TCGPulse

Daily · Hobby · 4 min

A PSA 10 Art Academy Mudkip sold for $4,880,000 as Goldin's 30th Anniversary Auction closed at $28M+.

· 5:15 AM CT

The top lot of Goldin's Pokémon 30th Anniversary Auction wasn't the Trophy Pikachu. It was a 2015 Japanese XY Promo Art Academy Mudkip, graded PSA 10, which sold for $4,880,000. Goldin says the full auction closed at more than $28M, beating its previous record for a TCG auction total. Also: the FBI is now investigating the PSA slab theft from a FedEx truck, and Riot laid out its 2027 Riftbound tournament plan.

Goldin's PSA 10 2015 Japanese XY Promo Mudkip, Art Academy, Daisuke Ochiai, with the $4,880,000 sale price.
Art Academy Mudkip PSA 10 sells for $4,880,000 · Image: Goldin

How the market was

A quiet day for sealed prices. The 30th Celebration standard ETB is holding inside its $115–125 completed range vs $49.99 retail, about 2% lower on the week. The action was at the top of the vintage and promo market, where Goldin's results set the tone. RGB Mew: Red $6–7k / Green ~$8k / Blue ~$5k (published locks; no fresh sales).

Hobby pulse

  1. Official · Pokémon

    Art Academy Mudkip PSA 10 sells for $4,880,000; Goldin's 30th Anniversary Auction tops $28M

    The 2015 Japanese XY Promo Art Academy Mudkip, illustrated by Daisuke Ochiai, graded PSA 10 (population 3), was the top lot of the sale at $4,880,000 after 73 bids. Goldin calls it a "record-setting" sale and "the all-time highest public sale for any Mudkip card." The auction closed this weekend at more than $28M, which Goldin says surpassed its previous TCG auction total record. Three Art Academy contest promos landed in the top four: Sableye PSA 10 and Gourgeist PSA 10 sold for $976,000 each, behind the $3,080,500 Trophy Pikachu. Other results: POP 5 Gold Star Umbreon PSA 10 $738,100; EX Team Rocket Returns Gold Star Mudkip PSA 10 $610,000; 1996 Japanese no-rarity Mewtwo PSA 10 $603,900. It's one of the biggest Pokémon card sales on record, but not the highest ever.

    Source (Official): https://x.com/GoldinCo/status/2114779193988858129 · Source (Reported): AuctionReport, Oct 26; Chase Society

  2. Official · Pokémon

    Delta Reign store promos start Nov 6

    From Nov 6, spend $15 or more on Pokémon TCG at participating retailers, in store or online, for a Pokémon 30 logo promo while supplies last. Kyogre: Hot Topic, Barnes & Noble, Five Below, Macy's. Groudon: GameStop US, EB Games Canada and Australia. Giratina: Best Buy US, Toymate and Mr Toys in Australia. Pokémon Center isn't listed. Separately, Wargamer reports that the full-art Mega Rayquaza ex from Japan's set isn't in the English list (the special illustration rare and mega ultra rare are still in), and the regular Eevee ex is absent (Reported).

    Source (Official): pokemon.com, Oct 23 · Source (Reported): Wargamer, Oct 26, citing PokeBeach

  3. Reported · Pokémon

    FBI now investigating the PSA slab theft

    The FBI is investigating the theft of 6,451 PSA slabs, many of them Pokémon, taken from a FedEx truck in Santa Ana on Oct 13. PSA values the haul at just under $1M. PSA is refunding grading fees and paying fair market value; owners can choose compensation or get their item back if it's recovered.

    Source (Reported): Polygon, Oct 26

  4. Official · Riftbound

    2027 Premier Play plan and K/DA drawing

    Riot's 2027 plan adds Ladder Points and a ranked ladder, with the top 50 earning a yearly Grandmaster title. 2027 Continentals are set for Dallas, Melbourne, London and Toronto; Summoner Skirmish is being retired, and Challenge Series winners get a free Regional competitor badge. The 2026 World Championship Showcase runs Jan 23–24, 2027 in Shanghai with 24 players. Riot says details aren't final. Separately, the K/DA Couture Collection drawing ($150 plus shipping) opens today at 11 AM CT and closes Oct 30 at 11 AM CT; first selection emails go out Nov 3.

    Source (Official): https://playriftbound.com/en-us/news/organizedplay/riftbound-2027-premier-play/ · Source (Official): playriftbound.com, Oct 22 (K/DA drawing)

Worth watching

  • Official: Riftbound: K/DA Couture Collection drawing opens today at 11 AM CT, closes Oct 30.
  • Official: Pokémon TCG Pocket: Dual Fusion goes live Wed Oct 28 at 8 PM CT.
  • Official: One Piece: EB-05 Heroines Edition vol. 2 releases Fri Oct 30 ($4.99 a pack); Bandai's errata says EB05-033 "O-Robi" counts as Nico Robin, including alt arts.
  • Official: Magic: MTG | Star Trek early-access stream Nov 4 at noon CT; tabletop prerelease Nov 6; Arena launch Nov 10.
  • Official: Pokémon: Delta Reign releases Nov 6, with store promos starting the same day.

Note

The Mudkip price is as reported by Goldin; the $28M+ auction total is Goldin's figure. The ETB range reflects completed sales.