TCG Card Investor  ·  Weekly Briefing

TCG Card Investor

Weekly market intelligence on the Pokemon TCG

Vol. 2026 · Issue No. 06  ·  May 23 – 30, 2026

Hey friend, welcome to the hobby.

The Big Story

Pokemon confirmed it printed fewer cards during the biggest boom in hobby history, dropping from 11.9 billion to 10 billion cards while rip-and-ship demand is at an all-time high. PSA is closing all affordable grading tiers on June 2nd with a 10-million-card backlog, locking an estimated 5 million Pokemon cards out of circulation and pushing the cheapest submission to $80 per card. Mystery slab operators at Kansas City Collecticon were paying 100% over market for PSA slabs under $40, a sign that the graded card float is being hoovered off the open market faster than it can be replenished.

Key Market Trends

1.Official print run data confirms supply contraction during peak demand. Multiple creators independently cited Pokemon's official disclosure showing production fell from 11.9 billion cards in fiscal 2024 to approximately 10 billion in the most recent period, even as demand and rip rates hit all-time highs. A new 1.27 million square-foot printing facility is not expected at full capacity until late 2028, keeping supply structurally constrained for years. Creators broadly interpret this as a structural tailwind for sealed product prices across the Scarlet and Violet era.
The Poke Plumber 07:29  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 00:22  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 01:00  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 01:50
2.PSA closing affordable tiers creates a graded card supply shock. PSA is pausing all value-tier submissions starting June 2nd due to a backlog exceeding 10 million cards, with the cheapest remaining tier rising to $80 per card at 30-40 business days. Roughly half that backlog is rumored to be Pokemon cards, meaning approximately 5 million Pokemon singles are effectively off the open market. New sets like Chaos Rising and Pitch Black will see almost no mid- or low-tier graded copies reach market, and mystery slab buyers are already paying 100% over market for sub-$40 PSA slabs to stock their pools.
It Was Never A Phase Cards 01:01  ·  Alpha Investments 02:19  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 10:49  ·  The Poke Plumber 02:41
3.Buy-now-pay-later financing is fueling demand across the hobby. Two separate creators flagged widespread consumer over-leverage: one cited a podcast where roughly 90% of buyers were reported to be using 8-to-18-month buy-now-pay-later plans, and another noted that $90,000 of a single site operator's monthly sales were BNPL-financed. Both creators treat this as a structural risk that could accelerate a downturn if consumer credit tightens, even as it currently props up demand.
The Poke Plumber 09:49  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 13:27
4.30th anniversary set is already moving Pikachu singles and Celebrations sealed. The 30th anniversary set (Japan September 16, US September 18) will feature 30 new-art Pikachu cards with multiple foil variants and a new opalescent rarity, driving immediate price action. Celebrations UPC has surged from $477 a year ago to a current market price of roughly $1,300 with a listed median near $2,000, and the metal Charizard hit a new all-time high of $285. A live buyout of the Pikachu and Zekrom tag team card during recording pushed it from $40 to $65 with lowest listings at $150.
It Was Never A Phase Cards 04:46
5.Chaos Rising booster boxes are building toward $300 with constrained supply. Multiple creators independently flagged Chaos Rising boxes as a near-term buy, with current prices around $250-$255 and a consensus target of $300-plus. AnonTCG noted Pokemon is deliberately staggering wave-two releases to protect the price floor, while Nostalgia Nomics drew a direct parallel to Twilight Masquerade's price trajectory. Mega Greninja supply is reportedly 25% lower than Mega Zygarde was at launch, adding a structural scarcity argument.
Nostalgia Nomics 09:04  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 26:19  ·  The Poke Plumber 20:35
6.Ascended Heroes ETBs are caught between reprint waves and long-term demand. Ascended Heroes ETBs dropped from $181-$190 back toward $170 after stores dumped inventory on TCGPlayer before rebounding, with wave two already arriving and more reprints expected. Alpha Investments views them as dead money for short-term operators around $200 but a valid long-term hold, while Nostalgia Nomics sees restock waves as too small to suppress prices given demand. The split between short-term and long-term framing makes this a contested play rather than a clean consensus.
Alpha Investments 15:51

Consensus Calls

BUYChaos Rising booster boxes at current prices around $250-$255, with multiple creators targeting $300-plus based on constrained Mega Greninja supply (25% below Mega Zygarde), deliberate wave-two staggering by Pokemon, and strong chase-card demand.
BUYScarlet and Violet era sealed booster boxes broadly, as print runs are declining from 11.9 billion to 10 billion cards while rip rates and demand are at all-time highs, with the new printing facility not at full capacity until late 2028.
BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs as a long-term hold, with one creator having purchased 165 additional units and another holding 700-800 units, both projecting values of $300-$400 within 1.5-2 years.
HOLDSealed booster boxes across the Scarlet and Violet and Mega Evolution eras and ignore panic selling triggered by hobby news cycles, as every prior scare has failed to derail long-term value appreciation and the supply-demand imbalance remains intact.
AVOIDAvoid pre-selling new Japanese set releases before market prices stabilize, as distributor backdooring and rapid price corrections (Abyss Eye dropped roughly 2,500 yen within 24 hours of peak) make pre-sale positions extremely difficult to manage profitably.

If you found this useful, forward to a fellow collector or investor. Sharing helps the briefing reach the right audience.

Quote of the Week

“Fewer than 5% of people who buy a sealed Pokemon box will still be holding it in 5-10 years. The vast majority sell too early, take a loss, or liquidate due to life changes.”

— Alpha Investments

Section 01

Market Commentary

Per-creator notes from market-commentary channels. Each section reflects one channel's published view; consensus across all channels is summarized in the briefing above.

From Alpha Investments

NO MORE PSA GRADING....UNLESS YOUR RICH

May 29, 2026  ·  41m 45s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] Rudy covers several Pokemon market topics amid broader TCG discussion: roughly half of PSA's reported 10-million-card backlog is rumored to be Pokemon cards, locking an estimated 5 million Pokemon cards out of circulation. He argues booster boxes remain intentionally underprinted, restock waves of Ascended Heroes are too small to move prices, and he closes with a brief buy-the-dip call on Pokemon sealed product.

Datapoints

  • Rumor circulating online suggests roughly half of PSA's reported 10-million-card backlog consists of Pokemon cards, implying approximately 5 million Pokemon chase, holo, and promo cards are effectively off the market while in the grading queue. 02:19
  • Restock waves of Ascended Heroes are arriving but Rudy describes them as 'pathetic' and says they will not move prices because demand far exceeds any incremental supply; he states booster boxes remain intentionally underprinted and that policy is not changing. 15:51
  • Ascended Heroes packs are trading at $10 each; Rudy asserts they should not be below $10 given supply and demand dynamics. 32:26

Recommendations

BUYPokemon sealed product on the dip when local stores receive their small restock waves of Ascended Heroes or other sets. 40:43

View Source  →  YouTube

From Nostalgia Nomics

Pokemon Market MAYHEM And Graded Card Shortage!

May 29, 2026  ·  1h 24m

Investment Thesis

Creator argues the Pokemon market has no meaningful bearish forces: PSA closing lower grading tiers signals too much demand rather than a bubble, Pokemon printed fewer cards during the biggest boom in the hobby's history, and digital rip platforms are hoarding PSA slabs off the open market. He is aggressively buying Prismatic Evolutions ETBs and Chaos Rising boxes, and expects PSA slab prices to rise as supply tightens.

Datapoints

  • PSA is grading approximately 1 million cards per month and has now closed all lower-end submission tiers, meaning new sets like Chaos Rising and Pitch Black will see almost no mid- and low-tier cards graded going forward, creating a severe supply shortage of graded copies from recent sets. 10:49
  • Pokemon printed fewer cards in the Scarlet Violet era than in 2023 (11.9 billion cards), deliberately constricting supply during what the creator calls the biggest boom in the hobby's history, which he argues directly explains accelerating price increases on Scarlet Violet sealed product. 15:56
  • Mystery pack and digital rip companies are so desperate for low-end PSA slabs that buyers at Kansas City Collecticon are offering 100% or more over market value for slabs priced at $40 and under, reflecting how quickly the graded card float is being absorbed off the open market. 13:14

Recommendations

BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs; the creator just purchased another 165 ETBs and continues to add, viewing them as a better store of value than cash while prices remain below what he expects long-term. 20:11
BUYChaos Rising booster boxes as a long-term hold, with the creator targeting $300-plus per box and drawing a direct parallel to Twilight Masquerade's price trajectory. 26:19
BUYPSA 10 graded singles broadly, as the creator expects slab prices to run up materially in the near term due to the supply shock from PSA closing lower tiers; he specifically highlights high-end singles from new sets such as the Greninja from Chaos Rising. 1:23:18

View Source  →  YouTube

The Pokemon Investing BUBBLE About To POP?

May 28, 2026  ·  1h 5m

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] Two alternative-asset investors discuss whether the TCG market is in a bubble, concluding it is not. Key points: Pokemon Company has publicly disclosed it printed fewer cards this year than last despite surging demand, retailers can no longer hold cases for regular customers, and the entire supply chain benefits from constrained supply and rising prices, giving Pokemon Company no incentive to increase print runs.

Datapoints

  • Pokemon Company released official printing numbers showing they printed fewer cards this year than last year, even as demand surged. 01:50
  • Local card shops that previously sold cases to regular customers can no longer hold even a single box for them, illustrating severe retail supply constraints. 32:28
  • Every participant in the Pokemon supply chain, from the company to distributors to retailers, benefits financially from the current tight-supply, high-demand dynamic, giving Pokemon Company no structural incentive to increase print runs. 31:12

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokemon PRINTED LESS Cards Last Year!

May 27, 2026  ·  13m 07s

Investment Thesis

Nostalgia Nomics host Alex argues that Pokemon printed only 10.2 billion cards last year, down from the prior year, during what he calls the biggest boom in hobby history. He contends that shrinking supply against surging demand from ripping ships and casual consumers makes rising prices inevitable, and makes a bullish case for the Scarlet Violet era outperforming Sword and Shield over the next two to three years on a percent-gain basis.

Datapoints

  • Pokemon printed 10.2 billion cards last year, a year-over-year decline, occurring during what the creator describes as the largest boom in Pokemon history. 00:22
  • Scarlet Violet era booster boxes have reached $300, 151 ETBs are at $600, and Paldean Fates ETBs are at $500, price points the creator says other eras took years to reach. 08:19
  • Chaos Rising booster boxes are back above $250 and the creator expects them to hit $300 soon, citing two Greninja chase cards in the set and drawing a parallel to Twilight Masquerade's price trajectory. 09:04

Recommendations

BUYScarlet Violet era sealed product broadly, as the creator expects it to deliver greater percent gains than Sword and Shield era over the next two to three years given lower print runs and higher demand. 12:21
BUYChaos Rising booster boxes at current prices around $225 to $250, as the creator believes they will reach $300 very soon based on supply scarcity and strong chase-card demand. 08:43

View Source  →  YouTube

Is The Pokemon Market In A Bubble?

May 26, 2026  ·  17m 57s

Investment Thesis

Nostalgia Nomics reacts to Rudy Alpha Investments' Collect-A-Con Orlando video, discussing the Pokemon market's hustle-flip culture, the structural demand driving graded card prices upward, and whether the market is in a bubble. The creator notes PSA backlog dynamics, buy-now-pay-later consumer behavior, and the looming 30th anniversary and new print facility as potential inflection points, while acknowledging no clear top is in sight.

Datapoints

  • Digital rip sites and mystery slab pack companies are consuming graded card inventory faster than they can source it, creating persistent supply pressure that keeps slab prices elevated. 05:14
  • PSA grading wait times are growing longer, meaning lower-tier hits from new sets are buried in the backlog for months; only cards sent via express service are reaching market quickly, allowing those holders to name their price. 06:00
  • A site operator told the creator that $90,000 of last month's sales were purchased via buy-now-pay-later, indicating consumers, not businesses, are financing Pokemon product purchases on credit. 13:27
  • Chaos Rising booster boxes are already trending toward $250-plus, continuing a streak where every new set launches above $200 per box. 09:37

Recommendations

HOLDOnly deploy capital you can afford to lose and, if you have profited heavily over the past one to two years, secure those gains so a potential downturn does not wipe you out. 17:22

View Source  →  YouTube

From Christy Holds

Why Are Destined Rivals Booster Boxes STILL Going Up?!

May 30, 2026  ·  14m 17s

Investment Thesis

Christy Holds argues that Destined Rivals booster boxes are behaving unusually: while regular ETBs have dropped roughly 25%, booster boxes are pushing $650-$700 in the US, near all-time highs. She draws parallels to Fusion Strike's regional price divergence, notes the set now holds the highest total set value of any Scarlet and Violet main set, and suggests the current reprint wave may be a final buying window before a permanent reprice.

Datapoints

  • Destined Rivals regular ETBs in the US have fallen approximately 25% as new supply enters the market, partly driven by fear-selling psychology ahead of anticipated reprint waves. 01:02
  • Destined Rivals booster boxes in the US are trading near $650-$700, while UK boxes sit around £350 (roughly $470), creating a significant regional price gap. UK distributor backorder pricing for an incoming wave is reportedly around £82-£83 per booster box. 01:55
  • Destined Rivals has overtaken Paldea Evolved to hold the highest total set value of any Scarlet and Violet booster box set at approximately £1,600, with the main chase card Team Rocket's Mewtwo sitting around £400 raw and £1,000 in a PSA 10. 07:17

Recommendations

BUYIf Destined Rivals booster boxes dip aggressively on the next supply wave while singles remain strong, Christy says that is where she would become much more aggressive buying the set. 12:35
HOLDChristy is not selling any Destined Rivals holdings despite the reprint wave, citing abnormally strong underlying demand and singles market strength. 12:09

View Source  →  YouTube

From Collect Pokemon

What you don't understand about grading

May 29, 2026  ·  12m 47s

Investment Thesis

Collect Pokemon argues that PSA's decision to end bulk/value grading tiers will not meaningfully benefit competing graders like CGC, BGS, or TAG. The creator contends that grading economics are relative, not absolute: cards worth 8-20x their grading fee in PSA 10 form justify higher fees, while non-PSA slabs command far lower premiums, making alternatives unattractive for serious investors.

Datapoints

  • A Detective Pikachu card graded at $25 (PSA bulk tier) sells for $500 in PSA 10, representing a 20x return on grading cost. 03:33
  • A metal Charizard from Celebrations graded BGS/PBG 10 sold for approximately $600, while the same card in PSA 10 sells for $10,000-$15,000, illustrating the dramatic premium gap between PSA and competing graders. 08:06
  • The creator's personal grading threshold has been an 8-10x return: cards with a PSA 10 value around $200 were submitted at the $18.99-$24.99 bulk tier, and he expects the same ratio to hold at the new $80 fee level (targeting ~$800 PSA 10 value). 06:58

Recommendations

BUYGrade Pokemon cards with PSA when the expected PSA 10 sale price is at least 8-10x the grading fee, as the creator has been doing for the past six months in preference to investing in sealed product. 06:45
AVOIDDo not send Pokemon cards to non-PSA grading companies (CGC, BGS, TAG, etc.) as the value multiplier for those slabs is far too low to justify the fees. 02:03

View Source  →  YouTube

Most people are not buying sealed products anymore.

May 27, 2026  ·  21m 21s

Investment Thesis

The creator examines the rise of oripa (digital rip) platforms in the Pokemon TCG market, tracing their origins from Japanese Ichiban Kuji lottery formats through the 2023 PSA 10 waifu card boom. He argues that oripa is pulling demand away from sealed booster boxes because newcomers find boxes expensive, inaccessible, and high-risk, while themed PSA 9/10 oripa pools offer a lower learning curve and more predictable value retention.

Datapoints

  • The 2023 waifu card boom in Japan was driven largely by oripa operators buying up PSA 10 graded cards en masse to stock their pools, inflating prices to levels the creator described as not making sense before crashing after Worlds in June 2023. 05:06
  • Newly released booster boxes (the creator cites a set resembling Chaos Rising) are priced around $200, leading the creator to argue newcomers see oripa pulls at $100-$200 as equivalent or better value than opening a full box. 16:41
  • Oripa operators typically build pools with a 20-30% margin, meaning buyers theoretically recover around $80 for every $100 spent; the creator contrasts this with booster box openings where the return can be close to $0 if no hit is pulled. 10:19

View Source  →  YouTube

From PokeNE

The BEST Investment in Pokemon Hits NEXT MONTH

May 26, 2026  ·  16m 07s

Investment Thesis

PokeNE covers three upcoming Pokemon releases: the simplified Chinese Prismatic Evolutions equivalent, Terrestal Grand Gathering (June 12), featuring an exclusive Sylveon EX and chase accessories; the chaotic Japanese Abyss Eye launch, where distributor backdooring and store buyouts drove prices up sharply before a ~2,500 yen correction; and the Archaops museum promo tied to Chicago's Field Museum fossil exhibit running May 2026 to April 2027.

Datapoints

  • The simplified Chinese Prismatic Evolutions equivalent, Terrestal Grand Gathering, releases June 12 and includes an exclusive Sylveon EX card; the creator estimates raw free-market price around $300, with chase gold coins at 1% pull rate and secret pin/accessory designs at 1–10% pull rates. 00:35
  • Japanese Abyss Eye launched to extreme market disruption: local stores in Japan were buying booster boxes at 17,000–19,000 yen each by the caseload, distributors backdoored allocations away from pre-order suppliers, and the set price subsequently dropped roughly 2,500 yen within 24 hours of peak. 08:44
  • The Archaops promo card distributed at Chicago's Field Museum (May 22, 2026 to April 11, 2027) is expected to sell on eBay for $150–$300 depending on hype, though the creator does not expect it to reach Van Gogh Pikachu-level financial results. 13:45

Recommendations

AVOIDThe creator explicitly broke his own rule by pre-selling Abyss Eye and lost money on nearly every unit, warning against pre-selling new Japanese sets before market prices stabilize. 11:41

View Source  →  YouTube

From The Poke Plumber

THE BEGINNING OF THE END?! TIME TO PANIC?!

May 29, 2026  ·  31m 21s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber breaks down official Pokemon TCG printing numbers from 2021 to 2025, showing output peaked at 11.9 billion cards in 2024 before dropping to 10 billion in the Mega Evolution era. He argues this supply contraction, combined with record demand and PSA halting new submissions on June 2nd, makes a meaningful price correction nearly impossible and strengthens the long-term case for sealed product across Scarlet and Violet and Mega Evolution sets.

Datapoints

  • Official Pokemon TCG print runs by year: 3.7 billion cards in March 2021 (Sword and Shield era), 9.1 billion in March 2022, 9.7 billion in March 2023, 11.9 billion in March 2024 (peak Scarlet and Violet), then declining to 10.2 billion and most recently 10 billion cards in the Mega Evolution era. 07:29
  • PSA is closing submissions to new orders starting June 2nd, citing a backlog of millions of cards it cannot process; the creator expects a rush of last-minute submissions before the cutoff, further straining turnaround times. 02:41
  • Paldea Evolved booster boxes are currently trading around $408-$485 and contain 80 hits per box (full arts, illustration rares, special illustration rares combined), with roughly one to two SIRs per box. 26:03

Recommendations

BUYPaldea Evolved booster boxes at current prices around $408-$485, citing 80 hits per box, declining print run data, and strong long-term sealed appreciation potential. 25:58
BUYTemporal Forces booster boxes now, as print numbers were already being pulled back during that set and collector attention has shifted away, leaving undervalued inventory in the open market. 26:45
HOLDSealed booster boxes across the Scarlet and Violet and Mega Evolution eras, as print runs are declining while demand and rip rates are at all-time highs, making a significant price correction unlikely. 14:55

View Source  →  YouTube

The Pokémon hobby will HURT people!

May 27, 2026  ·  21m 38s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber covers several Pokemon market themes: a Prismatic Evolutions price dip expected from Costco supply, a Chinese-exclusive Sylveon variant with chase coins and accessories driving demand, widespread buyer over-leverage via buy-now-pay-later financing, and a prediction that the market stays elevated through roughly five more Mega sets before cooling around the Winds and Waves era.

Datapoints

  • A podcast featuring Brian (PokeAnnie) and Team Rocket Joey revealed that roughly 90% of buyers are using buy-now-pay-later financing programs (8- to 18-month plans) to purchase Pokemon product, signaling widespread over-leverage in the hobby. 09:49
  • The Chinese-exclusive Prismatic Evolutions set will include chase coins and chase displays in addition to the Sylveon card, introducing accessory-level chase mechanics that the creator expects to drive global demand and push prices higher. 06:45
  • Pokemon 151 packs stayed stagnant for several months before surging from $7.50 to $25 per pack, cited as a precedent for how flat periods can precede sharp price increases. 19:20

Recommendations

BUYPrismatic Evolutions Special Collection (SPC) once Costco supply hits the market and prices dip, as the creator expects panic sellers to create a buying opportunity. 00:18
BUYPlatinum, HeartGold SoulSilver, and Diamond and Pearl era sealed boxes, as the creator expects these mid-era products to continue appreciating while Black and White era boxes subside. 18:03
BUYChaos Rising and Perfect Order booster boxes at current prices, as the creator expects wave-two restocks to be delayed long enough that first-wave supply dries up before any meaningful price correction. 20:35

View Source  →  YouTube

Section 02

Singles & Auction Prices

Latest singles and auction price changes from channels that track specific cards, eBay sales, and grading population shifts. Data-heavy by design; recommendations only where the creator made one.

From It Was Never A Phase Cards

Black Bolt & White Flare Are EXPLODING! Pokemon Market Update

May 30, 2026  ·  22m 49s

Investment Thesis

It Was Never A Phase Cards reviews the broad price surge across Black Bolt and White Flare singles and sealed product. Standout movers include the Zekrom black-white rare (up 43% in three months, now above $500), the Sewaddle illustration rare (up 102%), and the Cinccino (up 151%). Pokemon Center ETBs for both sets are also climbing, with the Black Bolt PCE ETB at roughly $300 and White Flare PCE ETB at $250 and rising.

Datapoints

  • The Zekrom black-white rare (number 172) from Black Bolt is up 43% over the past three months, breaking the $500 mark and reaching a new all-time high; PSA 10 copies are up 62% over the same period, averaging around $600 versus $370 three months ago. 00:28
  • The Oshawott illustration rare (number 105) from White Flare is up 102% over the past three months, breaking the $100 mark at a new all-time high, with PSA 10s up 88% to an average of $716. 05:00
  • The Black Bolt Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box has risen 50% over recent months to around $300, while the White Flare Pokemon Center ETB is up 40% to around $250, with lowest listings approaching $300. 10:27

Recommendations

BUYThe Black Bolt Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box at around $300, as the creator sees significant remaining upside in sealed product relative to the singles gains already recorded. 10:43
BUYWhite Flare Pokemon Center ETBs, which the creator expects to continue climbing toward the $300 listed-median sooner rather than later given growing hype around the set. 17:15
AVOIDExercise caution on Black Bolt and White Flare illustration rares showing sudden vertical price spikes, such as the Dwebble and Pansage, as the creator flags visible buyout activity on their charts. 07:02

View Source  →  YouTube

Grading Pokemon Cards Just Became WAY HARDER! Market Update

May 29, 2026  ·  24m 50s

Investment Thesis

The creator covers the grading crisis affecting Pokemon card submissions, with PSA pausing all affordable tiers on June 2nd due to a 10-million-card backlog, then pivots to a promo card market update tracking price performance on Scarlet and Violet era Pokemon Center stamped cards, Sword and Shield era special delivery promos, and the Burger King Pikachu, most of which are at or near all-time highs.

Datapoints

  • PSA is pausing all value-tier submissions starting June 2nd due to a backlog exceeding 10 million cards; the cheapest available tier after that date will be $80 per card with a 30-to-40 business day turnaround. The backlog must fall below 5 million before affordable tiers reopen. 01:01
  • Several Scarlet and Violet era Pokemon Center stamped promos are at or near all-time highs: the Snorlax (Pidgey on Belly) is up 115% year-over-year at around $300; the Pokemon Center stamped Charmander is at a new all-time high of $252 versus $100 a year ago; the Paldea Evolved ETB Pikachu promo is at a new all-time high of $157 versus $86 a year ago; and the Greninja (card 132) is up roughly 305% year-over-year to around $117. 11:20
  • The Burger King Pikachu has 305,000 copies graded through PSA with 267,000 hitting PSA 10; raw price has settled around $30 after peaking near $66, while PSA 10 copies that previously sold in the $120-$130 range have come back down to around $100-$110. 16:00

View Source  →  YouTube

New 30th Anniversary Set News + Pokemon Market Update

May 28, 2026  ·  22m 48s

Investment Thesis

The 30th anniversary Pokemon TCG set will include one of 30 Pikachu cards guaranteed per pack, with six all-foil cards per pack and a new opalescent rarity featuring Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Mew. A Japan release of September 16 is expected, with a US release likely September 18. The creator also reviews strong price gains across Celebrations sealed product and singles, with the Ultra Premium Collection up 168% year-over-year and loose packs up 193%.

Datapoints

  • The Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection is up 168% year-over-year; current market price is around $1,260, most recent sale was $1,400, and the listed median on TCG Player is approaching $2,000, with only 34 boxes listed. 04:46
  • Celebrations loose packs are up 193% year-over-year, from $11 to a recent high of $35; current market price is $32.50 but all lowest listings are $35 and up, with a listed median of around $39. 12:53
  • The metal Charizard from the Celebrations UPC is up 138% year-over-year to a new all-time high of around $281, with only 13 copies listed on TCG Player; it was $117 a year ago. 07:54

View Source  →  YouTube

The Pokemon Card Bull Market Will Keep Going! Here Is Why

May 27, 2026  ·  24m 47s

Investment Thesis

TJ argues the Pokemon TCG bull market shows no signs of stopping, citing print data from Millennium Print Group showing production has declined year-over-year to 10 billion cards while demand far outpaces supply. He surveys price benchmarks across sets from Ascended Heroes to Perfect Order and notes the new printing facility won't reach full capacity until late 2028, keeping supply constrained for years.

Datapoints

  • Millennium Print Group printed approximately 10 billion Pokemon cards in the most recent 12-month period, down from 10.2 billion the prior year and 11.9 billion the year before that. Full-scale operations at their new 1.27 million square-foot facility are not expected until late 2028. 01:00
  • Ascended Heroes sealed product has surged to $500 for the Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box (MSRP $60) and standard ETBs are at $175-$180, with top singles including a Pikachu at $1,400 and two cards in the $2,800-$3,000 range, all within months of release. The Van Gogh Pikachu gray felt hat promo, a $300 raw card one year ago, now sells raw for approximately $1,000 and $3,280-$3,300 in PSA 10; there are 48,319 PSA 10 copies representing roughly $158.5 million in graded value for that single card alone. 05:30
  • Destined Rivals booster boxes are at $637 (up ~146% from $260 a year ago) and its Pokemon Center ETB is at $560. Phantasmal Flames booster boxes are at $420 versus a ~$160 MSRP, with the Charizard single at $830 raw. Perfect Order booster boxes, considered the weakest set of the mega era, are still holding above MSRP at around $200-$220. 10:43

View Source  →  YouTube

Biggest Movers Of The Week! Pokemon Market Update

May 26, 2026  ·  21m 17s

Investment Thesis

TJ reviews the week's biggest Pokemon TCG movers, covering singles from Cosmic Eclipse, Silver Tempest, Lost Origin, Fusion Strike, and the new Japanese set Abyss Eye. Highlights include a 191% one-year gain on the Cosmic Eclipse Pikachu, Silver Tempest booster boxes approaching $600, and Destined Rivals Pokemon Center ETBs potentially leapfrogging booster box prices at 203% annual gains.

Datapoints

  • The Mega Darkrai special art from the Japanese set Abyss Eye (chase card for the upcoming English set Pitch Black) is selling between $500 and $550 on eBay out of the gate. 00:40
  • The Pikachu from Cosmic Eclipse (card 241) is up 191% over one year, from $77 to a current market price of $225 raw; the PSA 10 is up 152% over 3 months with an average of the last five sales around $2,200, up from roughly $842 three months ago. 02:00
  • Silver Tempest booster boxes have broken the $500 current market price and the lowest listed on TCG Player is now $600, up from $343 a year ago; the listed median price sits at $734. 05:05
  • Destined Rivals Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Boxes are up 203% over the past year (from $185 to around $560 current market price), outpacing Destined Rivals booster boxes which are up 142% to around $626; the ETB may be approaching a leapfrog of the booster box price. 07:54
  • The Pikachu V Trainer Gallery from Lost Origin (TG16) is up 85% over 3 months to a current market price of $127, a new all-time high; the PSA 10 average of the last five sales is around $517, up from roughly $240 three months ago. 11:44
  • The Celebi V alternate art from Fusion Strike (card 245) is up 111% over the past year from around $50; a suspected buyout of 27 copies occurred on May 8th. 15:00

Recommendations

AVOIDBe cautious with the Eevee SM233 and Celebi V from Fusion Strike as both show signs of buyout activity rather than organic price appreciation. 14:05

View Source  →  YouTube

From Top 10 Pokemon

Chaos Rising Vs Perfect Order! Pokemon Auctions Of The Week!

May 30, 2026  ·  12m 58s

Investment Thesis

Top 10 Pokemon's weekly auction recap covers notable sales across modern and vintage Pokemon cards. Highlights include a PSA 10 Mega Greninja EX SIR from Chaos Rising selling for $3,000, steep price declines on graded Perfect Order cards, a 151 Ultra Premium Collection box hitting $943, and a suspicious PSA 10 first edition base set Charizard listed on eBay for $325,700 that the creator flags as almost certainly a proxy.

Datapoints

  • PSA 10 Mega Greninja EX SIR from Chaos Rising sold for $3,000, one of the first copies graded from the set. 02:16
  • Perfect Order graded cards are declining sharply: the SIR Meowth EX dropped from ~$1,525 to ~$980, the SIR Mega Zygarde EX fell from ~$710 to ~$560, and the Gengar GameStop exclusive was cut roughly in half from ~$2,750 to ~$1,300. 02:35
  • Terapagos SIR from Stellar Crown reached $500 as a PSA 10 this week, up from a long-standing price of around $140-$150. 03:44

View Source  →  YouTube

These Are The BEST INVESMENTS In Pokemon...EVER!

May 29, 2026  ·  8m 22s

Investment Thesis

Top 10 Pokemon recaps the biggest sales from Kantoshark.com over the past month, covering high-grade singles and sealed product. Highlights include a PSA 10 Mew EX SIR from Paldean Fates selling for $2,600 (now regularly clearing $3,000+), gold star Legendary Beasts selling individually for less than a recent $33,000 lot comp, and a BGS 9.5 gold star Gyarados more than doubling in eight months to $25,000.

Datapoints

  • PSA 10 Special Illustration Rare Mew EX from Paldean Fates sold on Kantoshark for $2,600, while recent sales on the open market show it consistently clearing $3,100 to $3,400; a black-label copy sold for $236,000. 01:04
  • BGS 9.5 gold star Gyarados from EX Holon Phantoms sold for $25,000, more than doubling from its September 2025 sale price of $11,100; the PSA 10 equivalent is valued above $80,000. 03:08
  • Charizard EX from Fire Red Leaf Green (PSA 10) sold twice within one week: first for $22,000, then for $35,000, while a sealed booster box of the set now lists above $70,000 on eBay. 03:47

View Source  →  YouTube

Top 10 EXPENSIVE Psyduck Pokemon Cards!

May 26, 2026  ·  8m 05s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] Top 10 Pokemon recaps the most expensive Psyduck card sales on record, highlighting that Psyduck cards are rising significantly in value. Key sales range from $2,330 for a CGC 10 reverse holo from EX Team Rocket Returns up to $78,000 for a BGS 10 Black Label Psyduck Scream promo. Legendary Collection Psyduck reverse holos have surged from roughly $3,000 to $20,000 in about 10 months.

Datapoints

  • Legendary Collection reverse holo Psyduck (PSA 10) sold for $14,100 and then again on Heritage for $20,000, up from just over $3,000 about 10 months prior. 04:36
  • Psyduck Scream promo sells for approximately $9,200 in PSA 10, but a BGS 10 Black Label copy sold for $78,000, making it the most expensive Psyduck card ever recorded. 07:22
  • EX Holon Phantoms reverse holo Psyduck (PSA 10) sold for $8,100, with the creator noting Psyduck historically does not receive special chase-card treatment, making reverse holos the dominant high-value format for the character. 03:27

View Source  →  YouTube

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Disclaimers

This week: 19 videos across 8 channels. Browse the public archive at tcgcardinvestor.com.

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Creation of this newsletter is assisted by AI and may contain mistakes. Always verify each claim against the source video before acting on any recommendation.

This report is editorial commentary based on publicly-available content from independent creators. It does not constitute investment advice, an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security or collectible, or a recommendation of any particular allocation. Trading-card markets are speculative, illiquid, and subject to material price swings driven by reprint cycles, grading-population changes, and shifts in collector sentiment. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Ratings (BUY / HOLD / SELL / AVOID) reflect the cited creator's view at the timestamp linked, not the publisher's view. Citation timestamps deep-link to the moment in the source video where the claim is made.

Compiled 2026-06-02 10:31  ·  TCG Card Investor  ·  Editorial digest, not investment advice