Pokémon TCG Reprints on Way Due to Prismatic Evolution Shortage

Pokemon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions: High Demand Leads to 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 a large-scale reprint. Initial reports of shortages surfaced on January 4th, 2025, on PokeBeach, a dedicated Pokémon TCG fan website. These shortages, particularly impacting smaller US retailers, were exacerbated by unexpectedly high demand and limited distribution allocations.

The Pokémon Company acknowledged the issue on January 16th, 2025, stating that they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and alleviate the shortage as quickly as possible. This follows the expansion's official launch on January 17th, 2025. The high demand created challenges for smaller local stores, with distributors limiting supplies by 10-15% to distribute the product more widely. Larger retailers like GameStop and Target reportedly received a larger portion of the initial stock.

This scarcity has led to price inflation on the secondary market. For example, the Elite Trainer Box, yet to be officially released, is already commanding prices around $127 USD, significantly higher than its $55 USD retail price. However, it's anticipated that increased supply will eventually stabilize prices.

Prismatic Evolutions, announced on November 1st, 2024, features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork. Additional product releases are planned, including a Surprise Box and Mini Tin on February 7th, 2025, followed by a Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection in March and April respectively. A digital version of the set launched on Pokémon TCG Live on January 16th, 2025.

While the current shortage is inconvenient for fans, the Pokémon Company's commitment to reprinting offers reassurance that the Prismatic Evolutions set will eventually be more widely available.