Just released on July 18th are the newest Pokemon TCG sets, Black Bolt and White Flare. As with previous releases, obtaining them has been somewhat challenging. However, an extended pre-order period for the Pokemon Center-exclusive ETBs has allowed many collectors to secure packs from these new collections. Despite being available for just a day, some of the cards are already being resold at exorbitant prices. Interestingly, the value of certain chase cards can vary depending on which set they originate from within the two releases.
For a long time, specific Pokemon cards have been selling for exceptionally high prices on platforms like TCG Player and eBay. However, in recent times, there’s been a noticeable shift towards the resale of unopened products. This is because an “ETB” (Expansion Pack) can be sold based on its potential, while selling individual high-priced cards necessitates actually obtaining them first. Nevertheless, collectors who are successfully drawing the rare cards from sets like “Black Bolt” and “White Flare” are essentially determining their worth, and for certain cards, it’s quite substantial.
These Black Bolt and White Flare release day single prices are wild #PokemonTCG
— Pokemon Alerts & News (@PokeTCGAlerts) July 19, 2025
Today, the Pokemon news account @PokemonTCGAlerts posted some price updates on scarcely found cards from sets Black Bolt and White Flare. Notably, a red Victini card and white Reshiram ex were priced around $1000 each. This is approaching the value of Umbreon from Prismatic Evolutions. Importantly, these ungraded cards are being sold at these prices because they haven’t been graded yet. Graded cards, especially those with a PSA10 grade, tend to fetch such high prices.
One reason these particular cards are selling at high prices right away is because they’re brand new. Known as Black White Rares, they were launched alongside the Black Bolt and White Flare set. This is a shift from previous Hyper Rares, like the golden ones found in Prismatic Evolutions. Therefore, since there’s no established market price for them initially, they don’t have a predetermined value.
Black Bolt and White Flare Resellers Are All Over the Place
In the period following the initial post, several of these cards have experienced a change in market value. For instance, the Red Hyper Rare Victini, which was previously priced at $900, is now available at significantly lower prices on various platforms, but it remains quite expensive, with current listings showing a price of $390.00 on TCG Player. Similarly, Reshiram ex has seen a significant decrease in value, and can currently be found for resale at $498.00 on Pokemon TCG Player. In contrast, the Hilda Special Illustration Rare card has maintained its worth relatively well and continues to fetch $74.
It’s logical that resellers would price these Black Bolt and White Flare chase cards as high as they can, to gauge how much buyers are willing to pay. However, an unexpected trend has emerged over the past day – cards from the Black Bolt set seem to be selling for lower prices compared to those from the White Flare set. As @PokeSignals pointed out, a Victini card with a Black Bolt mark was priced approximately $100 less than the same card from the White Flare set.
As a dedicated Pokémon TCG enthusiast, I wanted to share some intriguing news that might have slipped your notice. The Red Victini cards in Black Bolt and White Flare sets are not identical, and they’re fetching different prices on the market. Keep an eye out for #PokemonTCG, #Pokemoncards, #Pokesignals, and keep track of #BlackBolt and #WhiteFlare, especially with the upcoming release of Scarlet & Violet!
— Poke Signals (@PokeSignals) July 18, 2025
The cost gap between Reshiram EX and Zekrom EX is noticeable, with the former having a more significant price disparity. Both collections showcase Unova Pokemon, including special illustrated rarities for various popular Pokemon. However, there might be one crucial factor behind this price variation. The release of White Flare was postponed by GameStop, potentially leading to a scarcity of White Flare cards currently in circulation. On the other hand, Black Bolt cards seem more readily available at the moment.
A glance at the Pokemon TCG Player’s selection today clearly shows that there are significantly more Black Bolt cards available compared to White Flare ones. This discrepancy might lead resellers to expect a higher return on investment for rarer set cards. In the upcoming days, it’s expected that the pricing for these sought-after cards will stabilize into a more uniform trend, at least temporarily. The values tend to vary over time, owing to factors like the actual scarcity of cards becoming evident and other market dynamics.
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2025-07-19 21:10