Brilliant Illusions Set Revealed for China 🃏, POP Series 5 Promo Pack Sells $2k 🤯, 254 Chinese Gengar Lot Sells $55.8k 👻, Uncut Base Set Pack Art Sheet Sells $15k 🎨
TCG News 📰
Brilliant Illusions Set Revealed for China
China’s eighth Scarlet & Violet set, Brilliant Illusions, has been revealed with Milotic ex as the headliner and a release date of March 13, 2026, offering both 5-card and 20-card booster packs. It’s a compilation pulling from Twilight Masquerade, Shrouded Fable, and Surging Sparks, continuing China’s accelerated catch-up lineup. The release also features a new Carmine Special Illustration Rare expected to stay China-exclusive, plus Carmine coin collections and special reverse holos. Mini bundles include Poké Ball vs. Master Ball reverse holos with a 99:1 ratio, while the gold coins are listed as 99× rarer than the standard coin versions. (PokéBeach)
Tokyo police arrest two men for suspected illegal purchase of Pokemon cards
Tokyo police have arrested two Vietnamese nationals for allegedly using 30 fictitious accounts to illegally purchase a large quantity of Pokémon cards. The suspects reportedly accessed the official Pokémon Center online store between June and September 2025 using fraudulently obtained SIM cards to bypass purchase limits. Authorities seized over 15,000 cards during searches of related facilities as part of an ongoing investigation into the scheme. They say the two are suspected of making at least 4 million yen, or about 25,500 dollars, by reselling some of the cards. (NHK).
Trading cards worth $100M on display in Vancouver for new event
The Collecttopia trading card convention debuted at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on February 7–8, 2026, featuring a "pop-up museum" with a collection valued at over $100 million. Highlights included seven ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator cards and a Pristine 10 Alpha Black Lotus, along with its original artwork. Organized by Jesse Peng and the TCG Hall of Fame, the event aimed to establish Vancouver as a global hub for the hobby, which is now recognized as a legitimate alternative investment. Beyond the exhibits, the convention featured vendor tables and creator panels while raising funds for the Starlight Foundation.(Source: CTV News)
📦 Sealed Product Market Highlights
20th Anniversary Generations Red And Blue Collection Boxes Sells for $7k
Since May 2025, individual Red & Blue Collection boxes have typically sold between $750 and $1,050. During that same period, full 4-box sets rose from $2,100 to $3,800. Today’s $7,000 set sale confirms that market prices for these sealed sets have nearly doubled in less than a year.
POP Series 5 Promo Pack Sells for $2k
Sold listings have gone for a similar $2k - $3k range over the past several months. In mid 2025, a PSA 10 Umbreon Gold Star sold for ~$50k while a PSA 1- Espeon sold for $32.6k.
Volcanion & Magearna Collector Chest Tin Sells for $1.37k
Across Aug 16, 2025 → Feb 7, 2026, recent comps are around ~$1.0k–$1.45k. Of the three promos, the Gengar EX goes for around $7k in a PSA 10. While the other two are under $350 in a PSA 10.
💎 Singles & Graded Cards Highlights
Lot of 254 PSA 10 CBB3 Chinese Exclusive Gengar Sells for $55.8K
The lot price implies an average of about $220 per PSA 10 ($55.8K ÷ 254), which is a meaningful wholesale discount (~39%) versus ~$360 single-copy comps.
Japanese Pokemon Center Promo Mega Tokyo's Pikachu 204/XY-P Sells for $6.65k
PSA 10 copies of this card steadily increased from around $5k - $10k and raw sales like this one suggest the prices of the graded cards will balloon even faster.
Complete PSA 10 Scream Munch Promo Set Sells for $33.5k
A similar set sold for $17k in mid 2025\. Just this week, a PSA 10 copy of the Mimikyu card sold for $13k.
🕰️ Vintage & Niche Market Highlights
Uncut Base Set Pack Art Sheet Sells for $15k
In December 2025, an uncut sheet of all 3 pack arts from Base Set sold for $325.
Japanese Starter Deck Base Set Case Sells for $17.7k
There was a similar sale in January 2026 for ~$13.5k.
PSA 9 Art Academy Xime Pikachu Sells $12.5k
A PSA 10 copy of this card sold for $30.1k in mid 2025.
While the first English cards officially hit U.S. shelves in January 1999, some of the very first English cards were actually distributed in 1998 through a "Demo Game" plastic pack. This rare 24-card set was used to teach mall-goers how to play and featured "shadowless" cards that preceded the famous Base Set. Interestingly, the TCG was originally developed by Creatures Inc. and was heavily inspired by the mechanics of Magic: The Gathering.