Lost Origins was re-released earlier this year, but now that it's dried up, we're seeing the usual ups and downs in this Pokemon TCG: Sword and Shield expansion. What I didn't expect was for so many Trainer Gallery cards to drop in price, but I think that's more of a market correction.
It wasn't until the beginning of the year that Gengar and Pikachu were in the pocket money folder at local TCG and collectibles stores, but those days are still a distant memory.
Crushers and Climbers: Lost Origins
With Pokémon Mania 2025 still going crazy, everyone is trying to get their hands on the new sealed product at retail, which means now is a great time to snag some overlooked cards from older sets before they hit the market.
For example, I bought most of the cards in today's crusher section for about $5 each 12 months ago, so while they are currently going down in price, they are still a great buy. Let's get straight to the point.
Pokemon card crushers
Gengar TG06/TG30 playing the game is a bit risky, Netherworld Gate can bring him back from the dead without needing to evolve him, but you also get three damage tokens. Screaming Circle could work well, leaving opponents with a full bench for one Psychic, but it's still a risk that might not be worth taking. The art itself is fantastic and this is one of my favorite Gengar cards just because of the bold color and Gengar's fascination with the washing line. This card dropped sharply from $56 to $38, but I view this as more of a correction.
Pikachu TG05/TG30 has exactly the same charm when he sees himself napping with a female trainer from Legends: Arceus. This is such a cute image and you can see why this card costs over $26. It's down from over $30, but I'm confident it will go well above that point in the next 12 months. It's not really worth including in your deck, but it's a great choice for a trainer folder.
Gold and black cards have never been particularly useful for me personally, so I understand why the value Mew VMAX TG30/TG30 fell from $26.04 to $21.42. But that's not the point, it's still Mew and there are plenty of people who want every Mew they can find in their collection, so it's still not bad.
Charizard TG03/TG30 This is another card I was surprised to learn was a loser this week. It's Charizard cuddling with Champion Leon, and that's the recipe for a cool card. We're seeing a lot of Trainer Gallery cards going through a bit of a correction right now, but a 25% drop from $23.95 to $17.98 is a little rough. I would recommend picking it up before it starts ticking again.
Pikachu VMAX TG29/TG30 corresponds to this Mew energy. I pulled it out of a booster pack earlier this year and it's a bit of a disappointing card despite its rarity. It didn't fall much, just 9%, and will likely rise in the next year or two, but black gold cards could be a lot cooler.
Pokemon Card Climbers
Giratina B 186/196 over the past month has risen to the skies and into the stratosphere. They were going to be $570 in September, but right now they're over $720 and I'm here for it. I haven't received one yet, but what an incredible piece of art this card is. It perfectly illustrates the world of Distortion.
It's good to see the value of the Aerodactyl card going up, especially V Alternative Art (180/196). It's a great scene of him flying over a tropical landscape, with lots of detail and wonderful use of color. It's easy to see why this card went from $129 to just over $180 per month.
Red and Pikachu, this is peak first generation Pokemon nostalgia at its finest. Showcasing Red looking through a map and Pikachu ready for a new adventure, there is no reality where Pikachu V TG16/TG30 their value will not double in a month. Currently priced at $99.07, trainers would be wise to add this to their collection sooner rather than later.
Pikachu VMAX TG17/TG30 takes this nosgalia and sends it to the era of Pokémon Sword and Shield in the form of Pikachu Gigantamax. The pose of Red, ready for his next challenge, with the stocky Pikachu just happy to stand up straight, is an amazing scene. This card used to cost $10-20 more than Pikachu V, but is now at the same estimated price of $96.
Rotom is a cool Pokemon, and no one will tell me otherwise. I would love to have one in my phone so that it flies every day of the week and I would really like to have Rotom V 177/196 in my collection once. It's cheap and cheerful at $26, but the price has risen from $22 in a month, so I'd call it a low-risk investment.
Christian Waite is an IGN freelancer covering all things collectibles and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the games and technology industry and has contributed articles to Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of GamesWarrior's Unofficial Pokemon Ultimate Game Guide. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
