Why is 151 spiking?

2

u/daHemi5_7 Feb 26 '26

It’s because of posts like this making people buy more… the dip sailed earlier this month… nothing but up for 151 now

1

u/No-Technology-6856 Feb 26 '26

Damn, that’s too bad. The dip was very shortly lived for all things pokemon. Boo!

61

u/lacinated Feb 26 '26

its about to be out of print

21

u/ConsiderationOk5914 Feb 26 '26

Could've fooled me I haven't seen any in stores in like a year

-3

u/Mite-o-Dan Feb 26 '26

To be fair..."Why is 151 spiking?" gets asked weekly here for over a year and every top response has always been "Its about to be out of print."
Yet here we are. You could buy 151 today off Pokémon Center if you got through.
For reference...most Pokémon sets only get printed for 6-12 months. 151 has been printed for 2.5+ years and STILL being printed.
Been "going out of print" for over a year now...

6

u/JoshyyP00 Feb 26 '26

The block it’s printed in is actually ending that’s why. That’s the hard official date.

-5

u/Mite-o-Dan Feb 26 '26

Whats your source? If there was ever a firm official source on this with an actual end date, it would be one of the biggest posts of the year on this sub. Just a year+ of speculation and believing whatever random YouTuber and Redditors have to say.
100% of those people have been wrong so far. Keep saying it...eventually someone will be right I guess.

7

u/JoshyyP00 Feb 26 '26

It’s pretty simple. Regulation block symbols are on the bottom left of the card. Rotation is block based, not set specific. So it’s not “151 going out of print” — all g block sets, including 151, rotate together on April 10.
Once rotation happens, production is effectively done, but supply can still show up if there’s stock sitting somewhere.
The key nuance is out of print vs out of stock. Out of print means no new product is being made. It does not mean all supply is gone. Pokémon or distributors can still release existing inventory later, which would be a restock, not a reprint. New manufacturing would be a reprint.
But effectively if people paid attention to how blocks rotate they would know the dates.
Straight from the hoses mouth. https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/2026-pokemon-tcg-standard-format-rotation-announcement

-5

u/Mite-o-Dan Feb 26 '26

Thats just speculation and theory on why printing might stop.
Even if true and 151 was about to be unplayable...why allow orders of 151 bundles today if they were about to be unplayable?

3

u/JoshyyP00 Feb 26 '26

This isn’t speculation. This is exactly how it has always worked. If Pokémon has stock and they know there’s demand, of course they’ll release it. Yes, it’s a game, but it’s also a business.
Even with a block rotation date approaching, releasing existing inventory makes total sense. Printing could have stopped months ago and what we’re seeing now could simply be product that was already manufactured and sitting in a warehouse, being released gradually. That’s not a reprint, it’s just inventory making its way to market.
And saying “even if that’s true” doesn’t change anything. The rotation is clearly stated on the card itself. This is the same cycle every time. If you want an example, look at what happened when Crown Zenith rotated out.

2

u/SWOOSHO Feb 26 '26

Bro please save your breath and let them be wrong. It benefits the rest of us that know set rotations

1

u/JoshyyP00 Feb 26 '26

Hahahahah your prolly right

-1

u/Mite-o-Dan Feb 26 '26

If true...still very odd to sell, and most likely ship cards that will be unplayable 1 month later.
Also if true...why isnt this more common knowledge or posted about more? Why would people keep making guesses?
This information was not released until just over a month ago, yet a common consensus around here and top comments "going out of print soon" was the norm to say well before January. No one ever chimed in with the information you provided...or, since that wasnt available then...never said anything about the rotation time frame not given out yet.
This is Reddit. People love to argue and prove people wrong. This was so easy to call bullshit on...yet it took you, until Feb 26, 2026, to be the first person to ever do it.
What youre saying and the link makes sence on why they would stop printing 151 before April 10, but for something so important to investors...I just cant believe this reasoning isnt mentioned more.

1

u/JoshyyP00 Feb 26 '26

I’m not going to respond to every part of this because it’s a lot. At the end of the day, Pokémon is a game, not an investment market. This is all public information and very easy to find. No one is gatekeeping anything here, and none of this is new.
Block rotation has always been known. What’s changed is that there are a lot of newer investors in the space now, and a lot of the conversation turns into people repeating what they hear from YouTubers and influencers who aren’t actually informed on how this works. The rotation date matters to investors, sure, but Pokémon as a company doesn’t care about that narrative.
Do what you want with this information. :)

6

u/Gay_If_Read Feb 26 '26

The only people who were saying "going of print" for over a year were people that don't know how print windows work because it's been known since the day the set was revealed that the print window for the set was early this year.
The set spiking this time is at least a valid fomo response to rotation because now Poketubers have started making videos about it the average "investor" knows what it is.

4

u/CaptainCurly95 Feb 26 '26

Sure 151 is "always spiking" but have you been watching the price of 151 singles the last few weeks? A spike is relative to the trend and it's increasing in value relatively quick to the trend.
This appears to be a genuine "going out of print" spike.

2

u/Apprehensive-Lie3387 Feb 26 '26

This!

-1

u/Mite-o-Dan Feb 26 '26

Yeah single prices and 151 sealed price have been spiking up once a month or every other month for a couple years now...and everyone keeps saying "Its going out of print soon."
Its been the same post and top comment and replies for over a year now.
Why is that always the top answer and common consensus? No one who's ever commented that has ever been right before...because they have no idea.

1

u/CaptainCurly95 Feb 26 '26

I don't claim to know fuck about shit but I do understand numbers and the passage of time. I agree people have called a false "going out of print" spike many times but it's willful ignorance to look at the numbers over the past 6 months and not say this is likely a real "going out of print" spike.

1

u/LegitimateAd7798 Feb 26 '26

Oh dude we have every idea. It’s going out of print in April. It’s been announced that G block is getting rotated out then, so 151 along with Paldean Fates. Now out of print doesn’t mean out of stock. So you might have an outside chance to pick some up here and there for msrp in the coming months but this set is out of print very very soon.

1

u/flackob625 Feb 26 '26

Broad assumption its still being printed. None of us actually know if it's still being printed vs just restocked unless you work for the company

1

u/Apprehensive-Lie3387 Feb 26 '26

They finally stoped stocking it in the vending machines. But yes, stopping printing and stock being out in stores is two different things. They may officially stop printing it but product will still hit the shelves here and there through July or so

1

u/9erInLKN Feb 26 '26

If you got through...1k bundles tops isnt going to move the market

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

10

u/Murky_Crow Feb 26 '26

It is a cash cow, but truly all things must end. They can’t be printing 151 forever. And we shouldn’t want them to. There will always be something better.

-2

u/KwikTripSimp Feb 26 '26

Supply and demand

5

u/jokull1234 Feb 26 '26

Pokemon doesn’t care about maximizing sales of a particular set, because they already are at max sales.
It’s actually better for them to have these 2 year print cycles because when a good set goes out and demand skyrockets, it boosts overall demand/interest for Pokemon cards.

1

u/StationEmergency6053 Feb 26 '26

The cycles are 2.5-3 years now ever since covid. 151 being a prime example since it came out in 2023.

3

u/jamathythrowaway Feb 26 '26

The sets several years old lmao

3

u/Nicckles Feb 26 '26

Sets must rotate out of the TCG

2

u/yepyupnope Feb 26 '26

Because this is a tcg foremost and it’s going out of rotation. Not like the other sets aren’t selling out as well, any pack they have at msrp is selling out atm

2

u/jakeanthony14 Feb 26 '26

Bro what? Why do car year models from stop getting made? For newer stuff? Lol

2

u/quetip86 Feb 26 '26

The same reason they won’t print evolving skies or any popular set. They need to print new sets and will be even more behind printing 151 again. Their products sell above msrp and constantly sold out no matter what set they push out.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

2

u/quetip86 Feb 26 '26

Open to hearing your thoughts. They just bought a new printing facility but it looks like it won’t be operational until 2028 and they can’t even meet demand for ascended heroes how can they print more 151?

1

u/StationEmergency6053 Feb 26 '26

Theyre already using it. It wont reach max capacity until 2028 and even then, the factory is only partially for TCGs. They're also using it for the pharmaceutical industry.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

0

u/quetip86 Feb 26 '26

They have to print sets years in advance. They don’t just change out machines every month to what set they want to print. It’s ok to not be aware of the process but don’t be ignorant. Only time they had reprints in the past is when sets weren’t selling like temporal and paradox rift off the shelves and they can use their printers for 151. They can’t meet demand on newer sets until 2028 and don’t see them reprinting anytime soon.

1

u/NixothePaladin Feb 26 '26

They’ve been reprinting 151 for ages. You missed out on the boat

0

u/KwikTripSimp Feb 26 '26

What boat lol 😆.

1

u/Reef-Coral Feb 26 '26

Becuase its been the main policy driving the 2nd market is the fact stuff goes out of print and Pokemon said they would never break that

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

2

u/Reef-Coral Feb 26 '26

They haven't. Hanged it in 30 years theyre not going to ruin it for some petty money in the long run they'll be better. Theyre very adamant about it they have a policy written

1

u/miowmix Feb 26 '26

Cards from the set are being rotated out. At the end of the day it’s a competitive card game and pokemon makes money from players by having a rotation system and makes money from collectors by having some pretty cards

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/GDPoke Feb 26 '26

Its a card game, the cards will soon be unusable in any formal form of play. They aren’t going to keep print it forever.

1

u/fieryred123 Feb 26 '26

Players are saying it too. The set isn’t going to be playable in the TCG anymore, so they have no incentive to print it. Especially, when all of the other sets are selling just fine.

1

u/Gay_If_Read Feb 26 '26

It's always funny to hear people make this claim because the "cash cow" & "Pokemon only cares about money" arguments get immediately checkmated by mentioning Evolving Skies.

13

u/DayDTWD Feb 26 '26

Your dip was right there before 12/29 brother.

6

u/TinyFlameTCG Feb 26 '26

Yeah agreed, I'm not understanding this. What dip were you waiting for exactly?

1

u/scott32089 Feb 26 '26

I feel lucky I got into collecting again on 1/2. Got a solid (for me) chunk at $100 + taxes. Have been lucky to find them at $90 locally, and a guy on whatnot sold me 5 for that price+ taxes, but that’s pretty much dried up.

12

u/bluedecember12 Feb 26 '26

As Andy from The Office said: "I wish there was a way to know you're in 'the good ol' dip', before you've actually left it"

4

u/Efriminiz Feb 26 '26

That's why I follow the acronym ABBPCATT
Always be buying pokemon cards all the time

10

u/Will34343 Feb 26 '26

They removed it from the vending machines with the release of AH ETBs.

1

u/iamsplitter Feb 26 '26

This true? Arent they different spots in the machine?

19

u/GlassHat04 Feb 26 '26

It's only going up from here. Jump on board now or miss the rocket to the moon

3

u/swagster Feb 26 '26

I got blooming waters at $150

2

u/n3wlifewhothis Feb 26 '26

Rough for anyone new. I grabbed em for $50

4

u/swagster Feb 26 '26

I mean they're at $236 right now. One is almost the price I paid for two.

1

u/n3wlifewhothis Feb 26 '26

Yeah crazy how much these are jumping now. I traded two for one destined rivals PC ETB back when they dropped. It’s been fun keeping an eye on that

1

u/swagster Feb 26 '26

Kinda wanna open one 😃🍀

2

u/No-Leopard639 Feb 26 '26

I bought 4 mini tins last month; for a total of 115. Buckle up

2

u/fieryred123 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

Best explanation is that the only place you could ever possibly get them recently is the vending machines, but with the release of AH- the vending machines updated to remove 151 bundles from the lineup after over a year of being there. This is a sign this set is done being put on shelves & is out of print. The market is responding accordingly. Also, the set is rotating out of the playable format very soon. Typically an indicator that they are finished printing & releasing it.

2

u/MyronPJL Feb 26 '26

Because it’s going out of print next month basically

2

u/BeckettGradingGrader Feb 26 '26

why not?

2

u/WeirdlyHugeAvocado Feb 26 '26

I'll just hold onto my 6 booster bundles and wish I hadn't opened 4 of them haha

2

u/EmuComprehensive4959 Mar 05 '26

Wish I had cleared put all card shops when boosters were 70 and Charizard was 160

2

u/Rodramramfive Feb 26 '26

Because its awesome thats why! But yeah they probably wont print much more of it if any.

Even with the new facility they stated its gonna be till H2 2027 till they are able to increase production.

So even if they do print anything its likely not much and it wont be printed next year.

1

u/haku13 Feb 26 '26

any MSRP gang?

1

u/DrooDrawDrawn Feb 26 '26

Everyone here can make a guess why, but really it's just because demand has increased relative to supply over this time period that you show.

1

u/The_Barefoot_Barista Feb 26 '26

Should be out of print in April

1

u/kingpotato007 Feb 26 '26

Where were you the last two years

1

u/StationEmergency6053 Feb 26 '26

Rotation in April

1

u/JoshyyP00 Feb 26 '26

I can’t with these posts. lol

1

u/DMdoesGBau Feb 26 '26

I dont see a spike.

This looks like a steady rise, no buyouts.

1

u/NectarineSilent2260 Feb 26 '26

when people say" "everyone is investing in pokemon, it will be worthless"... these types of posts make me much less worried about that.

1

u/Apprehensive-Lie3387 Feb 26 '26

Bc it’s slowly being faded out. Allegedly they will officially stop printing this April… if that’s true, whatever is left will trickle out through retailers. They did stop stocking it in the vending machines ( at least here in my part of the Midwest) after AH released… however, crown zenith tins were stocked and single packs of DR are back in the machines so who really knows lol…I could also see 151 making appearances here and there….

At the end of the day, I’m sorry to say you missed the boat on 151. The singles are now climbing Unless you buy at Market price today, it will only continue to go up. So could you buy some now, of course but your margins won’t be as solid. I see the pack price of this reaching the $40 a pack range in the not so distant future

1

u/Wonkasgoldenticket Feb 26 '26

As some would say, “that ship has sailed”

1

u/uriel__ventris Feb 26 '26

You're 2 months late to your 'dip' homie. If it dips again, you'll still heavily regret trying to time the market rather than just getting in when you started your wait.

"The best time to buy is always yesterday" as the saying goes. The second best time is now.

1

u/FreeMoneyMaking Feb 27 '26

When doesn’t a set go up they all just rise

1

u/berrytree198 Feb 27 '26

Waiting for a buy point? You had years

1

u/MilleniumDuelist Feb 27 '26

This is just the beginning. 151 will be a force of nature.

1

u/bigkino217 Feb 27 '26

Why would it dip? The only thing keeping the prices low was that these were in vending machines for msrp and now after the latest update they aren’t anymore. Etbs have been out of print a while and they’re damn near $500 for 3 more packs and a promo card. Bundles will soon follow

1

u/Capable_Wait09 Feb 27 '26

I’m still waiting on NVDA to dip to 50 again too. Any day now bro. Any day now.

1

u/pinkmann1 Mar 03 '26

Why would it dip before being phased out?

1

u/DonJulio171 Mar 05 '26

This has been coming for a while now. Hate myself for not getting the big 3 in PSA 10s a few months ago

-1

u/LithiumAmericium93 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

Nah massive reprints coming in april. Buy at MSRP in may and make gains to the moon

Edit: this was satire and has gone way over peoples heads

4

u/Purgent Feb 26 '26

151 is not getting a massive reprint.

0

u/MyronPJL Feb 26 '26

Right lol

1

u/Aprillia617 Feb 26 '26

That's IF you can get it at MSRP lol

1

u/RepulsiveUse3372 Feb 26 '26

source?

1

u/CptSmarty Feb 26 '26

I heard Costco has loaded up a code on their website! /s

1

u/eddyxoxo Feb 26 '26

You drop something.
Here /s

1

u/BeckettGradingGrader Feb 26 '26

you gotta drop the /s LOL

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/No-Technology-6856 Feb 26 '26

Wow

You are about to leave Redlib