{"id":246388,"date":"2024-04-24T17:57:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T09:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=246388"},"modified":"2024-04-24T18:35:33","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T10:35:33","slug":"not-just-another-pokemon-tcg-set-why-pokemon-card-151-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/2024\/04\/24\/not-just-another-pokemon-tcg-set-why-pokemon-card-151-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Not “Just Another Pok\u00e9mon TCG Set”: Why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What if we told you that one of the most highly-anticipated sets in the history of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG wasn\u2019t even one of its generation\u2019s main expansion sets?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Well, that\u2019s what has happened\u2014we\u2019re talking about Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]<\/a>, a set that has already developed such a reputation that it\u2019ll undoubtedly be talked about within the Pok\u00e9mon TCG community for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust a moment,\u201d some of you might say, \u201cwhat\u2019s so great about Pok\u00e9mon Card 151? It seems to be just like almost any other set.\u201d While on the surface that may appear to be the case, it\u2019s clear by now that Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is more than \u201cjust another set\u201d. This is evident not only via the buzz surrounding its initial launch back in June 2023 but even more so regarding its recently-launched reprints which many had been eagerly awaiting for almost a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you still don\u2019t understand just why this particular set is such a massive deal. If so, let\u2019s look at the main reasons why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is \u201call that and a bag of Poffins\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nostalgia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By far the biggest reason why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is the draw is that it has to be the nostalgia factor. Although Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is a ninth-generation set, it\u2019s so named because it features new cards depicting each of the original 151 Pok\u00e9mon from the first generation. No other Pok\u00e9mon are included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many who have been into Pok\u00e9mon since the very beginning, this is not just another set. It\u2019s a way for them to indulge their inner child and bask in the nostalgia of almost three decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, some of you might be thinking \u201cIsn\u2019t nostalgia a thing for everyone regardless of the Pok\u00e9mon generation they grew up with?\u201d That sentiment is certainly true\u2014however, Gen 1 nostalgia is different compared to nostalgia for subsequent generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one thing, since it was the first generation, there were no other Pok\u00e9mon in existence. The first 151 \u2018mons were all there existed for several years\u2014and this even led to the number 150 (not 151 because of Nintendo\u2019s desire to conceal information about Mythical Pok\u00e9mon Mew) itself being featured heavily in Gen 1 promotional material. In fact, until the announcement of the second generation, a large number of Pok\u00e9mon fans assumed that the first 151 (or 150) would be all that there would ever be\u2014and that has given Gen 1 a mystique that no other generation can even hope to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It must also be kept in mind that Gen 1 was from 1996 to 1999. This was an era that predates social media. Some of you might be thinking \u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound right. Shouldn\u2019t things have more hype with social media to push them?\u201d While that may be true, social media has also splintered pop culture to a point where it\u2019s easier for something to gain a degree of public traction\u2014but also vastly more difficult for something already well-known to explode into a global phenomenon. \u201cGlobal phenomenon\u201d perfectly describes Pok\u00e9mon during that era\u2014pretty much every kid ever seemed to be into it at the time. It\u2019s these shared experiences and memories that only serve to make nostalgia even stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long story short: as insufferable as they may be, there\u2019s a reason \u201cGenwunners\u201d exist but not other generations\u2019 would-be equivalents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Resale \/ Investment Value of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The potential resale and investment value of cards in Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is another major reason why this set ought to be on every Pok\u00e9mon fan\u2019s radar. Pok\u00e9mon TCG sets that come with this level of hype almost never come around\u2014so much so that for both the original print and the reprint, purchase quantities were restricted because demand far outstripped Creatures Inc.\u2019s ability to print new copies of the cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the most sought-after Pok\u00e9mon TCG sets ever, the eventual value of cards from Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is likely to continue to trend upward over time. Expect the value of fan-favorite cards such as the starter trio and their final forms (NOT their middle forms), Pikachu, Mewtwo and Mew, and Eevee and the three Eeveelutions to continue to top the charts as time passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s not just about the \u2018mons themselves. One card which already ranks among the set\u2019s most expensive and is likely to end up a solid investment as well is Erika\u2019s Invitation card. This goes beyond the usual \u201cfemale character value boost\u201d\u2014the Celadon Gym Leader embodies a specific archetype of female character that\u2019s historically been of particular appeal to the Pok\u00e9mon TCG\u2019s main demographics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, each card\u2019s Japanese version also comes in a Master Ball Mirror version featuring a background covered in Master Ball prints. Much rarer and more valuable than their ordinary counterparts, Master Ball Mirror cards are far and away this set\u2019s most prized pulls\u2014especially if they\u2019re any of the aforementioned cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s something for those seeking English cards too. The English-sealed versions of both the Elite Trainer Box (ETB) and Ultimate Pok\u00e9mon Collection (UPC) are expected to see major value increases over time. This is because they come with unique promotional Full Art illustration cards; the ETB\u2019s is a Snorlax card while the UPC has two: a Mewtwo and a Mew ex card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cultural Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cultural impact of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] has to be mentioned as well. To prove this, try out this thought experiment: think of ANY 10 Pok\u00e9mon. Just any 10 will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re like most Pok\u00e9mon fans, most or even all of your list consisted of Gen 1 Pok\u00e9mon\u2014even if you first got into Pok\u00e9mon during, for example, Gen 6 or 7, or even if you weren\u2019t even born when Gen 1 came out. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s go back to the earlier point about how the lack of social media helped Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s popularity explode during the actual Gen 1 era. Because it was able to take off in such a way, that helped the Pok\u00e9mon themselves accrue a cultural cachet that, with a few notable exceptions like Greninja, Lucario, and Zoroark, almost no Pok\u00e9mon since have been able to match. As mentioned earlier, this near-mythical (the actual word, not as in \u201cMythical Pok\u00e9mon\u201d) status of the original 151 has only grown with time. Since Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] includes all the first-generation Pok\u00e9mon, it stands to reason that its cultural impact would be as large as that of a Pok\u00e9mon TCG set could possibly be\u2014at least, this deep into the social media era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only that\u2014from a TCG perspective, Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is the only set in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history to feature every single first-generation Pok\u00e9mon. Not even the original Gen 1 TCG sets were that way\u2014they were spread out over various sets. This further enhances the cultural impact of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] because it gathers the vast majority of the most well-known Pok\u00e9mon in just one set, giving it a unique place in the Pok\u00e9mon TCG\u2019s entire lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Human Factor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we come to arguably the most important point: Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] has brought countless lapsed fans, players, and collectors back to not only the Pok\u00e9mon TCG but to the Pok\u00e9mon franchise itself. Hop onto any Pok\u00e9mon TCG message board and one will see countless stories of people who had not even thought about Pok\u00e9mon in years or even decades\u2014but the sheer hype of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] coupled with its nostalgia factor brought them back. After that, many retained their rekindled interest and continued to delve further into the Pok\u00e9mon universe, be it the TCG, video games, anime, manga, or a combination thereof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this way, the effect of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is similar to that of the augmented reality (AR) mobile game Pok\u00e9mon Go in 2016\u2014especially during the now-iconic \u201cPok\u00e9mon Go summer\u201d\u2014the weeks immediately following its release. Like Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a], Pok\u00e9mon Go was first launched with just the Gen 1 Pok\u00e9mon. If Pok\u00e9mon Go had been released with all six (at the time) generations of Pok\u00e9mon, it would not have had nearly the impact that it did\u2014not only among serious Pok\u00e9mon fans but among casual and lapsed fans as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the initial release of Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a], the Pok\u00e9mon TCG experienced an uptick in general popularity for this same reason. A similar effect can be expected following the reprint\u2014many have already mentioned how the sensation of opening up a Pok\u00e9mon TCG pack gave them a rush they hadn\u2019t felt in years or decades. It\u2019s this sense of joy and adrenaline combined that has kept these \u201creverts\u201d with the Pok\u00e9mon TCG\u2014and all because Creatures Inc. dropped the most nostalgic set ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, on a heartwarming note, many who grew up with the original 151 Pok\u00e9mon and have since become parents have used Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] as a way to bond with their children who may be into Pok\u00e9mon themselves but are too young to truly grasp the impact that the Gen 1 \u2018mons had. Other Pok\u00e9mon-loving parents, meanwhile, were able to pass on their decades-long fandom to their kids through this set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That just about covers all the reasons why Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a] is the Pok\u00e9mon TCG’s most significant set in quite some time. There’s no doubt that Creatures Inc. has truly raised the bar with this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other TCG-related news, check out the Charizard GX card from GX Ultra Shiny [SM8b]<\/a>. Alternatively, you can also head over to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and find the top trending and latest single cards and boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"TCG<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What if we told you that one of the most highly-anticipated sets in the history of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG wasn\u2019t even one of its generation\u2019s main expansion sets? Well, that\u2019s what has happened\u2014we\u2019re talking about Pok\u00e9mon Card 151 [SV2a], a set that has already developed such a reputation that it\u2019ll undoubtedly be talked about within […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":247137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43,20,18,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-246388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brands","category-collectibles","category-features","category-latest-news","category-tcg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246388"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=246388"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":247457,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246388\/revisions\/247457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=246388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=246388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}