Pikachu Card Craze Among Pokémon Fans Hits New Heights

It’s becoming increasingly tough for collectors and enthusiasts to snag new Pokémon cards these days. If you’re after rare cards, you might as well be searching for a unicorn unless you’re ready to shell out a small fortune. Instead of throwing in the towel on their card hunts, savvy Pokémon TCG fans are turning to alternative cards that are easier on the wallet. However, as more players look for these consolation prizes, the market for certain singles has gone a bit bonkers.

Right now, the set that has everyone buzzing is Ascended Heroes, known for its stunning full-art cards. While it’s not the latest release—Perfect Order holds that title—sealed boxes of Ascended Heroes are flying off the shelves for nearly $200 on the resale market, making it a hot target during restocks.

The pull rates for Ascended Heroes are decent, but it’s also the largest English TCG release to date. Even if you manage to grab a box, the rare cards are notoriously elusive. The one card everyone has their eyes on is Pikachu ex #276, affectionately dubbed Treekachu by fans. This card has become such a sought-after item that the lowest price you’ll find is just over $1,000, while a PSA 10 version can fetch an eye-watering $4,225, according to price trackers.

Everyone wants Treekachu, but it’s nearly impossible to get. For many, the next best option is the Crown Zenith Pikachu, which shares a similar green aesthetic with its pricier counterpart. This card, from a set that’s no longer in print, saw its price quadruple in 2025 due to the ongoing Pokémon card shortage. The demand only intensified in 2026, causing the so-called Leaf Pikachu to double its already inflated price.

In a roundabout way, the rise of Leaf Pikachu makes sense. However, the desperation for a connection to Treekachu has led collectors to buy an entirely different card featuring another Pokémon. Enter Bulbasaur #37, a promo released in March 2026 to celebrate the franchise’s beloved starters. This card has been in demand since its launch, but recently, someone discovered a quirky detail in the background. If you zoom in, you can spot a silhouette of Pikachu lurking in a forest, essentially making it a secret Treekachu.

While it’s a subtle detail, it’s pretty cool, right? Now that this has come to light, the price of Bulbasaur #37 has skyrocketed. Sales charts show a sharp increase right after the Pikachu discovery went public, with daily sales jumping from around 100 to about 700. A card that used to sell for roughly $20 is now fetching around $60, and demand is likely to keep climbing as more collectors catch wind of this hidden Pikachu.

In the grand scheme of things, Bulbasaur #37 is still a relatively affordable card in a hobby filled with collectibles that can cost as much as an average American’s annual salary. But the reason behind this Bulbasaur craze is downright amusing. Collectors are so eager for that elusive Pikachu card that they’re willing to settle for a card that only hints at it.

The twist? The secret Pikachu is likely a nod to Viridian Forest, a location from the original Red and Blue games, rather than Treekachu.