A newly revealed Illustration Rare variant of Misty’s Psyduck for thePokémon Trading Card Gamehas some fans worried that its price will skyrocket due to the characters' popularity. Later this month, thePokémon Trading Card Gamewill launch Journey Together, a new internationalPokémon TCGsetfeaturing Trainer’s Pokémon. Many of these cards will receive variant versions, showcasing the Trainer and their Pokémon battling or living together side-by-side.
Over the weekend, The Pokémon Company revealed a brand-new look at the Illustration Rare version of Misty’s Psyduck, which shows Misty swimming alongside the fan-favorite Pokémon.The new card will be in theDestined Rivalsset,a leaked set due for release later this spring. Commenters onPokeBeachare worried that the card’s price will skyrocket due to the beloved duo’s gorgeous art and new look. “That is [an] amazing card and gonna be worth a pretty penny,” wrote userThe Legend.Many other users also assumed the new card would go for a high price on the secondary market.
Why Misty’s Psyduck Could Become The Next Big Pokémon TCG Chase Card
Card Features Fan-Favorite Pokémon And Beloved Trainer
Historically, three kinds ofPokémoncards have fetched a high price on the secondary market. Alternate versions of meta-relevant cards always have an inflated price because players want them for their deck. Fan-favorite Pokémon like Charizard and Umbreon usually command a premium price because of their collectability. Finally,cards featuring fan-favorite female trainers usually fetch a premium due to what some fans call the “waifu factor,“as players like cards featuring their favorite characters from the games and the overall franchise.
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Misty’s Psyduck falls into the latter two categories. TheScarlet & Violet - 151alternate art card of Psyduckcurrently sells for over $31, largely because Psyduck is a fan-favorite Pokémon. Misty’s Favor from theSun & Moonset Unified Minds sells for $180on secondary websites.A card featuring Psyduck and Misty will probably sell for even more than the 151 Psyduck.If the supply is low enough, we could even see prices approaching the last alternate-art Misty card, although it seems unlikely for now.
Our Take: High Demand Has Us Worried About Alternate Art Card Prices
Scalpers, Not Chase Cards, Are The Big Concern For Upcoming Pokémon TCG Sets
The real issue with any of these new variant versions of Trainer’s Pokémon cards is the supply crisis facing thePokémon Trading Card Game.Scalpers are snatching up product and re-selling them at inflated prices, andit feels like The Pokémon Company and retailers are poorly equipped to handle it.
IfJourney TogetherandDestined Rivalsdon’t have stock available, every alternate art card will have supply issues, not just popular trainers like Misty. Hopefully, thePokémon Trading Card Gamehas a plan to get these cards to fans and players and not just scalpers.
