The first two weeks after a Pokémon set drops are almost always the most expensive time to buy into it, and there's a predictable reason why.
Supply lags demand at launch
Retailers and distributors have a fixed initial allocation, and launch-week demand routinely outstrips it — that imbalance alone is often enough to push prices up before supply has a chance to normalise.
Hype compounds the effect
Preview content and early pulls circulate widely in the days around release, and that visibility pushes more buyers to act immediately rather than wait to see how the set's actual pull rates and card pool settle out.
What usually happens next
Prices commonly cool within a few weeks as supply catches up and the initial hype fades, which is why patient buyers who aren't chasing the opening excitement often do better waiting rather than buying at launch.
Frequently asked questions
Why do prices spike right when a Pokémon set releases?
Limited initial supply meeting high launch-week demand and hype.
Do launch prices usually stay that high?
Often not, they settle down within weeks as supply catches up.
Is it better to buy sealed product at launch or wait?
Waiting a few weeks often gets a better price.