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 immediate reprints. This follows reports of significant stock shortages impacting availability since the January 17, 2025 launch.

A Pokémon Company spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating that they are working at maximum capacity to increase production and address the shortfall as quickly as possible. While fans may experience delays in acquiring the set, the company's commitment to resolving the situation is reassuring.

Impact on Retailers:

The surge in demand disproportionately affected smaller, independent US-based Pokémon TCG stores. Reports from websites like PokeBeach, dating back to January 4, 2025, highlighted the problem. Distributors, faced with orders from retailers who don't typically stock Pokémon products, limited allocations to approximately 10-15% for smaller stores. This resulted in major retailers like GameStop and Target securing a larger share of the initial stock.

The scarcity has led to price inflation on the secondary market, with products like the Elite Trainer Box already commanding significantly higher prices than their retail value. However, increased supply from the announced reprints is expected to alleviate this issue.

Expansion Details and Future Releases:

Announced on November 1, 2024, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rares, ultra rare Supporter cards, and reprints of popular cards with updated artwork. The expansion’s initial release included Teal Mask Ogerpon ex (illustrated by Yukihiro Tada) and Roaring Moon ex (by Shinji Kanda).

Additional product releases are scheduled for February 7th (Surprise Box and Mini Tin featuring Eevee evolutions), March 7th (Booster Bundle), and April 25th (Pouch Special Collection), 2025. A digital version of the set launched on January 16, 2025, on Pokémon TCG Live for various platforms.