TCGplayer has kicked off its one-day-only Mayhem sale, where you’ll get 10% back in store credit on everything you buy on May 16, 2025 (singles, sealed products, preorders, and more all count).
Since it’s a one-day event, and you likely don’t have the time to dig through every possible option, I’ve done the hard work for you. Let’s dig into the best Pokémon cards to buy today.
Top 10 Pokémon Cards to Buy Today
Since it’s 10% cashback (well, store credit, give me a break), I narrowed this down to the top 10 Pokémon TCG chase cards that you should be adding to your basket right now.
This isn’t just 10 random picks either, as all of these have featured in our Pokémon Card Market Watch weekly roundups: “Crashers and Climbers”.
The most dramatic crash this week is Greninja ex 214/167, crashing by nearly half when compared the the start of this year.
The week before, my top picks from the crashers were Magikarp 203/193 and N’s Reshiram 167/159 (Journey Together Stamped)… and speaking of Journey Together.
Top Picks: Journey Together
Look the top 10 cards to buy line was good and all, but there’s more to consider, so lets dig through some of the other hot sets and the best singles you can pick up from each as well.
For starters, Journey Together singles have been getting lower and lower as the weeks post-release roll on. Having a main chase card in Lillie’s Clefairy ex 184/159 for under $200 showcases the kinder pull rates in this set.
Even the alternate rares in this set are very reasonable, with some going under $10 and arguably having better artwork than the secret art rares. Plenty of chase cards to add to your Mayhem sale cart here.
Destined Rivals Preorders
Destined Rivals is going to be one of the coolest expansions from the Scarlet and Violet era, with it’s crown Jewel being Giovanni’s Mewtwo SIR. Whilst single cards for this set not being available until launch on May 30, there’s plenty of opportunities to get a cheeky discount on sealed product.
There’s also some solid prices on The Glory of Team Rocket and Heat Wave Arena, the Japanese sets that make up the expansion. If you’re looking for more inspiration, you can check out my hands-on preview of Destined Rivals.
Top Picks: Prismatic Evolutions
Getting 10% cashback on this set is practically a dream come true when there’s so many expensive chase cards. Based of pricing right now, you could get $110 off Umbreon ex SIR.
That means you can get the most expensive chase card of Scarlet and Violet for a tidy $990. This is going to be the only chance you’ll see this card going for under a grand.
Unreal times for Prismatic Evolutions collectors.
Top Picks: Surging Sparks
Pikachu ex SIR for around $250 sounds great to me, or grabbin the Latias ex SIR and Latios IR for a collective $180 after 10% cashback are fantastic deals.
Remember, subscribers get an even bigger discount, so trainers need to be all over Surging Sparks come before the sale expires after May 16.
Top Picks: Stellar Crown
Not only has Squirtle and Bulbasaur illustration rares come down in price, but the other Stellar Crown chase cards have come down in price too.
That means you can grab something like Terapagos ex SIR for under $45
What Is TCGPlayer?
TCG Player
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Think about it like this: It’s Pokémon eBay, but cleaner. But the thing I’ve always liked about TCGplayer is it’s not just one warehouse selling cards. Every order goes through a network of local game stores and individual hobby sellers.
It’s one of the few ways you can buy cards online and still support small businesses in the process. The marketplace is massive, the prices are competitive, and I’ve never had an issue finding what I needed (or something I didn’t need until I saw it).
If your collection has been sitting in stasis or your decklist has a few too many question marks, this is a good time to fix that. You’ll get store credit for your next order just by doing what you were already planning to do.
Best of the Rest
Twilight Masquerade
Greninja ex SIR near mint for under $250? Yep, that’s the kind of gains we’re talking about in the Mayhem 10% cashback day on May 16. Fancy another banger to pop in your cart?
How about Eevee IR for $45? Yes please. Snap them up trainers!
Shrouded Fable
Don’t sleep on Shrouded Fable, it’s one of the most underated sets of Scarlet and Violet.
You can get Persian IR, Cassiopeia Trainer Art and Fezandipiti ex SIR for just north of $100 in the TCG Player Mayhem sale once you factor in cashback. That’s a savage deal.
Temporal Forces
I want those ancient Johto dogs in my collection yesterday. Raging Bolt ex SIR, Walking Wake ex SIR and Gouging Fire ex SIR will give you a collective $17 store credit on TCG Player, bagging three amazing chase cards for $170.
That means you could then use that credit to buy the Gastly IR for $11.50.
Paldean Fates
Mew ex SIR at $290 will get you a lovely $29 store credit to knock Charizard ex SIR down to $134.70. Considering the prices on both of these cards have also dropped recently, this is an epic deal.
Paradox Rift
So Groudon IR has dropped by 16% to $69 from $81.99, taking the extra 10% off gives you this epic card for $62.10. Realistically it’s still $69 but you get $6.90 cashback on your account after the transaction, but the value is still there and you’re obviously going to buy more cards. Admit it.
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So $107.20 for Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander IRs out of the gate, which have come down quite a bit in the last month anyway.
That deal alone will bag trainers $10.72 store credit to knock off another purchase, which is blooming (waters) marvelous.
Obsidian Flames
The main chase card of this set, Charizard ex SIR, is now down to $49.99. Ninetales IR has also come down 47% from a month ago to $18.17.
Not only have you bagged two awesome cards for your collection, you’ve also got $6.81 store credit. Winner.
Paldea Evolved
I want that Magikarp. You want that Magikarp. We both also want the new lower price and juicy $18.99 store credit for buying it too.
It also means you can shave off some of that rapid price rise on Tyranitar IR at $38.48.
Scarlet and Violet Base Set
Gardevoir ex – 245/198 is a beautiful card, with the evolution line telling a beautiful story of Pokémon and trainers growing together.
This banger of a chase card has dropped by over 30% in value to $38, how awesome is that? The 10% $3.80 store credit for more price crashes is awesome too.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
