Pokemon TCG's Prismatic Evolutions Shortage: The Pokemon Company Rushes to Print More

The Pokemon Company has acknowledged and is actively addressing the stock shortage of the Pokemon Trading Card Game's (TCG) latest expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. This article delves into the reasons behind the shortage and the steps being taken to resolve it.

Pokemon’s Latest Expansion Shortage Due to High Demand

Pokemon Company Reprinting More to Address the Issue

On January 16, 2025, IGN reported that The Pokemon Company is taking swift action to combat the shortage of the highly sought-after Prismatic Evolutions set.

"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," stated a spokesperson from The Pokemon Company. "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 acquire this latest set, it's reassuring to know that The Pokemon Company is committed to replenishing stock to meet the demand.

Demand for Pokemon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Hurts Local US Stores

The shortage of Prismatic Evolutions was first highlighted by the fan site PokeBeach on January 4, 2025. Local Pokemon stores across the US are feeling the pinch due to the unexpected demand for this set.

Deguire, the owner of Player 1 Services, one of Maryland's largest Pokemon stores, remarked, "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."

As a result of the widespread interest, distributors have limited supplies by "10% to 15%" for local retailers, causing a significant impact on small Pokemon stores. The allocation of stock has been spread thin "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible," leaving major retailers like GameStop and Target with larger shares.

This shortage could lead to price spikes for certain editions of the Prismatic Evolutions set. The Elite Trainer Box, for instance, is already being sold on secondary markets for $127 USD, well above its $55 retail price. However, once The Pokemon Company ramps up production, scalpers may adjust their prices or reconsider hoarding the set and its various editions.

Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions’ 2024 Announcement

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

Further details were shared on January 7, 2025, revealing that the set includes "all sorts of exciting new cards along with reprints of popular cards from recent expansions that feature all-new artwork." Highlights include the Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.

Additional editions of Prismatic Evolutions, such as the Surprise Box and Mini Tin, are set to launch on February 7, 2025. These feature Eevee and its eight evolutions, all appearing as Stellar Tera Pokemon ex. Further releases include the Booster Bundle on March 7, 2025, and the Pouch Special Collection on April 25, 2025.

One day before its official release, fans can experience the set through Pokemon TCG Live, available on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices, starting January 16, 2025. This is a great opportunity for fans to get a feel for the new set and update their decks before the physical cards hit the shelves.