Pokémon Starter Pack vs Wildcard Basic Pack: which pack is the better rip?
On live data, Pokémon Starter Pack is currently the better value: a 0.939x cash-out ratio against Wildcard Basic Pack's 0.853x, across 34,442 indexed pulls combined. Numbers refresh as new pulls mint.
| Metric | Pokémon Starter Pack | Wildcard Basic Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | CAUTION | SKIP |
| Pack price | $25 | $15 |
| Calibrated EV | $26.31 | $14.92 |
| Cash-out ratio | 0.939x | 0.853x |
| EV ratio (at sticker FMV) | 1.052x | 0.995x |
| Median pull | $22.00 | $13.00 |
| Hit rate | 27.6% | 23.5% |
| Volatility (stddev/EV) | 0.49x | 0.44x |
| Pulls indexed | 23,021 | 11,421 |
02 / EV history
EV ratio over time, overlaid
Cash-out ratio over time, two packs compared. Pokémon Starter Pack: 994 points from Jul 12 to Oct 25, starting at 0.90x and ending at 0.94x, up overall (+4.7%), ranging between 0.85x and 0.94x. Wildcard Basic Pack: 994 points from Jul 12 to Oct 25, starting at 0.84x and ending at 0.85x, up overall (+1.9%), ranging between 0.78x and 1.10x.
Cash-out ratios: calibrated EV after each pack's own observed buyback, against its current price. 1.00x is where a pack returns exactly what it costs.
03 / Quick answers
Pokémon Starter Pack vs Wildcard Basic Pack — quick answers
- Which is better value right now: Pokémon Starter Pack or Wildcard Basic Pack?
- Pokémon Starter Pack currently offers the better cash-out ratio (0.939x vs 0.853x) — what each pack returns per dollar after its own buyback haircut. Ratios refresh as new pulls are indexed, so the lead can change.
- Which pack has better odds of beating its price?
- Pokémon Starter Pack: 27.6% of indexed pulls met or beat the pack price. Wildcard Basic Pack: 23.5%. These are observed odds from real pulls, not posted odds.
- Which pack is riskier?
- Pokémon Starter Pack has the higher volatility (0.49x vs 0.44x stddev/EV) — its pulls swing further from the average, in both directions.
Full pages: Pokémon Starter Pack EV & verdict · Wildcard Basic Pack EV & verdict · Why average EV lies