Pokemon TCG Phantasmal Flames Launch Overrun by Scalping Bots

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As a dedicated Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG) fan, I’m thrilled to share that pre-orders for the initial wave of cards from the Phantasmal Flames set are now available! Unfortunately, it seems that some major retailers have been inundated by scalpers. However, there’s some good news! Due to heavily botched orders, cancellations may be happening, which could potentially open up more opportunities for fellow PTCG enthusiasts like us to secure these highly anticipated products.

On September 2, The Pokemon Company unveiled Phantasmal Flames as the second English-language Mega Evolution expansion for the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG). This new set is expected to debut more than 120 cards, including ten Trainer cards and over fifteen cards with distinctive artwork. The initial products from this collection are slated for release on November 14, and pre-orders began promptly following its official reveal.

Pokemon TCG Scalper Gloats Over 42,000 Checked Out Items

For years, the pre-sale for a new Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion has followed a familiar pattern: it draws a horde of scalpers who seem to have overrun several retailers. One operator of a botting service boasted about checking out more than 42,000 items on September 3, as shown in a viral screenshot from their Discord messages. A user known as robyewest commented that attempting a legitimate checkout during the Pokemon Center pre-order period was nearly impossible due to technical issues, before most Phantasmal Flames items were labeled as out of stock. “Even manual users were checking out, but there was a major error on their end and we just happened to be more vigilant than most,” they wrote, with some boastful profanity thrown in for good measure.

Some Pokemon TCG Phantasmal Flames Pre-Orders Are Being Canceled

Shortly after that, news surfaced about The Pokemon Center cancelling some pre-orders for Phantasmal Flames. The full extent and cause of this action are still unknown. It’s possible that the cancellations are due to botting issues or the retailer overselling, having sold more items than they had intended to stock. However, some resellers seem optimistic about acquiring a significant amount of stock. In fact, numerous eBay listings, as examined by Game Rant, show that the Phantasmal Flames set pre-orders are being sold at significantly inflated prices. For instance, Elite Trainer Boxes priced at $60 can be found listed for $200 or more on eBay. It seems that Australian scalpers have been particularly successful in using bots to obtain inventory.

A significant portion of Pokemon TCG enthusiasts believe that scalpers are causing their waning enthusiasm towards the game. Not only do these individuals make the pastime financially unattainable, but they have also consistently prevented products from becoming available in some heavily demanded regions by hoarding them before they even reach store shelves. As Reddit user e-Standards put it, “I haven’t purchased any items or felt a desire for them since I have not encountered them at retail stores whatsoever.

Users relying on manuals were also encountering issues, it seemed there was a significant mistake on their part, and our heightened awareness simply allowed us to spot the problem before others.

Each new Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) release is susceptible to being resold at inflated prices, but Phantasmal Flames stands out due to its inclusion of Charizard and Gengar, two beloved characters in the franchise. This set has become a prime target for resellers because of its popularity. Recently, The Pokemon Company has been addressing shortages in the TCG market and attempting to prolong the production of sets. Nevertheless, with nearly a dozen expansions rolled out annually, no set remains in circulation long enough to fulfill ongoing consumer demand, thereby limiting its impact on the secondary reselling market.

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2025-09-04 17:41