Pokémon Cards: Hype or Investment

A hand reaches toward a Pokémon 30th anniversary card box displayed on a store shelf. Other Pokémon trading card products are arranged around it. As Pokémon celebrates 30 years, its popularity continues to bring together collectors with different interests.

However, the increasing costs have also raised concerns about whether the hobby will remain affordable. Pokémon celebrated its 30th anniversary by releasing a special card collection on Sept. 16, 2026: the 30th Celebration expansion pack.

The collection highlights 30 different Pikachu cards, classic designs from earlier years, and new types of rare cards. The release of the set attracted more customers to collect it, but rising prices have also drawn attention to resellers. “I think there are more people buying this pack because it has better hit points.

In terms of people’s desire for certain packs, there’s definitely a higher desire for celebrations because of the hit rates being much more friendly compared to all the other stuff,” said Kevin Chen, an employee at What’s On Second Sports Cards who also sells Pokémon cards at trading card shows.

For collectors, including students at Carlmont High School, Pokémon cards have become more than something to trade with friends. Some enjoy collecting their favorite characters, while others are interested in how much their cards could be worth in the future. “I got really interested in it this year because I heard the 30th Celebration was out, and then I started playing Pokémon Go,” said Selina Fang, a Carlmont student who began collecting in 2018.

Fang returned to Pokémon after a break in 2022. Her interest comes mainly from the card artwork, not from the trading card game. “ I don’t care about the value, it’s just like, oh my gosh, it’s so pretty,” Fang said.

Keonie Lam, president of Carlmont’s Pokémon Club, shares Fang’s interest in collecting cards, mainly because she enjoys the artwork. “I can’t play the game, so I just kind of do it purely for art,” Lam said. However, Lam is less impressed by some of the anniversary designs, showing how collectors can have different opinions about the same release.

“Card-wise, I’ll be honest, they’re really ugly,” Lam said. On the other hand, Fang really enjoys what the 30th Celebration pack has to offer. “I really like that set, I’ve heard it’s overprinted, and that’s good for us because we get more hits, ” Fang said.

Beyond the artwork, the growing resale market has attracted buyers more interested in making money than in collecting. “A lot of people have been buying just to try to flip it for some extra money quickly,” Chen said. The estimated resale value of the 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box has declined since August but remains more than twice its original retail price.

According to TCGplayer , the 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box originally had a suggested retail price of $49.99. Its market price reached $187.77 during September presales, then dropped to $117.98 by Oct. 28, according to Set Pulls .

Despite concerns about reselling, Fang believes people should decide for themselves how they spend their money. “I think it’s honestly up to them because it’s their money, because it is technically a form of investment, ” Fang said. For other collectors, the increasing number of buyers has made purchasing cards more frustrating.

“You go to Target, and then there’s like a whole line of just like straight adults, not a single kid in sight,” Lam said. At What’s On Second Sports Cards, Chen said the anniversary products have sold quickly, making the store restock packs and Elite Trainer Boxes multiple times. “There’s definitely more people asking about it,” Chen said.

However, the increased interest in the anniversary collection has not necessarily brought more customers into the store overall. Both Elite Trainer Boxes rose well above their original retail prices in August before dropping in October, showing that the initial hype has begun to fade.

“I don’t think more people came, at least for the store itself,” Chen said. While some collectors continue purchasing cards for their artwork and memories, others are drawn to their potential resale value. With prices continuing to fluctuate, the future of the current Pokémon card craze remains uncertain.

“I don’t think everyone’s gonna continue to pay, you know, ten plus dollars for a pack,” Chen said. Chen hopes that prices will eventually settle down, allowing more people to enjoy collecting without worrying about making money. “I think it will go down, hopefully come back down enough so that it’s an affordable hobby rather than everything being inflated due to everyone trying to make money off the hobby,” Chen said.

About the Contributor Bianca Iong (class of 2029) is a sophomore and staff writer for the Carlmont High School student news site, Scot Scoop. She loves reading any kind of books, playing badminton and listening to music. She also really loves to eat and wishes to travel the world.