Consensus opion seems to be that SV base, Paldea, Paradox, and probably even temporal are beyond reprint targets considering the two year time window and the environment regarding the reprint topic. What about sets like Twilight and on though? Sets like Surging Sparks as well?
The whole thing about TPC not wanting to reprint booster boxes seems kind of weird to me because they could just sell direct to consumer on the Pokemon center website. Let me know your thoughts!
There is no hard rule for reprints. Pokemon does what it wants.
The rule of thumb is if the cards are out of rotation for competitive play, you probably won’t see full dedicated reprints. You might see loose packs in tins or something.
The issue with printing old sets is that they can just as easily move on to new sets and still sell just as much product. They don’t really have incentive to go back to printing old sets right now in my opinion. They own Millennium Print Group and seem to barely print enough to meet demand in a very modest way right now. They might be a multi billion dollar franchise and international conglomerate but a printing facility and warehouse can only put through so much product no matter how much money you’re raking in. Until they build or buy more printing facilities they dont really have the capacity to go backward and restart printing processes for old sets.
Also to add - the players already have access to the playable cards from the earlier sets. A lot of playables were reprinted in later sets, prize pack cards, etc. So the players are taken care of.
Their target is going to be the last year of sets and whatever is current. Their is no reason to print SV base when that print slot could be used for more recent sets.
Pokémon is not going to invest in more print facilities. TCG makes up only a little % of their revenue. They would rather have an appearance of small supply than correct the supply issue. I think if TPCi added another print facility, the first set printed to meet demand will be below MSRP and half the demand goes away for the set after that.
This is my tin foil hat theory
Pokemon is shifting to wholesale (Sam’s, BJs, Costco) right now to get the most product into the hands of consumers at or below retail. They know they won’t charge above suggested MSRP.
Whereas Distribution/LGS channel has been muddy. Distributors besides initial stocking have been charging LGS basically 20% below market.
Booster boxes are basically an item that only LGS take. Yes Best Buy sometimes drops them and Target did for Megas, but only a small amount and online only.
It doesn’t make sense for Pokemon IMO to reprint a LGS only SKU, whereas if they focus print run/reprint booster bundles..an item that both big box/wholesale and LGS can take.
To build on your point - IMO Pokemon intentionally reset their entire sales channel flow to increase margins. Owning a business that sells B2B and DTC - what they did was genius.
Prior to the change, nearly all of their product funneled to their lowest margin segment - distribution - which in turn went to LGS (including target/walmart/etc.). That led to below MSRP pricing overall with everyone undercutting each other. The result - Pokemon was unable to sell DTC (highest margin) through Pokemon Center, often with inventory sitting for months and months.
To change their business model, it appears they dramatically reduced the amount of product going to distribution, which drove up LGS pricing due to manufactured scarcity. This led to products moving above MSRP, meaning the cheapest option was Pokemon Center, leading to a massive increase in DTC sales at their highest possible margin. Now, they are funneling more product at Wholesale (higher margins than Distribution) directly to Costco/Sams/BJs.
End result - they are selling the same or more product, but they are now capturing the margin, rather than giving it up to everyone in the middle.
Really, really smart.
Can’t remember who shared (Rudy or SM Pratte ) but if the rumor that Pokemon is actually selling reprints to Distribution at a HIGHER price than the initial print… my Tin Hat theory is that Initial print runs are bigger than ever, but Pokemon’s initial allocation to distribution is intentionally smaller to create LGS scarcity to drive market prices higher, driving the market to buy DTC during peak hype - where they hold the majority of the inventory and now margin. Then they drip more product from reprints to distribution, at a higher price, which maintains scarcity and high market prices… then they start moving significant reprints at Wholesale while there is still hype. Thus, they are really reducing the amount sold through distributors. Tin hat off now.
The bear/normal market in 2026 (yes it’s starting at some point in 2026, take it to the bank) will see numerous restocks of SV era on PC Online. TPCi aren’t daft. They’ve seen this behaviour before and they’ll just let the Timmies tire themselves out like they did last time. Reprinting older product and making earlier SV-era available again isn’t even about caring™ about the collector base. It would almost guarantee buoyant cashflow throughout the quieter period while giving them carte blanche to claim they’re sUpPortiNg oUr cUsTomERs. Once reprints coincide with a sufficient retreat of wider market interest from the TCG it will begin to embed normal market conditions. Just kick back with your pina colada in the meantime and watch it all slowly and hilariously unfold.
