High Demand for Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Leads to Reprints
The Pokémon Company is addressing a significant shortage of its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, due to unexpectedly high demand. This shortage, initially reported by PokeBeach on January 4th, 2025, has impacted both major retailers and smaller local stores across the US.
The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and replenish stock as quickly as possible. This follows reports from local stores like Player 1 Services in Maryland, which experienced significantly reduced allocations (10-15%) from distributors due to overwhelming demand from retailers of all sizes. This disparity in distribution left smaller stores struggling to meet customer demand, while larger chains like GameStop and Target secured a larger portion of the initial print run.
The scarcity has already driven up prices on the secondary market. The Elite Trainer Box, yet to be officially released, is reportedly selling for $127, significantly above its $55 retail price. However, it's anticipated that increased supply from the Pokémon Company's reprint efforts will eventually stabilize prices and curb scalping activities.
The Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion, announced on November 1st, 2024, and launched January 17th, 2025, features highly sought-after cards including Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rares, and ultra rare Supporter cards. The set also includes reprints of popular cards with updated artwork, such as Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Roaring Moon ex.
Additional products, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin (February 7th, 2025), Booster Bundle (March 7th, 2025), and Pouch Special Collection (April 25th, 2025), are also planned for release. A digital version of the set was made available on January 16th, 2025, via Pokémon TCG Live for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
While the current shortage is undeniably frustrating for collectors, the Pokémon Company's commitment to reprinting the set offers hope that the situation will improve in the near future.
