Every year, the Pokemon TCG Ultra-Premium Collection (UPC) is the crowning product released just before the holidays. Over the years, we’ve seen some incredible UPCs, and they are usually among the best Pokemon TCG products of them all.

This year, on November 1, 2024, we’re getting not just one but two UPCs: the Greninja ex Ultra Premium Collection and the Terapagos ex Ultra Premium Collection.

In this review, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at these two products, as well as comparing them side-by-side so you know what the best Ultra Premium Collection is for you.

Greninja ex Ultra Premium Collection Review

First, it’s worth noting that the Greninja ex UPC is a GameStop exclusive. That means you can’t get it at other major department stores. You can take a look at the contents of the box below, but I think what stands out the most at first about the UPC is how the packaging looks on the outside.

Unlike other UPCs which are white typically white with some accents, this GameStop exclusive is a gorgeous blue (to match Greninja ex) with gold highlights and Greninja’s signature shuriken.

Going by external looks alone, the Greninja UPC is probably the best looking we’ve ever had.

However, you can’t always judge a book by its cover. Below, let’s take a look at what’s inside.

The problem with the Greninja ex UPC is its promos

Interestingly enough, Greninja ex is also the Pokemon on one of the most valuable cards in all of Scarlet and Violet’s series of Pokemon cards. This is the Special Illustration Rare Greninja ex that came out in Twilight Masquerade. Understandably, the Pokemon company didn’t grant this UPC a rendition of that iconic card.

However, the promos this UPC comes with are a little bit of a buzz kill compared to some of the more exclusive artworks we’ve gotten from recent UPCs. Essentially you are purchasing this relatively pricey UPC and getting…a Greninja ex promo the artwork of which you could’ve bought online for a few dollars. That’s not a hugely attractive offer. And while you get a metal card as well, it’s a metal version of not an insanely popular or iconic card, so it’s unlikely to have a lot of value on the secondary card market.

Now if this were a metal card version of the SIR from Twilight Masquerade, that would be a different story. But even the promo from the Shrouded Fable Greninja ex Special Illustration Rare box looked better.

The promos are usually a major draw for a UPC. Somewhat famously, the Celebrations UPC contained inside it a metal Charizard card that is still valuable today. However, these promos won’t be a major draw for most Pokemon players and collectors.

The good thing about this UPC

Promos aside, the rest of what you get is pretty cool. You get a bunch of packs (16 recent packs from the Scarlet & Violet era), a gorgeous playmat, some very cool dice, and an epic deck box.

The Verdict

This UPC doesn’t offer a major draw in the shape of promos, but the accessories and packs will be attractive to many, and the packaging will be a huge eye grabber for those shopping in GameStop stores.

Terapagos ex Ultra Premium Collection Review

Buy on TCGPlayer

Although arguably less eye catching on the outside (although once you slide the outer sleeve out it fairs better in comparison), the Terapagos ex has one major advantage over the Greninja ex UPC: it has promos with exclusive artwork.

This includes two gold promos of Cinderace ex and Lapras ex and an Ultra Rare promo styled Terapagos ex promo – all of which you can’t get elsewhere. While maybe not every collector’s dream, these are exclusive promos that you can only get from a Terapagos ex UPC and plenty of people will find these to be worthy enough to splurge (not to mention the other accessories they get with them).

What does the Terapagos ex Ultimate Premium Collection come with?

Actually, it comes with quite a lot. Besides the unique promos which are going to be a strong draw for many, the UPC also has its own fair share of goodies that look very intriguing.

First of all, it has two more booster packs than the Greninja ex UPC with a total of 18 versus 16. Another thing the Terapagos ex UPC has going for it is the unique display case. While that might not sound super impressive, these display cases are actually pretty solidly made, and I still have one that I got from a previous expansion but undoubtedly the same material. Besides that, the offerings are largely the same, with dice, markers, and a deck box plus play mat.

I like the Terapagos ex deck box better because it opens from the side like the boxes you get from the tournament collection boxes. Otherwise, I think either is good.

Although this UPC may not come with a metal card like previous UPCs (and the Greninja ex one), I don’t think that should be held against it. While the Charizard celebrations metal card is very valuable, the Mew ex metal card from last expansion wasn’t. Metal cards aren’t playable either, meaning they have limited value from a player perspective.

The inclusion of three exclusive promos is much, much more enticing and most likely they will be included in the master set for people serious about collecting all of Stellar Crown.

Terapagos ex vs Greninja ex Ultra Premium Collections – the verdict

Ultimately, the Terapagos ex Premium Collection is superior to the Greninja ex UPC, but not by a lot. Mostly it has to do with the fact that the Terapagos ex UPC has better promos and more packs. Otherwise, the Greninja ex UPC is a nice product, provided you really, really like Greninja.

Look for these products in stores or online via TCGPlayer (for the best price) starting November 1, 2024!

Greninja vs Terapagos ex Ultra Premium Collections – Which is Best?