The Scarlet & Violet – 151 Booster Bundle is the latest expansion that’s making moves in the volatile Pokémon TCG market. As Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary hype still echoes, and Pokémon Winds and Waves beckon on the horizon, there seems to be a pattern of nostalgia heavily influencing the price of individual cards.
While cards across various sets have seen significant price increases this month, the 151 Booster Bundle has seen an aggressive, short-term spike – a 93.48% spike in the past three months, and a massive 33.35% jump in the last 30 days alone.
Currently, the market value on TCGplayer has settled at a staggering $188, while Amazon listings – sold and shipped directly by the retailer – have pushed to $195. While it’s only $7 over market price, that’s an impressive 190.49% increase in market value for a product that debuted with a $26.94 MSRP when it was released in 2023.
The Scarlet & Violet—151 expansion was always designed to pull at the heartstrings of Generation 1 fans. It invites players to team up with the lovable First Partner Pokémon trio that started it all – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle – to “witness a brand-new dawn in Kanto”, alongside all the Generation 1 classic 151 Pokémon.
It’s a set built on the chance to track down old friends like the extraordinary Special Illustration Rares (SIRs) of Venusaur ex, Charizard ex, and Blastoise ex, as well as the elusive Mew ex. But why is this set spiking in price now? It’s not just because of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary – it’s because the cards inside are hitting astronomical values.
To the surprise of nobody, this price spike is fuelled by the hunt for the crown jewel – Charizard ex (#199/165). This gorgeous Secret Rare sees Charizard flying across a pink sunset, and matches up with the Scarlet & Violet—151 Secret Rare Charmander and Charmeleon cards. It’s no wonder, then, that this card alone has recently seen sales as high as $443.
It’s not alone; the Scarlet & Violet—151 Blastoise ex SIR has surged to over $215, and even the Venusaur ex SIR has cleared the $145 hurdle. When a single pull can pay for two entire booster bundles, who could resist?
The Booster Bundle, containing six packs, each with 10 cards and 1 Basic Energy, is the most efficient “cost-per-pack” entry point for collectors. There’s also a low chance that you can find the entire evolutionary line of Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle as secret cards in the same booster pack, in place of the two Reverse Holo cards and the Rare card – a ‘demigod pack’.
On community investment hubs like r/PokeInvesting, hopes around official restocks have dwindled. Once a major retailer like Amazon legitimizes a reseller’s price, there’s a psychological level where buyers accept the new, higher cost as the standard.
We saw a similar “retail ceiling” shift with Evolving Skies and the Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection. Once the Amazon price crossed the 2x MSRP mark, the price rarely, if ever, returned to retail levels.
Investors are now treating the 151 Booster Bundle as a legacy asset – a piece of history that is more valuable stored for display than ripped open for the chance at finding a profit inside.
If you’re looking to buy, or indeed sell, it’s important to remember the value of Scarlet & Violet—151 may continue to rise, or crash unexpectedly. It’s a volatile investment, but, for now, as we look forward to the future of Pokemon with Winds and Waves, it’s anyone’s guess where these cards celebrating the original 151 could go next.
If you’re after a pull that’s a little cheaper, why not check out Amazon’s latest sale, which has some epic Pokemon TCG discounts?
Sara Heritage is a journalist and freelance contributor, with 8 years of experience in gaming journalism. When she’s not gaming, you’ll probably find her building yet another LEGO set I absolutely did not need (yes, I’ve got thoughts on the Pokémon LEGO).
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