TCG Card Investor  ·  Weekly Briefing

TCG Card Investor

Weekly market intelligence on the Pokemon TCG

Vol. 2026 · Issue No. 07  ·  May 30 – June 6, 2026

Hey friend, welcome to the hobby.

The Big Story

Pikachu and Zekrom tag team exploded 242% in a single month, from $40 to $137 raw, purely on 30th Anniversary speculation before a single pack has been opened. The Celebrations Charizard reprint peaked at $80 at launch and crashed to $5 as supply arrived, and the new set's packs are half the size of standard packs, meaning double the booster packs hit the market from an equal print run. Meanwhile, Mega Evolution era PSA 10s are carrying 60-70% gem rates yet trading at multiples that assume they are scarce, a structural mispricing multiple creators say is primed to correct.

Key Market Trends

1.30th Anniversary set: Celebrations blueprint says buy sealed, avoid FOMO on singles. Multiple creators drew direct parallels between the 30th Anniversary set (releasing September 16th worldwide) and Celebrations, where ETBs sat at $49.99-$60 for months before surging and UPCs bought at $200-$220 later hit $300-$400. The set's half-size packs (5 game cards plus 1 foil energy) mean an equal print run produces double the booster packs, amplifying early supply. Community sentiment is lukewarm: a 408-vote Instagram poll showed 45% calling it 'mid' and only 43% 'epic.'
Danny Phantump 10:03  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 07:00  ·  The Poke Plumber 11:08  ·  AnonTCG 17:35
2.30th Anniversary reprint speculation has already run cards 170-242%, creating dangerous entry points. Pikachu and Zekrom (Team Up) surged 242% in one month to $137 raw; Rayquaza from Dragons Exalted is up 226% on the year to $35-$40; Mew VMAX is up 170% to $20 raw. Multiple creators explicitly warned against buying into these moves, noting that collectors who want the artwork should simply wait for the cheaper 30th-stamped versions arriving in September.
It Was Never A Phase Cards 00:28  ·  Danny Phantump 19:51  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 09:01
3.Chaos Rising sealed: second distribution wave creates a short buy window near $200. Chaos Rising booster boxes are currently trading at $220-$225 on the secondary market (cases at $1,200), with a second wave expected imminently. Both AnonTCG and The Poke Plumber identified the 2-3 week post-wave saturation window as the optimal entry, when prices may dip toward $200 flat before recovering. Christy Holds noted boxes are already holding above the 145-pound MSRP, suggesting the floor is firm.
AnonTCG 01:28  ·  The Poke Plumber 03:19  ·  Christy Holds 01:20
4.Mega Evolution era PSA 10 multiples are structurally mispriced given 60-70% gem rates. Nostalgia Nomics laid out the core case: Ascended Heroes Mega Gengar has a 67-68% gem rate (3,938 tens out of 5,938 graded) yet its PSA 10 at $3,400-$3,500 carries a higher multiple than Evolving Skies Umbreon Vmax, which has a similar gem rate but a pull rate nearly 4x harder and a pack price nearly triple. It Was Never A Phase Cards separately flagged the Mega Greninja PSA 10 at $3,000 with only 54 copies graded as a contrasting case of genuine scarcity, underscoring that not all Mega Evolution PSA 10s are equal.
Nostalgia Nomics 06:53  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 08:00  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 00:15
5.Sword and Shield sealed is hitting all-time highs across multiple sets simultaneously. Silver Tempest booster boxes reached a new all-time high of $550 (up 60% year-over-year) and ETBs gained 124% over the same period. Chilling Reign boxes are trading $450-$550, up from a $75-$80 retail price. Alpha Investments confirmed multiple Sword and Shield era sets are at all-time highs in 2026, and Lost Origin ETBs are up 123% year-over-year to $250. The consensus driver is no reprint risk combined with a self-reinforcing supply squeeze as stores sell through rather than hold.
It Was Never A Phase Cards 05:31  ·  The Poke Plumber 12:38  ·  Alpha Investments 24:49  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 04:24
6.PSA submission freeze is distorting grading premiums across the market. PSA has approximately 10 million cards in its backlog and has shut down bulk submission tiers; CGC has also raised costs and extended turnaround times. Nostalgia Nomics noted Pokemon PSA 9s are now commanding a meaningful premium over raw copies, a reversal of their historical pattern. ZandGEmporium confirmed smaller graders like TAG and Ace have also shut down bulk programs, leaving submitters with fewer options and longer waits.
ZandGEmporium 08:14  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 09:02

Consensus Calls

BUYChaos Rising sealed product (booster boxes, ETBs) during the 2-3 week window after the second distribution wave arrives, targeting prices near $200 per box when secondary-market saturation peaks.
BUYPrismatic Evolutions sealed product now, while attention has shifted to Ascended Heroes and 30th Anniversary hype, treating the current low-interest window as the ideal entry; ETBs are near a three-month low of $155-$162.
BUYLost Origin Elite Trainer Boxes as a long-term Sword and Shield hold; the standard ETB is up 123% year-over-year to $250 and the Pokemon Center ETB is up 72% to $491, with no reprint risk.
BUYSilver Tempest ETBs over Silver Tempest booster boxes; ETBs returned 124% year-over-year versus 60% for booster boxes at a significantly lower entry price, and multiple Sword and Shield sets are confirming the broader all-time-high trend.
AVOIDAvoid buying 30th Anniversary reprint speculation cards (Pikachu and Zekrom, Mew VMAX, Rayquaza, Greninja Break) at current inflated prices; wait for the cheaper 30th-stamped versions or for post-launch price normalization, as Celebrations Charizard demonstrated the pattern of peak-at-launch then collapse.
AVOIDAvoid buying Mega Evolution era PSA 10s (Ascended Heroes Pikachu, Ascended Heroes Mega Gengar, Phantasmal Flames Charizard) at current multiples; 60-70% gem rates make the premiums being paid structurally unjustified versus comparable cards with harder pull rates.

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Quote of the Week

“Booster boxes that previously launched at $80-$100 would still sit at $80-$100 a year later, whereas current sets bought at $200-$240 have reached $300-$400 within six months.”

— Nostalgia Nomics  ·  05:12

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

I Will Never Understand this Life.

Jun 05, 2026  ·  1h 0m

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] Rudy observes that multiple Pokemon products, including Sword and Shield era sets and Scarlet Violet, are hitting all-time highs, while arguing that the Pokemon investing space is overcrowded and that comparable percentage gains are available in out-of-print Magic boxes at lower entry prices. He also reflects on his own large Scarlet Violet inventory position, now worth tens of millions.

Datapoints

  • Multiple Pokemon products are hitting all-time highs in 2026, including Sword and Shield era sets such as Silver Tempest and Chilling Reign, as well as Scarlet Violet product. 24:49
  • Rudy states his Scarlet Violet inventory, originally bought as dumped product he could not sell, is now worth tens of millions of dollars. 58:15
  • Pokemon is not reprinting booster boxes, creating a self-reinforcing supply squeeze: stores sell through inventory rather than hold it, and consumers open product rather than preserve it sealed. 40:00

Recommendations

BUYRudy explicitly states he would rather buy three Aether Drift play boxes at $100 each than one $300 brand-new Pokemon box, framing out-of-print Magic product as a better risk-reward than current-print Pokemon boxes at equivalent price points. 31:28

View Source  →  YouTube

From Nostalgia Nomics

Buying Pokemon Cards HAS Changed FOREVER!

Jun 04, 2026  ·  57m 45s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] This mixed-hobby podcast touches on Pokemon market dynamics in the context of PSA's grading shutdown. The hosts note that Pokemon PSA 9s are now commanding a meaningful premium due to the submission freeze, and cite the Hidden Fates Mew black label selling for over $230K versus a $3K PSA 10 as evidence of grading tier extremes. They also speculate on whether Pokemon will eventually introduce serialized cards as Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh have done.

Datapoints

  • Due to PSA closing inbound submissions, Pokemon PSA 9s are now showing a notable premium, a reversal from their historical pattern of trading near the same price as raw copies. 09:02
  • The Hidden Fates bubble Mew Beckett black label sold for over $230,000, while the PSA 10 of the same card is approximately $3,000, illustrating the extreme valuation gap between black label and all other grades. 13:55
  • A $15 Ascended Heroes pack was cited as an example where a pull could theoretically be worth $1,500, but could also yield as little as 50 cents in cards, losing 99% of pack cost. 39:26

View Source  →  YouTube

These Pokemon Cards Are Going To CRASH!!!

Jun 03, 2026  ·  11m 20s

Investment Thesis

Nostalgia Nomics argues that graded PSA 10 prices for Mega Evolution era cards (Phantasmal Flames Charizard, Ascended Heroes Pikachu and Mega Gengar) are severely mispriced relative to their gem rates, pull rates, and pack costs. Compared to Paldean Fates Charizard and Evolving Skies Umbreon Vmax, the Mega Evolution cards carry similar or higher PSA 10 multiples despite being significantly easier and cheaper to pull and grade.

Datapoints

  • Phantasmal Flames Charizard: raw price ~$900, PSA 10 ~$2,300; gem rate over 60% (21,895 tens out of 36,265 graded); pull rate 1 in 400 packs; pack price ~$11. By contrast, Paldean Fates Charizard is ~$335-$340 raw, PSA 10 ~$875, with a 41% gem rate, 1-in-465 pull rate, and ~$24 pack price, yet carries a similar or lower PSA 10 multiple. 03:00
  • Ascended Heroes Pikachu: raw ~$1,200-$1,300, PSA 10 nearly 200% higher; gem rate 67.5% (2,785 tens out of 4,123 graded). Ascended Heroes Mega Gengar: raw ~$1,460, PSA 10 ~$3,400-$3,500; gem rate ~67-68% (3,938 tens out of 5,938 graded). Both sets have a pack price of ~$15 and a pull rate of 1 in 533 for a specific card. 06:53
  • Evolving Skies Umbreon Vmax: raw $2,200-$2,500, PSA 10 $4,300-$4,600, less than a 2x multiple; gem rate ~69% (20,855 out of 29,000 graded); pull rate 1 in 1,999 packs; pack price nearly triple that of Ascended Heroes, yet the PSA 10 multiple is lower than Ascended Heroes Mega Evolution cards. 08:00

Recommendations

BUYPurchase raw Ascended Heroes and Phantasmal Flames Charizards, Pikachus, and Gengars and submit them for PSA grading at the $80-$150 tiers, where a 60-70% gem rate offers strong potential grading gains. 10:32
AVOIDAvoid buying Mega Evolution era PSA 10 cards (Phantasmal Flames Charizard, Ascended Heroes Pikachu, Ascended Heroes Mega Gengar) at current valuations, as their 60-70% gem rates make the multiples being paid extremely dangerous. 10:09

View Source  →  YouTube

The End Of The Pokemon BULL MARKET!?

Jun 02, 2026  ·  16m 22s

Investment Thesis

Nostalgia Nomics argues that the leaked 30th anniversary set will follow the same pattern as Celebrations: peak hype at announcement, skepticism on release, then strong long-term gains. He draws on his own Celebrations UPC position bought at $200-$220 that later hit $300-$400 to make the case that paying over MSRP on anniversary products is historically justified for investors, and states he will be buying the 30th anniversary set regardless of premium.

Datapoints

  • Celebrations UPCs were short-printed and settled on the open market at $180-$220 at launch, while Celebrations ETBs remained widely available at $49.99-$60 for an extended period. 07:00
  • The creator bought 24 cases of Celebrations UPCs at an average of $200-$220 off eBay; roughly a year later they rose to $300-$400, representing approximately 100% gains. 08:32
  • Booster boxes that previously launched at $80-$100 would still sit at $80-$100 a year later under the old market structure, whereas current sets bought at $200-$240 have reached $300-$400 within six months. 05:12

Recommendations

BUY30th anniversary UPC-style product at launch even at 50-100% above MSRP, as the creator expects exponential gains over a five-year horizon based on the Celebrations UPC precedent. 15:31
BUYPrismatic Evolutions sealed product now, as the creator holds a large position and expects critics to be proven wrong within one to three years. 10:33

View Source  →  YouTube

From AnonTCG

Pokémon 30th Anniversary, Market news, and Market Opportunity

Jun 03, 2026  ·  19m 16s

Investment Thesis

AnonTCG covers several Japanese set supply dynamics and near-term buying windows, arguing that short-printed sets like Perfect Order and Chaos Rising will outperform hyped sets like Destined Rivals over a 1-2 year horizon. He also previews 30th Anniversary set details, including God packs and ultra-chase cards he expects to reach thousands of dollars, and flags Mega Moonlit tins and Mega Zygarde EX Immune collections as low-downside entry points.

Datapoints

  • Chaos Rising booster box print run is estimated to be slightly larger than Phantasmal Flames, while Perfect Order's print run was roughly 12-15% smaller than Phantasmal Flames. 02:37
  • Chaos Rising illustration rares already have 400+ graded copies in circulation and SIRs are in the 130s, indicating an extremely high pack-opening velocity compared to Perfect Order at the same stage. 03:11
  • Journey Together booster boxes have risen 78% since release, even in what the creator describes as a super-hot, price-inflated market. 13:49
  • Perfect Order ETBs, which could not sell at $65-$70 near release, now have a lowest listing of $135, and booster boxes with only 136 units on the market are projected to exceed $400. 07:47
  • 30th Anniversary set is expected to include a Charizard or Pikachu in every pack, feature God packs, and have ultra-chase cards in red, green, and purple variants that the creator expects to reach thousands of dollars each. 17:35

Recommendations

BUYChaos Rising sealed product (booster boxes, ETBs, blisters) during the 2-3 week window after the second distribution wave ships, when market saturation will be at its peak and prices at their lowest. 01:28
BUYPerfect Order booster boxes now, ahead of the wave-two release expected in mid-July, as the creator prefers this set over Destined Rivals for 1-2 year appreciation due to tighter supply. 06:07
BUYMega Zygarde EX Immune collections at or near MSRP ($39.99), which the creator calls a 'stone cold steal' given embedded pack value of roughly $60 and a projected price of $75-$80 by year-end. 13:00

View Source  →  YouTube

From Christy Holds

Chaos Rising Analysis and Predictions! (2 Weeks Later)

Jun 05, 2026  ·  14m 40s

Investment Thesis

Two weeks after release, Chaos Rising has not triggered any of the pre-release warning signs the creator outlined. Booster boxes are holding around 180 pounds, Pokemon Center ETBs sit near 100 pounds, and Mega Greninja has settled around 280 pounds rather than collapsing. The creator sees sealed and singles pricing as disconnected and remains undecided on the set's long-term trajectory.

Datapoints

  • Chaos Rising booster boxes were approximately 175 pounds one week before release and are now holding around 180 pounds, well above the MSRP of 145 pounds. 01:20
  • Mega Greninja dropped from pre-release highs near 500 pounds to roughly 350 pounds at release and now sits around 280 pounds; the gold Mega Greninja is hovering near 190 pounds. Pull rates are approximately 1 in 540 for the Mega Greninja SIR and 1 in 1,100 for the gold version. 03:14
  • Chaos Rising Pokemon Center ETBs are sitting around 100 pounds, roughly double MSRP, which the creator notes is stronger than what a genuinely weak set would typically show at this stage. 02:23

Recommendations

AVOIDthe creator has not fully committed to a position on Chaos Rising sealed product, citing a disconnect between still-elevated sealed prices and declining singles as reason to wait for clearer direction. 10:16

View Source  →  YouTube

From The Poke Plumber

The Pokémon Hobby Feels Off…

Jun 05, 2026  ·  15m 14s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber surveys several Scarlet and Violet era sets, flagging Chaos Rising boxes holding steady around $220-$225 ahead of a second wave, Surging Sparks selling consistently near $300, and Temporal Forces now at $330 after being ignored in the low $200s. He also notes a perceived softness in the hobby, with Ascended Heroes proving hard to move and Prismatic Evolutions losing mindshare despite strong chase cards.

Datapoints

  • Chaos Rising booster boxes are currently selling at $220-$225 on the secondary market, with cases listed at $1,200 ($200 per box); a second wave is expected to arrive within the next week or so. 02:40
  • Surging Sparks booster boxes are listed on TCG Player at approximately $285 plus $13 shipping, putting them effectively at $300, with consistent sell-through volume the creator describes as 'non-stop' sale after sale. 06:05
  • Temporal Forces booster boxes are now selling at approximately $330, having been passed over when they were priced in the low $200s and even the hundreds; demand has picked up sharply after the price run. 06:56

Recommendations

BUYPrismatic Evolutions sealed product now, while attention has shifted to Ascended Heroes and the 30th anniversary, as the creator sees the current low-interest window as the ideal entry point. 04:42
BUYChaos Rising booster boxes during the incoming second wave, when prices may dip toward $200 flat, rather than paying current secondary-market premiums. 03:19
BUYOlder collection tins containing XY, Sun and Moon, and early Sword and Shield packs as a lower-cost alternative to full booster boxes, which the creator views as an underappreciated play with upside when booster box prices climb further. 13:30

View Source  →  YouTube

TOP 5 POKEMON SETS THAT NEED TO BE IN YOUR COLLECTION!

Jun 03, 2026  ·  24m 20s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber names his top five booster boxes to hold right now, ranked from newest to oldest: Mega Evolution Base, Destined Rivals, Chilling Reign, Brilliant Stars, and Cosmic Eclipse. He argues all five are undervalued at current prices, cites strong card depth and no reprint risk as key drivers, and shares that he is actively buying all five sets at current market prices.

Datapoints

  • Mega Evolution Base booster boxes are currently selling between $250 and $315 depending on venue, with cash deals at shows often landing in the $250-$300 range. 07:55
  • Chilling Reign booster boxes are trading between $450 and $550, with the creator noting the set had the second-most alt arts in the entire Sword and Shield era and has already appreciated significantly from its original $75-$80 retail price. 12:38
  • Cosmic Eclipse booster boxes are currently sub-$4,000, while Team Up boxes are around $12,000, a roughly 3x price gap the creator views as unjustified given Cosmic Eclipse's deeper set list. 19:00

Recommendations

BUYDestined Rivals booster boxes; the creator says to skip discretionary spending for a week or two to secure at least one box, calling it the greatest main set of the Scarlet and Violet era with no reprint risk. 09:56
BUYBrilliant Stars booster boxes and sealed product; the creator just purchased a full case plus additional loose boxes and compares the set's trajectory directly to Cosmic Eclipse's multi-year price climb. 13:43
BUYCosmic Eclipse booster boxes or lower-cost entry points such as three-pack blisters and Arceus VSTAR figure collection boxes; the creator recently purchased two boxes and believes the set will reach five-figure prices over time. 22:00

View Source  →  YouTube

The Pokémon Company Messed Up?! + Huge Collection BUY Out!

Jun 02, 2026  ·  23m 12s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber covers the newly announced 30th Anniversary Celebrations set, noting mixed community sentiment but drawing parallels to past anniversary sets that underperformed at launch before surging in value. He also showcases a large collection buy from the LITCG show, including Temporal Forces cases, vintage XY-era tins, and sealed Sword and Shield product, while reiterating his long-term bullish stance on specialty celebration sets.

Datapoints

  • Temporal Forces booster boxes have risen from $100 to over $300, with the creator having flagged buy opportunities at $100, $120, $140, $160, $180, and $200. 00:11
  • An Instagram poll on the 30th Anniversary Celebrations set drew 408 votes: 45% called it mid, 43% epic, and 12% trash, suggesting lukewarm community sentiment ahead of release. 16:08
  • Celebrations ETBs are approaching $500 and Generations ETBs are now at $2,000, illustrating how past anniversary sets appreciated significantly after initially soft launches. 11:08

Recommendations

BUYTemporal Forces booster boxes, which the creator views as one of the most underrated sets and expects to continue rising. 18:45
AVOIDAvoid paying $200 or more per ETB for 30th Anniversary Celebrations at launch; the creator recommends buying a small position early and dollar-cost averaging rather than going all in. 12:55

View Source  →  YouTube

From ZandGEmporium

I Know Why Pokemon is Exploding…

Jun 01, 2026  ·  14m 05s

Investment Thesis

ZandGEmporium argues that mainstream awareness of Pokemon card grading and investing has reached a genuine inflection point, citing real-world encounters with a tradesperson, a bank teller, and a police officer who all demonstrated working knowledge of PSA grading, backlogs, and card flipping. The creator frames this ground-level adoption, combined with supply constraints and dollar devaluation, as the core driver of the current demand surge.

Datapoints

  • PSA has approximately 10 million cards in its backlog and has shut down bulk submission tiers; CGC has also raised costs and extended turnaround times by months, with smaller graders like TAG and Ace also shutting down their bulk programs. 08:14
  • The creator states Pokemon is printing at maximum capacity and cannot increase print runs beyond current levels, contributing to supply constraints. 12:56
  • A PSA 10 Van Gogh Pikachu card is cited as selling for approximately $3,200, with the creator noting it could be liquidated same-day for around $3,000 on major platforms or locally. 10:55

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 Danny Phantump

Pokemon Changes EVERYTHING - Bans Slabs and MORE at Events!

Jun 03, 2026  ·  26m 58s

Investment Thesis

Danny Phantump, a veteran Pokemon event vendor, breaks down TPCi's new policy banning graded slabs and Japanese Pokemon Center products (including plush and TCG items) from official partner vendor booths, effective immediately at Indianapolis Regionals. Drawing on years of vending experience, he argues the impact on the broader market is minimal and frames the move as TPCi protecting the competitive integrity of its events.

Datapoints

  • TPCi has banned partner vendors from selling graded slabs and most Japanese Pokemon Center products (including plush and TCG items) at official events, including NAIC and Worlds, effective at Indianapolis Regionals. Vendors are also barred from selling any item over $1,000, meaning high-end chase cards such as Umbreon EX can no longer be sold at events. 10:34
  • Pokemon regional events are currently selling out immediately upon registration opening on RK9, and spectator guest passes also sell out very quickly, indicating attendance demand is at an all-time high. 19:26
  • Booster boxes of Stellar Crown were observed selling for approximately $300 on the vendor floor at last year's Worlds event, well above MSRP, while the set was still in print. 23:15

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokemon's 30th Anniversary Set Looks INCREDIBLE!

Jun 02, 2026  ·  23m 40s

Investment Thesis

Danny Phantump breaks down the upcoming 30th Anniversary Pokemon TCG set, releasing simultaneously worldwide on September 16th. Drawing parallels to the 25th Anniversary Celebrations set, he covers pack structure (6 foil cards, 5 game cards plus a foil energy, one guaranteed Pikachu per pack), the 30 classic reprinted cards, a new Futuristic Rarity, and why patience will be key as prices are expected to start high then settle.

Datapoints

  • The 30th Anniversary set releases simultaneously worldwide on September 16th, unlike standard sets where Japan gets the product weeks or months earlier. The set contains 128 cards in the base set plus approximately 30 secret rares (157/128 and 158/128 numbering confirmed on leaked Futuristic Rarity cards). 12:00
  • Each 30th Anniversary booster pack contains only 5 game cards plus 1 foil energy card, all holographic, with one guaranteed Pikachu per pack from a 30-card Pikachu subset. Because packs are half the size of a standard 10-card pack, an equal print run would produce double the number of booster packs hitting the market. 10:03
  • Based on data from opening approximately 3,000 Celebrations packs, the creator projects three pull-rate tiers for the 30th Anniversary classic collection cards: roughly 1-in-50, 1-in-100, and 1-in-150 packs. The Celebrations base set Charizard reprint peaked at $80 at launch before prices on most cards fell to around $5 as supply caught up with demand. 19:51

Recommendations

AVOIDIgnore buyout activity on cards like Pikachu and Zekrom GX driven by 30th Anniversary hype; the creator explicitly warns not to buy into that speculation. 17:13
AVOIDAvoid FOMO pre-orders or paying above MSRP ahead of the 30th Anniversary set launch; the creator advises patience, noting Celebrations prices started high and fell sharply once supply arrived. 21:33

View Source  →  YouTube

From It Was Never A Phase Cards

Biggest Price Gains Of The Week! Pokemon Market Update

Jun 05, 2026  ·  22m 07s

Investment Thesis

It Was Never A Phase Cards reviews the week's biggest Pokemon price movers, covering the Mega Greninja from Chaos Rising stabilizing near $400 raw and hitting $3,000 PSA 10, the Chinese-exclusive Cubone 407 surging from $60 to $268-$300 raw, the Crown Zenith Ditto reaching a new all-time high of $22 raw (up 587% year-over-year), and sealed products including Silver Tempest booster boxes and ETBs hitting new highs.

Datapoints

  • Mega Greninja SR 116 from Chaos Rising launched around $500 on May 22nd, dipped to an all-time low of $364 on May 28th after a 65-copy buyout spiked it to $466, and has since rebounded with lowest listings holding near $400. A PSA 10 sold for $3,000 (75 copies graded, 54 PSA 10s); a TAG 10 sold for $2,000 on June 1st (20 graded, 10 TAG 10s). 00:15
  • The Chinese-exclusive Cubone 407 has risen from roughly $60 (late 2024) to $247-$300 raw, with a PSA 10 selling for nearly $1,300 (9,800 graded through PSA, 7,400 PSA 10s), a TAG 10 at $850, and a CGC 10 at $465 on June 4th. 02:53
  • The Ditto card from Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery 22 hit a new all-time high of approximately $22 raw, up 587% from $3 a year ago, driven by Pokemon Concierge popularity; a PSA 10 sold for $455 (2,700 graded, 746 PSA 10s). Silver Tempest booster boxes also reached a new all-time high of $550 (up 60% year-over-year), while Silver Tempest ETBs gained 124% over the same period. 05:31

Recommendations

BUYSilver Tempest ETBs over Silver Tempest booster boxes, as ETBs returned 124% year-over-year versus 60% for booster boxes at a much lower entry price point. 12:47

View Source  →  YouTube

Should You Buy Pokemon Cards RIGHT NOW? | 2026 Market Reality

Jun 04, 2026  ·  21m 39s

Investment Thesis

TJ from It Was Never A Phase Cards outlines his June 2026 Pokemon buying targets across raw singles, sealed product, and graded cards. Key focuses include timing the bottom on Chaos Rising singles, accumulating Lost Origin and Prismatic Evolutions sealed product, hunting Ascended Heroes at MSRP, and debating whether to buy the Mega Dragonite SIR 290 in English, Japanese, or Korean given its steep price climb.

Datapoints

  • The Froakie illustration rare from Chaos Rising is near its all-time low, with supply on TCG Player rising from roughly 500 copies to nearly 600 in a short period. 00:40
  • The Lost Origin Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box is up 72% on the year, with a listed median of $491; the standard Lost Origin ETB is up 123% year-over-year, recently selling for $250 after sitting around $100 a year ago. 04:24
  • The Mega Dragonite SIR 290 from Ascended Heroes launched at $500, peaked near $856, and sits around $830 raw English; the Japanese version is up 62% over three months to roughly $300, while a PSA 10 English copy runs approximately $2,000. 12:28

Recommendations

BUYLost Origin Elite Trainer Boxes as a long-term hold, even at current prices around $230-$250, given strong year-over-year appreciation and continued Sword and Shield demand. 05:00
BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs at the current three-month low of roughly $155-$162, ahead of the set moving toward rotation. 08:03
BUYAscended Heroes sealed product at or near MSRP whenever available at local retail restocks, treating any MSRP find as a no-brainer pickup. 10:27

View Source  →  YouTube

Rare Pokemon Cards EXPLODING In Price | Market Check 2026

Jun 03, 2026  ·  17m 18s

Investment Thesis

The 30th anniversary set announcement has triggered sharp price surges across multiple Pokemon cards slated for reprints with a 30th stamp. The Pikachu and Zekrom tag team from Team Up leads the charge at +242% in a month, now trading around $137 raw and $1,350 for a PSA 10. Mew VMAX, Greninja Break, Raichu from Vivid Voltage, Rayquaza from Dragons Exalted, and both Celebrations Charizard and Mega Rayquaza are all posting new one-year highs on speculative buying.

Datapoints

  • Pikachu and Zekrom (Team Up #33) is up 242% in the past month, rising from roughly $40 to a current market price of $137 raw, with lowest listings at $120 and a PSA 10 sale on June 3rd reaching $1,350 versus prior sales in the $300 range. PSA population stands at 9,335 graded with 3,200 PSA 10s. 00:28
  • Rayquaza from Dragons Exalted (2012) is up 226% on the year, from $9 to lowest listings of $35-$40, with 47 copies selling on June 1st alone. PSA population is 2,500 graded with only 640 PSA 10s; a recent PSA 10 sold for approximately $1,000. 08:04
  • Mew VMAX from Fusion Strike is up 170% over the past year, from roughly $7 to around $20 raw, with recent PSA 10 sales jumping from $150-$160 to $300-$355 following the 30th anniversary announcement. 05:47

Recommendations

AVOIDThe creator advises against FOMOing into the current price run-ups on 30th anniversary reprint cards, suggesting collectors who want the artwork wait for the more affordable 30th stamped versions instead. 09:01

View Source  →  YouTube

Bulbasaur & Squirtle Up BIG! Pokemon Market Update

Jun 02, 2026  ·  20m 35s

Investment Thesis

The creator covers big gains on Stellar Crown singles and sealed, with the Bulbasaur illustration rare up 183% on the year to a new all-time high of $134 and the Squirtle illustration rare up 138% to $120. Chaos Rising booster boxes and PC ETBs are also tracked post-launch. The video closes with speculative upside calls on Lapras cards tied to the upcoming 30th anniversary set.

Datapoints

  • Stellar Crown Bulbasaur illustration rare (No. 143) is up 76% over the past 3 months and 183% on the year, reaching a new all-time high of $134; a year ago it was a $47 card. PSA 10 copies moved from $200 to roughly $350-365 over the same 3-month window. 00:44
  • Stellar Crown Squirtle illustration rare (No. 148) is up 40% over the past 3 months and 138% on the year to a current market price of around $120; PSA 10 copies rose from $276 to roughly $455 in that period. 01:57
  • Stellar Crown booster boxes are up roughly 60% on the year to a market price of $343 (listed median $400), while the Stellar Crown Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box at $173 trades very close to the standard ETB at $161, a gap the creator flags as unusually narrow. 03:15
  • Chaos Rising Greninja SIR (No. 116) launched around $500, dropped to $364 before a buyout of 66 copies pushed it to $466, and has since settled near $426 raw; only 35 PSA copies exist with 21 grading as PSA 10s, and the most recent PSA 10 sale was $3,000. 07:15
  • Misty's Lapras illustration rare from Destined Rivals (No. 194) is up 55% over the past few months to around $40, while the Crown Zenith Lapras Galarian Gallery (No. 05) is up 86% to roughly $25 and up 267% on the year; PSA 10 copies of the Crown Zenith Lapras have moved from around $130 to an average of $262 with recent sales near $300. 13:28

Recommendations

BUYStellar Crown Pokemon Center Elite Trainer Box, which the creator considers extremely undervalued at $173 given the standard ETB trades at $161, an unusually small price gap. 04:18
BUYChaos Rising booster boxes under $300, as Pokemon has shown no willingness to reprint Scarlet and Violet booster boxes and the creator views long-term holders as well-positioned. 09:20
BUYFroakie illustration rare from Chaos Rising (No. 88) around $22, which the creator says is approaching a level where they are seriously considering picking up copies ahead of a potential bottom. 12:35

View Source  →  YouTube

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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 2026-06-07 21:01  ·  TCG Card Investor  ·  Editorial digest, not investment advice