Finding Pokémon cards in 2025 isn’t as easy as it should be. Between Destined Rivals preorders vanishing in seconds, new split expansion sets in Black Bolt and White Flare, and Journey Together chase cards dominating every feed, Pokémon TCG has never felt more intense.
If you're trying to keep up with Pokémon TCG without getting ripped off or left behind, here's where to start, including the latest update on what can be bought here and now from trusted retailers in the US.
Quick Links: What's in Stock and Where to Buy
If you've dedicated your life to pulling chase cards yourself, here's what we can find in stock right now. Just watch out for pricing over MSRP, as we Pokémon trainers are in a weird spot right now, so don't pay more than what you have to, or consider buying single cards instead of gambling on overpriced ETBs. Whatever you decide, make sure you're having fun!
Pokémon Cards: Retailers You Can Trust
Trying to buy Pokémon cards at retail prices these days feels more like a boss battle than a shopping trip. Between lightning-fast sellouts, sneaky price hikes, and listings that vanish before you’ve even opened your browser, finding a good deal can be frustrating.
I’ve spent way too much time bouncing between sites, chasing restocks, and narrowly dodging scalpers. But after enough trial, error, and a few accidental overpays, I’ve figured out where the odds are at least somewhat in your favor.
Where to Buy Pokémon TCG Single Cards
I think TCGPlayer is the smartest place to spend money if you know what cards you're chasing. Instead of rolling the dice on booster packs, you can just go buy the singles you want, or even check out other regions sets like Japan's Glory of Team Rocket.
It’s also where I go to check actual card values instead of relying on whatever price Amazon randomly assigns. There are deals to be had, you just have to be willing to search a bit. It’s Pokémon eBay, but cleaner.
Pokémon TCG Expansions: Release Schedule
Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals (May 30)
Pokémon TCG’s next big release, Destined Rivals, arrives May 30, and I’m already prepping my shelf space and emotionally budgeting like I won’t blow it all on an Elite Trainer Box I absolutely do not need.
This set brings back Trainer’s Pokémon, reintroduces Team Rocket for another round of villainous fun, and includes some of the best card art we’ve seen in ages. If you're into flashy collectibles or just enjoy the feeling of cardboard power coursing through your veins, this one's for you.
Preorders are currently out of stock everywhere at the time of writing, but it's worth bookmarking the relevant listings and checking back daily this week for more updates, as we're expecting even more stock drops between now and release day.
Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare (July 18)
The Pokémon Company recently announced a new split expansion for the Pokémon TCG, continuing the Scarlet & Violet series. Titled Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare, both expansions will release on July 18, 2025, at participating retailers worldwide.
Preorders have started to go live, which we've been covering, but it'll be a hard fought battle so ensure you're already bookmarking the listings below and checking out IGN's dedicated Black Bolt and White Flare preorder guide for more updates.
Latest Update: The Pokémon Center and Best Buy kicked things off last week, while Amazon's listings are up but not live yet. Stayed tuned for more, and follow @IGNDeals to be kept in the loop.
The expansions focus on the 156 Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. Each Unova Pokémon will appear as either an illustration rare or a special illustration rare card, with different versions available in Black Bolt and White Flare products.
- July 18, 2025: Scarlet & Violet Black Bolt/White Flare ETBs (9 boosters, promo, accessories); Binder Collection (5 boosters, Zekrom/Reshiram album); Unova Poster Collection (6 boosters, Snivy/Tepig/Oshawott promos, poster); Unova Mini Tin (2 boosters, art/sticker card).
- August 1, 2025: Tech Sticker Collection (3 boosters, Reuniclus/Gothitelle promo, stickers); Unova Victini Illustration Collection (4 boosters, foil/parallel/oversized Victini).
- August 22, 2025: Booster Bundle (6 Black Bolt/White Flare boosters).
Pokémon Card Market Watch: What Should I Buy This Week?
Another week, another hectic shift in the Pokémon single card market watch whilst trainers are waiting for Destined Rivals to drop.
Whilst we're finally seeing a noticeable climb in Sword and Shield era Pokémon Cards, Scarlet and Violet series cards are settling back down into the realm of reality for the most part.
Big Crashers
The most dramatic crash this week is Greninja ex 214/167, crashing by nearly half when compared the the start of this year. We're also seeing some nice price drops across Obsidian Flames and the elusive 151 expansions.
Meanwhile, Dragonite V from Evolving Skies is doing the opposite, nearly doubling in value compared to the start of this year, and the artwork alone always made this card undervalued. Charizard V Alt Art is also a banger, depicting a Pokémon battle against Venusaur whilst slowly climbing up in value.
Big Climbers
Moving onto this weeks climbers, Rayquazza VMAX alt art is one of the main grails of the Sword and Shield era. It was already a $500+ card, but at $649.99 it shows no signs of slowing down. This could arguably hit the $1,000 mark in a few years, so I'd get one if you can afford it.
There can't be enough Kanto love in my book, and Charizard V Alt Art smashes it out of the park with this Venusaur battle. The angle is great and it feels like a moving card instead of a static body shot so many Pokémon cards are guilty of (Looking at you, WotC era). It's earned another $40 since January, and there's no reason why this card can't get over $200 before the year is out.
Did you miss last week's top climbers and crashers? Catch up in our dedicated article, and stay locked in for more updates.
Where to Buy Pokémon TCG – Scarlet & Violet 2025 Sets
What was once a post-Scarlet & Violet cooldown has turned into another full-blown Pokémania, and whether you're hunting sealed product, singles, or ETBs, knowing where to shop is half the battle.
To help you on your quest, we’ve rounded up all the best places to buy Pokémon cards right now in 2025, from trusted online stores to physical retailers that still stock the good stuff. While plenty will currently be out of stock, consider this your one stop shop to find all the links you'll ever need for each set.
Journey Together
Released March 28, 2025. Journey Together brought back nostalgic Trainer’s Pokémon cards from the Gym Heroes era. N’s Zoroark ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex end the chaos of endless secret arts for a more curated, collectible experience.
With just 16 Pokémon ex, 11 illustration rares, and three hyper rare gold cards, it’s easier to track what’s worth pulling without feeling like you need a PhD in pack odds. Fancy snagging the Enhanced Booster Display Box with its bonus N’s Reshiram illustration rare or pull Iono’s Bellibolt ex? This set screams nostalgia with a new coat of paint.
Journey Together – Top 10 Single Cards
Prismatic Evolutions
Released January 17, 2025. Prismatic Evolutions kicked off 2025, and it’s all about Eevee and its many evolutions. You won’t find these cards in the usual booster packs. Instead, they’ll be released in boxed sets throughout the year, each packed full of exclusive cards celebrating Eevee and friends.
With over 175 cards, including unique designs and new game mechanics, Prismatic Evolutions is shaping to be a hit with collectors and competitive players alike.
Prismatic Evolutions – Top 10 Single Cards
Best Prices: Pokémon TCG MSRP Guide
The fandom is down to just being happy that they can find any Pokémon TCG stock at MSRP as it stands, making the hobby look a bit bleak. But with world events being what they are, it's given investors and collectors itchy feet with their stacks of ETBs and sealed product from these sets.
If you’re ever not sure what something should cost, here’s the list to follow. These are the standard MSRPs to go by when deciding if a product is worth picking up.
Pokémon TCG MSRP Guide (as of May 2025)
Booster packs and bundles
- Standard booster pack: $4.49
- 3-pack blister: $12.99
- Booster bundle (6 packs): $26.99
- Build & Battle Box: $19.99
- Build & Battle Stadium: $59.99
Elite Trainer Boxes
- Standard ETB: $49.99
- Pokémon Center ETB: $59.99
Premium collections
- Premium Collection Box: $39.99 to $49.99
- Super Premium Collection: $99.99
- Ultra Premium Collection: $119.99 to $129.99
Tins and boxes
- Mini Tin: $8.99
- Standard Tin (V or ex): $24.99
- Collector’s Chest: $29.99
Preconstructed decks
- Single Battle Deck: $9.99
- V Battle Deck: $14.99
- League Battle Deck: $29.99
- Battle Academy Box: $19.99
Booster boxes
- 36-pack Booster Box: $140
What Pokémon Cards Should I Collect In 2025?
This is the time for trainers who just love the hobby to keep an eye on single card prices, as the market does seem to be rectifying itself from the months of inflated prices we've seen.
Whilst it's not quite time to jump on high ticket Pokémon cards just yet, it's a great time to snap up some beautiful cards that are slept on.
Take the promo card from the Scarlet and Violet Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box. The ETB is currently going for around $75 at the time of writing, but the included promo card can be snapped up for south of $10.
Even factoring in the Paldea Evolved Booster Packs that are getting hard to find, it makes sense to pick this beautiful promo card up now whilst it's still cheap.
It's also worth considering the Pokémon Center exclusive version of this card that's stamped and included in the Pokémon Center Exclusive Paldea Evolved ETB.
The ETB is currently going for around $275 sealed, with the promo currently going for around $70 in bad condition. It's not about going for the ridiculously priced Pokémon TCG products, it's about snapping up what people aren't focused on.
The artwork that Scarlet and Violet / Sword and Shield sets put out on their SIR, AR and IRs are absolutely stunning. I would put solid money on these cards becoming valuable parts of a collection in years to come. Plus, they're awesome to get graded and have in your collection cabinet or shelf.
The State Of Pokémania 2025
There are two main reasons for stock shortages in 2025: Scalpers and print runs. The Pokémon Company has told us on a number of occasions over the years that they're upping print runs of in-demand sets to meet demand, and (eventually) the market gets flooded.
Just think, those ridiculously priced Evolving Skies booster boxes on TCG Player were a dime a dozen at one point. The scalper situation is going to happen whenever there's an in-demand product, and it's not very fair on real trainers who just want to collect and play Pokémon for the love of the hobby.
The crypto-turned investor bros aren't helping either, but give someone an opportunity to turn $1 into $5 and they'll do it.
This doesn't mean I condone any of this behaviour, far from it, but retailers should and need to do more to ensure everyone has a fair shot at buying Pokémon TCG. Loyalty and member drops, "X" amount per household, invitation-based preorders and re-stocks are all solid way's to control Pokémania.
The problem is only a few retailers are doing this, making it easy for scalpers and bot groups to snap up stock. Retailers such as Costco seem quite happy to let chaos ensue as human beings fight each other for bits of cardboard. Common sense doesn't float with these kinds of people, so restraints and control need to be put into place.
If retailers started implimenting these measures and TPC begin to flood the market with enough product for everyone to enjoy, it would make a more accessible hobby for everyone. For collectors, values of legacy chase cards would eventually climb as sealed stock goes out of print anyway, everyone wins. Well, bar the scalpers, but screw 'em.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
