Pokemon.FM Blog
Set guides, chase-card breakdowns, market analysis and honest collector tips. Written from scratch by the Pokemon.FM desk.
Chaos Rising: Mega Greninja Lands and the Chase List Gets Wild
A field guide to the May 2026 Chaos Rising expansion — what's in the 122-card list, where pull odds sit, and which slots are quietly worth holding past launch.
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Perfect Order: A Smaller Set That Punches Above Its Print Run
The March 2026 Perfect Order release is only 124 cards, but the chase list — led by a Mega Zygarde ex Hyper Rare — is doing real damage to long-term portfolios.
Ascended Heroes: Inside 2026's Biggest Set on Record
295 cards, a brand-new Mega Attack Rare tier, the first Mega Dragonite ex, and Team Rocket's Mewtwo. A walkthrough of the largest single Pokémon TCG expansion ever printed.
The Pikachu Illustrator Returns to Auction — Why $12M Is on the Table
The only PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator in existence is back up for sale. A look at the card's history, why this particular copy commands a generational premium, and what the result will mean for the rest of the vintage market.
Phantasmal Flames: Mega Charizard X Eats the Print Run
A walkthrough of the November 2025 Phantasmal Flames set, the chase list it produced, and why the Mega Charizard X SIR is still the only thing anyone is talking about.
How Much Are My Pokémon Cards Worth? A Honest 2025 Guide
What separates a $5 binder card from a $500 one, how to check live prices without being fooled by listing noise, and the valuation mistakes that cost collectors real money.
PSA 10 vs PSA 9: What the Grade Premium Is Actually Worth
An honest look at the real price spread between PSA 10 and PSA 9 across modern and vintage Pokémon cards — and when the grading bet makes financial sense.
Pokémon Card Rarity Symbols: Every Symbol From 1999 to Today
From simple circles, diamonds, and stars to gold etched secrets and Trainer Galleries — a complete visual reference for identifying every Pokémon rarity tier ever printed.
Base Set in 2025: How the Original Holos Are Trading Now
Twenty-six years in, the 1999 Base Set is still the benchmark for vintage Pokémon. A snapshot of where the 16 holos sit in 2025 — and which ones are quietly outperforming.
Sealed vs Singles: Which Actually Holds Value Longer?
Sealed booster boxes have spent the last decade as the default 'long-term hold' for Pokémon — but the data has gotten messier. A clear-eyed comparison.
The 151 Set One Year Later: What Actually Happened to Prices
The Scarlet & Violet 151 release was the hype event of 2023. A year-plus later, here's what the secondary market actually did — and what it didn't.
How to Spot a Fake Pokémon Card in 60 Seconds
Counterfeits keep getting better. A short, practical checklist for telling real from fake without expensive tools — at home, at a card show, or on the floor at a meetup.
Crypto on the Cardboard Market: Why USDT Is Eating Card Payments
Stablecoins have become the quiet default for international Pokémon transactions. A look at why, how it actually works in practice, and what to watch for.
Holiday 2024 Pokémon Buying Guide: What's Actually Worth Buying
The holiday shelves are full of Pokémon product again. A guide to which 2024 collections, ETBs, and tins are worth the MSRP, and which to skip.
Trick or Trade 2024: The Halloween Promo Set Worth Talking About
Pokémon's annual Halloween booster bag was bigger than ever in 2024. A look at what was inside, which promos mattered, and how the secondary market reacted.
Surging Sparks: Inside the Pikachu ex Frenzy
Surging Sparks delivered the most-hyped Pikachu card in years. A breakdown of why the Special Illustration Rare exploded — and where the set sits now.
Twilight Masquerade: Where the Chase Cards Sit Six Months In
Twilight Masquerade quietly produced one of 2024's strongest chase lists. A six-month price check on the cards that mattered.
Temporal Forces: Iron Crown ex and the Future-Paradox Investment Notes
Temporal Forces introduced the Future Paradox subset and delivered one of 2024's more competitive chase lists. A focused look at where Iron Crown ex and friends ended up.
Paldean Fates: How the Shiny Subset Reshuffled 2024 Demand
Shiny-subset sets are their own market. Paldean Fates leaned into that hard and produced a chase list that played by completely different rules.
Pokémon TCG 2024 Outlook: What to Watch This Year
Heading into 2024, the Pokémon market is in a different mood than it was 12 months ago. A pragmatic outlook on what to track, what to ignore, and where the upside likely sits.