Charizard and Gengar headline the new Pokemon TCG: Phantasmal Flames set, and fans are already worried the rarest cards may never reach their hands.
The Mega Evolutions expansion, revealed today, features over 120 new cards, including 10 Trainer cards and 15 Special Illustration Rares. With Charizard and Gengar taking the spotlight, collectors are bracing for another high-stakes hunt. The set officially launches on November 14, 2025, and hype has already hit a boiling point.
Scalping has become a growing issue in the Pokemon TCG scene, with bots and resellers scooping up product before regular fans have a chance to buy. The franchise has seen a surge of popularity over the past year, which has only intensified competition for securing packs and driven 3rd party prices sky-high.
Scalpers already circling Phantasmal Flames
Beyond being a fresh expansion, Phantasmal Flames leans heavily on Charizard, the single most expensive and sought-after Pokemon in TCG history. Every time the fan-favorite appears in a set, its rarest versions quickly climb to astronomical resale values, and collectors know this time will be no different.
That history has players nervous, fearing scalpers will clear shelves before launch. Those fears gained credibility after a post from PokeTCGAlerts claimed: “Pokemon Center was expected to turn on their queue, but sadly some botting group has found a way to purchase Phantasmal Flames early… drop may be delayed now.” The post included screenshots allegedly showing purchases being made ahead of official pre-orders, sparking frustration among fans online.
PokeTCGAlerts later claimed that 42,000 Phantasmal Flames items had been purchased by a bot from the Pokemon Center website.