Pokemon cards have exploded in popularity over the last few years, transforming from a children‘s hobby into a full-blown alternative asset class. As investors and collectors have piled into the Pokemon card market, prices for rare and coveted cards have skyrocketed. While volatile, the Pokemon card market has proven itself capable of delivering huge returns. And one set that shows particular investment promise right now is Crown Zenith.
Why Crown Zenith is Set to Take Off
Crown Zenith was released in Japan in April 2022 and internationally in June 2022. It is a special set focused on the Galar region and contains a selection of gorgeous full art trainer cards along with the first ever golden version of the iconic Pikachu VMAX.
But what makes Crown Zenith so enticing for investors is its limited supply and high demand. It was a small specialty set akin to Shining Fates or Hidden Fates rather than a main Sword & Shield-era expansion. And it has already sold out at most major retailers just a few months post-launch.
This scarcity combined with strong interest from both collectors and investors makes Crown Zenith poised for big price gains. Initial sales data certainly supports this thesis.
According to market trackers like PokeInvesting.com, Crown Zenith booster boxes have jumped over 30% in value since release. Prices were around $144 back in June but now sit closer to $190 just two months later – a 32% increase.
Crown Zenith booster box market price growth since launch (Source: PokeInvesting.com)
Other sealed Crown Zenith products have seen similar growth trajectories. Elite Trainer boxes (ETBs) were roughly $50 at launch and are now trading over $65 – a 30% rise.
These sharp value increases in a short two month span highlight the intense demand for Crown Zenith in the current market. Investors are hungry for the set and willing to pay ever-higher premiums to get their hands on sealed product.
Predicting Future Growth Trajectories
Judging by other comparable modern sets, we can expect Crown Zenith to continue rapidly appreciating over the next 6 to 12 months. For context, Shining Fates doubled in the first year after release with booster boxes soaring from $95 to over $185 lately – a 95% increase!
Shining Fates booster box growth since launch (Source: PokeInvesting.com)
And Hidden Fates has managed to climb over 300% from its $140 debut to current values around $500 despite multiple reprints along the way.
The Crown Zenith growth chart so far has closely mirrored early Hidden Fates. After some initial volatility, it appears to have found a bottom and established a new baseline support level around the $180 price mark for booster boxes.
This signals market confidence in the current pricing. And sellers are less willing to let go at lower values. This stabilization sets the stage for the next leg up in Crown Zenith‘s value ascent.
My prediction based on this technical and fundamental analysis:
- Crown Zenith booster boxes will reach $250 by Q2 2023
This would represent nearly 40% upside from current levels – highly attractive potential gains for investors.
Long-Term Outlook Remains Promising
In the long run, assuming no further reprints, Crown Zenith booster boxes reaching $500+ in 3 to 5 years is not unrealistic. The holy grail Charizard card as well as the Trainer Gallery subset make this among the more investable modern sets.
Those Charizards could easily be $1000+ cards down the road if graded Gem Mint 10s remain scarce. Back during the initial Pokemon boom in 1999, 1st edition base set cards were trading for mere pennies. But two decades later they now command six figures at auction!
While past performance never guarantees future results, it goes to show just how much room elite Pokemon cards have to run over a 5-10 year investment horizon.
Of course, the big question mark is whether The Pokemon Company decides to reprint Crown Zenith at some point down the line. But even if that happens, we can look to Hidden Fates for an example that reprints don’t necessarily destroy value.
Despite multiple re-releases, Hidden Fates ETBs still sell for $500+. And booster boxes fetch over $350. So there is clearly robust collector appetite for keeping sealed products long term, even with reprint risks.
As more investors enter the hobby, they help prop up prices against potential new supply floods. And the graded cards, which are truly scarce, tend to hold most of their value regardless.
Comparing Crown Zenith to Modern sets
An interesting comparison is to Champions Path – another special set featuring Charizards also printed in 2020. Champions Path came out around the same time as Hidden Fates but has ended up massively lagging in secondary market performance since release:
| Set | Booster Box Value | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden Fates | $350 | +150% |
| Champions Path | $85 | -39% |
As those strikingly different returns show, Champions Path lacks the depth and breadth of appealing cards compared to Hidden Fates. This shows the critical importance of overall set demand beyond just one or two chase cards.
And Crown Zenith is far closer aligned to Hidden Fates than Champions Path when it comes to investor and collector appeal. Its beautiful gold border cards, exciting Trainer Gallery subset, and more valuable individual card pool give it an edge.
While Champions Path has a Rainbow Rare Charizard VMAX that was initially hyped, it has ended up fairly cheap in practice. They now sell raw for barely over $50.
Meanwhile, Crown Zenith‘s golden Charizard VMAX is already selling for $250+ despite being only a few months old. That‘s five times more value despite both sets releasing in 2020.
Evaluating Crown Zenith‘s Subsets and Pull Rates
Beyond chase cards, it‘s important to understand Crown Zenith‘s overall makeup to evaluate its investment merit. After all, cards like Charizard only appear in a tiny percentage of total packs printed.
The Crown Zenith expansion is comprised of two subsets:
Main Set – Consists of 45 Regular V, VMAX, VSTAR, and VSTAR Rainbow cards along with various holos and reverse holos. 1 Regular V card in every pack on average.
Trainer Gallery – Showcases 30 Full Art Supporter cards (e.g. Cynthia) with alternate artwork. Appears in lieu of the main Rare slot in certain packs. Roughly 1 Trainer Gallery hit per each booster box.
Compared to main Sword & Shield-era sets, Crown Zenith has significantly better pull rates for those gold VSTAR chase cards. You‘ll find roughly one gold VSTAR every three booster boxes cracked rather than one per case (six boxes) which is the norm.
Similarly, Hyper Rares and Rainbow Rares appear 50% more frequently in Crown Zenith than usual expansion drops. This helps contribute to those high secondary market prices – much better odds at big hits keeps demand and EV strong.
These great pull rates along with a fantastic selection of Japan-exclusive Trainer Gallery cards should help Crown Zenith remain highly coveted over the years.
Top Cards to Target
From an investment perspective, the most valuable Crown Zenith cards shaping up right now are:
Mewtwo VSTAR Gold Card – As a Hyped Rare with enthralling artwork, this looks primed to be the Chase card of the set. Current ungraded market value is around $125 but expect that to grow exponentially long term if PSA/BGS mint graded 10 copies remain scarce.
Charizard VMAX Rainbow Rare – Any Rainbow Rare Charizard gathers attention. But this is more subtle black/grey color scheme also happens to be extremely appealing. Already pushing $300 with room to run.
Umbreon VMAX Gold Card – The black color palette makes this an exceptionally sleek-looking card. Gold hype is still rampant. Around $100 now but being the most visually striking of the gold VMAXes, substantial room for growth.
Galarian Moltres Alt Art V – Alternate artworks continue rising in popularity. And the vibrant red Moltres really pops as arguably the best in Crown Zenith. Already up to nearly $90 in value.
Cynthia‘s Ambition Full Art Trainer – Waifu cards command big premiums and Cynthia has one of the largest followings. Could easily see four figures down the line if high grade copies are elusive enough. Currently around $75.
Aether Paradise Conservation Area Gold – This Stadium card‘s artwork strikes a beautiful balance between modern streaming-friendly appeal and nostalgic classic vibe. One of the best modern gold stadium cards period. Trending around $45 now.
Where To Buy and Sell Crown Zenith
If those bullish outlooks have you keen to invest in Crown Zenith, the next question is where to actually buy (and eventually sell) the cards.
When it comes to sealed booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes, reputable online stores are generally the safest way to go. But take extra precaution buying coveted individual cards – fakes unfortunately run rampant.
For booster boxes and ETBs, Dawning Sky Gaming remains my personal top recommendation with fantastic customer service and prices typically cheaper than eBay. They currently have Crown Zenith booster boxes well-stocked at $179.
Other good options worth checking out:
- Safari Zone (@safari.zone on Instagram)
- Incognito Gaming (incognitogamingtcg.com)
- Zulu‘s Board Game Cafe (zulusgames.com)
All legitimate businesses I have purchased from many times without issues. But always be sure to vet third party sellers cautiously before sending money.
When it comes to buying/selling those high value Charizards, Gold Cards, and Trainer Gallery singles, stick to reputable middlemen. In my experience:
- MDM_Cards – my personal go-to for rare cards. Highly trusted by the community with great customer service.
- PackFreshPokemon – specialize more in modern English cards. Also fantastic.
- BBCEmpire – more focused on Japanese cards but get some great inventory.
Beyond dealers, joining trading communities expands your trustworthy seller options vastly. Virbank City PokeMart on Facebook is by far the largest and most active – over 100,000 members. But you still need to vet individuals carefully rather than businesses.
Warning Signs of Potential Scams
In general, here are some things savvy investors always scrutinize when buying coveted Pokémon singles:
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Check seller feedback/ratings if applicable
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Review trade history/previous sales
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Ask detailed questions on card condition/origin
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Comparison shop prices across multiple sellers
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Inspect images thoroughly front & back
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If the price seems too good to be true, it almost always is! Avoid "quick sale" one-offs well below market value no matter how tempting
Legitimate established dealers will gladly answer any questions and have a long history of satisfied sales. They rely on reputation to drive repeat business so scams make zero sense for them.
But all savvy investors should still implement common sense precautions to avoid fakes or bait-and-switch tactics from bad actors. Avoid sending Friends & Family payments and use Goods & Services transactions whenever possible to enable fraud protection refund avenues as a last resort if necessary.
While buying coveted Pokémon singles comes with some risks, following general best practices makes navigating the market straightforward as an investor.
Protecting Your Cards
On that note – once you actually acquire those valuable Charizards, Gold Cards, and sealed booster boxes/ETBs…you need to make sure you store and handle them properly!
Some tips:
Perfect fit sleeves – Always sleeve your hits in a perfect size sleeve before placing in a top loader or card saver. This adds an extra layer of scratch/scuff protection.
Top loaders – Must for any card worth more than around $20. Use appropriately sized top loaders and tape them along the sides + bottom using painters tape to prevent the card from slipping out.
Binders – Look for D-ring binders preferably with side loading pages if storing large collections long term. This keeps cards securely fastened compared to simple ring binders.
Humidity control – Excess humidity causes cards to stick together and warp. Try to keep your storage spaces between 45-55% humidity. Desiccant packs help absorb excess moisture.
Storage tubs – Sturdy plastic card storage boxes with attached lids make ideal homes for sealed ETBs/boxes. Store in cool, dark places away from direct heat/sunlight/moisture.
Grading – For super valuable cards, consider getting them professionally graded by PSA or BGS. This authenticates the card, assigns a numeric condition grade, and encapsulates it in a tamper-proof plastic slab for protection. Graded 10s typically sell for manifold more than raw cards.
Following those tips helps ensure your Pokemon investment holds its value – or hopefully appreciates nicely over the years!
Now let‘s hear from a real-world Pokemon investor on their thoughts about Crown Zenith‘s potential…
Commentary from PokeSteve Investments
I had the chance to chat with Steve Hagan aka PokeSteve – a full-time investor in Pokemon cards and sports memorabilia with nearly 50,000 YouTube subscribers.
He shared some fascinating insights into the Crown Zenith investing landscape:
"Crown Zenith has all the early signs of a modern set destined for long term greatness. It strikes the perfect balance between nostalgic appeal and exciting new hits like the first Gold Pikachu VMAX. Long term supply also looks highly constrained.
The rapid early price gains validate how strong demand is for Crown Zenith. And I expect that strength to continue given it somewhat flew under the radar for casual investors up until now. Once more people realize just how scarce and loaded with gorgeous artwork this set is, things could really take off."
I also asked Steve where he recommend investors target entries right now:
Right now, booster boxes around $180 and Elite Trainer Boxes under $70 look appealing. I wouldn‘t wait much longer as the market catches on more to just how solid this set is. Hidden Fates took off rapidly once initial retail stock dried up. So try to get positioned in Crown Zenith sooner than later ideally!"
Always insightful to hear directly from those entrenched in the markets everyday. Thanks again to Steve for sharing his thoughts!
Concluding Thoughts on Crown Zenith
Crown Zenith clearly checks all the boxes for a highly investable modern Pokémon expansion:
✅ Strong nostalgic links to a landmark original set
✅ Fantastic artwork bound to stand test of time
✅ Major chase cards driving interest – Charizard, Gold Mewtwo, etc
✅ Solid pull rates to maintain opening excitement
✅ Japan exclusives boosting appeal globally
✅ Extremely scarce print run relative to demand
It‘s no wonder prices have shot up rapidly in just the first few months since release. All signs point to continued momentum higher for Crown Zenith over both the short and long term horizons.
My forward projections:
- Booster boxes reach $250 by Q2 2023
- Could easily see $500+ long term (3 to 5 years out)
- Mewtwo VSTAR Gold settles around $300+ mid term and climbs towards $500 further out
Cards like the Cynthia‘s Ambition Full Art also hold major long term pedigree as iconic "waifu" cards beloved around the world. Those could realise four figure valuations down the road as well.
But remember – move quickly in Pokemon! Today‘s best deals quickly evaporate. Crown Zenith still offers reasonable upside potential from current levels. Yet it may not remain such a lucrative opening forever…
Hope you enjoyed this thorough and data-driven analysis on Crown Zenith‘s promising investment outlook. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions! And don’t forget to subscribe for more up-to-date Pokemon investing news.