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  • Writer's pictureCourt (Wade) Caywood

The Shining Fates Disaster



by Finn, Grade 7


We’re barely 3 months into 2021 but a Pokémon card set has already been released. Shining Fates, based on the very popular Japanese set called Shiny Star V has just recently released and it was a hit. From regular shiny holos to new artworks of tournament viable cards to that elusive shiny Charizard VMAX, this set has something for everyone. But at the same time it doesn’t since it's being scalped immediately after stock goes live, being sold for 2 or even 3 times the price online. So, let’s go over the situation and how to get your hands on it.


What is Shining Fates?


Shining Fates is currently the most recent set of cards released in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, boosting over 70 normal cards. That may not be a lot but something does make up for it: Shinies and Secret Rares. There are around 100 Secret Rares in the set including things like full art Trainers and of course: Shinies, which are rarer, alternative colors for a certain Pokémon. There are 3 different kinds of Shinies in this set: Shiny Holos, Shiny Vs, and Shiny VMAXs, with the VMAXs being the rarest and containing the most expensive card in the set: a shiny Charizard VMAX.


What’s the Big Deal?


A set like Shining Fates hasn’t happened since 2019 with Hidden Fates, which was as far back in the Sun & Moon era. So, of course when people like me see shiny cardboard, we immediately become interested. So, due to the overwhelming demand and current card shortage, stock sells out within minutes if not seconds. So, people want it really bad and turn to eBay where they’re buying up Elite Trainer Boxes for $130 and simple 3 packs of these cards for $30. Yes, people are paying $10 per pack for 3 packs. As always, scalpers are contributing to this problem. Since around late summer/early fall of last year, scalpers have been “getting into” Pokémon cards, buying up the stock to “collect”. But they aren’t here to start a nice sealed collection of stuff like ETBs and various blister packs, they’re here to skyrocket prices from resale and profit, with Shining Fates showing their true power. They’re teaming up with others to use bots and buy products instantly, they’re constantly trying to push the price up, and they’re even proud of it, showing towers of the tins they bought. So, the war of scalpers is going on, but you might be wondering:


How Can I Find Shining Fates?


Well, I’m afraid it’s going to be taking a little bit of work. First, find social media pages/groups focused on collecting cards, follow or join them to get notifications on specific drops. If you can’t find any of that, just check r/PKMNTCGDeals occasionally throughout your day. Then, constantly check big stores like Target, Best Buy, or Walmart since they probably have huge allocations of cards. Next, BE PREPARED. Create accounts for these stores. I had to miss out on a Shining Fates tins today since I didn’t have a Target account, so check in advance. If you’re shopping physically, constantly check stock to see patterns on when stores restock the card section or just ask an employee. Four, wait. This could take a bit since especially at big retailers, stock usually comes once a week. As of writing this, Target had their stock dump online around 2 hours ago, so check to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to you. And if all of that doesn’t work, just wait again. Shining Fates is currently dropping in prices for sealed products from scalpers and LGS’, falling about $1 a day.


So yes, Shining Fates is a disaster to find, but it won’t be in the future. Along with the prices falling, it is expected that it will get reprinted very soon, so more stock will be coming out. So being patient is the best way to go about this, as it may be your ticket to the $500+ Charizard.


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