The Pokémon TCG market continues to hit all-time highs, and with the announcement that the Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration set will be releasing in September, hype for the “Classic Collection” reprints has already begun to create massive price spikes for the cards that will be featured in it.
Notably, Pikachu & Zekrom GX, originally from 2019’s Team Up expansion, has already seen an immense uptick in price as the card shot up from around $40 to over $100 the day after its presence in the “Classic Collection” was announced.
Why Pikachu & Zekrom GX Spiked So Quickly, Explained
The idea is simple: the new Pikachu card, released to celebrate a special anniversary, will feature a unique stamp and shiny finish, appealing to collectors. However, this release unexpectedly makes the original version of the card seem more valuable, historically significant, and desirable.
According to PokéBeach, the official Japanese website for the 30th Anniversary has hinted at the complete set of cards in the Classic Collection. If the revealed list is correct, the value of certain cards could change significantly once collectors understand what’s included in the collection.
The Crystal Lugia card from the Aquapolis set is a highly valuable and sought-after item, already commanding a high price among collectors. Giving it special attention for an anniversary could attract even more buyers. Shining Celebi from Neo Destiny is another strong possibility, as Shining Pokémon are consistently popular with collectors and don’t need much promotion to generate interest.
The 30th Celebration set includes highly sought-after cards like Dark Tyranitar (Team Rocket Returns), Scizor ex (Unseen Forces), Rayquaza EX (Dragons Exalted), and N (Noble Victories) on its special reprint sheet. These cards are popular with collectors for reasons everyone already understands – they’re nostalgic favorites, have a strong competitive background, or are simply beloved characters, or a mix of all three.
Even recently printed Pokémon cards are experiencing significant price increases. Cards like Mew VMAX from the Fusion Strike set, Arceus VSTAR from Brilliant Stars, and the Magikarp Illustration Rare from Paldea Evolved are examples of cards that are driving up collector demand and emptying wallets.
Why Reprints Can Make Original Pokémon Cards More Expensive
Typically, when more cards are printed, it stabilizes prices because there’s more availability. However, special anniversary reprints don’t always follow this pattern. Surprisingly, because older “Classic Collection” cards are so rare, reprinting them can actually increase the value of the original versions.
The recent price increase of the Pikachu & Zekrom GX card wasn’t due to collectors simply realizing Tag Team Pokémon were valuable. It happened because Pokémon officially highlighted the card, signaling its importance and driving up demand.
The 30th Celebration should make some iconic cards more accessible, which is good fun and exactly what anniversary collections are all about. Anniversary sets are supposed to be a victory lap for the game, and a way for newer collectors to touch pieces of Pokémon TCG history without having to sell a kidney or apologize to their savings account.
But anyone assuming these reprints will only cool prices is probably being too optimistic. For the original versions of the right cards, 30th Celebration may function less like a pressure valve and more like a giant neon arrow pointing directly at the cards collectors were already primed to chase.
The extreme price spike for Pikachu & Zekrom GX has already proved how quickly that can happen.
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2026-06-11 00:40