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Once upon a time, Pokémon cards were just a simple childhood hobby — something most adults didn't take seriously
But fast forward to today, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) scene has exploded. Some cards now go for thousands of ringgit… even millions.
Just last month, a Malaysian collector named Damiral Imran made headlines after selling his entire collection for RM1.87 million.
And now, another Pokémon frenzy has taken over the local community.
A massive crowd lined up outside a local card shop in Petaling Jaya for a new release
A video from Toysbar, a well-known card store in Damansara Jaya, went viral after showing a huge crowd queueing just to get their hands on the latest Pokémon set: Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames.
The line stretched so far back that it reached the next block
A video was shared on Threads by @k_amin, who wrote: "Peh, it's packed. The shop opens tomorrow morning but people are already lining up like this. The Charizard effect hahaha crazy."
Click to watch this other video posted by Damien Tan in a Toysbar Facebook group:
Of course, netizens weren't surprised. Many pointed out that a large chunk of the queue wasn't fans, but resellers (or scalpers) hoping to buy out stock and flip the cards for profit.
One commenter wrote, "Mostly resellers… you can tell from their faces. My friend said it was getting out of control. If I were TB (Toysbar), I'd remove the shrink wrap or make people open it on the spot. That way you can tell real collectors from scalpers."
Another user even claimed some people had been lining up since 12pm the day before.
The frenzy is all thanks to one particular chase card: a gold Mega Charizard X EX card that's reselling for around USD850 (RM3,500), and potentially much higher if graded
Charizard has always been one of the most iconic and sought-after Pokémon, so it's no surprise fans (and opportunists) would camp overnight for a chance to pull it.
Unfortunately, not everyone managed to buy a set. Many said the queue numbers ran out quickly, leaving disappointed collectors who genuinely wanted the cards.
The phenomenon also reignited frustration within the Pokémon TCG community, as real fans often struggle to buy new sets before scalpers clear out the shelves.
