The Pokémon TCG market continues to shift as we settle into the post-release rhythm of Scarlet & Violet’s Black Bolt and White Flare sets. These dual expansions brought a flood of gorgeous Special Illustration Rares and high-powered ex cards, but we’re now seeing where true collector and player demand is starting to settle. Not every high-rarity card is holding its launch-day hype.
On the bumps side of things, it’s been a good week for Illustration Rares. Seismitoad, Emboar, and Zoroark are seeing impressive price climbs, mostly thanks to standout artwork and nostalgic character choices. We’re also watching some Special Illustration Rare ex cards like Kyurem and Zekrom tick upward, with a nice mix of playability and visual appeal fueling their growth.
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But of course, where some cards rise, others drop. We’re starting to see the heat fade on a few previously high-flying cards from the same sets. Victini and both versions of Reshiram ex have taken a hit, and even Zekrom ex is showing signs of early price correction. It’s a reminder that even beloved Legendaries can cool quickly if they don’t deliver ongoing value for collectors or competitive players.
Pokémon card bumps
Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company
Some cards are climbing the ranks fast this week, especially among the Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare crowd. Here’s a look at what’s gaining ground:
Let’s start with Seismitoad. This card absolutely exploded in value, and it has almost nothing to do with competitive play. The Round attack is more of a meme deck archetype than a serious threat, but the Illustration Rare artwork is doing all the heavy lifting here. Collectors love it, and demand has skyrocketed as people scramble to secure a copy.
Emboar and Zoroark IRs are following a similar trajectory. Emboar’s Inferno Fandango ability is a classic callback, and while it’s not standard-legal, it’s hitting the nostalgia button hard for longtime fans. Zoroark, on the other hand, has always had solid fan appeal, and the Foul Play attack still gives it decent versatility in casual formats. Their IR treatments are strong enough to carry their value.
Kyurem ex and Zekrom ex, both in SIR form, are up too. They’re not meta staples by any stretch, but they’re playable enough and look incredible. These are the kinds of cards that don’t need to be tournament-dominant to justify their prices. When the art is good and the card isn’t dead weight in a binder, that’s often enough to spark upward movement.
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Pokémon card cuts
Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company
As new cards rise, others inevitably fall. A handful of big-name Legendaries are seeing their prices cool off this week:
Victini’s modest drop is no huge surprise. It had a lot of early hype from collectors, but with V-Force requiring a full bench to function, it’s not showing up in many competitive decks. As the novelty wears off, we’re seeing a slow but steady price retreat.
Reshiram ex is in a similar boat. Blaze Burst is flashy, especially in the late game, but the discard cost and reliance on your opponent’s Prize count make it unreliable. The BWR version is dipping gently, but the SIR variant has taken a bigger hit. That suggests collectors might be pivoting toward cheaper IR options or just moving on entirely from Reshiram for now.
Zekrom ex’s drop is smaller, but it’s still part of the same trend. Voltage Burst has potential, especially when you’re behind, but self-damage makes it clunky. And with the SIR version rising, the BWR version just isn’t pulling as much attention.
Black Bolt and White Flare sealed product
Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company
If you’re eyeing sealed product instead of singles, Black Bolt and White Flare boxes are still widely available, especially in Japanese. Booster boxes are hovering around $94.50–$101.75 each depending on the vendor, and paired ETBs can be found for roughly $202.90:
These sets are collector-heavy releases. Pull rates for Illustration Rares are solid, with about one IR in every six packs, while BWR and SIR cards are significantly harder to hit. The big appeal here is the Unova-themed nostalgia and some truly beautiful card art. But competitively, these sets haven’t made a huge splash.
That means sealed product is mostly a play for long-term hold value or for fans who just want a beautiful rip experience. If you’re into art collecting, there’s definitely value here, but if you’re expecting meta-shaking cards, you might be better off looking at older sets or newer meta-focused expansions.
Still, if you’re chasing the thrill of a rare pull or looking to stash some sealed boxes away, now is a good time while prices are stable and supply is decent. As with many mini-sets, we could see these boxes creep up in value over time, especially if specific IRs or promos from the set gain traction later on.