u/NekoInJapan

I wanted to share a deep dive into a card that has completely slipped under the radar for most pokemon collectors outside South Korea, despite featuring some of the best modern Eeveelution artwork out there: the 2025 Korean Umbreon ex Promo (#143/SV-P).

If you look up this card number on major tracking sites right now, you usually get completely blank results or a mix-up with Japanese database lists. Because it’s so hidden, a lot of people don’t even know the story of how this card came to be or just how gatekept it actually is.

This card wasn't something you could just pull from a standard booster box. It was released exclusively in South Korea back in February 2025 as a region-locked promo. The only way to get your hands on a raw copy was to purchase the limited Terastal Festival ex Playmat Set.

Because it required buying a specific, bulky premium merchandise box directly from Korea, the distribution was incredibly limited compared to standard Japanese or English sets. It features that incredible, vibrant Stellar Terastal rainbow artwork that looks absolutely insane in person under the light.

The Rarity: A Low PSA 10 Population

Because the card distribution was so localized, the grading numbers on this thing are shockingly low for a modern Umbreon chase card.

Right now, there are only around 1,000 PSA 10 copies in existence globally.

To put that into perspective, high-end English and Japanese Umbreon chase cards regularly hit population counts in the tens of thousands within a year of release.

For anyone who loves unique trophy variants or wants a truly rare piece of Eeveelution history that most people in the West have never seen on a trade night table, this Umbreon is an absolute gem.

If you aren’t paying attention to the Simplified Chinese TCG market right now, you are missing out on one of the biggest breakout hits of the entire Scarlet & Violet era.

I’m talking about the Exclusive Cubone Full Art (CBB3C 0407/07) from Gem Pack Volume 3.

For nearly 30 years, every single Cubone card, Pokedex entry, and anime appearance has been a total tear-jerker. The "Lonely Pokemon" is always crying, always alone, or holding its mother's skull. It’s canonized generational trauma.

But look closely at the art on this Chinese exclusive: Cubone finally has a friend.

It features two Cubones sitting together, finding comfort, and finally healing. It is officially the first time Pokémon has ever given Cubone a happy story arc in the TCG, and it’s also Cubone's first-ever official full-art card.

The Market Speculation (Why it's skyrocketing)

Emotional cards with historic lore shifts always become legendary grails (think Mario Pikachu or Munch promos). But from an investment perspective, the metrics on this have absolutely exploded:

Extreme Region Lock: This isn't a standard set pull. It's exclusive to the Chinese Gem Pack Vol. 3. Western collectors are relying entirely on secondary imports, meaning supply outside of mainland China is remarkably thin.

The Price Action is Exploding: This isn't a cheap pick-up anymore. Raw copies alone have moved aggressively well past $100+, and graded copies are seeing massive momentum. High-end platforms and secondary sales are now commanding massive premiums, pushing into the $1,000 to $1,400+ range depending on the day.

The "Waifu/Husbandu" Alternative: While everyone is busy fighting over the millionth female trainer full-art, the community sentiment on this Cubone is purely wholesome. The demand from casual collectors who just want the "happy Cubone card" is completely outstripping the actual available graded supply.

Prediction: The initial FOMO phase isn't stopping. As Western creators do mass openings of Gem Pack 3 and spotlight the lore behind this art, the room for growth is still massive. This is a certified modern grail for a character that has a deeply dedicated, sentimental fanbase.

Are you guys holding back on Chinese exclusives because of the high entry barriers now, or are you scooping this up before becomes completely out of reach?

Let’s discuss.

I think it's almost perfect but I'm worried about that corned white point what do you think it would be my first time sending anything to psa 10. Also it would be the Japanese office not the American one if that matters

About three months ago, I bought some raw Yu Nagaba cards. The seven cheapest cards were around 8,000 to 10,000 yen, while Pikachu and Umbreon were 20,000 yen each.

Now, the cheaper raw cards from the sets are going for 15,000 to 22,000 yen in Ikebukuro, Nakano Broadway, and Akihabara. Umbreon is at 27,000 yen, and Pikachu is around 25,000 to 30,000 yen. Do you think they will keep going up? The stores are buying the cheapest cards for 12000 yen.

Also dittodex is giving me cheaper prices than the ones I'm currently seeing in japan.