Pokémon TCG Escalates Printing to Mitigate Prismatic Evolution Demand

High Demand for Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Prompts Reprints

The Pokémon Company is responding to unexpectedly high demand for its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, by initiating a large-scale reprint. Initial reports of shortages emerged on January 4th, 2025, on the fan website PokeBeach, highlighting difficulties for smaller US retailers.

The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating that they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and address the widespread shortages. This follows an official announcement on November 1st, 2024, detailing the expansion's launch on January 17th, 2025.

The unexpectedly high demand, according to Player 1 Services owner Deguire, is partly due to stores not typically stocking Pokémon TCG products placing orders, leading to distributors rationing supplies to 10-15% for smaller retailers. This resulted in larger chains like GameStop and Target receiving a disproportionately large share of the initial stock.

The scarcity has already driven up prices on the secondary market. For example, the Elite Trainer Box, yet to be officially released, is already selling for $127 USD, significantly above its $55 USD retail price. However, it's anticipated that increased supply will eventually alleviate this price inflation.

Prismatic Evolutions features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork, including Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Roaring Moon ex. Additional product releases are planned for February 7th (Surprise Box and Mini Tin), March 7th (Booster Bundle), and April 25th (Pouch Special Collection), 2025. A digital version of the set launched on Pokémon TCG Live on January 16th, 2025.

While the current shortage is undeniably frustrating for collectors, the Pokémon Company's commitment to increasing production offers hope for a swift resolution.