Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Set Might Be Hard For Fans To Get Their Hands On As Demand Skyrockets In Store

1 week ago 11

Pokémon Trading Card Game

Prismatic Evolutions key art with a prohibition red circle over Eevee

The newest Pokémon Trading Card Game set might be difficult to find in-game stores due to overwhelming demand. The Pokémon TCG will kick off 2025 with the release of Prismatic Evolutions, a new special set containing a mix of card reprints (with new art) and a variety of new cards. The new set will contain Pokémon ex versions of Eevee and each of its evolved forms, along with tons of new alternate art and special illustration cards. However, a new report claims that some stores will have relatively little stock when the set comes out.

The Pokémon TCG website PokeBeach states that some game stores will receive as little as 10% to 15% of the Prismatic Evolutions stock they initially ordered. While The Pokémon Company printed Prismatic Evolutions products on a similar scale to previous sets like Paldean Fates, distributors received an influx of additional orders from stores that typically don't order many Pokémon TCG products. As a result, distributors have severely allocated supplies to many card stores, which will likely lead to severe shortages when the set comes out.

Why So Many People Want Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions

Special Set Will Not Have Standard Booster Pack Releases

So why is demand for Prismatic Evolutions so high? For one, Prismatic Evolutions is a special set that won't be released for sale in individual booster packs. The set will only be available in boxed products like Elite Trainer Boxes, Booster Bundles, and special boxed collections. Generally speaking, that means that stores will have fewer products available because they can't just sell the standard booster packs like with standard sets.

Rare cards from Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket with circular arrows between them as if they were being traded.

Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Approach To Trading Is Concerning

Trading has yet to arrive in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, and what is known about the feature suggests it may ultimately be lackluster.

The other reason is that past Eevee-themed special sets have had cards that have sold for hundreds of dollars on the secondary market. Evolving Skies, which came out near the end of the Pokémon Sword & Shield era of the TCG, contained an alternate art Umbreon card that still sells for over $1,400 even three years after release. There are several cards that fans believe could end up as major chase cards over the next few years, which is also driving demand from both collectors and scalpers looking to make a quick buck.

Our Take: Low Supply Is Bad For The Pokémon TCG

Prismatic Evolutions Product Could Get Scooped Up By Scalpers

While the Pokémon TCG has taken steps to improve the size of its print runs, it appears that it is still underestimating how popular some sets can be. Scalpers are still buying up the stock of Scarlet & Violet - 151 products years after it first came out and it looks like the same will be the case for Prismatic Evolutions.

The good news is that special sets tend to have longer print runs than other Pokémon TCG sets, so fans should eventually be able to get their hands on Prismatic Evolutions products. Still, if Prismatic Evolutions contains any meta-changing cards, the high demand for Pokémon TCG's newest set could be even worse.

Source: PokeBeach