Is Crown Zenith Worth It? An Absolute Yes for Pokémon TCG Collectors
As an avid Pokémon TCG gamer and content creator, I can definitively say the hype leading up to Crown Zenith is real. With the stunning selection of cards and fact it marks the end of the Sword & Shield era, Crown Zenith packs and products are an easy buy for any collector.
The Crown Jewel of Sword & Shield Expansions
Crown Zenith‘s foundations lie in the Japanese VSTAR Universe set. It contains 230 total cards: 160 standard cards and 70 special Galarian Gallery cards featuring popular Pokémon etched in gold foil.
The advertised pull rates for ultra rares and secret rares are nearly 50%, almost double what we typically see. This coupled with multiple high value cards featuring Legendary and Mythical Pokémon have created a palpable buzz within the hobbyist community.
As the final Sword & Shield expansion, we can also expect prices and interest in Crown Zenith to remain higher long-term based on what we‘ve seen from past examples like Cosmic Eclipse and Unified Minds.
A Player‘s Perspective on Crown Zenith
As someone who has opened thousands of Pokémon cards packs, the value proposition Crown Zenith offers is too good to ignore. Let‘s break down the math:
- Odds of pulling any Ultra Rare: 49.5%
- Odds of pulling any Secret Rare: 49.5%
- Packs per Elite Trainer Box: 10
That means there‘s a 95.1% chance of getting at least one high value hit in every Elite Trainer Box. At MSRP that‘s solid expected value even factoring bulk or duplicate rates.
And we haven‘t even considered the Galarian Gallery subset. As a lover of gold cards and alternate arts, Crown Zenith is a dream. Cards like the Giratina VSTAR, Garchomp VSTAR and Charizard VSTAR rank among some of my favorite artworks.
Long Term Outlook for Investing
Modern sets retaining long term value depends heavily on the enduring popularity of key cards. Crown Zenith checks those boxes.
| Card | TCGPlayer Market Price |
|---|---|
| Giratina VSTAR | $130 |
| Arceus VSTAR | $85 |
| Charizard VSTAR | $30 |
The high concentration of chased cards featuring Legendary and Mythical Pokémon paired with limited supply as the last set of the era makes Crown Zenith a candidate for moderate growth.
Using Unified Minds in 2019 and Cosmic Eclipse in 2020 as benchmarks, investors could reasonably expect 20-50% upticks on sealed products 3-5 years out.
The Verdict Says Buy
For my money, Crown Zenith is a definitive buy. As card value continues to be dictated by scarcity and demand, the tail end of release cycles almost always pan out as a sound investment.
When also considering the incredible pull rates, overload of iconic Pokémon, and subset showcasing some of the most aesthetically gorgeous card treatments in years, Crown Zenith starts looking like a no brainer.
At an average pack EV already aligned with MSRP plus the positives outlined above, by my analysis, Crown Zenith hits the trifecta of being fun to open, great to look at, and profitable to hold.
