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 initiating an immediate reprint. Initial reports of shortages emerged on January 4th, 2025, on the Pokémon TCG fan website, PokeBeach, highlighting difficulties for smaller US retailers.

The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating that high demand impacted initial availability. A spokesperson confirmed that they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and address the shortage as quickly as possible.

The problem, according to Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services (a major Maryland Pokémon store), stems from an influx of orders from retailers who don't typically stock Pokémon cards. This led distributors to limit supplies to smaller retailers by 10-15%, while larger chains like GameStop and Target received significantly larger allocations. This disparity has resulted in limited availability for many local game stores.

The scarcity has already driven up prices on the secondary market. The Elite Trainer Box, for example, is selling for around $127, significantly above its $55 retail price. However, it's anticipated that increased supply will eventually stabilize prices.

Initially announced on November 1st, 2024, with a release date of January 17th, 2025, Prismatic Evolutions features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork.

Additional products, including a Surprise Box, Mini Tin, Booster Bundle, and Pouch Special Collection, are scheduled for release throughout February, March, and April 2025. Players could also experience the set digitally via Pokémon TCG Live starting January 16th, 2025.

While the current shortage is frustrating for collectors, the Pokémon Company's commitment to reprinting offers reassurance that the situation will improve.