Prismatic Evolutions Shortage Prompts Pokemon TCG to Rush to Print More

The Pokémon Company is addressing a significant shortage of its latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions. Read on to discover the cause of the shortage and the company's response.

Pokémon TCG's Latest Expansion Faces High Demand Shortage

Pokémon Company Increases Production to Meet Demand

On January 16, 2025, IGN reported that The Pokémon Company is working to alleviate the shortage of Prismatic Evolutions.

A Pokémon Company spokesperson 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 longer for this popular set, the Pokémon Company's commitment to increasing production offers reassurance.

High Demand Impacts US Local Stores

The shortage was first reported on January 4, 2025, by the Pokémon TCG fan website, PokeBeach. The report highlighted the impact on smaller US retailers. Deguire, owner of Player 1 Services, a major Pokémon store in Maryland, commented, "I think a large part of the issue is that stores who do not normally order Pokémon are requesting to buy this set from distributors."

This increased demand led distributors to limit supplies to local retailers by 10% to 15%. This resulted in larger retailers like GameStop and Target receiving a disproportionate share of the initial stock, leaving smaller, local stores struggling to meet customer demand. The shortage has also driven up prices on the secondary market; the upcoming Elite Trainer Box, for example, is already selling for $127 USD (retail price: $55). However, this inflated pricing is expected to decrease once The Pokémon Company increases supply.

Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions 2024 Announcement and Subsequent Releases

Announced on November 1, 2024, Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions launched on January 17, 2025. This expansion features Tera Pokémon ex, new special illustration rare cards, ultra rare Supporter cards, and reprints of popular cards with new artwork. Examples include Teal Mask Ogerpon ex (illustrated by Yukihiro Tada) and Roaring Moon ex (by Shinji Kanda).

Additional Prismatic Evolutions products, including the Surprise Box and Mini Tin (featuring Eevee and its evolutions as Stellar Tera Pokémon ex), launched on February 7, 2025. A Booster Bundle and Pouch Special Collection will follow on March 7 and April 25, 2025, respectively. Players could also experience the set early via Pokémon TCG Live on January 16, 2025, for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.