.

 

1. Pokémon Center

When you want something, why not go straight to the source? The Pokémon Center is the official online store of The Pokémon Company and is the most trusted source when buying Pokémon cards, but you’ll need to wait before you can buy Paradox Rift cards through there because they sell out almost immediately.

 

2. Retail Stores

Some of the most prominent retailers who sell Pokémon cards include Walmart, Target, GameStop, Best Buy, and Barnes & Noble. While these retailers will carry Paradox Rift, it will be in a limited capacity and they will sell out quickly. If you enjoy the hunt, then take a trip around town and see what you can find.

 

3. Local Game Stores

A lot of people are quick to check the big retailers, but they forget about the local game stores that rely on release days to muster up traffic and business. While they’re not guaranteed to have Paradox Rift packs available (like retailers, they have limited stock), there’s nothing wrong with a trip to your local game store.

 

4. Online TCG Retailers

If you’re still struggling to find Paradox Rift packs, there are dozens of reputable retailers online that do a great job of maintaining stock levels and are reasonable with their prices. Amazon, TCG Player, TCG Stadium, Collector’s Cache, and Troll and Toad are some examples of online retailers you can lean on.

NOTE: Always check reviews and use your best judgment when buying Pokémon cards from online retailers. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is. 

 

5. C2C Marketplaces

When all else fails, you can always turn to C2C marketplaces – Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, eBay, and Craigslist. You’ll have to do your own research to ensure you’re buying from a reputable seller, but you can vet them by reading their reviews, asking questions, looking at their photos, and trusting your gut.

 

Pokémon: Paradox Rift Product Lineup

As we prepare for what will be our final expansion until early 2024, let’s run through the Paradox Rift product lineup that’s arriving on Nov. 3:

• Sleeved Booster Pack – one booster pack in a cardboard sleeve that generally retails for $4.49.
• Three-Pack Blister – three booster packs that come with a special foil promo card (either an Arctibax or Cetitan) that generally retails for $13.99.
• Build & Battle Box – four booster packs that come with a 23-card Evolution pack to build a deck with (generally retails for $21.99).
• Booster Bundle – six booster packs that come in a cardboard deck sleeve (generally retails for $26.94).
• Elite Trainer Box – 11 booster packs that come with a storage box, two full-art foil promo cards, 65 card sleeves, 45 energy cards, damage counter dice, condition markers, dividers, and more (generally retails for $59.99).
• Build & Battle Stadium – two Build & Battle Boxes and three additional booster packs with 121 energy cards, damage counter dice, condition markers, and a collector’s box (generally retails for $59.99).
• Booster Box – 36 booster packs in a display box (generally retails for $161.64).

The Pokémon Company will release various other products (tins, boxes, etc.) over the next few months, but those usually feature a combination of 2-4 different sets – whereas the product lineup above will be 100% Paradox Rift. If I wanted to get a quick start to my Paradox Rift collection, that’s where I would start.

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