The world of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) is a flurry of activity. From the current state of affairs of forged Pokémon collectors items coming to light due to forensic techniques, to scalpers artificially manipulating the market trend of an expansion's newest release, there is always something happening.
Local Game Stores Under Threat
For instance, in Melbourne, Australia, a series of break-ins have been occurring left and right as thieves target Local Game Stores. Camera footage from across different locations shows a group breaking into closed - and securely locked - local game stores, quickly wheeling in bins, and making off with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. The more expensive items singularly cost at least $600 each.
In an interview with 9 News, Jason Zhe from ‘Grand J Games’ - one of the stores targeted - expressed fear at the situation, worried that the perpetrators had stalked him and learned his routine before robbing the store shortly after he had closed up.
Umbreon Cards on the Rise
How these thefts will eventually affect the market for the TCG, we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, there has been an interesting development in the online second-hand market. It has been no secret that the newly minted Umbreon Ex from the Prismatic Evolutions expansion set has been commanding a royal sum of over $1000, but it seems that even other card versions of the vaunted darkness-type Pokémon have been sharing in their siblings’ rise in value.
Cards like the Secret Alternate Art Umbreon Vmax from the Evolving Skies expansion are being sold at a matching price point, rivaling their Prismatic Evolution counterpart at about $1,600. Even the more mundane versions of Umbreon like the Alternate Art Umbreon V from the same Evolving Skies set have seen strong growth. Umbreon V started 2024 with a modest cost of $80 but now in 2025, this same card version has practically tripled in price at about $240 over at TCGplayer.com.
The Pokémon Company International has been taking steps to try and stabilize the second-hand market of their product line, like their previous announcement of the Prismatic Evolutions Premium Figure Collection to feature a copy of both Umbreon Ex and Espeon Ex.
Hopefully, when more time has passed, more people will have an easier time accessing all these beautiful creations of the shared hobby enjoyed by so many today.