Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

MashableAsia·2025-08-28 12:01

Pokémon TCG is as hot as ever in 2025, which means finding cards at a fair price can feel like a literal boss battle. Between Scarlet & Violet’s split sets Black Bolt and Pokémon TCG White Flare, Destined Rivals selling out instantly, and Mega Evolution hyped up preorders, price spikes and stock issues make product hard to find at a reasonable price.

The good news? With the right retailers and some market know-how, you can still grab sealed product, singles, and chase cards without paying the scalper tax. Below you’ll find the best deals currently available from trusted U.S. retailers, plus get tips on where to shop for singles and how to plan for upcoming set drops.

Quick links: Best deals right now

Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box — $96.50 at TCGplayer (save $10.61 vs. Amazon)

Destined Rivals Blister Pack — $27.00 at TCGplayer (save $7.66 vs. Amazon)

White Flare Binder Box — $46 at TCGPlayer (save $9.94 vs. Amazon)

Paldea Legends Tin — $29.26 at TCGplayer

Charizard ex Special Collection — $42.63 at TCGplayer (save $10.31 vs. Amazon)

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection — $45 at TCGplayer (save $14.90 vs. Amazon)

Slashing Legends Tin — $29.26 at TCGplayer (save $20 vs. Amazon)

Shining Fates Pikachu V Box — $41.99 at TCGplayer

Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025

Best retailers for sealed product

TCGplayer — Best for price tracking and finding deals from multiple sellers. Perfect if you’re after specific sets or want to compare the market before buying.

Amazon — Huge selection and fast shipping, but pricing can be volatile. Always check against MSRP.

Walmart — Frequent restocks both online and in-store, often at or near MSRP.

Best Buy — Strong online preorder drops with order limits to deter scalpers.

Target — Good in-store stock control; RedCard holders sometimes get early access online.

Sam’s Club — Bundle deals for members; stock comes in waves.

Tips for avoiding overpaying

Know MSRP before you buy (see chart below).

Set price alerts on TCGplayer.

Avoid FOMO — many sets restock within months.

Buy singles if you only want specific cards instead of gambling on pricey boosters.

Where to buy Pokémon TCG Singles in 2025

TCGplayer — Best marketplace for singles in the U.S.; accurate market prices and robust search tools.

eBay — Ideal for rare Japanese cards or older promos; check completed sales for fair pricing.

Market movers — August 2025

Big Crashers — Prices dropping (good for buyers)

Pikachu — 131/091 — $27.00 (↓48% since Jan)

Charmander — 109/091 — $20.40 (↓19% since Jan)

Eevee — SV41/SV94 — $33.13 (↓8% since Jan)

Glaceon GX — SV55/SV94 — $40.30 (↓33% since Mar)

Big Climbers — Prices rising (good for sellers)

Mew ex — 232/091 — $552.29 (↑82% since Oct 2024)

Charizard ex — 234/091 — $160.00 (↑36% since Oct 2024)

Umbreon GX — SV69/SV94 — $199.99 (↑19% since Oct 2024)

Charizard GX — SV49/SV94 — $520.41 (↑20% since Oct 2024)

Pro tip: Prices often dip 1-2 months post-release — perfect for grabbing high-end singles.

Pokémon TCG 2025 release schedule and MSRP guide

I've listed new products releases at their MSRP price, which if you preorder with a retailer you can still get. Pokémon TCG has a very challenging market due to many factors, but it mostly comes down to print runs still not being enough to meet demand. So until the market is flooded with sealed product, you should use this pricing as a guideline to your own spending budgets only.

Jan. 17 — Prismatic Evolutions

Theme: Eevee and all eight evolutions, exclusive boxed sets (no standard booster packs).

Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Super-Premium Collection — $89.99

Elite Trainer Box — $59.99

Tech Sticker Collection — $14.99

Poster Collection — $14.99

Binder Collection — $29.99

March 28 — Journey Together

Theme: Return of Gym Heroes-style Trainer’s Pokémon cards. Smaller, more collectible set.

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Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Elite Trainer Box — $59.99

Booster Box (36 packs) — $161.64

Booster Bundle — $26.94

Three Booster Blister — $14.99

Build & Battle Box — $19.99

Sleeved Booster — $4.49

May 30 — Destined Rivals

Theme: Team Rocket returns with villain-themed Pokémon, top-tier art.

Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Elite Trainer Box — $59.99

Booster Box (36 packs) — $161.14

6-Pack Booster Bundle — $29.99

3-Pack Booster Blister — $13.99

Sleeved Booster Pack — $5.30

July 18 — Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt & White Flare

Theme: Split expansion featuring 156 Unova Pokémon, each with illustration rare and special illustration rare variants.

Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box — $49.99

White Flare Elite Trainer Box — $49.99

Black Bolt Binder Collection — $31.99

White Flare Binder Collection — $47.99

Unova Poster Collection — $21.99

Unova Mini Tin — $16

Aug. 1 — Unova Tech Sticker Collection / Victini Illustration Collection

Theme: Collectible promos with accessories (stickers, posters, oversized cards).

Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Black Bolt Tech Sticker Collection — $15.99

White Flare Tech Sticker Collection — $15.99

Unova Victini Illustration Collection — $21.99

Aug. 22 — Black Bolt & White Flare Booster Bundles

Theme: Six boosters from either set in one box.

Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Black Bolt Booster Bundle — $26.99

White Flare Booster Bundle — $26.99

Sept. 26 — Mega Evolution (English release)

Theme: New era beyond Scarlet & Violet, starring Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex.

Links: TCGPlayer, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Elite Trainer Box — $49.99

Booster Bundle (six packs) — $26.94

Booster Box (36 packs) — $160.99

Sleeved Booster Pack — $4.49

3-Pack Booster Bundle — $13.99

Mega Heroes Mini Tin — $9.99

Top value Pokémon cards — 2025 sets

Black Bolt & White Flare

Victini — 172/086 — $450

Reshiram ex — 173/086 — $410

Victini — 171/086 — $424.99

Destined Rivals

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex — 231/182 — $371.99

Cynthia's Garchomp ex — 232/182 — $200

Team Rocket's Moltres ex — 229/182 — $155

Journey Together

Lillie's Clefairy ex — 184/159 — $132

Salamence ex — 187/159 — $77.99

Iono's Bellibolt ex — 183/159 — $54.10

Prismatic Evolutions

Umbreon ex — 161/131 — $833

Sylveon ex — 156/131 — $280

Leafeon ex — 144/131 — $205

Collecting strategy — 2025

Keep the following tips in mind when shopping for Pokémon cards in 2025:

Skip overpriced ETBs unless you collect boxes.

Buy singles when hype fades and prices drop 30–50%.

Grade standout SIR/IR cards now while they’re affordable.

Hunt under-the-radar promos before they disappear.

Be patient — most sets see restocks within months.

Outlook: Large print runs should cool scalper-driven shortages, but older sealed sets and iconic singles will still dominate long-term value.

Topics Gaming Pokemon

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