Honestly, if you've spent any time at a GameStop lately, you've probably seen that massive, colorful box staring at you from behind the counter. The Venusaur ex and Blastoise ex Premium Collection hit the shelves back in August 2025, and it’s been a weirdly polarizing piece of cardboard ever since. It's one of those products that looks like a total "must-buy" on the surface, especially since it features two of the original Kanto big hitters.
But is it actually worth the $60 price tag?
Most people see the "Premium" label and assume it’s a gold mine. I’ve talked to local shop owners who can’t keep them in stock, yet if you browse the deeper corners of Reddit, you'll find plenty of collectors who think it’s a "rip and regret" situation. Let’s break down what’s actually inside this thing and why the community is so split on it.
What’s Actually Inside the Venusaur ex and Blastoise ex Premium Collection?
First off, let's look at the "meat" of the box. Unlike smaller collection boxes that give you four or five packs, this one is heavy. It's basically the successor to the Blooming Waters collection that we saw earlier in 2025.
Here is the breakdown of what you're getting:
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- Two Foil Promo Cards: You get a Venusaur ex and a Blastoise ex. These are "specially stamped," which basically means they have a unique foil pattern or logo that sets them apart from the versions you’d find in standard booster sets like Stellar Crown.
- One Oversize Card: It’s a jumbo Venusaur ex. It’s pretty, but let’s be real—it’s mostly for shelf decoration or for kids who like big shiny things.
- 10 Booster Packs: This is the big selling point. Ten packs is a lot for a collection box. It’s a mix of recent Scarlet & Violet era sets, often including things like Surging Sparks or Destined Rivals.
- The Code Card: For the digital players on Pokémon TCG Live.
The price usually sits around $59.99 at retail. If you're paying more than that at a secondary market shop, you're probably getting fleeced.
The Problem With the Pull Rates (and Why People Are Grumpy)
Here is where things get a little spicy. If you spend sixty bucks on Pokémon cards, you generally expect to see a few "hits"—you know, the Art Rares, the Secret Illustrations, or at least a handful of decent ex cards.
I’ve seen openings where people pull absolutely nothing but a couple of regular holos. It’s brutal. Because these are "mixed" pack boxes, you aren't guaranteed the high hit rates of a specialized set like 151. You're essentially gambling across several different sets.
One collector on a popular forum mentioned they opened three of these boxes and pulled a grand total of two ex cards. That’s 30 packs for two hits. Talk about a gut punch. On the flip side, someone else might pull a Terapagos ex SIR and suddenly the box is "the best thing ever." That’s just the nature of the game, but the high entry price makes those "dead" boxes feel much worse.
Is It a Good Investment?
If you’re the type of person who keeps things sealed in a closet hoping to pay for your kid's college in ten years, this one is a bit of a toss-up.
The Venusaur ex and Blastoise ex Premium Collection has two things going for it:
- It’s a GameStop exclusive (at least in the US). Exclusivity usually helps value.
- It features Kanto starters. Nostalgia is the strongest currency in Pokémon.
However, collection boxes are notoriously bulky. They take up a ton of space compared to a Booster Bundle or an Elite Trainer Box (ETB). Most serious "investors" prefer the 151 Blooming Waters box because that set is legendary. This box is more of a "fun afternoon of ripping packs" type of product.
The Stamped Promos: Are They Unique Enough?
The real "value" for a long-term collector usually lies in the promos. In this collection, the Venusaur and Blastoise cards are actually reprints of their Stellar Crown versions, but they have that special foil stamp.
For a master set collector, these are mandatory. For a casual fan? They might not look different enough from the 50-cent version you can buy as a single to justify the $60 box price.
Interestingly, some versions of these boxes floating around international markets have included different "extra" goodies, like stickers or lenticular cards, but the standard US version focuses mostly on the packs and the two main promos.
Why You Might Want to Skip It
If you’re just hunting for specific high-value cards, you are almost always better off buying the singles. You could probably buy the two promo cards from this box for under ten dollars combined. Then you could take the remaining fifty dollars and buy the exact Illustration Rare you actually want.
But we all know that isn't as fun as the "clink-clink" of the packs opening, right?
Actionable Insights for Collectors
If you're staring at this box on a shelf right now, here is how to decide:
- Buy it if: You are a die-hard fan of the Kanto starters, you need the stamped promos for a collection, or you just want a high volume of packs (10) to open with a friend. It's a great "gift" box because it looks impressive and contains a lot of "stuff."
- Pass on it if: You are looking for a high "Return on Investment" (ROI) or if you are strictly hunting for the top-tier hits from a specific set. The mixed pack selection makes it very hard to complete any one specific set.
- Check the seals: Since these are GameStop exclusives, sometimes the boxes on the floor get a little beat up. If you're keeping it sealed, look for a "pristine" box with no crushed corners.
Basically, the Venusaur ex and Blastoise ex Premium Collection is exactly what it sounds like: a premium-priced bundle for fans of the old school. Just don't go in expecting every box to have a gold card hidden inside. Sometimes, you just get a cool big Venusaur and a lot of bulk.