Pokémon

Pokémon TCG cards are sold out everywhere, and this is why

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is experiencing one of its most intense moments.

Update: May 29th, 2025 02:15 CEST

Anyone who says Pokémon is no longer relevant probably doesn’t know what’s happening in the world. For years, Pokémon has been one of the most profitable brands on the planet. Among its many products, including video games, plush toys, and merchandise, one has become particularly popular: the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). This game’s popularity has endured for decades and recently reached new heights among players, collectors, and, sadly, scalpers. This has made the cards highly coveted and, in many cases, difficult to find.

Why is it harder to find Pokémon TCG in stores?

Two major factors are behind this phenomenon: a generation of adults who grew up with Pokémon and now have the purchasing power to continue investing in the hobby, and hoarders who disrupt the distribution chain by buying large quantities of packs, boxes, and boosters with the intention of reselling them on the secondary market or finding high-value cards.

You’ve probably seen the videos: people entering stores, taking entire boxes, and emptying shelves in a matter of minutes. The goal? To get their hands on as much product as possible in a market where the law of supply and demand has driven prices through the roof. But what is really causing this situation?

The most recent case we have had was with two of the most recent Pokémon TCG sets: Surging Sparks and Prismatic Evolutions. In the first one, which came out in November 2024, we had the appearance of the Tera Crown Pikachu ex Special Illustration, which was valued at $400. In the other set, the Umbreon ex Special Illustration rare, reaching $1,000.

Pokémon TCG cards are sold out everywhere, and this is why

One of the reasons behind these high prices is the rarity of these cards. While there are other versions of Pikachu and Umbreon with similar abilities, these special editions stand out due to their unique illustrations and glossy finishes. They are hard-to-find pieces and, therefore, highly prized in the collecting world. And in a hobby like the TCG, where price speculation has always been present, it is understandable that some cards have a higher value than others.

This is what triggers the frenzy of scalpers. Going to stores and buying large quantities of envelopes in the hope of finding one of these holy grails becomes a strategy more linked to profit than to passion. A very different logic from that of those who seek to complete their collection or put together the perfect deck to compete.