# Skyridge adds €6,123 in 30 days while Base Set loses 49.9%

Weekly read · 20 October 2026

*Our read of the Pokémon card market on 20 October 2026: a neutral call leaning up, with the index of the 250 most valuable cards at +18.2% over 30 days.*

By Mathis Grosjean · published 20 October 2026 · Cardmarket data as of 20 October 2026

## The short answer

As of 20 October 2026, by our rule, the Pokémon card market is neutral, leaning up. The index of the 250 most valuable cards is up 18.2% over 30 days, and 54% of cards worth €5 or more are above their 30-day average. A bull market would also need a larger share of cards above their average.

## Key figures

- **Neutral** · Our call on the whole market, by our rule
- **+18.2%** · The index of the 250 most valuable cards over 30 days
- **54%** · Of cards worth €5+ above their 30-day average
- **608 / 485** · Cards at a 5-week high / 5-week low

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## The index rises. The market stays neutral

The top-250 index is up 18.2% over 30 days. Underneath, 608 cards hit a 5-week high against 485 at a 5-week low, and breadth is 54%, up from 51% a week ago. Neutral, leaning up. Our 14 October calls remain pending, with 6 of 30 days elapsed. The index has gained 3.0% since publication, and our segment calls still await their verdict. Our read: the rise at the top of the market is not yet enough to make the whole market bullish.

New highs versus new lows: new highs 608, new lows 485. Cards at a 5-week high or low, as of 20 October 2026.

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## Skyridge is carrying the e-Card era

E-Card (2002-2003) gained €8,101 in 30 days, the most in euros among tracked eras, just ahead of EX (€7,831, +23.4%). Skyridge gained €6,123 over 30 days, the largest euro gain among comparable sets. Charizard (Skyridge) reaches €5,003.36, up 45.0% over 30 days, a 5-week high well clear of the previous €3,712.71. Umbreon follows at €2,257.93, Arcanine at €683.14. Yet the Articuno H03 from the same set drops nearly 50% in 30 days to €38.57. Our read: buyers are paying for Skyridge's chase cards, not for Skyridge.

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## Base Set and modern sets are sliding

Base Set (1999) is down 49.9% in 30 days, and the Base era 23.6%. At the modern end, Mega Evolution lost €1,057, the biggest euro loss among tracked eras, a −9.9% move. Our read: Mega Evolution remains neutral. Its 9.9% decline over 30 days warrants caution. Scarlet & Violet is down 3.8%. Paldean Fates is off 16.1%, with Mew ex at €539.69 (−40.6% over 30 days). Ancient Origins (2015) lost €1,741, the most of any comparable set, as Primal Kyogre EX fell to €718.38. Our guess: some sellers of modern chase cards are funding their 2000s purchases. Our read: Base Set's 49.9% decline over 30 days gives us reason to remain bearish.

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## Same set, opposite directions

Neo Destiny is up 25.9% in 30 days. Dark Gengar hits a 5-week high at €985.81, against a previous high of €514.71. Shining Kabutops, same set, is down 48.2% over 30 days to €355.95. Team Rocket Returns runs the other way: the set is at −11.8% over 30 days, second in euros lost among comparable sets, yet Rocket's Snorlax ex hits a 5-week high at €666.82. Our read: buyers are picking card by card. Neo Destiny's rise offers little reassurance for Shining Kabutops, while Team Rocket Returns' decline does not settle the outlook for Rocket's Snorlax ex.

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## Our calls

- **Bullish**: 2002-2003 e-Card chase cards (Skyridge)
- **Bullish**: EX era 2003-2007
- **Neutral**: The whole market
- **Neutral**: Mega Evolution 2025-2026
- **Bearish**: Base Set 1999

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## Checking the call

Call pending, verdict on 19 November 2026. Index change since publication: −0.4%.

A neutral call is right if, 30 days after publication, the index has moved by less than 2% either way.

## Frequently asked questions

### Has the Pokémon card market gone up over the last 30 days?

The index rose over 30 days, but too few cards sit above their average to call it a bull market. As of 20 October 2026, the index of the 250 most valuable cards is up 18.2% over 30 days, and 54% of cards worth €5 or more are above their 30-day average. 608 cards hit a 5-week high and 485 a 5-week low.

### Which Pokémon cards are we watching this week?

Our calls on 20 October 2026 cover 5 segments of the market. Bullish: 2002-2003 e-Card chase cards (Skyridge); EX era 2003-2007. Neutral: The whole market; Mega Evolution 2025-2026. Bearish: Base Set 1999.

### Where do these prices come from?

From Cardmarket, the European marketplace. Pepita records the trend prices in euros of the cards in its catalogue every day, and this read keeps the figures of 20 October 2026, unchanged after publication. The rule behind the call is explained on the weekly reads page.

### Did this call turn out right?

Not yet: the verdict falls on 19 November 2026, 30 days after publication. Since then, the index has moved −0.4%. A neutral call is right if, 30 days after publication, the index has moved by less than 2% either way.

### Is this investment advice?

No. It is an editorial opinion signed by Mathis Grosjean, founder of Pepita, built from Cardmarket prices. It is not advice to buy or sell.

## Sources

- [Cardmarket, Pokémon cards](https://www.cardmarket.com/en/Pokemon) · Trend prices in euros, recorded every day by Pepita. This read’s figures are fixed as of 20 October 2026.
- [Pepita, weekly reads](https://www.pepitacards.com/en/pokemon-card-market/weekly-reads) · The bullish, neutral and bearish rule, and the 30-day check of every call.
- [Pepita, methodology and editorial policy](https://www.pepitacards.com/en/methodology) · How Pepita dates its sources and corrects its data.
- [TCGdex](https://tcgdex.dev) · The card and set catalogue.

Editorial opinion, not investment advice. The figures are those of 20 October 2026 and do not change after publication.

Page: https://www.pepitacards.com/en/pokemon-card-market/weekly-reads/2026-10-20
All reads: https://www.pepitacards.com/en/pokemon-card-market/weekly-reads
The blog: https://www.pepitacards.com/en/blog
