Are you a seasoned Pokemon collector or are you just starting out this amazing hobby?
Well, even if you’re a rookie, chances are that you have some pretty sweet hits right? (unless you have some horrible luck) Then you might be thinking what is the value of your beloved card and its the future trajectory of its price?
With many resources available online today, it might seem easy to determine the price of singles with a simple click of a button, but in reality, the Pokemon pricing market is much trickier than what meets the eye.
Just like the other markets, pokemon prices are set to fluctuate and one has to conduct in-depth market research and insight knowledge to truly tell what cards are worth investing in and what not.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry because we’re going to share with you tips and tricks to make you a professional at Pokemon pricing!
Looking At Pricing Websites Might Not Be An Accurate To Determine Pokemon Card Prices
Just like other investment markets, the price of a Pokemon single follows current consumer behaviour and demand. A specific card with a growing demand would naturally drive its corresponding price.
Although it may sound intuitive to many, current prices displayed by pricing websites such as Pricecharting and TCG Player may often be manipulated, leading to an overvaluation or undervaluation of a specific card.
For example, the release of Shiny Treasures created a massive buzz around hits such as Iono and the Shiny Charizard, with people neglecting the infamous Bubble Mew due to the fear of missing out (FOMO), which skyrocketed in price since its initial release.
Bubble Mew, which was initially neglected by the Pokemon community rose in price to become the top chase of the set, jumping by a whopping 268 USD and counting, while the Shiny Charizard price crashed by -64.5% within a short span of 6 months.
This further proves that present demands of cards by the market may not reflect the actual value of a card, and FOMO may often lead to one’s downfall without much research being done.
(Note: prices stated are of present value and may not be applicable to the time you are reading this article)
Picasso conundrum… Does The Art Of A Pokemon Card Affect It’s Price?
Whether you love or hate the Pokemon card game, you have to admit: Pokemon Company do hire some very talented artists- and they create some beautiful pieces.
Some examples include Shinja Kanda and his iconic granting art from Lost Origin and Mitsuhiro Arita with his statement base set Charizard art.
Although art is largely subjective and may differ between the preferences of individuals, there are exceptions in which some arts are clearly better than others.
An example that best explains this is the release of Pokemon 151, with a large crowd of fans flocking to buy singles from the highly anticipated set, neglecting the stunning Mew Arts ultra-premium collection set.
The 151 UPC set went from being one of the cheapest products of the set to nearly tripling its value after people started appreciating the stunning artworks of the featured cards.
Popularity Of A Specific Pokemon Directly Impacts The Price Of The Card
When you think of Pokemon, what are some Pokemon that come instantly to your mind?
Even if your friend or family member is not a fan of Pokemon, it is highly likely that he or she has seen a Charizard, Evee and everyone’s favourite protagonist Pokemon: Pikachu.
These iconic flagship mascots and their relevant cards have constantly topped the rankings of recent card prices.
From the Scarlet and Violet Series, sets such as Obsidian Flames, Prismatic Evolutions and Surging Sparks all feature a chase of one of the above.
Charizard SIR EX #223 Pokemon Obsidian Flames
Source: Google Images
- Price: $71.03 USD
- Release Date: August 2023
Umbreon EX #161 Pokemon Prismatic Evolutions
Source: Google Images
- Price: $1618.42 USD
- Release Date: January 2025
Pikachu EX #238 Pokemon Surging Sparks
Source: Google Images
- Price: $422 USD
- Release Date: November 2024
Japanese Counterparts Could Be An Early Indicator Of Pokemon English Card Prices
One last final tip you might take into consideration is the prices of Japanese Pokemon singles and their relationship with English card prices.
As Japanese sets are bound to be released at an earlier date than their English counterparts, fans and investors would usually monitor the prices of Japanese hits and determine their relative demand in the market.
The earlier release of Japanese cards also let fans appreciate the art and rarity of the single, which creates price expectations of English singles that will be released in the future.
There are exceptions though- English sets usually contain a mixture of cards from 2 Japanese booster boxes, with surging sparks being a combination of Japanese Super Electric Breaker and Paradise Dragona.
Overall, determining the price of a Pokemon single is tricky but if you follow the steps above we are confident that it’ll make your decision-making and value judgements one step easier!
It is crucial not to be swayed by public opinions and DO NOT cave into the FOMO mentality.
With that said, good luck on your Pokemon-collecting journey and we wish you all the very BEST!
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