PSA Flags $200M+ in Counterfeits 🤥, Japanese Sky Legend Booster Box Sells $700 🐤, PSA 10 Armored Mewtwo Sells $8k ⚔️, Holon Research Unlimited Booster Pack Sells $3.1k 🔬

🔵 PSA Flags $200M+ in Counterfeits

PSA's 2025 Fraud Report estimates that intercepted counterfeit and altered collectibles would have carried over $200 million in market value if they had passed as authentic.

Counterfeit Pokémon cards jumped 125% year-over-year and altered Pokémon cards rose 407%, with nine of the ten most-altered subjects being Pokémon characters. The fastest-growing counterfeit targets were 2014 M Gengar EX (+656%), 2013 Lugia EX Full Art (+640%), 2015 M Rayquaza EX (+520%), and the 2023 151 Charizard ex SIR (+480%).

🔵 Pokemon Vending Machines Being Pulled From Retail Locations

The Pokémon Company has begun gradually removing TCG vending machines from select retail locations, citing the goal of "improved stock consistency, reduced regional shortages, and a more reliable experience for all players." The kiosks were meant to give average buyers a fair shot through purchase limits and timed restocks, but resellers consistently camped, exploited a glitch that overrode purchase limits, and clashed with other shoppers, with some stores pulling machines over safety concerns.

🔵 First Partner Illustration Collection Series 2 Promos Revealed

The Illustration Rare promos for Series 2 of the First Partner Illustration Collection have been revealed, featuring the Johto, Unova, and Paldea starters with artwork highlighting iconic locations and items from each region.

The collection releases June 19th for $14.99 and includes a special promo pack with three of nine region-specific Illustration Rares, two regular booster packs, and a sticker sheet. Series 3 will follow later this year covering Hoenn, Kalos, and Galar.

🔵 Japanese Sky Legend Booster Box Sells for $700

Sky Legend (SM10b) is a Japanese subset from the Sun & Moon era, released as the second enhancement to Double Blaze. Cards from this set are split across English Hidden Fates and Unified Minds. Notable chase pulls include Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno GX, Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor GX, and the Jessie & James trainer.

Sealed Type - Year: Booster Box - 2019
Contents: 30 packs, 5 cards per pack
Sales History: April 2026 comps clustered between $500 and $640, with the recent high at $639 on April 22, 2026 (~+10% vs current). Boxes traded around $420 to $425 in November 2025, marking a ~+65% run over six months.

🔵 EX Red & Blue Collection Box Sells for $2.15k

Pikachu EX was the fourth and final variant in the 2016 Red & Blue 20th anniversary lineup, released September 14, 2016.

Sealed Type - Year: Collection Box - 2016
Contents: Pikachu EX XY124 promo, 4 Generations booster packs, Pikachu figure
Sales History: Pikachu EX boxes were averaging around $332 in January 2025 and $387 by February 2025. The current $2.15k sale is roughly 5x what these were going for about a year ago.

🔵 PSA 10 Gameboy Mewtwo Sells for $5.4k

This holo Mewtwo was a Japanese exclusive promo packed inside copies of Pokémon Card GB2: The Invasion of Team GR! for Game Boy Color, sealed in a packet alongside the Lugia GB promo. The game launched on March 28, 2001, one week after the GBA. The card carries a "GB" stamp in place of the expansion symbol, marking its tie to the video game.

Singles Type - Condition: Graded - PSA 10
Set Name - Year: Japanese Promo (Game Boy) - 2001
Sales History: A PSA 10 sold for $900 one year ago in June 2025 (~+500% vs current) and $340 in June 2024 (~+1,488% vs current).

🔵 PSA 10 Armored Mewtwo Sells for $8k

Armored Mewtwo SM228 was distributed exclusively inside the Fall 2019 Pokémon Collector Chest tin, packed alongside SM226 Charizard and SM227 Pikachu. The set commemorated the release of Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution, the CGI remake of the original Pokémon movie. It marked Armored Mewtwo's first appearance in the English TCG.

Singles Type - Condition: Graded - PSA 10
Set Name - Year: Fall 2019 Collector Chest) - 2019
Sales History: A PSA 10 sold for $4.2k via auction in October 2025 (~+90% vs current), $777 in September 2024 (~+930%), and $500 in May 2024 (~+1,500%).

🔵 Japanese Holon Research Unlimited Booster Pack Sells for $3.1k

Holon Research Tower is the Japanese name for what was released as EX Delta Species in English, dropping October 28, 2005. The set introduced Delta Species Pokémon (Pokémon with off-type matchups) and Holon's Pokémon that doubled as Special Energy cards. Chase pulls include the era's Gold Star cards (Groudon, Kyogre, Metagross), which are the main long-term draw on sealed packs.

Origin Source - Year: Booster Pack - 2005
Sales History: Mid-2024 sales were landing between $650 and $930. The current $3.1k sale is a 292% increase from those prices.

🔵 HGSS Triumphant Prime Challenge Box Sells for $1.8k

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Origin Source - Year: Collection Box - 2010
Sales History: The Yanmega variant last sold for $375 in September 2024. The current $1.8k sale is roughly 5x that price about a year and a half later.