Hyped 'Pokémon' 30th Anniversary TCG Release Reaches A Depressing New Low

Patricia Hernandez·Sep 15, 2026·Source

Dick's Sporting Goods and GameStop are determined to squeeze Pokémon fans for everything they've got

The Pokémon Trading Card Game's big 30th anniversary set release is less than 24 hours away, and fans are getting desperate to secure a pre-order or purchase anywhere they can get it. After the success of Walmart's new raffle system, collectors were hopeful that the recently announced Dick's Sporting Goods' 30th-anniversary drawing would provide another stress-free avenue to secure new Pokémon products. Instead, the sporting store has come out with a borderline unbelievable offer.

The drawing, which is open until Sep. 22, 2026, is an app-exclusive promo that requires an account with the sports retailer. Winners will be randomly selected and automatically charged once the drawing window closes. Dick's is limiting people to one purchase per product, which sounds like a good thing. Walmart's raffle system allows people to purchase multiple units at once, which also means that fewer people overall get to purchase the TCG set.

How much are the Pokémon 30th anniversary TCG products at Dick's Sporting Goods?

The problem is that Dick's prices are outrageous compared to the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Here's the breakdown:

Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $120 (MSRP: $49.99; 140.05% markup)
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Poster Collection — $40 (MSRP: $14.99; 166.84% markup)
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection — $40 (MSRP: $14.99; 166.84% markup)
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Knock Out Collection — $25 (MSRP: $9.99; 150.25% markup)
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration ex Box — $60 (MSRP: $21.99; 172.85% markup)

All the items contained in Pokemon's 30th anniversary Ultra Premium Collection that is themed around day and night cycles.

Overall, the prices aren't as bad as GameStop, but when the video game retailer is (once again) selling the $49.99 ETB for an incredible $169.99, that's not saying much. The worst part is, amid all the pandemonium and increased sightings of lawn chairs days before the new set's release, some will undoubtedly fall victim to FOMO. Fans fear that, like recent hot Pokémon sets, the 30th Celebration release will be scarce. Availability will vary by region and retailer, but so far all signs point to a massive printing initiative by The Pokémon Company. Early pull rates also suggest that, aside from the ultra-rare RGB Mew and Mewtwo cards, hits in this set will be easy to come by.

Pricing is at the forefront of consumers' minds, but issues surrounding this release don't stop there. Rip-and-ship influencers as well as scalpers have seemingly had access to the new products for weeks now. In some particularly egregious cases, some internet personalities are already opening the Ultra Premium Collection that isn't supposed to release until Nov. 2026. Early card prices have been set such that incredibly common cards are somehow fetching dozens of dollars more than they should. This phenomenon occurs with every single new TCG release, but the scale is much more pronounced for the 30th anniversary set. As rumors insist that early product 30th anniversary availability is the result of theft, eBay has halted early sales of Pokémon products on its site for the very first time.

How do I enter DSG's Pokémon drawing?

The situation may settle once the average Joe is able to walk into any Target and secure the new products. For now, Dick's pricing for the new Pokémon set is fully in scalper territory. If, for some reason, you're still inclined to partake in DSG's offer, you can download the app here. After making an account, you can scroll down the app's main page to see a 30th anniversary Pokémon widget.