It would be extremely difficult if impossible to even guestimate the number of these cards released unfortunately. This card was given out as a luxury prize card to commemorate the release of “Clash at the summit” (Triumphant) expansion pack, on winning 3 consecutive matches. You could get them via 1) Gym Challenge events 2) Challenge Plaza events and 3) Pokemon Card Get battle events.
The event started from 8th July 2010 but I have never found how long these events ran for. It is also known that even when these events were ‘officially’ over, there was a high possibility that the left over prize cards (if any) were always handed out to players in future events, specially at Gym Challenge locations which were much more close knit communities locally.
One player blog posts I read about states that they went for one of the Challenge plaza events in July of 2010. They had to play 9 rounds just in the morning session and ended the day with 7 Indigo Plateau cards end of the day. This is just one person, one day, one event getting 7 cards, which also indicates no-limit to how many times a player can enter. Any good player can basically farm these cards if they want to.
The PSA pop does not reflect this but it is very safe to assume that a lot of these cards were distributed.
Great analysis. You can infer a lot from the external blog posts!
For me personally, even if distribution numbers weren’t necessarily small (though I suspect they were when comparing to set releases), there’s still so much inherent value in the method of acquisition of these cards. Specific time, specific country, specific events. They were never available to simply pull off the shelves, one of the big reasons owning cards like these is so satisfying.
100%. Besides set cards, even all the promos are not created equally. I think the promos related to ‘event-distribution’ have a far more weightage, in my personal opinion compared to any ‘product distribution’ promos since almost anyone can go and buy the product to get the promo card. Event distribution promos need you to know the tcg game firstly, lots of planning, and then put in the hours to practice and hone those skills, and of course have a lot more stories associated with them.
Another vote here for the McDonald’s promos! (gotta stay loyal to the profile pic). I feel like the cards have a great identity and it’s a bonus that they are easy to collect!
Estimates aren’t possible since there were so many stores & locations hosting events. Just think of it as a more exclusive prerelease promo for a set release that had to be won rather than being given out to all participants.
