Ranking the Top 12 Japanese Promos of the Scarlet & Violet Era
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Disclaimer: This post is for entertainment only and is not financial advice. See full legal disclaimers here.
With the Scarlet & Violet era officially closed and the Mega Evolution era now dominating production, we have entered a phase every investor dreams of: the out-of-print era.
For the last three years, the SV-P (Scarlet & Violet Promo) market was “inflationary”—new cards were constantly being printed, and the roster was unfinished. Today, the era is “deflationary.” The supply is capped and PSA 10 copies are finding their way into collections, never to be seen again.
While the masses are still gambling on booster boxes hoping to hit a generic chase card, the smart money has moved into the Promotional Sector—assets with capped supply, tournament provenance, and location exclusivity.
Below is the definitive Top 12 Japanese SV-P Promos, ranked by current market dominance, liquidity, and collector prestige.
“Crown Jewels” (The Heavy Hitters)
1. Victini (288/SV-P)
The Origin: Prize from the Victini BWR Battle (Black Bolt/White Flare Deck Building Tournament) in Japan
The Status: The “Final Boss” of the era. This prized “Trophy Card” was awarded to winners of the Victini BWR Battle deck-building tournaments (June–September 2025) and via a 2,000 copy home lottery; As an event/lottery-exclusive, you could not buy it in stores.
Market Watch: $1,000+ (PSA 10)
2. Paradise Resort (045/SV-P)
The Origin: 2023 World Championships (Yokohama).
The Status: A piece of history—the first “Worlds” card released in Japan. This commemorative promo was given to players and staff at the 2023 World Championships in Yokohama (the first Worlds ever held in Japan), replacing the traditional Champions Festival card. It is the foundational piece of any high-end promo collection.
Market Watch: $750+ (PSA 10)
3. Pikachu ex (001/030 - WCS Deck)
The Origin: Yokohama WCS Deck (Lottery Only).
The Status: Though not an official SV-P stamped promo, this textured Special Art Rare (SAR) served as the centerpiece of the 2023 Yokohama World Championships Deck—sold exclusively via a limited lottery system in Japan, cementing its place among the era’s scarcest, high-prestige chase cards.
Market Watch: $450+ (PSA 10)
4. Paradise Resort (150/SV-P)
The Origin: 2024 World Championships (Honolulu).
The Status: The “Honolulu” variant. While it trades lower than the 2023 version (because Worlds was not in Japan), it is significantly scarcer than most retail promos. A mandatory hold for “Worlds” completionists.
Market Watch: $300+ (PSA 10)
The “Regional Trinity” (Late-Era Releases)
5. Fukuoka’s Pikachu (289/SV-P)
The Origin: Pokémon Center Fukuoka Renewal (Special Box).
The Status: The leader of the 2025 Regional block. This promo was released in the "Pokemon Center Fukuoka Renewal" Special Box to celebrate the store's re-opening in 2025; it was exclusive to that location's launch event.
Market Watch: $300+ (PSA 10)
6. Hiroshima’s Pikachu (261/SV-P)
The Origin: Pokémon Center Hiroshima Renewal.
The Status: Released in the "Hiroshima Renewal" Special Box, this card features art referencing the local "Carp" baseball culture and was exclusive to the Hiroshima Pokémon Center re-opening campaign. A massive hit with domestic Japanese collectors.
Market Watch: $320+ (PSA 10)
7. Tohoku’s Pikachu (260/SV-P)
The Origin: Pokémon Center Tohoku Renewal.
The Status: This is the third card in the "Regional Trinity," found in the "Tohoku Renewal" Special Box sold exclusively during the Pokémon Center Tohoku re-opening festivities. You rarely see these sold individually; collectors demand the full regional set.
Market Watch: $370+ (PSA 10)
The “Blue Chips” (The Value & Growth)
8. Yu Nagaba Umbreon (067/SV-P)
The Origin: Yu Nagaba Collab (Blind Pack).
The Status: The sole survivor of the “Collaboration Tier.” This card came from a "Blind Promo Pack" given to customers who spent a certain amount at Pokémon Centers during the Yu Nagaba collaboration; you did not know which Eeveelution you were getting until you opened it. While other Nagaba cards faded, the “Umbreon Tax” keeps this one in the blue chip bracket.
Market Watch: $230+ (PSA 10)
9. Miraidon (048/SV-P)
The Origin: Triplet Beat Shield Battle Prize (2023).
The Status: This was the prize card for the Triplet Beat "Shield Battle" (Sealed Deck Tournament) in early 2023; players had to win their group or a Rock-Paper-Scissors competition to get the pack containing it.
Market Watch: $160+ (PSA 10)
10. Pikachu (001/SV-P)
The Origin: Game Pre-order Bonus.
The Status: This is the standard pre-order bonus given to anyone who bought a physical copy of the Scarlet & Violet Switch games upon release in late 2022. It’s a full-art Pikachu with great visual appeal. Millions were printed, but millions were also damaged by kids.
Market Watch: $80+ (PSA 10)
11. Koraidon (049/SV-P)
The Origin: Triplet Beat Shield Battle Prize.
The Status: This is the counterpart to the Miraidon prize; it was found in the same "Shield Battle" prize pack, meaning you had a 50/50 chance of pulling this or the Miraidon after winning the tournament. Essential for set completionists.
Market Watch: $100+ (PSA 10)
12. Detective Pikachu Returns (098/SV-P)
The Origin: Game Purchase Bonus.
The Status: This full-art promo was a free gift included with early physical copies of the Detective Pikachu Returns Nintendo Switch game in Japan. While the supply is relatively high compared to tournament-exclusive prizes (as a widespread pre-order incentive), its unique charm, high-quality artwork, and tie-in to the beloved Detective Pikachu franchise make it highly collectible.
Market Watch: $250+ (PSA 10)
Honorable Mentions (The Watch List)
Cards that didn’t make the Top 12 but deserve a spot on your radar.
Yu Nagaba Series (Sylveon/Pikachu/Glaceon): While Umbreon steals the show, the rest of the 9-card set remains a fan favorite for binder collectors. These cards were part of a special artist collaboration featuring minimalist black-and-white drawings of Eeveelutions; they were given out in “Blind Packs” (you didn’t know which one you were getting) to customers who spent money at Japanese Pokémon Centers.
151 Master Ball Reverse Holos: In Japanese Pokémon 151 booster boxes, every card has a standard "Pokéball" foil pattern, but exactly one card per box features a special "Master Ball" pattern (with the letter M). Because you only get one per box, finding a specific popular character like Pikachu in this pattern is incredibly difficult.
Gym Promo Packs: These are prize packs given to players who participate in local "Gym" tournaments (official card shop events) in Japan; the valuable ones are often stamped with the word "Winner" and spike in price when pro players use them in winning decks.
The TCG Investor’s Buy List: Where I’m Putting My Money
The list above tells you what is expensive. It does not tell you what to buy.
I grade every card on a Scoring System (Release, Aesthetic, Recognition, Exclusivity, Liquidity). Based on my model, the new Regional Pikachus (Fukuoka/Hiroshima) are currently priced at “Peak Hype.” They are great cards, but the entry point is high.
Instead, our data points to three specific inefficiencies in the market. These are the cards where the price has not yet caught up to the scarcity.
Target #1: The “Crown Jewel” (Must-Own)
Asset: Victini (288/SV-P) Strategy: Aggressive Acquisition (PSA 10 or Sealed)
The Logic: This is the “Moonbreon” of the SV-P era, but with true hard scarcity. Unlike Moonbreon’s massive estimated print run (~200,000+ total copies, ~28,000 PSA-graded), Victini is capped at ~21,500 units (~3,000 PSA-graded).
The Catalyst: In the Japanese market, prize cards featuring “Mythical” Pokémon (like Mew or Victini) almost always become more valuable than cards featuring “Legendary” Pokémon. As the “Final Boss” of the era, this card will likely detach from the rest of the market and trade purely on prestige.
Target #2: The “Value” Buy (The Arbitrage)
Asset: Miraidon (048/SV-P) Strategy: Volume Accumulation
The Math Error: Currently, a PSA 10 copy of Victini trades at $1,000+. A PSA 10 copy of Miraidon (the First Shield Battle winner) trades at $160.
The Logic: That is a 6.5x price gap for two cards with nearly identical distribution mechanics.
The Prediction: Now that the era is over, wealthy collectors are building “Complete Shield Battle” binders. They must buy the Miraidon to finish the set. We expect this gap to shrink, pushing Miraidon into the $300–$400 range.
Target #3: The “Growth” Play (The Upgrade)
Asset: Pikachu ex (001/030 - WCS Deck) Strategy: The Regional Pivot
The Logic: Right now, people are paying $400 for the new Fukuoka/Tohoku Pikachus. These are standard glossy promos.
The Pivot: For roughly the same price ($450), you can buy the WCS Pikachu, which is a Textured Special Art Rare (SAR) released via a limited Lottery.
The Verdict: The market is distracted by the “New Toy” (Regionals). Smart money buys the superior asset (WCS) while it’s still priced competitively.
Final Word: Production has ended on Scarlet & Violet. The supply is fixed. Now, the consolidation begins. Stay sharp. Collect rare.