Weighing Pokémon Packs: A Guide to Safeguarding Your Collection
With Pokémon gaining popularity every day, it's no surprise you've found yourself here, trying to understand the niche terminology surrounding booster pack weight and the classifications that sellers use such as Unweighed, Heavy, and Light. Whether you're purchasing vintage Pokémon booster packs for nostalgia or aiming to secure a holographic card, understanding the practice of weighing Pokémon packs becomes essential.
The purpose of this article is not for malicious intent but more to educate potential buyers on how to stay vigilant about the issue at hand. In this article, we will go over what weighing Pokémon packs entails, why it's problematic, and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to scammers.
What is Weighing Pokémon packs?
Weighing Pokémon packs involves using a scale to determine the weight of a sealed pack before purchasing or opening it. The objective is to identify packs that potentially contain rare or holographic cards, leaving the lighter packs with less valuable cards for unsuspecting buyers.
Pokémon Card Pack Variations: Unweighed, Light, and Heavy Packs
Every Pokémon booster pack from the WOTC era (Base set to Skyridge) can be weighed. However, The Pokémon Company implemented measures to combat the practice of weighing packs starting with the release of the Expedition Base Set in 2002. When it comes to understanding the terminology of weighing Pokémon packs You will typically see sellers advertising their booster packs in three main categories: Unweighed, Light, and Heavy.
1. Unweighed Pokémon Packs:
Unweighed packs refer to those that have not undergone any deliberate attempt to assess their contents based on weight. These packs maintain their original factory-sealed condition, with no interference in the packaging. They are usually pulled straight from a booster box and sold individually for that authentic pack-opening experience!
2. Light Pokémon Packs:
Light packs, on the other hand, have been intentionally weighed to identify those with a lower overall weight, indicating a potential absence of high-value cards. The general rule of thumb most people use is that any WOTC (Wizards of The Coast) booster pack under the weight of 20.8 grams is usually considered light and goes for a cheaper price on the market. Keep in mind, these are always assumptions but, for the most part, tend to be fairly accurate.
3. Heavy Pokémon Packs:
Conversely, heavy packs are those identified as potentially containing rare or holographic cards based on their higher weight. The rule of thumb for any WOTC booster pack considered heavy is any pack weighing above 20.8 grams and typically goes for a higher price on the market. Again, just like light packs, these are assumptions but tend to be fairly accurate. When it comes to chasing expensive cards, knowing that you can obtain an almost guaranteed holographic card is very enticing to collectors because these packs are not cheap!
Understanding Pokémon Pack Weights
When it comes down to weighing Pokémon packs, it can get quite confusing trying to navigate whether you have a heavy or light pack. Like I said before, a typical light pack will be below 20.8 grams, and a heavy pack will be above 20.8 grams. I found a really good video made by
Pokepern Master that is somewhat old but shows a perfect visualization of what weighing vintage packs looks like and how efficient it really is.
What is the Problem With Weighing Pokémon Packs?
Scammers
The primary issue with weighing Pokémon packs is the unethical behavior exhibited by scammers. These individuals exploit the trust of collectors by selling them packs with a higher likelihood of containing valuable cards. This undermines the integrity of the trading card community and leaves collectors feeling deceived and frustrated.
As discussed before, when purchasing these packs from a seller, you typically go by the weight shown to know what kind of pack you are purchasing. The problem is, because the packs fetch such high prices, it brings those scummy scammers out of the woodwork, preying on people who aren't knowledgeable.
How to Be Sure a Pokémon Pack is ‘Heavy’
To avoid falling prey to scammers who weigh packs, collectors should be aware of certain red flags:
- Seal Integrity: Examine the seal of the Pokémon pack carefully. If it appears tampered with or resealed, there's a possibility it has been weighed.
- Packaging Details: Authentic Pokémon packs maintain consistent packaging details. Deviations in font, color, or design may indicate tampering.
- Purchase from Reputable Sources: Buy your Pokémon packs from reputable sellers, such as authorized retailers or established online platforms. Avoid purchasing from unknown individuals or unverified sources.
- Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to ask the seller questions about the pack's origin, storage conditions, and any signs of tampering. Legitimate sellers will be transparent and willing to provide information.
You are also in luck! I have my own personal heavy 1st edition Fossil Pokémon pack that I have shown in the image below that will give you the exact idea of what the weight and pack should look like!
Pokemon heavy pack example
This is a 1st edition Pokémon Fossil booster pack. You can see by the weight at 22.08 grams means this pack would be considered heavy meaning it has an extremely high chance of having a 1st edition holographic card inside.
Front of heavy pack
Back of heavy pack
How to protect yourself
There are not many things you can do to protect yourself against scammers in this space, but there are still a few things you can do so don't worry!
Educate Yourself: Stay informed about the latest scams and deceptive practices in the Pokémon card community. Knowledge is a powerful tool in avoiding potential pitfalls.
Community Engagement: Engage with the Pokémon card collecting community. Share experiences, ask for advice, and learn from the insights of experienced collectors. This can be an effective way to stay ahead of emerging scams.
Does Weighing Pokémon Packs Still Work?
So, the answer to this question is bittersweet in my opinion. You can still weigh any Pokémon pack coming from the Wizard of the Coast sets, from the Base set all the way to Skyridge. These packs can be weighed quite accurately. So, when buying these packs, make sure you are doing your due diligence and buying from a reputable seller to ensure you are getting what you are paying for.
Thankfully, recognizing the concerns of the community, modern Pokémon card packs have introduced measures to counteract weighing:
- Randomization: Manufacturers now employ advanced randomization techniques during the packing process, ensuring that the distribution of rare cards is unpredictable.
- Incorporation of Unused Cards: Some packs may include unused or non-playable cards to maintain weight consistency, making it difficult for scalpers to determine the value of the pack solely based on weight. What I mean by this is the code cards that are placed in all new modern packs make it almost impossible to accurately weigh and assume what packs contain a holo.
Final thoughts: Buying or Selling When Weighing Pokémon Packs be Responsible!
As an avid Pokémon card collector involved in buying and selling, it really helps to know everything when it comes to purchasing weighed packs or selling them. I have purchased many weighed Pokémon packs in my Pokémon card trading journey, and as a buyer, it's always important to be educated and make responsible purchases. Being on the lookout for any red flags is crucial because sadly, there are a ton of scammers when it comes to purchasing these types of packs. So, when buying a light or heavy pack, make sure you have done your research and know you are dealing with a reputable seller.
If you are a seller, knowing where to sell Pokémon cards is important, but make sure you are using integrity and have some class when it comes to selling weighed packs. Don't false advertise; it sucks when you are on that other side. At the end of the day, we are all in this space as a community, so let's keep collecting those awesome vintage packs and expanding our collections smartly!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a Pokémon pack weigh?
ButtonThe weight of Pokémon cards always varies. The typical rule of thumb is any Wizards of the Coast era pack under 20.8g is a light pack, and any pack over 20.8g can be considered a heavy pack. Modern packs will have all sorts of different weights.
Can you weigh modern Pokémon packs?
ButtonYou can weigh them; however, all the weights will be different and will not give you any better chance of obtaining a holographic card.
Why do people weigh Pokémon card packs?
ButtonThe reason people weigh Pokémon card packs is that, in the past, you were able to put your pack on a scale and know exactly which packs would contain a holographic card based on the pack's weight.
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About the author: Kamryn Kirwan
Card collector, gamer, Pokémon enthusiast
Kamryn Kirwan is a passionate writer for TCG Review who loves gaming and collecting cards. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise with the gaming community, and if you're looking to read something that's more than just generic tips, he's got your back.
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