Buying a skateboard without seeing its artwork is an unusual proposition. Santa Cruz made that gamble part of the appeal by releasing 30 Pokémon Trading Card Game-inspired decks in sealed bags, priced at $140 each. The entire range sold out almost immediately.
The concept borrows from the surprise of opening a Pokémon TCG booster pack: buyers know the collection but not the individual design inside their package. Customers were limited to one deck each, yet the release disappeared from Pokémon Center stores in the United States and United Kingdom straight away.
Thirty Pokémon card designs in one blind release
The artwork covers several generations of Pokémon cards. The headline designs include Base Set Venusaur, Blastoise and Charizard, Team Rocket’s Dark Espeon, Lugia EX from Plasma Storm, M Charizard EX from XY Flashfire and the highly sought-after Umbreon VMAX artwork commonly known as “Moonbreon” from Evolving Skies.
Not every possible pull carries the same collector appeal. The selection also includes the standard Sylveon V from Evolving Skies and a Vaporeon GX promotional card, each described as cards that currently sell for about $5. That uneven mix is what makes the $140 purchase such a serious roll of the dice: a buyer might receive a favourite design, or one of the less desirable options.
There have been other Pokémon skateboard collaborations with more deliberately premium presentation, including standalone Sylveon, Vaporeon and Leafeon Bear Walker designs. The blind-bag release is a different proposition, asking collectors to pay for uncertainty rather than choose a specific graphic.
Sold out across multiple regions
Stock has also vanished from the Pokémon Center website and the official Santa Cruz store. The Santa Cruz stores serving the UK, Canada and Australia have likewise listed the decks as sold out, although shoppers can request restock notifications.
The speed of the sell-out leaves two obvious explanations: committed collectors chasing particular card art, and resellers expecting demand on the secondary market. Either way, the release demonstrates how strongly limited Pokémon merchandise can perform when scarcity and randomness are combined.
Resale prices depend on the artwork
Sealed bags have appeared on eBay for roughly $300, while one listing offers a Jolteon ex design for $212. The Team Up Pikachu & Zekrom deck and the Mega Charizard EX version have been listed at $600 or more.
Base Set Charizard commands an even wider range. It has been listed as high as $1,800, though reported sales have reached as low as $400 and more commonly sit between $500 and $800. The Umbreon board, inspired by the Moonbreon card that currently sells for about $2,300, has also appeared in the $500–$800 range.
For collectors who prefer a more predictable purchase, the wider arcade news and gaming coverage at RETROCADE offers a different kind of hobby reading. Those considering a dedicated games room can also explore our arcade machine buying guide or browse arcade machines without leaving the outcome to chance.
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