Pokemon TCG: Pokemon GO Premium Collection Radiant Eevee

This is not a follow-up per se, but just to prep you and also raise my profile as an influencer (like n subscribe people, like n subscribe) I would recommend you read my review of the Pokemon Go Elite trainer Box review because a) it’s pretty good and b) it covers a lot of stuff you need to know about the set that I’m not going to repeat here.

Right. Up to speed now? Good.

Okay, so it’s pretty clear I like the set – I’ve got a whole lotta decks jiggling around in my head for attention and as soon as our FLGC (Friendly Local Games Café) reopens, I’m gonna strut into there like Bart Simpson into school after his first kiss. But I think I’m going to need a few more cards before I can do that, and there’s one card in particular that I want/need/wantneed.

That Radiant Eevee

Just to remind you about this whole Radiant Pokemon thing, they harken back to the days of Pokemon Star. Radiant Pokemon are all basic Pokemon Just like you could only have one Pokemon Star in your deck, you can only have one Radiant Pokemon in your deck. So far we have seen Radiant Greninja, Heatran, Hawlucha, Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur, all with their own particular strengths. Radiant Eevee is no different.

But before we get onto the how’s and why’s, let’s open the box!

What You See Is Not All Of What You Get

The Radiant Eevee Box is a big unit. Not just long and wide, but deep too. Weighty as well, considering. It’s almost as if there was something distinctly un-card like lurking within.

What you can see is the eight Pokemon Go boosters, the Shiny Eevee pin and the Radiant Eevee card. The pin is a joy to behold, though that jaunty angle at which it has been set in the box is most annoying. The card is also stunning. Like all the Radiants, the text area and picture surround of the card has a lovely silver/grey iridescence, whilst the picture of Radiant Eevee drawn by veteran Poke-artist Shigenori Negishithe on a starfield holo pattern. Very pleasing. But this is not all you get, because tightly furled at the bottom of the box is an absolutely splendid surprise – a Radiant Eevee playmat!

Gift box playmats can be a bit of a mixed bag, but this is a lovely, lovely thing. This amply-sized quality item features an original image of Eevee in all their shiny glory (though I wish I could find out who the artist is – come one, enquiring minds need to know). You can be sure that when you break out this baby at your FLGS, there will be a few ‘ooh’s and ‘ahh’s.

Walking With Eevee…

So the question is: is it any good and how does it compare to the other premium product, the Elite Trainer Box? The ETB, truth be told, is a big unit and has more boosters, therefore: more pulling power, as it were. The Radiant Eevee collection may have less boosters, but it has a card that you just won’t be able to get anywhere else – if you want it then this is it.

And it’s not just a collector’s item. It has very playable potential, because for one energy can search your deck for as many cards as you have Pokemon types in play – for all those who don’t know, the type refers to whether the pokemon is a water-type, a fire-type, a psychic-type and so forth. This means that a player can potentially search their deck for up to six different cards. That can make a massive difference early game.

Also, when it comes to the boosters, if you’ve already read the ETB review, you’ll know that these bring the goods. Nothing lower than a holo in the rare slot and the potential to pull some very tasty cards. So is this as good as or better then? Goodness sake, answer the question…

For sheer force of exclusives, this is very good indeed. For boosters… almost as good. Better than the Trainer boxes and better than the Alolan Eggsecutor, but if you wanting boosters, boosters and more boosters then go for the ETB. As for my pulls from the boosters? I pulled the Rainbow Rare Mewtwo Vstar (*whining*’but the rainbow cards aren’t as popular…’ BITE. ME.) and the Egg Incubator gold card, so I’d say that was a big win…

But you want that Eevee, don’t you? You want all the Eevees. Go on… you know it makes sense.