Balatro Booster Packs: All 15, Ranked
Exact contents, a tier list, and when each booster pack is worth opening. Effects come from the game files; tiers average 6 player tier lists.
Updated October 2026
Quick answer
Booster Packs appear in every shop, offering playing cards, consumables, or Jokers to expand your options. Standard sizes cost $4 for Normal, $6 for Jumbo, and $8 for Mega. The strongest picks in most runs are Mega Spectral Pack, Jumbo Spectral Pack, and Mega Arcana Pack: Spectral and Arcana cards change your deck right away without needing a Joker slot.
Booster Pack tier list
Averaged from 6 player tier lists (2024 to 2025). The right pick still depends on your Jokers and economy.
S tier
A tier
B tier
C tier
Each pack's tier is the average of 6 player tier lists: ZainoTV's booster pack tier list and 5 community lists from TierMaker. S counts 5, A 4, B 3, C 2, D 1, then packs are cut into tiers by score. Cutoffs are S >= 4.5, A >= 3.75, B >= 2.9, C >= 1.85, else D. Gaming-site listicles were excluded because they do not rank individual pack sizes. Effects are checked against the game's data files (version 1.0.1).
The tier list can't see your run. BalatroBuddy can.
Tell it your shop and build, and it weighs interest, open slots, and the right buy.
All 5 Joker slots are full and my build is working. Shop has a Mega Buffoon Pack for $8 and an Arcana Pack for $4. I have $29. Which should I buy?
BalatroBuddy: Buy the Arcana Pack. It leaves you at $25, so you still earn the full $5 interest, and every Tarot you use adds +1 Mult to Fortune Teller. The Mega Buffoon Pack drops you to $21 and only helps if you sell a working Joker, since your slots are full.
All 15 Booster Packs
Grouped by pack type, best first by average tier. Tap a pack for full details and contents.
Spectral Packs
High-risk, high-reward consumables for deck warping
Mega Spectral Pack
Choose 2 of 4 Spectral cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You have at least $33 to preserve max interest and want 2 high-impact cards like Cryptid, Immolate, or Ankh.
Tier S
Jumbo Spectral Pack
Choose 1 of 4 Spectral cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You have at least $31 to stay above the interest cap and want 4 choices for game-altering cards like The Soul or Black Hole.
Tier S
Spectral Pack
Choose 1 of 2 Spectral cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You are above your interest threshold and want a cheap look at run-defining consumables.
Tier S
Arcana Packs
Tarot cards to enhance cards and build your economy
Mega Arcana Pack
Choose 2 of 5 Tarot cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You have at least $33 or need immediate deck thinning, rank copying, or cash from The Hermit.
Tier S
Arcana Pack
Choose 1 of 3 Tarot cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You are above your interest threshold and want efficient early deck modifications or economy Tarots.
Tier A
Jumbo Arcana Pack
Choose 1 of 5 Tarot cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You have spare cash above $25 and need to dig 5 cards deep for an essential Tarot like Death.
Tier B
Buffoon Packs
Jokers to build and scale your scoring engine
Jumbo Buffoon Pack
Choose 1 of 4 Joker cards.
Best when: You have open Joker slots and want 4 options to find a build-defining rare or scaling Joker.
Tier B
Mega Buffoon Pack
Choose 2 of 4 Joker cards.
Best when: You have at least 2 open Joker slots and need to rapidly establish base scoring and flat Mult.
Tier B
Buffoon Pack
Choose 1 of 2 Joker cards.
Best when: Early in Ante 1 or 2 when any flat Mult or chip Joker stabilizes your run.
Tier B
Celestial Packs
Planet cards to level up your poker hands
Jumbo Celestial Pack
Choose 1 of 5 Planet cards to be used immediately.
Best when: Your build relies on one primary poker hand and you need 5 choices to find its leveling Planet.
Tier B
Celestial Pack
Choose 1 of 3 Planet cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You are above your interest threshold and play a common hand like Pair, Two Pair, or Flush.
Tier C
Mega Celestial Pack
Choose 2 of 5 Planet cards to be used immediately.
Best when: You have Constellation or play multiple hand types and want 2 immediate level upgrades without using consumable slots.
Tier C
Standard Packs
Playing cards with enhancements, editions, and seals
Mega Standard Pack
Choose 2 of 5 Playing cards to add to your deck.
Best when: You run Hologram or need multiple Purple or Blue seals to drive your engine.
Tier C
Jumbo Standard Pack
Choose 1 of 5 Playing cards to add to your deck.
Best when: You are hunting for specific sealed or enhanced cards to copy with Death or Cryptid.
Tier C
Standard Pack
Choose 1 of 3 Playing cards to add to your deck.
Best when: You have Hologram, or want one specific enhanced or sealed card and can afford a bigger deck.
Tier C
Not sure which booster pack to open?
Tell BalatroBuddy your money, Jokers, and ante. It tells you whether to buy, save for interest, or reroll.
Booster Pack questions
What is the best booster pack to buy in Balatro?
Spectral Packs and Mega Arcana Packs rank highest because they provide powerful deck-altering consumables without consuming Joker slots. Buffoon Packs are essential in early antes to establish your scoring engine, while Standard Packs are generally avoided unless you need specific seals.
How much do booster packs cost in Balatro?
Normal packs cost $4, Jumbo packs cost $6, and Mega packs cost $8. Vouchers like Clearance Sale and Liquidation reduce these prices by 25% and 50% respectively.
What is the difference between Normal, Jumbo, and Mega packs?
Normal packs offer 2 or 3 choices and let you pick 1. Jumbo packs offer 4 or 5 choices and let you pick 1. Mega packs offer 4 or 5 choices and let you pick 2.
Can you skip booster packs in Balatro?
Yes, you can skip any booster pack without taking a card. Red Card gains +3 Mult each time you skip a pack.
Why are Buffoon Packs only B tier?
Players rate them below Spectral and Arcana Packs because they only help while you have an open Joker slot or a weak Joker to replace. In Ante 1 and 2, with open slots, a Buffoon Pack is often the best buy; once your 5 slots hold a working build, it rarely beats saving for interest.
- Tarot Cards: What to look for when opening Arcana Packs.
- Spectral Cards: Understand the risks and rewards inside Spectral Packs.
- Planet Cards: Level up the poker hands your packs build toward.