Prismatic Evolutions Shortage Prompts Pokemon TCG to Rush to Print More

Pokemon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Faces Shortage Due to High Demand

The Pokemon Company is taking swift action to address the stock shortage of the highly anticipated Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Learn more about the reasons behind the shortage and the steps being taken to resolve it.

Pokemon Company Rushes to Reprint More to Meet Demand

According to a report by IGN on January 16, 2025, The Pokemon Company is actively working to mitigate the shortage of the latest Pokemon TCG set, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions.

A spokesperson from the company stated, "We’re aware that some fans may experience difficulties purchasing certain Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions products at launch due to high demand impacting availability. We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokémon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity to address this."

While fans may need to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this new set, it's encouraging to know that The Pokemon Company is committed to replenishing stock to meet the demand.

High Demand for Prismatic Evolutions Affects Local US Stores

The shortage of the Prismatic Evolutions expansion was first highlighted by PokeBeach, a popular Pokemon TCG fan website, on January 4, 2025.

The unexpected demand has significantly impacted local Pokemon stores in the US. Deguire, the owner of Player 1 Services—one of the largest Pokemon stores in Maryland—commented, "I think a large part of the issue is that stores who do not normally order Pokemon are requesting to buy this set from distributors."

Due to the widespread demand, distributors have limited supplies by "10% to 15%" for local retailers. This has forced local Pokemon stores to bear the brunt of the shortage as allocations are spread thin "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible." Meanwhile, larger retailers like GameStop and Target have received the bulk of the stock.

The shortage has also led to price spikes in the secondary market. For example, the yet-to-be-released Elite Trainer Box is already being sold for $127 USD, well above its retail price of $55. However, once The Pokemon Company increases production, scalpers may lower their prices or reduce hoarding of Prismatic Evolutions and its various editions.

Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions Announced in 2024

The Pokemon Company announced the Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion on November 1, 2024, with a launch date set for January 17, 2025. This set introduces Tera Pokemon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and more.

On January 7, 2025, further details were shared, including the addition of "all sorts of exciting new cards along with reprints of popular cards from recent expansions that feature all-new artwork." Notable cards include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.

Additional editions of Prismatic Evolutions are scheduled for release, such as the Surprise Box and Mini Tin on February 7, 2025, featuring Eevee and its eight evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokemon ex. Further releases include the Booster Bundle on March 7, 2025, and the Pouch Special Collection on April 25, 2025.

Fans can also experience the set a day before its official release through Pokemon TCG Live, available on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices starting January 16, 2025. This provides an excellent opportunity to try out the new cards and update your decks before the physical release.