A detailed explanation on why I decided to buy a case of Crimson Invasion in 2023

Call me crazy but here is my reasoning for why I think Crimson Invasion booster boxes are the some of the best bang for your buck you can get in the current market.

1. The set was hated when it came out = Low print run

I have been collecting sealed booster boxes since 2010. In my time of being in the game, every era always has had a set that no one liked, or wasn't nearly as popular as other sets of that time period. For the sun and moon era, it was crimson invasion. Back when it came out, players pretty much universally hated the set. Since players had no interest in the set when it was released and it was sitting on shelves forever, I'm going to safely assume the set has never gotten a reprint. Plus, this set came out in 2017. Back then, not too many people bought boxes to hold, they bought them to rip. Pokeinvestors did exist at the time, but in 2017 they were focusing more heavily on storing away burning shadows due to the rainbow charizard. Plus this set came and went before the covid craze, which increased printing numbers enormously. There is no way this set has even close to the same numbers of boxes printed during the SWSH era, which makes it way more rare.

2. Time heals all wounds and never underestimate nostalgia

Do you know which EX sets were unpopular when they were released? How about gen 4 sets? Would it surprise you if I told you that at the time of release, call of legends was HATED in the TCG community? Back then the only people really in the TCG were actual players of the games, and they hated the set. Hell, even me, who was exclusively a collector didn’t like it because half the cards were reprints from the heartgold/soulsilver sets and I just wanted Pokemon to move onto gen 5 cards. My point is, over time, people won’t remember how ‘hated’ crimson invasion was, especially if they weren’t actually collecting in or around the time period it came out. As time marches on, people remember individual sets less and less, and ‘eras’ of cards is going to matter more for obtaining sealed product. For many people, the Sun and Moon era was a great era of Pokemon. Pokemon GO came out the year before and practically united mankind for a glorious few weeks with Sun and moon coming out in the winter. Also this was all before a certain political event happened, where many people would agree that life before that time felt ‘simpler’ and less divisive. This is going to lead to many feelings of nostalgia down the road, which leads me to my next point.

3. Never underestimate nostalgia.

Crimson invasion is almost 6 years old. Sun and moon era as a whole is getting to that point where people are going to start feeling nostalgic for it. If there is something I have learned in my time collecting sealed product, it is NEVER underestimate nostalgia. People are going to look back and want to open some cards from the sun and moon era. Crimson invasion being only around 200 bucks 6 years later will mean that people aren’t buying it to invest, but to OPEN. Because it is seen as such a 'trash set', people who are currently buying the box I would assume are mostly people who want the thrill of opening affordable out of print sets or to pull certain cards like rainbow rares themselves. If the price of crimson invasion continues to be so affordable as the other SM sets climb in value, there will be even more people ripping open the set, just for affordable nostalgia. This will lead in my opinion to sealed crimson invasion stuff becoming even more rare than other SM era sets. Combine this with the fact that poke investors are all overlooking the box, not too many people are buying to hold. The majority of sealed investors here are focusing on hoarding as much SWSH era as they can. Who wants to spend $1.1K on a case of a 'trash set' when you can spend that on a super popular set like Evolving skies or Lost Origin? You have to remember, the reason why vintage boxes became 10's of thousands of dollars was because very few people saw value in holding it, they saw value in ripping it instead.

3. “But Splashattack, the set list is TERRIBLE, why would anyone ever want to open such a trash set!??!?”

The main reason why crimson invasion is still sitting at just under $200 a box almost 6 years after its release is because it is known for being a 'trash set'. If you actually look at the set, it overall isn't that terrible, and I’m going to use the next few points to argue why I think the set list has undervalued potential.:

First, generally speaking, the set is overall leagues better than other sets like black and white’s emerging powers. If you have never looked at the set list, I recommend opening a tab and looking now. That box goes for almost $2 grand a piece and the most valuable card in that set is worth 7 bucks! Crimson invasion is objectively a better set in every way, it just isn’t as old as black and white yet.

Next, I’d like to make the argument for rainbow rares. Right now, the general consensus is that rainbow rares suck ass. Call it speculation, but I have a strong feeling that time will be kind to rainbow rares. Not sure how long it will take, but I think eventually rainbow rares are going to be sought after by many collectors, especially if the pokemon company never brings them back.

4. Ultra Beasts

Like rainbow rares, the majority of people right now aren't very fond of ultra beasts. However, ultra beasts are exclusive to the sun and moon era, which means that future eras aren't printing those pokemon, making them some of the rarest Pokemon to be printed. We won't see the ultra beasts again unless there is a remake of the sun and moon games. You can't say that for other legendaries, as they still get printed in future sets. Crimson invasion focusing heavily on these exclusive pokemon, with many of the ultra/rainbow rares being ultra beasts or alolan regional pokemon. Now, will people ever end up caring about ultra beasts? I don’t know. I do think that they will have a comeback in popularity IF the sun and moon games ever get remade, which looking at past data, is a very likely possibility in the future.

Conclusion:

So there you have it. My thesis on why I think Crimson invasion booster boxes are some of the best long term holds you can have right now for the cheapest entry point and the highest potential for growth. You may not agree, and that is totally fine, I just thought I would lend my advice on a hobby I have been in for quite a long time.