The Pokémon card market constantly fluctuates, and this week brings more volatility. While last week's spotlight was on X and Y promos shifting alongside Prismatic Evolutions values, the new Scarlet & Violet expansion Destined Rivals now dominates collector attention.
Pokémon Card Crashers
Significant price drops emerged following Destined Rivals' weekend launch. Team Rocket's Ariana plunged from $150 to $38.16, while Cynthia's Garchomp ex (Hyper Rare) dropped from $138.68 to $67.83. Its Secret Art variant also declined sharply from $469.90 to $220.81.
Other notable declines include: - Team Rocket's Crobat ex: $120 → $77.24 - Cynthia's Garchomp ex: $138.68 → $67.43 (Hyper Rare) - Arven's Mabosstiff ex: $49.99 → $31.28 - Yanmega ex: $99.99 → $31.94
These substantial corrections follow the expansion's initial launch week highs, with further market movements anticipated.
Recent Market Trends
May 26: X/Y Promos surge, Prismatic Evolutions decline
May 19: Salamence ex and Zekrom EX rally
May 9: Sword/Shield cards rebound
May 2: Magikarp/Pikachu ex drop 30%
Pokémon Card Climbers
Several chase cards rebounded sharply: - Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex jumped from $338 to $523.80 - Team Rocket's Moltres ex surged past $314.69 (from sub-$200) - Ethan's Ho-Oh ex climbed from $145 to $250 - Lesser cards like Team Rocket's Spidops (+$23.99) and Zamazenta (+$16.98) also gained
These volatile swings suggest collectors should monitor prices before making major purchases.
Sealed Product Market
Retail availability remains challenging, with most products trading above MSRP:
- Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium: $220
- TCG Classic Set: $255
- Booster Bundles: $63
Specialty tins and boxes (Poke Ball, Ultra Ball, Azure Legends) range $22-$34, while secondary markets generally offer better pricing than traditional retailers for opened products.
Last Week's Market Movers
Prismatic Evolutions chase cards declined as X/Y promos rallied:
- Eevee ex SIR: $226.96 → $145
- Glaceon ex SIR: $338.69 → $240.98
- Classic starters rebounded (Venusaur EX +263%)
The market shift coincides with Prismatic Evolutions reprints entering circulation and collector resistance to inflated SV chase card prices.
