Attention, Pokémon TCG collectors, another hot drop is hitting Walmart with more from its early-access restock program just in time for Phantasmal Flames, the latest and most hyped expansion I've seen in a long time.
Following the frenzy of the recent Prismatic Evolutions ETB drop, Walmart is following it up by granting paid Walmart+ members the first opportunity to preorder three key Phantasmal Flames products before they open to the public, all at MSRP.
Starting October 9 at 10 AM ET, Walmart+ subscribers will get exclusive online access to preorder the Phantasmal Flames ETB, Booster Bundle, and Three-Booster Blister, each featuring the stunning Mega Evolution lineup, headlined by Mega Charizard X ex.
The centrepiece of the latest Pokémon TCG at Walmart is the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box. Instead of the $150+ price tag it's currently valued at on TCGPlayer, it'll be priced at $55.
It includes a mix of booster packs, card sleeves, dice, and game accessories, everything needed to dive headfirst into the set while keeping your collection battle-ready.
If you're not already a member, it’s admittedly a slight drag that you’ll essentially have to add $12.95 onto the price to pick this up and avoid the eye-waterlingly high resale prices, but needs must.
Whilst that products selling for their retail price as intended is not necessarily a bargain.
But, thanks to market conditions stemming from a Pokémon card shortage leading to an imbalance of supply vs demand, it is still great opportunity compared to the higher prices for all sets across other major retailers like Amazon, and resale marketplaces like eBay or TCGPlayer.
It will also be a whole lot cheaper than what will surely follow after the set’s launch on November 14.
It’s also important to know that whilst Walmart+ does have a 30-day trial available, the Walmart+ hub page states that only paid members will have early access on October 9.
The annoying part of the Walmart+ subscription process, if you want to buy early access items right away, is that you're only given the initial option to claim the 30-day trial. However, you can get around this by starting your free trial, cancelling it, and resubscribing for paid access.
For those after packs without the extras, the Booster Bundle, retailing for $29.87, delivers multiple boosters in one clean package and hits that sweet spot for players who love cracking packs at home.
Meanwhile, the Three-Booster Blister, listed at $15.87, offers a quick and affordable way to snag a few packs with a free Sneasel promo card, ideal for collectors chasing specific pulls or newcomers looking to join the fun.
Like with the Prismatic Evolutions drop, early access is locked behind Walmart’s paid membership tier; trial members aren’t eligible. With the resale market already selling each product for two-to-three times their MSRP, these listings are expected to sell out within minutes once live.
If you’re a Pokémon card fan who wants a fair shot at preordering Phantasmal Flames at the price the set’s intended, make sure you’re logged in and ready the moment the preorder window opens. We’d advise is to have your paid Walmart+ subscription set up and ready ASAP, and if you get the chance to add anything to your basket, you take it.
The "Walmart Deals" event, is still ongoing through to October 12, and is designed to compete directly with Amazon’s October Prime Day sale that just concluded.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Note: Pokémon TCG pricing is incredibly volitile and any mention of sale pricing is indicative of the current market rate for the aforementioned products.
For example, Pokémon Elite Trainer Boxes are meant to sell for around $50-$60 MSRP, but instead retailer at around $100+ post launch.
