Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Celebration Has Been Ruined, Fans Complain

Published Sep 16, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT

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If you're a fan of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, you're probably aware of its intermittent stock issues. Some would call them "constant stock issues" depending on where you live, as pretty much any SKU, especially the Elite Trainer Boxes (EBTs), can be rare or nonexistent. Several retailers have discussed countermeasures to stop scalping, but it seems not every store is following that approach.

On X, fans are having a rough time during the full launch of the 30th anniversary set this week, with many saying scalpers have cleaned out stores and that some locations barely enforce SKU limits [via Nintendo Life].

For reference, the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration set is launching worldwide today, September 16. The set includes over 160 cards, making it more of a collector release, as every card will be holofoil and most will sport a 30th anniversary logo. Since it's all out on the same day, fans have noticed massive demand and are having trouble securing any product in some markets, with long lines trailing around the corners of stores before they open.

Of course, a lot of fans are disappointed at what has transpired during the launch, which was expected to be hotter than normal given the limited-time 30th celebration drop: "It's really heartbreaking. I can't get my hands on any 30th anniversary stuff unless I 1) call off work and go camp or 2) buy at scalper pricing. I miss when Pokémon was so abundant you could get it anywhere. So tired of pokebros ruining this space."

Some people have been Pokémon fans since day one, so this part of the 30th celebration isn't going well for them. Another fan explains: "I was out somewhere today for unrelated reasons and I saw at least 5 shops with long queues for Pokémon cards, and people were walking into the later opening shops with huge bags already filled with Pokémon TGC stuff from other stores."

This isn't limited to the United States, either. Another fan situated in Mexico shared their experience: "Worse in other countries. I’m from Mexico only places we can get cards are local game stores or Gameplanet, which is our 'GameScalp.' They were pricing a Chaos Rising ETB for 175 dollars, and almost all local card shops sell near market most of the time."

While yet another enthusiast explained what the situation was like in the UK: "Worked late to slept late, woke up to these queues for the Pokémon 30th Celebration drop… Yeah, I'm not getting UK supply for months."

At my local Target, they initiated a "one per SKU per household" rule, and it worked out pretty well. Folks 40th or so in line could still get product, but that's not common. Plus, once this initial stock is done, it'll be tougher to get restocks, if they even hit some markets.

While the Pokémon Trading Card Game is still doing well commercially, there's still a long way to go to prevent scalping.