Launched in May 2021 as part of the Eevee Heroes Eeveelution Set, a companion product to Pokémon TCG expansion set Eevee Heroes [S6a], it didn’t take long for this Espeon VMAX card to garner much attention.

Overwhelming demand for the set, including this card, caused pre-orders to sell out almost immediately after going live on the Pokémon Center Online, prompting The Pokémon Company to issues a public apology and provide alternative methods for those interested to obtain the set and this card. This incident did more to raise this card’s profile than any advertising campaign could ever have.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there was such tremendous demand for this card. For one thing, it was initially only available by purchasing the Eevee Heroes Eeveelution Set. That product not only came with this card; it also included two Eevee Heroes [S6a] booster boxes as well a set of card sleeves and a deck case featuring unique artwork. Illustrated by Mari Inoue, the image on the card sleeves and deck case featured Eevee and its eight evolutions around a picturesque settlement.

This Espeon VMAX card builds on the illustration on the card sleeves and deck case. It’s implied that the Espeon VMAX in the card’s image is the same one from the sleeves’ and case’s—that Espeon Dynamaxed into the Espeon VMAX shown here. The rustic house surrounding Espeon VMAX’s now-giant paws matches those of the settlement in the prior illustration. In general, the art style used is just the right match for the card’s general aesthetic.

To top things off, all Eeveelutions are highly popular among the Pokémon fanbase as a whole, and Espeon is no exception. Additionally, the image shows Espeon VMAX emitting the Dynamax energy that enables it to Dynamax via a red cloud around its tail—a detail that’ll be appreciated by the more serious Pokémon fans.

In English, this card is card 270/264 of the Evolving Skies set.

One copy of an Espeon VMAX (S-P Promotional Cards 189/S-P) sells for 21,999 JPY (~US$144).

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