Prismatic Evolutions Shortage Prompts Pokemon TCG to Rush to Print More

High Demand for Pokémon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Prompts Reprints

The Pokémon Company is responding to unexpectedly high demand for its latest Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, by increasing production. Initial reports of shortages emerged on January 4th, 2025, on PokeBeach, a Pokémon TCG fan website. The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating that they are working to increase production to meet demand.

The shortage significantly impacted smaller US retailers. According to Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services in Maryland, distributors limited supplies by 10-15% for local stores, favoring larger chains like GameStop and Target. This limited allocation has led to price gouging on secondary markets, with some products like the Elite Trainer Box already selling for significantly more than their retail price.

The Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion, announced November 1st, 2024, and released January 17th, 2025, features Tera Pokémon ex, new illustration rare cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork. This includes cards like Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Roaring Moon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada and Shinji Kanda, respectively.

Additional products, including a Surprise Box, Mini Tin, Booster Bundle, and Pouch Special Collection, are slated for release throughout 2025. A digital version of the set was also released on January 16th, 2025, on Pokémon TCG Live for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.

While the initial shortage caused frustration among collectors, the Pokémon Company's commitment to increasing production offers some reassurance. Once supply catches up with demand, prices on the secondary market are expected to stabilize.