Logan Paul recently made waves in the Pokemon card world by arguing that scarcity cant be engineered after the fact. He pointed out that true rarity in collectibles like Pokemon TCG cards comes from limited print runs set right at release, not from companies trying to create hype later on. This hits home for collectors chasing high-end cards from sets like Evolving Skies, where prices are shifting fast in December 2025.[1]
Take the Umbreon VMAX Alternate Art from Evolving Skies, card 215/203. Its sitting at $2,063.30 on TCGPlayer, down over $155 in the last month and nearing $2,000 for the first time in ages. The Umbreon V Alternate Art, 189/203, dropped about $140 to $429.10. Even with these dips, Evolving Skies holds strong as the top modern set, with Rayquaza VMAX Alternate Art at $701.05 surging and possibly challenging Umbreons spot soon.[1]
Pauls point rings true when you look at how print runs work. Sets printed in huge numbers early on flood the market over time, driving prices down no matter what promoters say later. Videos tracking 2025 values show big hitters like certain monochrome cards falling $30 to $40, matching the pattern of other chase cards.[2] Modern sets from Sword and Shield era, like Fusion Strike or Lost Origin, have seen booster boxes drop to $238 or $383 at two-year marks, way below older sets that had tighter scarcity from the start.[3]
High-end sales back this up too. A vintage Pokemon card hammered at a price 64 percent below its 2022 value, even for a lower grade, showing how oversupply catches up.[6] Modern cards across sets like Surging Sparks and Temporal Forces are cheaper now than peaks, with packs lingering on shelves as collectors eye alternatives like One Piece.[7]
Cards that buck the trend often tie back to real scarcity. Rayquaza VMAX Rainbow Rare holds at $72.26, and some like Special Delivery Pikachu are climbing despite the broader slide.[1][5] Pauls argument warns investors: dont bank on artificial hype to fix a set printed too wide. Stick to proven limited prints for long-term holds, especially as Evolving Skies cards like Dragonite V Alternate Art at $405.62 show resilience amid the dips.[1]
