BASE · PACK EV CALCULATOR
Base
PACK COST
VERDICT
Good Value
EV PER PACK
$34.98
Expected return
VS PACK COST
+$29.99
Above cost
HIT RATE
63.4%
1 in ~2 packs
PRICE DATA
101/102
99% coverage
VALUE SPLIT
$34.98 total EV
PULL RATE BREAKDOWN
How often each rarity tier appears in a pack
| RARITY TIER | CARDS | PULL CHANCE | AVG PRICE | EV / PACK | BEST PULL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commons & Uncommons | 70 | Filler | $1.60 | $0.10 | Squirtle$6.71 |
Rare | 16 | 55.0% | $7.44 | $5.26 | Electabuzz$13.58 |
Holo Rare | 16 | 20.0% | $88.55 | $29.63 | Charizard$483.00 |
| Total EV / Pack | $34.98 | vs $4.99 pack · +$29.99 |
TOP PULLS
31 cards · ranked by EV contribution
Charizard
$483.00
$10.77 EV
Blastoise
$182.42
$4.07 EV
Venusaur
$143.20
$3.19 EV
Mewtwo
$71.03
$1.58 EV
Raichu
$63.74
$1.42 EV
Alakazam
$61.12
$1.36 EV
Zapdos
$52.54
$1.17 EV
Chansey
$48.64
$1.08 EV
Gyarados
$42.84
$0.96 EV
Nidoking
$36.34
$0.81 EV
Ninetales
$36.26
$0.81 EV
Magneton
$33.33
$0.74 EV
Clefairy
$28.05
$0.63 EV
Poliwrath
$27.82
$0.62 EV
Electabuzz
$13.58
$0.60 EV
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it worth opening Base packs?
Based on current market prices, yes — the expected value is $34.98 per pack against a $4.99 pack cost, a positive return of +$29.99 on average. Keep in mind EV is a statistical average across many packs; individual packs vary significantly.
What is the hit rate for Base packs?
About 63% — roughly 1 in 2 packs. This is the probability that your guaranteed rare slot pull is worth more than the pack cost on its own. The reverse holo slot adds additional value on top of this.
What is the best pull in Base?
The highest expected-value card in Base is Charizard, currently priced around $483.00. Chase cards like this drive most of a set's EV — a single pull can easily cover the cost of multiple packs.
How is pack expected value calculated?
Every booster pack contains a rare slot (one guaranteed rare or better) and a reverse holo slot (one random card from the set). We apply estimated pull rates to each rarity tier — Secret Rare ~4%, Ultra Rare ~7%, EX/V/ex ~14%, Holo Rare ~20%, Basic Rare ~55%. Within each tier, probability is split equally across all cards of that rarity. Each card's price is weighted by its pull probability and summed to produce the EV per pack. Pull rates are approximations based on community-verified data; actual rates vary by set print run and product type.
The Base set was released on January 9, 1999 as part of the Base series, containing 102 cards across multiple rarity tiers. At a pack price of $4.99, the estimated expected value is $34.98 per pack — a positive return of +$29.99 on average.
Use the calculator above to adjust pack cost (sealed product prices vary by retailer) and see an updated EV breakdown instantly. Prices update daily — bookmark this page to track whether Base packs become better or worse value over time as the market shifts.
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