Market Pulse archive
BullishMay 17, 2026Daily report

Market Surges with 73% of Cards Rising, Mewtwo Leads with 143% Gain

Bullish sentiment prevails as collectors capitalize on rising values.

Tracked

39,507

Up

1,067

Down

401

Top move

+143.0%

Today in one read

The Pokémon card market is experiencing a bullish sentiment, with 1,067 cards (73%) showing gains, while only 401 cards have declined, and 38,039 remain flat. This positive momentum is reflected in the historical context, where the market average has seen a...

Signal 1 / Signal read

Market Overview

Market signal

The Pokémon card market is experiencing a bullish sentiment, with 1,067 cards (73%) showing gains, while only 401 cards have declined, and 38,039 remain flat. This positive momentum is reflected in the historical context, where the market average has seen a 7-day change of +0.2% and a 30-day change of +0.6%. Notably, total sales over the last 7 days reached 72,580, indicating robust trading activity as collectors respond to rising values. With 39,507 cards tracked, the market is poised for further growth, particularly with standout performers like Mewtwo from the Scarlet and Violet 151 set, which has surged 143% to $4.68.

Signal 2 / Momentum leader

Top Movers

Top mover

Leading the gains this week is Mewtwo (SV Scarlet and Violet 151 #150/165), which has skyrocketed 143.0% to $4.68. Bulbasaur (ME Mega Evolution Promo #037) follows closely with an 80.0% increase, now priced at $44.28. Pikachu (SWSH11 Lost Origin #052/196) has also made significant strides, up 67.2% to $6.74. Other notable gainers include Gothitelle (SV Scarlet and Violet Promo Cards #211) at $4.76 (+65.7%) and Slowpoke (SV Paldean Fates #116/091) at $20.38 (+54.6%).

Signal 3 / Volume watch

Volume Watch

Demand spike

Unusual trading activity has been observed in multiple cards, indicating heightened demand. Raticate (ME03 Perfect Order) experienced a 3.9x increase in volume, with 55 sales against an average of 14, resulting in a price rise of 20.5%. Similarly, Pikachu (SWSH11 Lost Origin) saw a 4.3x volume spike with 12 sales, correlating with its 67.2% price increase. This surge in volume for these cards suggests a growing interest from collectors, potentially leading to sustained price increases.

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...
+3.5%
Crown Zenith Gala...
+3.2%
SWSH10 Astral Rad...
+2.5%
SWSH09 Brilliant ...
+2.1%

The SWSH10 Astral Radiance set has outperformed the market average significantly, with a 7-day change of +6.8%, exceeding the market's +0.2% by 6.5%. This set has a composite score of 2 and includes 351 cards, with a notable top gainer, Registeel, which has surged by an impressive 2289.7%. In contrast, the ME Mega Evolution Promo set has shown a 7-day increase of +3.5%, slightly above the market average, with Bulbasaur leading the charge at +80.0%. However, with a composite score of 23 and 70 cards tracked, the set's overall performance remains moderate compared to the best performers. Meanwhile, the Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery set has also shown resilience with a +3.2% change, benefiting from a robust 30-day increase of +13.3%, indicating strong collector interest.

Signal 5 / Cooling tape

Notable Declines

Decliner

While the market is predominantly bullish, several cards have seen notable declines, presenting potential buy opportunities. Canari (ME Ascended Heroes #257/217) has dropped 26.0% to $3.73, while Mega Venusaur ex (Prize Pack Series Cards #003/132) fell 25.0% to $8.82. These declines could signal undervaluation, especially considering the fair value context. For instance, Mega Venusaur ex could rebound as collectors look for historically strong cards at lower prices.

Signal 6 / Set spotlight

Set Spotlight: ME Mega Evolution Promo (2025)

Set signal

The ME Mega Evolution Promo set has shown a 7-day average price change of +3.5% with a composite score of 23. This set includes 70 cards, with Bulbasaur emerging as the top gainer at +80.0%. Despite the lack of high momentum cards, the set's overall performance is promising, with 7,108 sales indicating strong collector interest. As the market continues to evolve, this set could see further appreciation, particularly for cards with historical significance.

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
Manaphy30.0x5.83175.154.00

PSA 10 premiums are trending positively, with Mega Charizard X ex showing a remarkable 68.5x premium from a raw price of $7.63 to $522.40. Gengar also demonstrates strong potential, with a 56.4x premium from $5.50 to $309.98. Other notable cards include Mega Charizard Y ex at a 53.0x premium and Dragonite at 36.6x. These trends indicate that high-quality graded cards are becoming increasingly valuable, making them attractive targets for investment.

Signal 8 / Fair value

Fair Value Buys

Value gap
Undervalued Cards — Fair Value Analysis
CardSignalUpside %ConfidenceFair ValueCurrent Price
NemonaSTRONG_BUY731.9083%57.576.92
Shining VolcanionSTRONG_BUY681.2051%59.847.66
Darkrai EXSTRONG_BUY670.6055%82.4510.70
Ho-Oh EXSTRONG_BUY599.2053%43.006.15
ArvenSTRONG_BUY513.9083%60.539.86
Silvally GXSTRONG_BUY410.1055%40.457.93

Several undervalued cards present significant upside potential. Nemona, currently priced at $6.92, has a fair value of $57.57, indicating a +731.9% upside and a STRONG_BUY signal with 83% confidence. Similarly, Shining Volcanion at $7.66 shows a +681.2% upside potential, and Darkrai EX at $10.70 has a +670.6% upside. These cards are strong candidates for collectors looking to capitalize on undervalued assets.

Signal 9 / Set spotlight

Set Value Tracker

Set signal
Set Value Changes (7 Day)
SetCards7d ChangeAvg PriceCard SalesTotal ValueSealed Sales
SV03 Obsidian Flames (2023)414.008.201.495,602615.2040.00
McDonalds Promos 2023 (2023)15.007.401.08105.0016.164.00
SV04 Paradox Rift (2023)436.004.902.786,1111,212.4812.00
SV01 Scarlet and Violet Base Set (2023)458.004.602.026,615926.8921.00
SV Prismatic Evolutions (2025)447.004.4012.7713,5495,707.21262.00
SV05 Temporal Forces (2024)362.003.703.464,6561,252.930

The SV03 Obsidian Flames set has gained the most total value this week, reaching $615.20 with an 8.2% increase, while the SV04 Paradox Rift set follows with a total value of $1,212.48, up 4.9%. In contrast, the ME Mega Evolution Promo set has a lower average card price of $12.77 but remains competitive with strong sealed product demand, evidenced by 7,108 sales. This suggests that while some sets are appreciating in value, others are maintaining solid demand through 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)6.001.700.28Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle 2024 - Mini Booster Pack14.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)36.00187.935.22Perfect Order Booster Box18.00
SV09 Journey Together (2025)1.006.626.62Journey Together Booster Pack7.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)1.006.656.65Perfect Order Booster Pack18.00
ME03 Perfect Order (2026)1.006.796.79Perfect Order Sleeved Booster Pack18.00
ME01 Mega Evolution (2025)36.00250.006.94Mega Evolution Half Booster Box13.00

The Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle 2024 offers the best value, priced at $1.70 for 6 packs, equating to $0.28 per pack. In comparison, the Perfect Order Booster Box (ME03 Perfect Order 2026) is priced at $187.93 for 36 packs, resulting in a cost of $5.22 per pack. As collectors seek value, these products stand out for their affordability and potential for profitable pulls.

Signal 11 / Forward read

Looking Ahead

Outlook

The Pokémon card market is positioned for continued growth, driven by bullish sentiment and significant trading activity. Collectors should focus on high-momentum sets like SWSH10 Astral Radiance and ME Mega Evolution Promo, which are outperforming the market. Additionally, the arbitrage opportunities present a lucrative avenue for savvy investors, particularly with high-value cards like Shining Charizard. Monitoring volume spikes and grading trends will be essential for identifying the next wave of investment opportunities.

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.