The Pokemon Company is actively addressing the stock shortage of the latest Pokemon TCG expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Discover the reasons behind the shortage and the steps being taken to resolve the issue.

Pokemon’s Latest Expansion Shortage Due to High Demand

The Pokemon Company is tackling the shortage of the Pokemon Trading Card Game's (TCG) latest set, Prismatic Evolutions, as reported by IGN on January 16, 2025.

A spokesperson from the Pokemon 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 eagerly awaited set, it's reassuring to know that The Pokemon Company is committed to increasing stock levels to meet demand.

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

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

Local Pokemon stores in the US have been significantly impacted by the unexpected demand for this product. Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, one of the largest Pokemon stores in Maryland, USA, noted, "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."

With numerous stores ordering the set, distributors have limited supplies to local retailers by "10% to 15%." As a result, local Pokemon stores are feeling the pinch as retail allocations are spread thinly "to give the product to as many stores as possible to retain as many accounts as possible," while larger retailers like GameStop and Target receive larger allocations.

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

Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions’ 2024 Announcement

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

On January 7, 2025, the company further revealed 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 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, illustrated by Yukihiro Tada, and Roaring Moon ex by Shinji Kanda.

In addition to the main set, Pokemon TCG is set to release other editions of Prismatic Evolutions on February 7, 2025, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin. These feature Eevee and its eight evolutions, "all appearing as a Stellar Tera Pokemon ex." Further editions, such as the Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection, are slated for release on March 7 and April 25, 2025, respectively.

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. Playing TCG Live is a great way to get familiar with the latest set and update your decks before the physical release.