Poke Cellar

Pokémon as an Investment Vehicle: Can It Rival the S&P 500?

Author's Note: This article is not financial advice. It is not investment advice. It should be interpreted as nothing more than an entertaining thought experiment. Perform your own due diligence before making financial decisions. For decades, the default answer to “Where should I put long-term money?” has been

Pokémon Is Cleaner on the Shelf Than It Is Behind the Counter

Pokémon looks wholesome from the outside. Bright packaging, nostalgic artwork, kids trading cards at lunch tables, adults chasing Charizards like it’s 1999 again. To the average customer, the Pokémon TCG aisle seems simple: a store orders product, a distributor sends it, and collectors buy it. Behind the scenes, it

MetaZoo in 2026: Dead, Bought for $2 Million, and Rebuilt by the Creator of Magic

Here at Poke Cellar, we have been writing about MetaZoo for years. In fact, we were one of the distributors for their first edition booster boxes. So trust me when I say that there is no bigger MetaZoo fan than us. However, if you've been following the company,

How To Buy Pokemon From Japanese Websites

Japan gets some of the best Pokémon products first. Booster boxes, special sets, Pokémon Center exclusives, sleeves, deck boxes, plushes, promos, lottery items, and limited collaborations often release in Japan before they ever reach the rest of the world — and some never get an international release at all. The problem

pokemon

"How Do You Play? " A New Pokémon Documentary I will NOT be watching.

As Pokémon fans across the globe eagerly anticipate the release of the new three-part documentary, "How Do You Play," today, I find myself unable to share their excitement. The documentary promises to immerse viewers into the vibrant and often overlooked Pokémon Trading Card Game community, featuring endearing stories

Industry

MetaZoo Leadership Rumors: What's the Truth?

Last week, a discord user named @Robfield.the trigger, part of the Poke Cellar Discord community, sparked a rumor suggesting that MetaZoo's CEO, Michael Waddell, may be stepping down or even selling MetaZoo. While this speculation was quickly refuted by Mike himself, a recent statement on MetaZoo'

pokemon

Evolving Skies Booster Box Raffle

Dear Reader, We will be hosting a free-to-enter raffle for a Booster Box of Pokemon's Evolving Skies. As you can see from these crazy prices, this set has really increased in value in recent months. Similar to the previous raffles, it is important to note that this is

Gaming

Pokemon's New Samurai Game: Project Bloom

As a gaming enthusiast, I've watched industry giants like Game Freak, the masterminds behind the Pokémon phenomenon, and Private Division, renowned for publishing a variety of titles, toil away for years pumping out a number of really interesting projects. Lucky for us enthusiasts, the companies have joined forces.

pokemon

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Booster Boxes: Is Now the Time to buy?

The Pokémon Scarlet & Violet booster boxes have recently seen a significant drop in price, now selling for as low as $100. With the hype surrounding the silver borders and art combined with guaranteed holos now fading, the set might be considered by some to be a bland one. However,

Industry

MetaZoo Meets Fast Food: The Unexpected Arby's Collaboration

In a whimsical turn of events, MetaZoo, the popular trading card game steeped in cryptid mythology, has partnered up with fast-food giant Arby's for a unique collaboration. This unlikely alliance brings together the fantastical world of MetaZoo and Arby's iconic roast beef sandwiches, resulting in an

Industry

The Hasbro Hex: Is Magic's Future Disappearing Before Our Eyes?

If you're reading this, then you likely already know about Magic: The Gathering (MTG) — a game that has captivated millions since its inception in 1993. Unfortunately, the popular TCG has recently found itself at the center of controversy. Amid growing concerns about overproduction and a shift in distribution

Industry

Mana to Money: Investing In Magic The Gathering (MTG)

In the world of alternative investments, few avenues have the allure and mystique of collectible card games, particularly games like Magic The Gathering (MTG). Since its inception the early 90s, MTG has not only captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide, but also the attention of savvy investors. In

Industry

Explaining The Pre-Order Reservation System

As a bonafide retailer of Pokemon and other TCG products, managing the demand for popular releases has always been a struggle. It may not seem obvious to the average consumer but there truly is no easy solution to this dilemma. Shopping bots continue to be a problem and are very

pokemon

Pikachu's Prescription: How Pokémon Can Help Boost Your Mental Health

There is no question that the world of Pokémon has captured the hearts of people around the planet, but did you know that it can also be a positive force for mental health? In recent years, more and more people have been turning to the franchise as a way to

pokemon

Porygon's Shocking Legacy: The Pokemon Episode That Caused Seizures

In 1997, the Pokémon franchise was at the height of its popularity, with millions of fans around the world eagerly tuning in to watch the anime series. However, one particular episode, titled "Electric Soldier Porygon," caused a shocking controversy that would change the franchise forever. During the episode,

pokemon

Vintage Pokemon: A Hedge Against Inflation?

As crazy as it may sound, Pokemon in recent years has gained tremendous popularity as not just a game — but as a legitimate financial asset. Considering the current economic climate and inflationary concerns, it's no surprise that some investors are turning to alternative assets such as Pokemon cards.

pokemon

Pokémon Center's Exclusive Pikachu Funko Is A Major Let Down.

The Pokémon Center released an exclusive Pikachu Funko Pop that has caused quite a stir among collectors and fans. The item was released earlier today, and has quickly gained attention due to its limited availability and not so unique design. Despite the initial excitement, the general public has expressed disappointment

Industry

Steve Aoki Is Literally Going To The Moon

Well, it's official. Steve Aoki is going to the moon. And no, this is not a euphemism for some new NFT project. Steve Aoki, the famous producer and MetaZoo equity partner, is actually going to the moon. You see, a Japanese billionaire known as Yusaku Maezawa decided a

Industry

Spells of Magic: The Latest In Turbulent TCGs

Spells of Magic is a Kickstarter-funded TCG created by a Canadian individual known as Christian Weaver. The project launched on January 1st with a modest funding goal of approximately $12,000 CAD. As the months progressed, the game grew increasingly popular and managed to raise more than $230,000 CAD

Industry

Maelstrom TCG Goes Up In Flames

The following story is either about a serial con artist or an aspiring entrepreneur who unexpectedly had his life cut short by disease. It is up to the reader to decide which storyline they prefer. Disclaimer: This article discusses a person who may have passed away. While the veracity of

Industry

MetaZoo Literally Went To Space

When it comes to marketing promotions, MetaZoo rarely fails to impress. Despite the high bar, I don't think anyone anticipated the brand's latest stunt: launching their cards into outer space. While some may see this marketing performance as somewhat of a novelty, I would argue that

Industry

Counterfeit Munch "The Scream" Pokemon Cards

While browsing eBay last week, I came across a listing from a reputable Japanese seller who was selling all five of the famous Edvard Munch "The Scream" Pokemon cards in their original raw and ungraded form. While the price was definitely lower than usual, nothing else in the

pokemon

Pokemon's Peel-Off Ditto Is Nuts

Early this morning, the official Pokemon TikTok account uploaded a shocking video revealing a new card that has a peel-off surface. This card is slated to be a part of the Pokemon TCG's next expansion titled Pokemon GO. @pokecellar Pokémon is releasing peelable cards in their new Pokémon

Industry

How Competitive MetaZoo Is Raising The Bar

MetaZoo is well known for its explosive entry into the world of trading card games. With names like Steve Aoki backing the brand, the company quickly became a household name in virtually all pockets of the industry. Admittedly, the attention has mostly been on the frenzied secondary market which continues

MetaZoo

MetaZoo's Craziest Set: Seance

Following the release of a set like UFO, it can be difficult to guess how a brand like MetaZoo will continue to raise the bar. Nonetheless, the title of their next set Séance tells us that the brand's creativity is showing no signs of slowing down. What We