Market Pulse archive
BullishMay 14, 2026Daily report

Market Surges: 74% of Cards Gain as Bulbasaur Soars 121.3%

A bullish sentiment drives significant price increases across the Pokémon card market.

Tracked

39,340

Up

1,068

Down

375

Top move

+121.3%

Today in one read

The Pokémon card market is experiencing a bullish sentiment today, with 1,068 cards (74%) showing price increases, while only 375 cards are declining. The total number of tracked cards stands at 39,340, demonstrating a healthy market activity with 37,897 ca...

Signal 1 / Signal read

Market Overview

Market signal

The Pokémon card market is experiencing a bullish sentiment today, with 1,068 cards (74%) showing price increases, while only 375 cards are declining. The total number of tracked cards stands at 39,340, demonstrating a healthy market activity with 37,897 cards remaining flat. Historical context reveals a market average 7-day change of +0.2% and a 30-day change of +0.6%, indicating a steady upward trend. The current momentum suggests that investors should focus on high-performing cards, particularly those within the Scarlet and Violet sets.

Signal 2 / Momentum leader

Top Movers

Top mover

Leading the charge this week is Bulbasaur (ME Mega Evolution Promo #037), which has skyrocketed to $50.75, reflecting a staggering 121.3% increase. Mewtwo (SV Scarlet and Violet 151 #150/165) follows closely, now priced at $3.16, marking a 143.0% gain. Other notable gainers include Gothitelle (SV Scarlet and Violet Promo Cards #211) at $5.39 (+84.6%) and Team Rocket's Wobbuffet (SV Scarlet and Violet Promo Cards #203) at $15.86 (+41.2%).

Signal 3 / Volume watch

Volume Watch

Demand spike

Unusual trading volume has been observed for Pikachu (SWSH11 Lost Origin #052/196), which experienced a 4.3x increase in sales volume, resulting in a price rise of 61.5%. Gardevoir (SWSH10 Astral Radiance Trainer Gallery) also saw a 4.3x volume spike, with its price increasing by 7.3%. These spikes indicate heightened demand and potential future price appreciation for these cards.

Signal 4 / Sector map

Sector Analysis

Category read

7-Day Performance vs Market Average

Market Avg
+0.2%
SWSH10 Astral Rad...
+6.8%
ME Mega Evolution...
+4.2%
SWSH12 Silver Tem...
+3.0%
Crown Zenith Gala...
+2.7%
SWSH10 Astral Rad...
+2.2%

In the latest sector analysis, the SWSH10 Astral Radiance set has outperformed the market with a 7-day average price change of +6.8%, exceeding the market average by 6.6%. This set has recorded 1,155 sales, with Luxray V (Full Art) leading as the top card. Conversely, the ME Mega Evolution Promo set has shown a more modest performance with a 7-day change of +4.2%, yet it remains competitive with 6,900 sales. Notably, Bulbasaur's 121.3% surge has significantly contributed to this set's overall performance, while the SWSH12 Silver Tempest Trainer Gallery is lagging, showing only a +3% change and indicating potential underperformance in comparison to the overall market trends. This analysis suggests that investors should prioritize sets with strong sales and upward momentum, particularly those in the Astral Radiance and Mega Evolution categories.

Signal 5 / Cooling tape

Notable Declines

Decliner

Several cards have seen notable declines, presenting potential buy opportunities. Lairon (SV06 Twilight Masquerade #184/167) has dropped 25.9% to $5.35, while Canari (ME Ascended Heroes #257/217) fell 26.0% to $3.75. These declines may indicate undervaluation, especially considering the fair value context, which suggests that Lairon could rebound given its historical performance.

Signal 6 / Set spotlight

Set Spotlight: SWSH10 Astral Radiance

Set signal

The SWSH10 Astral Radiance set has shown resilience with an average 7-day price change of +6.8% and a composite score of 2. Despite having no high momentum cards, it has recorded a total value of $592.68 across 350 cards. The top card, Luxray V (Full Art), is indicative of the set's overall strength, and its performance suggests that collectors should keep a close eye on this set as it continues to gain traction.

Signal 7 / Grading watch

Grading Watch

Grade signal
PSA 10 Grading Premiums
CardPremiumRAW PricePSA 10 PricePSA 10 Sales
Mega Charizard X ex68.5x7.63522.404.00
Gengar56.4x5.50309.983.00
Mega Charizard Y ex53.0x7.18380.724.00
Dragonite36.6x5.55202.984.00
Charizard ex35.0x7.74270.5421.00
Chimchar27.8x8.99250.008.00

The premium for PSA 10 graded cards remains robust, with Mega Charizard X ex showing a remarkable 68.5x premium, selling for $522.40 compared to its raw price of $7.63. Gengar also demonstrates strong potential with a 56.4x premium at $309.98 from a raw price of $5.50. Investors should consider these high-premium cards for grading as they continue to yield significant returns.

Signal 8 / Fair value

Fair Value Buys

Value gap
Undervalued Cards — Fair Value Analysis
CardSignalUpside %ConfidenceFair ValueCurrent Price
NemonaSTRONG_BUY773.3085%57.206.55
Shining VolcanionSTRONG_BUY670.8051%59.587.73
Darkrai EXSTRONG_BUY667.8055%82.4610.74
Ho-Oh EXSTRONG_BUY601.6053%43.016.13
ArvenSTRONG_BUY519.7085%60.239.72
Silvally GXSTRONG_BUY435.9055%40.417.54

Several cards are currently undervalued with substantial upside potential. Nemona, priced at $6.55, has a fair value of $57.20, representing a +773.3% upside and a STRONG_BUY signal with 85% confidence. Similarly, Shining Volcanion at $7.73 has a fair value of $59.58 (+670.8% upside), making it another strong candidate for investment. These opportunities indicate a market ripe for strategic buys.

Signal 9 / Set spotlight

Set Value Tracker

Set signal
Set Value Changes (7 Day)
SetCards7d ChangeAvg PriceCard SalesTotal ValueSealed Sales
ME02 Phantasmal Flames (2025)226.00-6.606.514,6121,471.14321.00
SV03 Obsidian Flames (2023)414.006.501.435,557592.6881.00
SV05 Temporal Forces (2024)361.005.303.464,7261,247.6837.00
SV04 Paradox Rift (2023)436.004.702.746,3361,195.5440.00
SWSH11 Lost Origin (2022)377.004.603.74886.001,410.5933.00
McDonalds Promos 2024 (2025)15.004.201.28563.0019.149.00

The ME02 Phantasmal Flames set saw a total value decline of 6.6% over the last week, now totaling $1,471.14 with an average card price of $6.51. In contrast, SV05 Temporal Forces has gained 5.3% in value, totaling $1,247.68, with an average card price of $3.46. The demand for sealed products remains strong, particularly for the Perfect Order Booster Box, which has shown consistent sales, indicating a healthy market for sealed products.

Signal 10 / Pack tape

Pack Value Breakdown

Pack price
Best Pack Value — Sealed Product Comparison
SetPacksPrice$/PackProduct30d Sales
Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle 2024 (2024)6.001.640.27Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle 2024 - Mini Booster Pack14.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)36.00197.425.48Perfect Order Booster Box45.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)1.006.526.52Perfect Order Booster Pack18.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)6.0041.856.98Perfect Order Booster Bundle44.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)1.007.017.01Perfect Order Sleeved Booster Pack15.00
SV08 Surging Sparks (2024)36.00258.807.19Surging Sparks Booster Box30.00

The Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle 2024 offers the best value at $1.64 for 6 packs, translating to just $0.27 per pack. In comparison, the Perfect Order Booster Box (ME03 Perfect Order 2026) is priced at $197.42 for 36 packs, equating to $5.48 per pack. Investors should consider these options for cost-effective entry into the Pokémon card market.

Signal 11 / Forward read

Looking Ahead

Outlook

As the market continues to exhibit bullish trends, collectors should focus on high-performing cards from sets like SWSH10 Astral Radiance and ME Mega Evolution Promo. Monitoring volume spikes and grading premiums will be crucial for identifying emerging opportunities. The current landscape suggests that strategic investments in undervalued cards could yield significant returns in the coming weeks.

Market Pulse is generated from PokeLoupe market data and AI-assisted analysis. It is a collector research aid, not financial advice. Verify condition, seller context, photos, and current marketplace pricing before buying.