It happened in November 2017. The Pokemon TCG community was riding high on the momentum of Burning Shadows and that elusive Rainbow Rare Charizard. Then, Pokemon Sun & Moon Crimson Invasion dropped. People weren't exactly thrilled. At the time, players felt it was a "filler" set, something to bridge the gap between the Alola region's start and the power-creep of the Ultra Prism era. But if you look at the market now, things have changed.
Crimson Invasion was basically the moment the Ultra Beasts truly invaded the card game. We're talking Nihilego-GX, Guzzlord-GX, and Kartana-GX. It was weird. It was experimental. It honestly felt a bit alien compared to the classic Kanto vibes everyone usually craves.
Looking back, the set's reputation as a "dud" is exactly why it’s becoming a fascinating case study for modern collectors. When a set is ignored at launch, the print run tends to age differently. You don't have millions of pristine booster boxes sitting in every single person's closet like you do with Evolving Skies.
The Ultra Beast Gamble and Why It Sorta Failed (Then Succeeded)
The core hook of Pokemon Sun & Moon Crimson Invasion was the introduction of the Ultra Beasts as high-rarity GX cards. In the video games, these things were terrifying. They were interdimensional horrors that didn't follow the rules of nature. Converting that to cardboard was a tall order.
The set featured Silvally-GX as the "hero" card, designed to counter the Ultra Beast threat. From a competitive standpoint, Silvally was actually pretty versatile. You could swap its "Memory" items to change its type, making it a Swiss Army knife in the Standard format of the time. But players were fickle. They wanted raw power, and Crimson Invasion offered technicality instead.
Guzzlord-GX is a perfect example of the set's quirky design. It had an attack called Eat Sloppily that let you discard the top five cards of your deck and attach any Energy found there. It was high-risk, high-reward, and frankly, kind of a meme in the competitive scene. But that’s what makes this set charming. It wasn't trying to be the next Base Set. It was trying to be weird.
The Secret Rares You Actually Want
Collectors usually go straight for the Rainbow Rares. In Crimson Invasion, the big hits were the Rainbow Rare versions of the Ultra Beasts and the Full Art supporters like Lusamine and Gladion.
Lusamine is the standout here. If you follow the "Waifu Effect" in the Pokemon TCG—where female character cards see massive value spikes—Lusamine is a titan. Her role in the Sun & Moon story as the unhinged leader of the Aether Foundation gave the card a narrative weight that most generic trainers lack.
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Then there’s the Gold Secret Rare items. Counter Catcher and Wishful Baton. At the time, they were just shiny tools for your deck. Now? They are glittering relics of a very specific era of gameplay.
The Misconception of the "Weak" Set
People love to call Pokemon Sun & Moon Crimson Invasion the weakest set of the Sun & Moon era. That’s a bit of an oversimplification. Is it weaker than Team Up? Sure. Is it less iconic than Cosmic Eclipse? Absolutely. But "weak" is relative.
If you're a completionist, Crimson Invasion is actually a nightmare to master. The pull rates for the specific Rainbow Rares you need are notorious. Because the set wasn't opened as heavily as others, the supply of high-grade (PSA 10) Secret Rares is surprisingly thin compared to the massive "hype" sets.
The set also introduced "Crimson" variants of certain Alolan forms. Alolan Exeggutor-GX was a fun, goofy inclusion that actually saw some play. It showed that the TCG designers were willing to lean into the Alola region's unique ecosystem.
What’s Inside the 111-Card Checklist?
- Ultra Beasts: Nihilego, Buzzwole, Guzzlord, Kartana, and Celesteela.
- Alolan Forms: Alolan Raichu (non-GX but beautiful art) and Alolan Exeggutor.
- Key Trainers: Lusamine, Gladion, and Olivia.
- The Big Secret: The Water-type Gyarados-GX, which is arguably the most "classic" chase card in the set for those who don't care about the interdimensional aliens.
Gyarados-GX was a massive deal for old-school fans. It provided a bridge between the new mechanics and the nostalgia that drives the hobby. The Full Art Gyarados with its deep blues and textured holographic finish remains one of the best-looking cards from 2017.
Why Investors are Quietly Buying Crimson Invasion Boxes
Supply and demand 101. For years, you could find Pokemon Sun & Moon Crimson Invasion booster boxes for under $100. They were the "shelf warmers." Retailers couldn't give them away.
But here’s the thing about Pokemon cards: they don't stay in print forever. Eventually, the surplus dries up. When people realize they can't find a box for $90 anymore, they scramble.
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Currently, the market is seeing a slow but steady climb in sealed product prices. It's not a vertical line like Flashfire, but it's consistent. Collectors who are tired of paying thousands for Evolving Skies are looking for "undervalued" eras. Sun & Moon is the next frontier.
The box art itself is striking. It features Silvally and Guzzlord, capturing that "invasion" theme perfectly. For a sealed collector, it’s a distinct-looking piece of history. It represents the midpoint of the 7th Generation, a time when the TCG was transitioning into the massive boom we saw in 2020.
Breaking Down the Gameplay Mechanics
Crimson Invasion wasn't just about the art. It brought in some frustratingly effective cards.
- Buzzwole-GX: This card was a monster. Jet Punch did 30 damage to the active and 30 to a benched Pokemon for a single Fighting Energy. It was fast. It was aggressive. It dominated the early game in many tournaments.
- Kartana-GX: Its Slice Off ability allowed you to discard a Special Energy from one of your opponent's Pokemon when you played it from your hand. In a meta-game filled with Double Colorless Energy, this was a game-changer.
- Magnezone: The Magnetic Circuit ability allowed for unlimited Metal Energy attachments. This paved the way for several "big metal" decks that focused on huge one-hit knockouts.
The set was built around the idea of disruption. It wasn't about building up a massive bench and sitting there; it was about "invading" your opponent's strategy and tearing it apart.
The Lusamine Controversy
We have to talk about the Lusamine Supporter card. It was so good it actually got banned in the Expanded format for a while. Being able to loop Lusamine to get back other Lusamines and another Supporter meant you could effectively never run out of resources in a stall deck. It was boring to play against, but it proved that Crimson Invasion had some teeth.
Real-World Rarity and Pull Rate Realities
If you go out and buy a loose pack of Pokemon Sun & Moon Crimson Invasion today, don't expect a hit. This was before the "Trainer Gallery" or "Galarian Gallery" days where every pack felt like a winner.
Back then, you had one rare slot. If you pulled a "green code" card (in the old PTCGO code card system), you knew there was nothing of value in that pack. It made the "white code" hits feel much more significant.
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Pulling a Rainbow Rare from a booster box was roughly a 1-in-72 pack occurrence. Since there were several different Rainbow Rares in the set, hunting for a specific one like the Nihilego-GX or the Silvally-GX was statistically daunting. This scarcity is what drives the "singles" market today.
Practical Steps for Collectors and Players
If you're looking to dive into this set now, don't just blindly buy packs. The "hit" rate is too low for it to be financially viable for most.
Focus on the Full Art Trainers. Lusamine and Olivia are the safest bets for long-term value. Their artwork is distinctive and represents the Alola region's core cast perfectly.
Look for "Error" Cards. The Sun & Moon era was notorious for some weird printing quirks. Miscut cards from Crimson Invasion pop up occasionally on secondary markets and carry a premium for niche collectors.
Check the Condition of Holographic Rares. Because this set was often treated as "bulk," many people didn't sleeve the regular holos or even the standard GX cards. Finding a "Mint" raw copy of a card like Regigigas or Alolan Raichu is actually harder than you'd think.
Evaluate Sealed Product Carefully. If you’re buying a booster box, ensure the "Poke Ball" shrink wrap is authentic. Crimson Invasion was one of the last sets before high-quality fakes became rampant, but it’s still a risk. Look for the white TPCI (The Pokemon Company International) logos on the plastic.
Grade the Ultra Beasts. Since many people still find the Ultra Beasts "ugly" or "weird," their high-grade cards are relatively affordable. As the kids who grew up playing Sun & Moon get older and gain disposable income, they will look back at these "weird" Pokemon with the same nostalgia we have for Lugia or Rayquaza. Buying a PSA 9 or 10 now is a smart play for the 10-year horizon.
Complete the Set via Singles. Honestly, just buy the singles. The set is small enough (111 cards plus secrets) that you can build a complete binder set for a fraction of what it would cost to pull it from boxes. It’s a satisfying set to flip through because the color palette is so consistent—lots of deep reds, purples, and "void" blacks.
The legacy of this set is still being written. It was the underdog of the 2017-2018 season, but in the world of Pokemon, the underdogs usually have the last laugh. It’s a snapshot of a time when Pokemon was trying to be genuinely "alien" and different. Whether you love the Ultra Beasts or hate them, you can't deny that Crimson Invasion left a mark on the TCG landscape.