How to Choose the Perfect Pokémon Deck Box for Your Card Collection

Deck boxes, perhaps the least exciting part of playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game, but equally one of the most important accessories you can have! These handy little boxes come in such a huge range of styles and designs, from a simple box which will just hold your deck, right up to big double deck boxes that will hold multiple decks and all of your accessories. We are going to run down all our favourites and you will find something suitable for everyone on our website at Magic Madhouse.

Exploring Pokémon Deck Boxes

Deck boxes are essential for keeping your cards in tip top condition when you are playing in a tournament. They keep your cards secure when travelling, rather than having them loose in your bag, and stop any damage to your cards, which is essential if you are going to be deck checked during a tournament. Some include extra compartments for keeping your dice and counters in, which means you can grab your deck box and know that you will have everything you need to play.

We will look at the different styles of deck boxes soon and there are a huge range of styles, designs and features that will appeal to everyone. You can get plain coloured boxes and even themed ones, designed with your favourite Pokemon characters. Alongside your playmat, deck boxes are an excellent way of expressing your unique personality and can be a great conversation starter for some of the more exciting designs.

Choosing the Right Deck Box: What to Consider

You might think that a deck box is just a deck box and they all do the same job, right? Well, wrong, I’m afraid! There are so many different things to consider when choosing the deck box that’s right for you. Here are some of the things you need to consider.

Durability:

Deck boxes can be made from lots of different materials and the durability aspect is something that will affect the cost quite dramatically. There are simple, plastic deck boxes that are not particularly hard wearing and are quite easy to damage, as well as being a bit hard on your cards, but these tend to be much cheaper and are sort of a nice simple storage solution. There are also more premium boxes which have a hard wearing xenoskin material and microfibre lining inside for extra card protection. These boxes are tough as old boots and are really built to last. They are generally heavier and more expensive, but the right choice if you only want to buy one deck box that will last you forever.

Capacity:

It might sound obvious, but make sure you buy a deck box that is big enough to fit your deck! They come in all sorts of different sizes and also consider that your served deck will be a lot fatter than your unsleeved deck, so make sure you check the amount of sleeved/unsleeved cards it can hold. Another thing to think about is whether or not you need any additional space for accessories, such as dice and damage counters.

Design and Theme:

The design is often just as important as the other aspects and can really change your mindset of your game. If you are able to express yourself or show off your favourite character, it can make you feel good and can start great conversations with your opponent. There are tons of designs out there that you can use to express yourself. For some people, the functionality will be more important than the design and there are also lots of simple, single coloured designs that are premium deck boxes. This really is a massively subjective part of the selection process and everyone will have their own views on which they prefer.

Functional Features:

It may surprise you, but the humble deck box can have a lot of additional features! You can get built in card dividers for separating multiple decks or even additional compartments for dice and tokens. Some deck boxes are even big enough to hold multiple decks, all your accessories and even a playmat. Is that out of the scope of a deck box and into a carryall? Maybe, but it just shows how many options are available.

Overview of Pokémon Deck Box Types

Basic Models:

There are loads of basic models out there for you to choose from. The most widely known is probably the Ultra Pro Deck Box, which is a simple plastic design that will easily fit 1 full Pokemon deck plus a few spare cards or sleeves. They don’t offer the best protection but they are fantastic for lightweight storage. I find these really useful for storing decks at home and the huge range of colours means it’s easy to colour code your deck box to the deck inside. They also feature a label on top where you can write the name of the deck if you wish to do that. On top of that, they are really cheap, generally between £2 - £3. These deck boxes have their place, but they certainly won’t take too much hard use. These are also good for collectors who can organise their collection into these boxes cheaply. Just be aware that they are a bit narrow for cards in toploaders, but sleeved cards fit perfectly.

Character-Themed Models:

There are loads of brilliant deck boxes featuring your favourite Pokemon, from the ever faithful Pikachu right up to the newest Pokemon like Miraidon and Koraidon. You can also find them featuring popular trainers, such as Cyrus and Klara. Oh, and did I mention that you can get ones in the style of different Pokeballs? So you can have your own team stored securely in their Pokeball ready to battle it out at a moment's notice! These deck boxes tend to be similar in build size and material to the Ultra Pro ones above, but they have sweet designs which can tip it for some people. You can also get some Pokemon themed deck boxes that are a bit more durable and premium, such as the Togepi design flip box from Ultra Pro. This combines the more hardwearing materials and premium quality inner of the high end options but with the awesome designs of the Pokemon deck boxes.

Premium Models:

What makes a deck box more premium than the rest? Well, generally, these boxes have much more hardwearing outer materials, so they will last a lot longer in tip top condition. They often have a nice, soft microfibre lining to add extra cushioning and protection to your cards. These premium deck boxes will usually have an additional tray inside for storing dice, counters and other accessories that you may need, which is a really useful addition. Not only that, but these boxes are perfect for the indecisive players! You can get them with enough storage to hold 2 full decks and all your accessories. So, if you’re like me and can never decide which deck to play until you get to the tournament, these are the boxes for you!

Top Recommended Pokémon Deck Boxes

The deck box that you choose will very much depend on your own preference, how much you intend on using it, what features you are looking for and what your budget is. For the basic model tier, I would definitely recommend Ultra Pro’s Standard Deck Box or Dragon Shield’s Deck Shell. Both of these are excellent for the casual player and for storing spare decks at home. They both come in a huge range of colours and are not going to break the bank at all.

Those of you on a more mid range budget would be best suited with the Ultimate Guard Sidewinder. It is an excellent, hard wearing case, with a soft inner and comes in a range of sizes and colours. It only has space for your deck though, but if you want to carry accessories as well, then you could consider the Ultimate Guard Flip ‘n’ Tray. These have space for your deck as well as a handy little tray for dice and counters. They also come in multiple colours and sizes, but the 80 card version is perfect for Pokemon decks and will cost you less than £20.

If you are looking for a premium deck box, with enough space for 2 decks and all of your accessories, then look no further than the Ultimate Guard Twin Flip ‘n’ Tray. This excellent storage system allows you to take everything you need for a tournament. If you are settled on a single deck then you can use the spare compartment for additional sleeves and spare cards. They are extremely tough and hard wearing, but super soft on the inside. They come in a huge range of colours and sizes, so find one that speaks to you! I bought one of these deck boxes 8 years ago and it is still in perfect condition. It seems like a bad business plan from Ultimate Guard if I’m only ever going to need to buy one deck box in my lifetime! They come in slightly more expensive, but it is certainly worth it if you want the best.

How to Purchase the Ideal Deck Box at Magic Madhouse

We have an immense range of deck boxes in stock at Magic Madhouse and it can be a bit daunting seeing 500+ search results on the website! Hopefully our little guide has given you some good starting points and some of the best brands to look for. Lots of the premium choices from Ultime Guard are currently on sale, so check them out now and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!