Why is Moonbreon so expensive, you ask? Let us uncover the factors that gave this iconic Pokemon card a hefty price tag!
Last year, we once wrote an article for Pokemoncoders about the 10 most expensive cards in the Sword and Shield series, and apparently, the card that took the top spot is the alternate art Umbreon VMAX from the Evolving Skies set.
The card features an Umbreon in its Dynamax form as it stands at the top of a tower, trying its best to reach the moon.
This Umbreon card immediately became a heavy fan favorite not only among the cards in its set, but in the entire Sword and Shield era.
For those of you wondering why such an alternate art card from Pokemon TCG gets so much attention in the card community nowadays, we did tons of research and we’re going to list down what information we collated so far.
But first, let’s talk about the term Moonbreon.
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What Is Moonbreon in Pokemon TCG?
Moonbreon is a nickname given to a particular Pokemon card from the Evolving Skies set. This card is no other than the alternate art Umbreon VMAX.
The reason behind its name is quite obvious already, since the card’s artwork shows an Umbreon who wants a piece of the moon. Meaning, Moonbreon is just basically an amalgamation of the words Umbreon and moon.
The name for the card stuck since then, and this depiction of Umbreon makes a lot of sense, considering that Dark-type Pokemon love the dark, which is related to the night which in turn, is related to the moon.
Why Is Moonbreon So Expensive?
To answer the question at hand, it turns out that there are a handful of factors that dictate the current price of the Moonbreon card.
Alternate art Umbreon VMAX, just like all Pokemon cards, are subject to supply and demand. Its price could change at any moment, but it’s unlikely that Moonbreon will experience a significant dip in value anytime soon.
According to TCGplayer, alternate art Umbreon VMAX currently costs a whopping $836.99. Yup, a VMAX card that you can almost buy for a grand.
But what made such a cool-looking card reach a price tag equivalent to the value of two PS5 Digital Editions?
Reason #1: Insanely Low Pull Rate
Pokemon TCG: Evolving Skies is a set that many collectors invest a lot of their money in because of the low chances of getting a rare VMAX alternate art card.
Opening an Evolving Skies booster pack gives you a one out of 283 chance of pulling a random VMAX alternate art card. That pull rate becomes even lower if you’re targeting a specific card like the Umbreon VMAX, since there are a total of 17 alternate art cards in the set.
With lesser odds of getting this card, only a few lucky (and rich) people own a copy of Moonbreon. Scarcity attracts value, and now, many collectors are willing to spend lots of money on it.
Reason #2: YouTubers and Sellers Hyping the Card
A few weeks after the release of Evolving Skies, other VMAX alt Pokemon cards like the Rayquaza VMAX are known to be the best chase cards in the set.
However, as time goes by, alternate art Umbreon VMAX gained more popularity thanks to many online content creators and collectors noticing the distinctive artwork of an oversized Umbreon.
The public exposure the card gained from the online community combined with its rarity resulted in a price surge, making it the most expensive card from the Sword and Shield era.
Reason #3: Eye-Catching Artwork
In Pokemon TCG, a card’s featured Pokemon or trainer can also affect its value. If a card with high rarity features a fan-favorite Pokemon or character, it will probably become a treasured collectible by many TCG enthusiasts.
Moreover, if that fan-favorite Pokemon or character is drawn in a way that is easy to remember by the fans, it’s only a matter of time before that card earns a mythic-like treatment, both in terms of value and reputation.
Conclusion
The Moonbreon is definitely one of the most popular chase cards nowadays, rivaling those legendary copies of Charizard and Gengar VMAX.
The low pull-rate of VMAX alt cards, the hype towards the card, and its artwork are three of the main reasons why is Moonbreon so expensive.
However, before you take a large chunk of your savings in search of a PSA 9 or 10 alternate art Umbreon VMAX, you need to remember that investing in trading cards still involves some risks.
In this case, buying a Moonbreon is indeed very risky, but the chances aren’t that stacked against its owners, as it already established a prominent name in the history of the Pokemon card franchise.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more information and guides about Pokemon TCG, check out more of our contents here on PokeCardHQ.
