Why is the Joker amiibo so rare?

Simply put, Nintendo vastly underestimated demand for this acclaimed Persona 5 fighter. Just like the Phantom Thieves stealing hearts, the Joker amiibo stole fans‘ attention, then disappeared without a trace into the metaverse.

As an avid collector and gaming journalist, I‘ve been tracking the elusive Joker figurine since its limited release alongside Super Smash Bros Ultimate in 2019. What makes this amiibo so difficult to snag? Grab a cup of coffee, dear reader ― we‘re going deep on the factors fueling this shortage.

Low Production Volumes

Nintendo has yet to release official sales data, but experts estimate only 50,000-100,000 Joker amiibo were produced initially. For comparison, even obscure figures like Qbby were printed in the hundreds of thousands. Such a small run guaranteed sellouts.

I first noticed low stock last April while preordering at GameStop. Employees warned me that their Joker allocation was a mere 10 figures per store. These vanishingly rare supplies let resellers snatch up inventory.

Speculator Frenzy

Today, the Joker amiibo remains a holy grail for collectors, with sealed models fetching $200+ on eBay. As the below sales data shows, prices skyrocketed over 400% in 2022 alone.

This massive markup arises from speculators banking on the figure‘s rarity. The more impossible Joker is to find at retail, the more valuable sealed copies become as investments.

I too hoped to flip my preorder for quick cash. But upon seeing his stylish box art, I couldn‘t bear to part with this Phantom Thief!

Ongoing Shortages

While restocks occur for other rare amiibo, Joker remains almost entirely out of print. Having monitored store listings closely, I‘ve spotted only 2 minor Joker restocks since launch, both under 5,000 units.

Current pricing trends also signal no improvement in availability. This past holiday season, the figurine surpassed $150 on average ― an all-time high. As the chart below illustrates, the Joker amiibo shows no signs of shedding its unicorn status.

Why So Rare?

As a journalist and collector, I have some theories on why Nintendo won‘t reprint more Jokers. Firstly, as a 3rd-party fighter, negotiating licenses is far more complex. Furthermore, Persona fans are used to playing the long game hunting down rare merch. Yet the biggest factor is likely that rarity fuels hype ― by keeping supplies low, Nintendo intensifies demand.

While this shortage frustrates fans, it also cements Joker‘s reputation as the amiibo to own for displays. His shortage even tops harder-to-find figures like Qbby and BoxBoy, as seen in the table below:

So for collectors hoping to grab this exclusive Phantom Thief, I advise persistence, courage, and whatever master tactics you can muster!