TCG Card Investor  ·  Weekly Briefing

TCG Card Investor

Weekly market intelligence on the Pokemon TCG

Vol. 2026 · Issue No. 21  ·  September 5 – 12, 2026

Hey friend, welcome to the hobby.

The Big Story

30th Anniversary ETBs are already trading at $185 on the secondary market, nine days before release, with Walmart yet to drop a single unit and the usual botter supply pipeline shut out by raffle controls. Pokemon Center canceled a wave of pre-orders, Amazon opened invite requests at $90, and Pokemon Center ETBs are listed at $500 on TCGPlayer while actual eBay sales run $250 to $300. The raffle system that was supposed to protect consumers has instead created a two-tier market where only certified brick-and-mortar shops can set the pre-release price.

Key Market Trends

1.30th Anniversary supply shock: raffle controls eliminate the botter cushion. In a normal release, botters acquire ETBs at $60 to $65 and flood the secondary market at launch, capping prices. For the 30th Anniversary, raffle systems at Walmart and Pokemon Center have blocked that pipeline entirely, leaving secondary prices at $185 with no Walmart supply yet deployed. Traditional distribution covers only roughly 40% of wave-one supply, meaning the launch float is a fraction of a standard release. One creator sold single packs at $11 each and sold out in about an hour; another reports the factory is tens of millions of packs behind schedule.
AnonTCG 09:31  ·  AnonTCG 31:52  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 00:24
2.Ultramodern singles down 20 to 40% as PSA grading backlogs return inventory. Multiple creators confirm a broad 20 to 40% decline in ultramodern Pokemon singles over the past three months. The Mega Dragonite PSA 10 from Ascended Heroes fell nearly 40% (from $2,170 to $1,322) as grading submissions from January are now being returned. Chaos Rising SIRs have collapsed 75 to 78% from launch highs, and a vendor at Card Party Dallas reported exiting ultramodern entirely. The mechanism is consistent: grading backlogs converting submission waves into secondary market supply.
Danny Phantump 22:24  ·  Danny Phantump 18:01  ·  Top 10 Pokemon 04:51  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 09:18
3.Prismatic Evolutions at near pack-math value with roughly seven months left in print. Prismatic Evolutions ETBs are trading under $150 and Booster Bundles at $90, levels that multiple creators describe as near pack-math value at $14.50 to $15 per pack. With an estimated seven months remaining before the set goes out of print, two creators independently flag this as a high-conviction entry point. A Walmart dump of ETBs is flagged as a near-term risk that could push prices lower before the eventual out-of-print premium materializes.
Nostalgia Nomics 07:28  ·  Nostalgia Nomics 16:29  ·  The Poke Plumber 16:54  ·  AnonTCG 55:23
4.Cosmic Eclipse and XY-Sun and Moon era sealed accelerating toward four and five-figure prices. Cosmic Eclipse booster boxes crossed $4,000 and multiple eBay sales cleared $5,000 this week, with at least one creator targeting a $10,000 price point within two years. Unified Minds sits at $3,500, Unbroken Bonds around $3,100, and Roaring Skies above $4,000 with only five boxes listed. The Japanese Eevee Heroes booster box (Evolving Skies equivalent) gained 68% on the year to $840, with lowest listings at $895. Collectors priced out of vintage are visibly rotating into this tier.
PokeNE 12:54  ·  The Poke Plumber 06:27  ·  The Poke Plumber 08:13  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 10:41
5.Destined Rivals bounced off lows but sell-through is slowing ahead of 30th Anniversary launch. Destined Rivals booster boxes fell from highs near $700 to roughly $400 then rebounded to $430 to $440, a move two creators describe as an overcorrection and V-shaped recovery. However, ETB sell-through has slowed sharply, with one distributor-level source reporting only 36 ETBs sold on a single day and cash-out buyback prices sitting at $85. The risk flagged by multiple creators: botters holding Destined Rivals inventory will liquidate it to raise capital when 30th Anniversary product launches, creating another leg down.
Nostalgia Nomics 04:19  ·  AnonTCG 35:03  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 10:11  ·  AnonTCG 55:17
6.30th Anniversary pre-release price distortion: TCGPlayer at $500, eBay at $250 to $300. Pokemon Center 30th Anniversary ETBs are listed at approximately $500 on TCGPlayer during the pre-release window because only certified brick-and-mortar hobby shops can list there before September 16th. Actual eBay pre-order sales are running $250 to $300. The 30th Anniversary binder collection was separately delayed from October 2nd to December 4th, causing a 30% price spike on pre-orders from roughly $60 to $90 on TCGPlayer, with some eBay sales reaching $190.
It Was Never A Phase Cards 07:00  ·  It Was Never A Phase Cards 03:01  ·  AnonTCG 09:26

Consensus Calls

BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs and Booster Bundles at current near-pack-math prices (ETBs under $150, Booster Bundles around $90), with roughly seven months remaining before the set goes out of print.
BUYDestined Rivals booster boxes for long-term holds after the reprint-driven overcorrection, with the caveat to wait through the 30th Anniversary launch window when botter liquidation may create one more leg down.
BUYMega Evolution booster boxes (Perfect Order at $171 to $172, Chaos Rising at $176 to $177) as a lower-risk sealed play with no imminent reprint expected and tight secondary market supply.
HOLDCosmic Eclipse booster boxes and target significantly higher price points. With boxes already clearing $5,000 on eBay and XY-era sealed broadly accelerating, multiple creators see this tier as the next leg of the vintage rotation trade.
AVOIDAvoid buying 30th Anniversary ETBs or singles at current pre-release prices. Multiple creators expect pack prices to drop from $13 to $14 at launch to $9 to $11 within weeks, and the Pokemon Center ETB TCGPlayer listing at $500 is artificially inflated relative to real eBay comps of $250 to $300.
AVOIDAvoid ultramodern singles and graded cards broadly. The market is down 20 to 40% over three months and PSA grading backlogs continue to return inventory to the secondary market, with further declines likely.

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

Quote of the Week

“The easy flipping money on most Pokemon sets is largely over.”

— Alpha Investments  ·  37:10

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

Stuck in the middle

Sep 06, 2026  ·  47m 30s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] Rudy (Alpha Investments) describes the current Pokemon and broader TCG market as stuck in a complacent middle ground: no longer booming from recent sets, but not bad enough to flush excess inventory. He flags massive unsold stock of recent Pokemon sets circulating from big-box retailers, expresses skepticism that most buyers will profit on Pokemon 30th anniversary products, and argues the smarter play is focusing on overlooked categories rather than chasing hype.

Datapoints

  • Rudy reports receiving a minimum of one to two contacts per day for the past month from people holding large quantities of unsold Pokemon product, including Destined Rivals and Scarlet & Violet sets, sourced from Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's, Walmart, and Target. 05:29
  • Rudy states the hype around Pokemon's 30th anniversary products is the highest he has seen for a Pokemon release since XY Evolutions first launched around 2015-16, comparing it to the Lord of the Rings one-of-one ring hysteria in Magic. 33:35
  • Rudy observes that the easy flipping money on most Pokemon sets is largely over, with Destined Rivals product still flushing through the market and buyers struggling to find direction after recent hype cycles. 37:10

Recommendations

AVOIDRudy does not believe most people will profit on Pokemon 30th anniversary products, noting that time spent queuing for MSRP limit-one items to flip for $50-100 does not justify the hours, gas, and risk involved. 35:25

View Source  →  YouTube

From Nostalgia Nomics

Pokemon Investments To BUY, HOLD And SELL NOW!

Sep 10, 2026  ·  16m 35s

Investment Thesis

Nostalgia Nomics surveys corrections across modern Pokemon TCG sets, comparing reprinted sets like Destined Rivals and Prismatic Evolutions against non-reprinted sets like Ascended Heroes and Phantasmal Flames. He argues Destined Rivals overcorrected and is a long-term buy, Prismatic Evolutions still has runway before going out of print, and cautions that the Phantasmal Flames Charizard has further to fall.

Datapoints

  • Destined Rivals booster boxes fell from highs in the upper $600s to nearly $400, then rebounded roughly 10% to $440, suggesting an overcorrection followed by a V-shaped recovery. 04:19
  • Prismatic Evolutions sealed products currently carry near-zero sealed premium: the Super Premium Collection is at $250, ETBs are under $150, and Booster Bundles sit at $90, roughly matching pack-math value at $14.50-$15 per pack. 07:28
  • Ascended Heroes ETBs corrected only about 10% (from ~$180 to the low $160s), while key singles from the same set dropped 30-50% from highs: the Forest Pikachu raw fell from ~$1,400 to under $900 and its PSA 10 fell from highs near $4,500 to barely above $2,000; Mega Gengar raw dropped from ~$1,400 to under $900 and its PSA 10 fell from ~$4,000 to the $1,750-$1,870 range. 09:18
  • The Phantasmal Flames Charizard raw is down roughly 20% from highs in the high $800s to around $700, and its PSA 10 fell from the $2,200-$2,400 range in June to about $1,850, yet its pop report already shows 31,410 graded copies, making it four to five times easier to pull than the Pikachu or Gengar in Ascended Heroes. 11:04

Recommendations

BUYDestined Rivals booster boxes for long-term holds, as the set just received its reprint (making another near-term reprint unlikely) and has already bounced off overcorrected lows. 14:58
BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs and Booster Bundles while they trade at near pack-math value, with roughly seven months remaining before the set goes out of print. 15:12
SELLPhantasmal Flames Charizard (raw and PSA 10), as the creator believes the card has significantly more downside given its high pop report, comparatively mild correction versus peers, and the likelihood of future reprints hitting the Phantasmal Flames set. 12:10

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokemon Investing... Where Do We Go From Here...

Sep 09, 2026  ·  18m 47s

Investment Thesis

Nostalgia Nomics argues the Pokemon market has shifted into a stable, range-bound phase after two years of intense bull-run gains. The creator is holding cash on the sidelines rather than chasing new releases like 30th Anniversary, preferring to wait for reprint-driven price drops on top-tier sets. Prismatic Evolutions and Destined Rivals are his highest-conviction holdings, bought on recent weakness.

Datapoints

  • Destined Rivals booster boxes fell from near $700 down to roughly $400 following a reprint, illustrating how reprints can compress prices 40%+ on even top-tier sets. 09:02
  • Prismatic Evolutions dropped in price after restocks appeared across major big-box retailers, while other sets in the market remained largely flat, confirming reprint/restock events as the primary price-moving catalyst right now. 11:13
  • The creator characterizes the current Pokemon market as stable and range-bound, with most sets trading sideways and potential moves of only 5-20% up or down, a sharp contrast to the straight-up bull run of the prior two years. 10:39

Recommendations

BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs, Super Premium Collections, or Booster Bundles if you have no existing position, as the creator views it as the single highest-conviction holding in the current market. 16:29
BUYDestined Rivals ETBs and booster boxes on the reprint-driven price dip, which the creator acted on personally and considers a strong value entry. 16:42
AVOIDAvoid buying 30th Anniversary products at release prices, as the creator believes they are overvalued at this stage of their life cycle and prefers to wait for better pricing. 07:48

View Source  →  YouTube

From AnonTCG

Talking TCG's and ripping Magnificent Monsters

Sep 12, 2026  ·  1h 19m

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] In a wide-ranging livestream, AnonTCG touches on Pokemon several times. He warns that Walmart is expected to dump Prismatic Evolutions ETBs, advising viewers to wait on those. He notes 30th Anniversary packs are likely to hold above $15 due to insufficient Walmart supply, and flags that Pokemon has repeatedly mismanaged Western distribution by over-allocating to big-box stores rather than local game stores.

Datapoints

  • Walmart is expected to dump Prismatic Evolutions ETBs, which would pressure prices on that product. 55:23
  • 30th Anniversary packs are expected to stay elevated, likely holding above $15, because Walmart's incoming supply is insufficient to push prices down and shipments won't arrive until at least the end of the following week. 1:00:36
  • Pokemon has strategically mismanaged Western distribution multiple times by pushing product to big-box stores instead of local game stores, which has kept pricing lower than it otherwise would be. 1:14:00

Recommendations

AVOIDWait on Prismatic Evolutions ETBs because Walmart is expected to flood the market with them. 55:23
AVOIDWait on Destined Rivals given current market uncertainty around timing and supply. 55:17

View Source  →  YouTube

This week's Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, One Piece and other TCG Distribution Update!

Sep 07, 2026  ·  32m 05s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] AnonTCG reports that Pokemon 30th anniversary products including tech stickers, posters, EX boxes, and ETBs are confirmed for a September 16th release with no delays. He warns that bot activity will create an artificial price floor but also a ceiling, and expresses skepticism about stadium-based card retail selling Pokemon products at premium prices.

Datapoints

  • Pokemon 30th anniversary tech stickers, posters, knockout collections, celebration products, EX boxes, and ETBs are all confirmed releasing on September 16th with no delays, per distributor sources. 14:57
  • As of the recording date, Walmart and Target had not yet dropped 30th anniversary product, and there was zero bot supply in the market. 15:14
  • The creator observed Pokemon card vending machines in airports repeatedly over recent months and never witnessed a single purchase, citing price elasticity as a barrier to impulse buying at premium prices. 18:23

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokémon 30th Anniversary is setting up to be a Black Swan event - and nobody is talking about it

Sep 07, 2026  ·  13m 23s

Investment Thesis

AnonTCG argues that the Pokemon 30th Anniversary release is set up for a supply shock. The raffle systems being tested by Walmart and Pokemon Center are blocking the usual bot-driven pre-purchase wave, meaning the secondary market will lack the large botter supply that normally caps prices at launch. If that supply stays trapped, 30th Anniversary ETBs and packs could spike sharply above current secondary market levels.

Datapoints

  • 30th Anniversary ETBs were already listed at $185 on the secondary market roughly 9 days before release, with virtually no Walmart drop and minimal Amazon or Target availability at that point. 09:26
  • In normal releases, botters acquire product at roughly $60-$65 per ETB and dump it on the secondary market at launch, creating a supply cushion that keeps prices in check; for 30th Anniversary that botter supply pipeline is currently absent due to raffle controls. 09:31
  • Traditional distribution accounts for roughly 40% of wave-one supply, meaning without botter-sourced product the available launch supply is a fraction of what a standard release delivers. 09:11

Recommendations

BUY30th Anniversary ETBs now, before the raffle system further restricts supply and secondary prices push toward $200 or beyond at launch. 09:49

View Source  →  YouTube

Cyber Punk'd - How the largest Kickstarter ever Stacks Up against Other TCG Print Runs

Sep 07, 2026  ·  8m 25s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] AnonTCG compares the Cyberpunk TCG beta booster box print run (approximately 241,000 boxes) against other major TCGs to argue the market will be flooded. Pokemon is cited as the benchmark: roughly 850,000 English booster boxes per main-set release in North America, making Cyberpunk about 40% of a standard Magic the Gathering print run and dwarfing most competing games.

Datapoints

  • Pokemon prints approximately 850,000 English booster boxes per main-set release in North America, the highest benchmark cited among all TCGs compared in the video. 05:11
  • The Cyberpunk beta booster box print run of roughly 241,000 boxes is approximately 28% of a standard Pokemon set's English booster box print run, used here to illustrate how large the Cyberpunk supply is relative to established TCG benchmarks. 05:37

View Source  →  YouTube

TCG News Update - So much news it took me 40 minutes to cover it all.

Sep 06, 2026  ·  43m 01s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] AnonTCG covers several Pokemon market dynamics: the 30th Anniversary set (Mega Evolution series) faces printing delays but strong demand with single packs holding above $14; Destined Rivals ETBs show slowing sell-through and risk another leg down when 30th drops; and Mega Evolution booster boxes (Perfect Order, Chaos Rising, Pitch Black) are flagged as the lowest-risk Pokemon investment available right now due to tight supply.

Datapoints

  • The 30th Anniversary (Mega Evolution) factory is tens of millions of packs behind in printing, with packaging delayed at Bennett Packaging; single packs are trading at $17+ on the secondary market and AnonTCG sold bundles at $11/pack, which sold out in roughly one hour. 31:52
  • Destined Rivals ETB sell-through is slowing sharply, with only 36 ETBs (3.6 cases) sold on the day of recording, and cash-out buyback prices sitting around $85; the creator expects another leg down when 30th Anniversary product launches and botters liquidate Destined Rivals to raise capital. 35:03
  • Mega Evolution booster boxes are holding firm: Perfect Order at $171-$172, Chaos Rising at $176-$177, and Pitch Black at $188-$189; no second-wave reprint is expected in the near term. 39:02

Recommendations

BUYPerfect Order, Chaos Rising, and Pitch Black booster boxes at current prices ($171-$188), as the creator views them as the least risky Pokemon investment available given tight supply and no imminent reprint. 40:16
AVOIDAvoid buying Destined Rivals ETBs now; the creator expects a further price decline when 30th Anniversary product launches and botters dump Destined Rivals inventory to raise capital. 36:39

View Source  →  YouTube

From PokeNE

POKEMON Banana telescope wrestled a mailbox while spaghetti helmets applauded refrigerator penguins.

Sep 09, 2026  ·  16m 48s

Investment Thesis

Brian from PokeNE previews the 30th Anniversary set (176 cards, 30 Pikachus, all foil, simultaneous global release) and shares his personal portfolio strategy. He expects pack prices to spike at launch then settle, sees the set as comparable to Prismatic Evolutions and Ascended Heroes in trajectory, and remains heavily invested in 151, Prismatic Evolutions, Silver Tempest, Paldea Evolved, and Cosmic Eclipse booster boxes.

Datapoints

  • The 30th Anniversary set contains 176 cards: 103 main set cards (including 30 Pikachus), 32 secret rares, 30 classic collection cards, and 8 basic energy cards. Every card in the set is foil. 01:15
  • Cosmic Eclipse booster boxes nearly sold for $4,200 at a local convention; three listings subsequently sold for over $5,000 on eBay shortly after, with additional copies still auctioning in the high $4,000s. 12:54
  • Scarlet & Violet 151 booster bundle packs are now approximately $30 each; the creator's cost basis was around $17 per pack when he entered the position. 15:19

Recommendations

HOLDCosmic Eclipse booster boxes; the creator pulled his listing and is targeting a $10,000 price point within roughly two years. 13:10
HOLDScarlet & Violet 151 booster bundles unless you have a specific plan for the proceeds, such as paying off a debt or funding a better-performing asset. 15:27
AVOIDavoid paying peak launch prices for the 30th Anniversary set; the creator expects pack prices to drop from $13–$14 at release to $9–$11 within a few weeks. 05:02

View Source  →  YouTube

From The Poke Plumber

Pokémon Cards Are Going CRAZY! How can you become a PokeMillionaire?!?

Sep 11, 2026  ·  19m 48s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber argues that Destined Rivals ETBs near $100 represent a buying opportunity after a prolonged price decline, while cautioning against 30th Anniversary ETBs at $170. He also flags surging vintage slab prices as potentially manipulated and unsustainable, notes collectors flocking to XY and Sun and Moon era sealed product, and warns that current vintage price action makes COVID-era highs look small.

Datapoints

  • A Call of Legends Lugia (non-Shining Legends) sold for approximately $340,000 including buyer's premium at auction, a price the creator describes as making no sense and potentially shill-driven. 06:19
  • Destined Rivals booster boxes have largely sold out at distributors, with only one or two distributors still slow-rolling product; ETBs have dropped to around $100 from prior highs near $600 at the box level. 02:08
  • Collectors are increasingly moving into XY and Sun and Moon era sealed product (tins, collection boxes) as vintage becomes scarce, with prices in those segments beginning to rise; Cosmic Eclipse, Unified Minds, and Unbroken Bonds are cited as sets continuing to run. 08:13

Recommendations

BUYDestined Rivals ETBs around $100, as the creator believes prices have bottomed and has personally added more cases at current levels. 03:57
BUYSurging Sparks ETBs (featuring the Magneton promo), which the creator calls S-tier product and believes the set still has significant room to grow. 04:17
AVOIDAvoid 30th Anniversary ETBs at $170 launch pricing due to FOMO-driven spikes and expected supply waves similar to Prismatic Evolutions. 02:28

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokémon Anger & Misery

Sep 09, 2026  ·  18m 50s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber surveys the current Pokemon sealed market, highlighting rapid price appreciation in XY and Sun and Moon era booster boxes alongside soft Sword and Shield prices he views as opportunity. He flags Brilliant Stars, Crown Zenith, Destined Rivals, and Journey Together Enhanced as undervalued entry points, and shares cautious optimism about Chaos Rising booster boxes at current price levels ahead of the 30th anniversary release.

Datapoints

  • XY and Sun and Moon era booster boxes are being bought up rapidly: Cosmic Eclipse booster boxes are approaching $5,000, Unified Minds are at $3,500, Unbroken Bonds are selling around $3,100 with few listings, Primal Clash is over $3,000 heading toward $4,000, and Roaring Skies is over $4,000 with only five boxes listed. 06:27
  • Sword and Shield era booster boxes have dropped significantly: Fusion Strike booster boxes are selling in the $800s and Lost Origin booster boxes are seeing sales at $640-$660, which the creator views as opportunity while noting the market broadly ignores them. 09:05
  • Chaos Rising booster boxes are currently priced around $160, and an estimated 100,000 packs of the upcoming 30th anniversary product have already been ripped before the set's release. 15:36

Recommendations

BUYBrilliant Stars booster boxes at current prices, which the creator considers the most undervalued product in the modern era. 10:59
BUYDestined Rivals ETBs and Journey Together Enhanced at current price points, which the creator describes as buy-in prices. 12:04
BUYChaos Rising booster boxes at $160, as the creator believes the set will perform well regardless of broader market conditions. 15:36

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokémon NOSTALGIA TOOK Over The Economy & That’s CRAZY! BUY, SELL, OR HODL

Sep 07, 2026  ·  28m 17s

Investment Thesis

The Poke Plumber argues that high-roller collectors treating Pokemon TCG like early Bitcoin are driving slab prices to record levels, while sealed vintage boxes from the Diamond and Pearl, Platinum, and HeartGold eras remain comparatively undervalued. He remains bullish on Sword and Shield sealed, Prismatic Evolutions, Destined Rivals, and Cosmic Eclipse, and cautions against selling Sword and Shield era product at current prices.

Datapoints

  • Cosmic Eclipse booster boxes have crossed the $4,000 price point, and the creator expects them to reach $10,000 next. 13:29
  • Ancient Origins booster boxes are priced at $7,000-$8,000 while the Ancient Origins Rayquaza slab is at $14,000, illustrating a gap the creator believes makes sealed undervalued relative to slabs. 07:31
  • Sealed Diamond and Pearl, Platinum, and HeartGold era boxes are largely absent from the market entirely, with no Call of Legends or Majestic Dawn boxes currently listed for sale. 05:23

Recommendations

BUYDestined Rivals ETBs and booster boxes, as the creator holds a strong position and continues adding to it. 24:42
BUYPrismatic Evolutions ETBs or booster bundles on dips, as the creator expects packs to reach $50 within five to ten years given the set's nostalgic appeal and limited supply format. 16:54
HOLDSword and Shield era sealed product; the creator says selling now would be the worst move unless you bought at $100 a box and urgently need the profits. 25:02

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

The STORIES of Evolving Skies...

Sep 11, 2026  ·  26m 16s

Investment Thesis

Danny Phantump reviews Evolving Skies price performance across sealed and singles roughly five years after release. Booster boxes peaked near $2,715 and are now down about 5% year-over-year, while singles like the Rayquaza V-Max (up 88%) and Umbreon V-Max (up ~10%) have outperformed sealed. The key lesson: buy sealed at or near MSRP on release, then wait for singles to bottom out before adding to a collection.

Datapoints

  • Evolving Skies booster boxes peaked near $2,715 roughly four months ago, are currently sitting around $2,458, and are down approximately 5% year-over-year after being available under $100 during a large reprint run at the end of 2021. 12:00
  • The Evolving Skies Pokemon Center exclusive Elite Trainer Box is up 60.43% year-over-year, rising from roughly $690 in September 2025 to approximately $1,184 now, outperforming all other Evolving Skies sealed formats tracked. 14:46
  • Evolving Skies singles have broadly outperformed sealed: the Rayquaza V-Max alternate art is up 88% (from ~$631 to ~$1,255), the Umbreon V-Max alternate art is up ~10% (from ~$2,300 to ~$2,368), and the Sylveon V regular art is up ~86% year-over-year despite losing about 20% from its August 2026 peak. 18:33

Recommendations

BUYEvolving Skies singles after they circulate and the secondary market bottoms out rather than chasing them at release, as demonstrated by the multi-year price trajectory of cards like the Sylveon V and Gyarados V. 25:06
AVOIDAvoid buying Evolving Skies sealed product at current price points, as booster boxes are flat to down year-over-year and liquidity on individual booster packs has dropped from over 100 sales every couple of days to roughly 50 to 60. 17:09

View Source  →  YouTube

The Pokemon Card VENDOR

Sep 09, 2026  ·  23m 50s

Investment Thesis

[Pokemon segment] Danny Phantump shares observations from Card Party in Dallas, noting that roughly 5% of vendors were pricing singles 20-30% above market, with some explicitly citing a "vendor fee" to cover table costs. He reports that ultramodern Pokemon cards are broadly down 20-30% over the past three months, and that at least one vendor has exited ultramodern entirely, pivoting to stamped reverse holos, EX-era, and vintage material.

Datapoints

  • Ultramodern Pokemon cards are broadly down 20-30% over the past three months, with at least one vendor at Card Party Dallas reporting they have stopped buying ultramodern altogether due to the crash. 18:01
  • Approximately 5% of vendors at Card Party Dallas were pricing singles 20-30% above current market value, with one vendor explicitly describing it as a built-in "vendor fee" to recover table and travel costs. 11:24
  • The Pokemon card market saw over two years of consistent growth with cards rising double-digit percentages month over month, outperforming the S&P 500, gold, and silver during that period. 15:00

View Source  →  YouTube

It's Time to PANIC! (apparently)

Sep 07, 2026  ·  24m 51s

Investment Thesis

Danny Phantump surveys a broad wave of ultramodern Pokemon card price declines, reporting 22-40% drops over the past three months across raw singles and PSA 10 graded cards. A vendor at Card Party Dallas told him everything modern is down 25-30%, and Danny walks through specific comp data on Obsidian Flames, Fusion Strike, Temporal Forces, Shrouded Fable, Black Bolt, White Flare, Twilight Masquerade, Destined Rivals, and Ascended Heroes cards to illustrate the trend.

Datapoints

  • The Charizard EX Hyper Rare from Obsidian Flames dropped from a 3-month high of $47.13 in June to $33.90, a decline of nearly 30% in three months, driven by high supply and easy pull rates (the set could be mastered in roughly seven booster boxes). 07:24
  • The Greninja EX Special Illustration Rare from Twilight Masquerade fell from $989.73 in mid-June to a 3-month low of $778.17 by August 29, roughly 30% down, with more PSA 10 returns from grading backlogs expected to push prices lower. 21:19
  • The Mega Dragonite PSA 10 from Ascended Heroes dropped from $2,170 in June to $1,322, a decline of nearly 40% in three months, as grading submissions from the January release are now being returned and flooding the secondary market. 22:24

Recommendations

AVOIDAvoid chasing ultramodern singles or graded cards at current prices; the market is broadly down 20-40% and further declines are likely as PSA grading backlogs continue to return inventory to the secondary market. 23:19

View Source  →  YouTube

From It Was Never A Phase Cards

These Pokémon Cards Just Hit All-Time HIGHS!

Sep 11, 2026  ·  18m 46s

Investment Thesis

TJ reviews XY Breakthrough and Sun and Moon era tag team singles and sealed products hitting new one-year highs. Highlights include the Mewtwo Full Art from Breakthrough up 64% year-over-year, the Latios and Latias Lovebirds card from Team Up reaching $4,200 raw and $17,000 in PSA 10, and the Gengar and Mimikyu tag team nearly doubling in price. Team Up booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes are also setting new highs.

Datapoints

  • XY Breakthrough booster box is up 46% year-over-year, from roughly $2,200 to a market price of $3,200, with only one listing on TCG Player at that level. 04:14
  • Team Up booster box is up 40% year-over-year, from $8,000 to a current market price of $11,000; most recent eBay sale was $12,700 and the lowest TCG Player listing is $15,000. 14:53
  • The Gengar and Mimikyu tag team card (Team Up #165) is up nearly 100% year-over-year, from $900 to a market price of $1,800, with a PSA 10 peaking at $9,000 before pulling back to around $7,900. 12:48

View Source  →  YouTube

Ascended Heroes ETB Costco Drop Soon! + Market Update

Sep 10, 2026  ·  16m 54s

Investment Thesis

TJ covers an incoming Costco drop of Ascended Heroes ETBs (two-pack for $86.99, possibly as early as the week of September 13), then runs through single and sealed price declines across the set. He also highlights movers in Paradox Rift, Base Set, Crimson Invasion, and Rebel Clash, noting buyout activity on a Trevenant and Dusknoir tag-team promo and a Morpeko illustration rare hitting a new one-year high.

Datapoints

  • Ascended Heroes Treekachu SIR (276) has dropped from a high of roughly $1,400 to a current market price of $980, with listings as low as $895, a three-month low. In PSA 10, it peaked around $4,400 in May and has since hit an all-time low near $2,100. 01:35
  • Ascended Heroes Mega Gengar is down 32% over the past three months to a current market price of $880, approaching its all-time low of $828. Its PSA 10 peaked near $4,200 and has since fallen to $1,950, the first modern PSA 10 from the set to dip below $2,000. 03:13
  • Paradox Rift Morpeko illustration rare (206) has risen 180% over the past year, from $21 to a new one-year high of around $60. Paradox Rift booster boxes are sitting near a three-month low at $276, with lowest listings around $286-$290. 09:32

Recommendations

AVOIDWait on Ascended Heroes singles such as Mega Gengar and Treekachu, as continued product releases are expected to push prices lower toward or below all-time lows. 03:49
AVOIDBe cautious with the Trevenant and Dusknoir SM217 tag-team promo, as recent price spikes appear driven by buyouts rather than organic demand. 07:23

View Source  →  YouTube

What's Moving Right Now? Pokemon Market Update

Sep 09, 2026  ·  13m 31s

Investment Thesis

TJ covers a wide range of Pokemon market movers: the Entei/Raikou stamped Journey Together promo is up 22% in the past month; Mewtwo and Mew GX promo SM191 is at a one-year high up 37% on the year; Destined Rivals booster boxes have bounced from a $400 low to $430-$440; the Mega Evolution Lucario Pokemon Center ETB is down 33% from its recent peak; and the Japanese Eevee Heroes booster box (Evolving Skies equivalent) has hit a one-year high at $840.

Datapoints

  • The Entei/Raikou stamped Journey Together promo (card #167) is up 22% in the past month, rising from around $17-$18 to approximately $21, though it spiked to $45 in late September/early October of last year before dropping to a one-year low of $16.37 in February. 00:25
  • Destined Rivals booster boxes hit a low of $400 a few weeks ago and have since bounced to a current market price of $430 with lowest listings at $440; the reprint run for booster boxes was notably smaller than for Elite Trainer Boxes. 10:11
  • The Brilliant Stars Pokemon Center ETB is down approximately 11% in the past month, falling from $260 to $230, though it remains up 32% on the year; its one-year low was around $156 in January. 09:22
  • The Japanese Eevee Heroes booster box (the Evolving Skies equivalent) has gained 68% on the year, rising from $500 to $840, with lowest listings now at $895 and the box potentially approaching $1,000. 10:41

Recommendations

AVOIDBe cautious on the Moltres EX from Plasma Storm, as the 21-22% spike in the past month appears to be a buyout rather than organic demand. 03:56
AVOIDBe cautious on the Mimikyu Delta Species 25th stamp promo (Sword and Shield #136), as 234 copies sold in a single day pushing the price from $14 to $16 is a strong buyout signal. 07:14

View Source  →  YouTube

Pokémon Center 30th ETB Update: Bots, Amazon, & Market Reality

Sep 08, 2026  ·  15m 56s

Investment Thesis

TJ covers two major 30th Anniversary ETB developments: Amazon has opened invite requests for the standard ETB at $90 (above MSRP, below secondary market), and Pokemon Center canceled a wave of pre-orders hitting both bots and some legitimate buyers. He also updates secondary market prices on 30th ETBs, Pokemon Center ETBs, and Delta Rain sealed products, warning viewers away from inflated pre-release TCGPlayer listings.

Datapoints

  • Amazon is accepting invite requests for the 30th Anniversary standard Elite Trainer Box at $90, which is above MSRP but below the current secondary market price of approximately $180 on TCGPlayer (market price $176, lowest listings at $180); eBay pre-order listings range from roughly $154 to $185 depending on shipping. 00:24
  • Pokemon Center ETBs for the 30th Anniversary are listed on TCGPlayer at around $500 during the pre-release window, but this is artificially inflated because only brick-and-mortar certified hobby shops can list there before the September 16th release date; actual eBay sales are running in the $250-$300 range. 07:00
  • Delta Rain booster boxes have held steady at $260-$270 over the past week after peaking near $300 and dipping to $250; standard Elite Trainer Boxes are around $137-$140 (down from near $200), and booster bundles have dropped from $100 to approximately $82 ahead of the November 6th release date. 11:11

Recommendations

AVOIDavoid buying 30th Anniversary special illustration rare singles at current pre-release prices, as pull rates appear generous and single prices are expected to drop significantly after release. 10:24
AVOIDwait on Delta Rain Elite Trainer Box and booster bundle pre-orders, as prices are still elevated and expected to continue dropping closer to the November 6th release date. 12:20

View Source  →  YouTube

Modern And Vintage Moving! Pokemon Market Update

Sep 07, 2026  ·  18m 59s

Investment Thesis

TJ from It Was Never A Phase Cards surveys a broad range of movers across modern and vintage Pokemon singles. Highlights include the Pokeball 25th promo up 151% year-over-year, several Shrouded Fable and Surging Sparks illustration rares hitting one-year highs, and a cluster of Japanese vintage cards from Rocket Gang and Jungle seeing 15-65% gains over recent months, with graded PSA 10 prices on some vintage cards still well off their May peaks.

Datapoints

  • The Pokeball 25th promo (Sword & Shield promo 146) is up 58% in the past month and 151% year-over-year, rising from a low of $17 to approximately $48, closing in on its Pikachu counterpart (promo 145) which has slipped from $120 to $113 with the lowest listing now at $100. 00:36
  • The Cubone reverse holo from Forbidden Light (card 57) is up 67% over the past three months and 683% year-over-year, climbing from $1.50 to a market price of around $12, though current listings sit in the $13 range. 09:07
  • The Pichu from Mysterious Treasures (card 93) has hit a new one-year high, up 232% year-over-year from $6 to a market price of $20, with the lowest TCGPlayer listings at $28 and up; eBay is noted as likely offering more affordable copies. 11:32

Recommendations

AVOIDavoid buying the first-edition Fossil Golbat, first-edition Jungle Exeggutor, or the Sleep Rocket Secret Machine Snorlax at current prices, as the creator cautions against buying at new one-year highs after sharp short-term spikes. 02:19
AVOIDthe Pichu from Mysterious Treasures is adorable and at a new one-year high, but the creator suggests checking eBay rather than chasing elevated TCGPlayer listings if you want a copy. 11:42

View Source  →  YouTube

Everything You Need To Know: Pokemon 30th Anniversary Delays

Sep 06, 2026  ·  16m 06s

Investment Thesis

The Pokemon 30th Anniversary binder collection has been delayed from October 2nd to December 4th, despite widespread early sales in Australia and on eBay. The creator covers pre-order price spikes on 30th products and a market update on Celebrations 25th anniversary sealed and singles, most of which have pulled back from recent highs while remaining up significantly on the year.

Datapoints

  • The 30th Anniversary binder collection was delayed from October 2nd to December 4th; pre-order prices spiked roughly 30% as a result, moving from the $60 range to lowest listings around $90 on TCGPlayer, with some eBay sales as high as $190. 03:01
  • Celebrations Elite Trainer Boxes dropped about 12% over the past month, from $400 to around $350, though they remain up roughly 40% on the year; the one-year high was $500 and the one-year low was $250. 06:05
  • The Celebrations Classic Collection Charizard (raw) peaked above $200 in June and has since dropped to a market price of $170 with lowest listings near $160, up only 24% on the year; PSA 10 copies fell from $689 to around $530, while a BGS Black Label climbed to $11,000. 11:18

View Source  →  YouTube

From Top 10 Pokemon

Pokemon Cards That Are HOT & Pokemon Cards That Are NOT!

Sep 09, 2026  ·  7m 20s

Investment Thesis

Top 10 Pokemon surveys five modern cards surging in price and five that have collapsed. The Charizard EX SIR from Obsidian Flames, Gold Star Greninja from the Celebrations Elite Trainer Box, Gengar EX from Phantom Forces, and two Black Star Promo GX cards all posted 33–95% gains in a single week. Meanwhile, multiple Chaos Rising SIR cards and a Perfect Order SIR have shed 65–78% of their value since release.

Datapoints

  • The Charizard EX Special Illustration Rare from Obsidian Flames rose from $720 (PSA 10) in early August to $910–$958 at auction, a 33% increase in one week. 00:52
  • The Gold Star Greninja (PSA 10) from the Celebrations Elite Trainer Box jumped from $1,500–$1,600 last month to $2,100–$2,247 at auction this past week, a roughly 50% increase, driven partly by the approaching 30th anniversary; the card carries a tough gem rate and is an English exclusive. 01:33
  • Multiple Chaos Rising Special Illustration Rares have collapsed 75–78% from launch highs: the SIR Sceptile EX fell from $650–$810 to ~$202, the Mega Sceptile EX SIR from ~$469 to ~$109, another Mega Sceptile EX SIR from ~$580 to ~$128, and the top Mega Sceptile EX SIR from $2,000+ to ~$460; the SIR Mega Zygarde EX from Perfect Order dropped 65% from $430–$449 to $157–$177 in about two months. 04:51

Recommendations

AVOIDthe creator flags suspicious auction sales of $4,300–$5,100 on the Mewtwo & Mew GX Black Star Promo (roughly double the buy-it-now price) as possible market manipulation, suggesting the true market price is closer to $2,800. 04:03
AVOIDthe creator expects the SIR Mega Zygarde EX from Perfect Order to fall further, potentially reaching ~$100 as a PSA 10 from its current ~$157–$177 level. 07:01

View Source  →  YouTube

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This week: 22 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 2026-09-12 13:09  ·  TCG Card Investor  ·  Editorial digest, not investment advice