Hi everybody! Quick question, when it comes to shadowless theme decks, other than the gold strip, is there any way with the box in hand, to tell if the box contains shadowless cards? Are they the same as base set starter decks where if the damage counters are rattling around and the deck is stacked to the top of the box they contain shadowless cards?
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There’s no way to tell.
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The easiest way to tell is to open them up. 
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So all base set theme decks have loose rattling damage counters?
I don’t know about theme decks, but @joetehman shared a great guide on how to distinguish a shadowless base starter deck from the unlimited version - if you’re interested.
www.elitefourum.com/t/english-base-set-2-player-starter-deck-guide/14698/1
All 4 BASE THEME decks share the same positions as the shadowless STARTER DECKS. Meaning the solid, single deck of cards on the top and the damage counters on the bottom. So yes, all 4 BASE THEME decks will rattle, it only helps for starter decks.
I think you have better luck if the cards on the back show the shadowless card on top of the other two and the pull tab is horizontal. That yields better results, but still no guarantee.
I don’t think you can know b4 you open them up…
One of the coolest things about the WOTC Pokemon era is that everything is a mystery. Twenty years later, and we still have very few definitives, but tons of possibilities to so many simple questions.
I’d love to know of a definitive way to tell if the themes were shadowless too. I have these 2 pack blisters that I know have a shadowless starter but not sure about the included themes. I’m guessing shadowless cause they used such an early starter but can’t be sure.
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