Why Pokémon Cards Are Still Going Up When Markets Pull Back
You might see stock markets dipping or other collectibles softening, but Pokémon card prices keep climbing in spots. This happens because Pokémon has its own drivers like rarity, hype, and big auctions that push values higher even when broader trends cool off.[1][5]
Take the TCG market overall. It hit 2.2 billion dollars in 2024 with 25 percent growth year over year. Heading into late 2025, sets like Mega Evolution fuel this with low-print Special Illustration Rares, or SIRs, plus anniversary buzz and more cards getting graded.[1] Grading booms help too. A PSA 10 grade can multiply a raw card’s value by two to four times, and low-population cards under 100 copies surge 50 percent or more.[1]
Vintage cards lead the charge. A 1999 Pokémon Charizard number 4 from the first edition Base Set sold for 550 thousand dollars at Heritage Auctions in December 2025. Only 125 copies ever hit PSA Gem Mint 10, making it elite.[5] Pikachu Illustrator holds the top spot with under 40 copies total, fetching millions even for PSA 9s.[1] Base Set and early promos gain 20 percent yearly, with PSA 10s tripling in value.[1]
Modern cards join the party too. Mega Lucario ex SIR jumped 25 percent monthly raw to 719 dollars, and PSA 10s hit 1,300 dollars plus.[1] In Phantasmal Flames, released November 14, 2025, Mega Charizard X ex SIR tops at over 560 dollars, outpacing even gold Hyper Rares at 373 dollars.[3] Charizard Secret Rares dominate these small sets.[3] While Phantasmal Flames booster boxes dropped from 305 to 275 dollars right after launch, older sets like Mega Evolution barely budged and then climbed.[2] Non-Charizard cards in new sets dip fast, but chasers hold strong.[2]
Auction action shows the split. Heritage and PWCC sales rose 30 percent in 2025, with modern SIRs like Phantasmal Flames hitting 450 dollars plus, rivaling vintage holos.[1] Price spikes hit weekly too. Charizard VMAX Secret climbed from 168 to 182 dollars in mid-December.[8]
Promos and previews add fuel. Older promos like Mega Gengar XY went from 50 dollars a year ago to 286 dollars now.[6] Experts predict Ancient Origins Mega Rayquaza X hitting 1,000 dollars raw soon.[4] Sealed product often outpaces single raw chase cards long-term.[4]
Nostalgia rules eBay’s 2025 trends, with Pokémon topping searches.[5] When new sets stall, vintage and proven moderns spike as collectors shift focus.[6][7] Scarcity in low-print runs and grading keeps demand eternal for icons like Pikachu Illustrator or Topsun Charizard Blue Back, which hit 493 thousand dollars.[1] This resilience sets Pokémon apart from pullback markets.
