{
  "url": "https://www.moonstonehq.com/articles/market-breadth-september-2026",
  "slug": "market-breadth-september-2026",
  "title": "Breadth: The Index Rose 4.8% in Sixteen Days, 120 of 156 Sets Rose With It, and the 300 Most Valuable Cards Did Not Move",
  "summary": "Our daily price store now covers every priced card, so for the first time we can ask a breadth question instead of an index question: how many cards actually went up? Between August 30 and September 14, 37.7% of 20,915 English cards rose more than 2%, 25.5% fell and 36.8% were flat, while the moonstone Index rose 4.8%. The rise was broad but not at the top: of the 300 most valuable cards, 73% did not move. It was also not the new product: half the Mega Evolution era fell. And it was vintage: WotC cards rose more than three to one, 40.3% up against 12.3% down. Here is the market as a headcount rather than a level.",
  "section": "Market report",
  "published": "2026-09-15",
  "readMinutes": 8,
  "publisher": "moonstone",
  "findings": [
    {
      "value": "37.7% / 25.5%",
      "measures": "English cards up more than 2% / down more than 2%",
      "basis": "20,915 cards, Aug 29 to Sep 14; 36.8% flat"
    },
    {
      "value": "+4.8%",
      "measures": "moonstone Index over the same sixteen days",
      "basis": "224.39 to 235.25"
    },
    {
      "value": "73.3%",
      "measures": "of the 300 most valuable cards were flat",
      "basis": "19.0% up, 7.7% down"
    },
    {
      "value": "120 of 156",
      "measures": "sets with 30+ cards had more risers than fallers",
      "basis": "the Mega Evolution sets are most of the other 36"
    }
  ],
  "tables": [
    {
      "title": "Breadth by price tier, English cards, cheapest printing, 2026-08-30 to 2026-09-14 (flat = within 2%)",
      "columns": [
        "Price at start",
        "Cards",
        "Up",
        "Down",
        "Flat",
        "Mean change",
        "Value-weighted change"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Price at start": "Under $1",
          "Cards": "10,554",
          "Up": "39.9%",
          "Down": "30.8%",
          "Flat": "29.3%",
          "Mean change": "+1.8%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.6%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "$1 to $5",
          "Cards": "4,122",
          "Up": "38.9%",
          "Down": "23.1%",
          "Flat": "38.0%",
          "Mean change": "+1.3%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.3%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "$5 to $25",
          "Cards": "3,569",
          "Up": "36.0%",
          "Down": "21.6%",
          "Flat": "42.4%",
          "Mean change": "+0.9%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.0%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "$25 to $100",
          "Cards": "1,704",
          "Up": "31.6%",
          "Down": "15.9%",
          "Flat": "52.5%",
          "Mean change": "+1.3%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.4%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "$100 to $500",
          "Cards": "837",
          "Up": "26.5%",
          "Down": "10.2%",
          "Flat": "63.3%",
          "Mean change": "+1.8%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.7%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "$500 and up",
          "Cards": "129",
          "Up": "15.5%",
          "Down": "8.5%",
          "Flat": "76.0%",
          "Mean change": "+1.1%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.2%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "All English",
          "Cards": "20,915",
          "Up": "37.7%",
          "Down": "25.5%",
          "Flat": "36.8%",
          "Mean change": "+1.5%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.4%"
        },
        {
          "Price at start": "Top 300 by price",
          "Cards": "300",
          "Up": "19.0%",
          "Down": "7.7%",
          "Flat": "73.3%",
          "Mean change": "+1.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.1%"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Breadth by era, English cards",
      "columns": [
        "Era",
        "Cards",
        "Up",
        "Down",
        "Flat",
        "Median change",
        "Value-weighted change"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Cards": "1,778",
          "Up": "40.3%",
          "Down": "12.3%",
          "Flat": "47.4%",
          "Median change": "+1.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.8%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "HeartGold SoulSilver",
          "Cards": "542",
          "Up": "39.5%",
          "Down": "12.9%",
          "Flat": "47.6%",
          "Median change": "+0.7%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+5.0%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Diamond & Pearl",
          "Cards": "1,413",
          "Up": "38.6%",
          "Down": "12.1%",
          "Flat": "49.3%",
          "Median change": "+0.5%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+3.5%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "EX era",
          "Cards": "1,862",
          "Up": "31.8%",
          "Down": "10.4%",
          "Flat": "57.8%",
          "Median change": "0.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.2%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Black & White",
          "Cards": "1,379",
          "Up": "30.7%",
          "Down": "16.5%",
          "Flat": "52.8%",
          "Median change": "0.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+2.2%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "XY",
          "Cards": "1,746",
          "Up": "37.7%",
          "Down": "20.2%",
          "Flat": "42.0%",
          "Median change": "0.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+1.9%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Sun & Moon",
          "Cards": "2,873",
          "Up": "38.6%",
          "Down": "22.7%",
          "Flat": "38.7%",
          "Median change": "+0.2%",
          "Value-weighted change": "+2.4%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Sword & Shield",
          "Cards": "3,526",
          "Up": "40.2%",
          "Down": "37.8%",
          "Flat": "22.0%",
          "Median change": "0.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "-0.5%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Scarlet & Violet",
          "Cards": "3,511",
          "Up": "42.6%",
          "Down": "37.7%",
          "Flat": "19.7%",
          "Median change": "0.0%",
          "Value-weighted change": "-1.4%"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Mega Evolution",
          "Cards": "995",
          "Up": "35.4%",
          "Down": "50.9%",
          "Flat": "13.8%",
          "Median change": "-2.7%",
          "Value-weighted change": "-5.8%"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Sets with the most risers and the most fallers, English sets with 30+ priced cards: a selection from each end of the 156, not the strict top and bottom (see the methodology)",
      "columns": [
        "Set",
        "Cards",
        "Up",
        "Down",
        "Median change",
        "Value-weighted"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Set": "[151](/set/151)",
          "Cards": "199",
          "Up": "62.8%",
          "Down": "21.1%",
          "Median change": "+6.0%",
          "Value-weighted": "+0.2%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "DP Black Star Promos",
          "Cards": "52",
          "Up": "59.6%",
          "Down": "1.9%",
          "Median change": "+2.8%",
          "Value-weighted": "+4.2%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "Wizards Black Star Promos",
          "Cards": "51",
          "Up": "54.9%",
          "Down": "9.8%",
          "Median change": "+2.0%",
          "Value-weighted": "+6.1%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "Champion's Path",
          "Cards": "79",
          "Up": "54.4%",
          "Down": "27.8%",
          "Median change": "+4.3%",
          "Value-weighted": "-0.3%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Evolutions](/set/xy%20-%20evolutions)",
          "Cards": "108",
          "Up": "53.7%",
          "Down": "27.8%",
          "Median change": "+2.9%",
          "Value-weighted": "+1.7%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Base Set](/set/base%20set)",
          "Cards": "100",
          "Up": "53.0%",
          "Down": "29.0%",
          "Median change": "+4.4%",
          "Value-weighted": "+0.7%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Obsidian Flames](/set/obsidian%20flames)",
          "Cards": "227",
          "Up": "52.9%",
          "Down": "29.1%",
          "Median change": "+3.4%",
          "Value-weighted": "-1.9%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Paradox Rift](/set/paradox%20rift)",
          "Cards": "254",
          "Up": "52.8%",
          "Down": "26.4%",
          "Median change": "+3.5%",
          "Value-weighted": "0.0%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Journey Together](/set/journey%20together)",
          "Cards": "185",
          "Up": "31.4%",
          "Down": "59.5%",
          "Median change": "-6.2%",
          "Value-weighted": "-4.1%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "MEP Black Star Promos",
          "Cards": "76",
          "Up": "25.0%",
          "Down": "56.6%",
          "Median change": "-5.2%",
          "Value-weighted": "-4.5%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Mega Evolution](/set/mega%20evolution)",
          "Cards": "183",
          "Up": "31.7%",
          "Down": "56.3%",
          "Median change": "-5.4%",
          "Value-weighted": "-3.9%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Ascended Heroes](/set/ascended%20heroes)",
          "Cards": "287",
          "Up": "31.0%",
          "Down": "53.0%",
          "Median change": "-3.2%",
          "Value-weighted": "-7.0%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[Black Bolt](/set/black%20bolt)",
          "Cards": "171",
          "Up": "26.3%",
          "Down": "52.6%",
          "Median change": "-2.5%",
          "Value-weighted": "-1.4%"
        },
        {
          "Set": "[ME05: Pitch Black](/set/me05%3A%20pitch%20black)",
          "Cards": "95",
          "Up": "38.9%",
          "Down": "52.6%",
          "Median change": "-5.9%",
          "Value-weighted": "-16.3%"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Largest gains and losses, English cards priced $25 or more at the start, cheapest printing",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "Aug 29",
        "Sep 14",
        "Change"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Feraligatr](/card/neo1-5)",
          "Set": "[Neo Genesis](/set/neo%20genesis)",
          "Aug 29": "$118.32",
          "Sep 14": "$182.59",
          "Change": "+54.3%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Lanturn](/card/ecard2-H15)",
          "Set": "[Aquapolis](/set/aquapolis) H15",
          "Aug 29": "$64.98",
          "Sep 14": "$100.00",
          "Change": "+53.9%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Meowth](/card/ecard3-78)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "Aug 29": "$84.99",
          "Sep 14": "$129.99",
          "Change": "+52.9%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Scizor ex](/card/ex10-108)",
          "Set": "Unseen Forces",
          "Aug 29": "$119.85",
          "Sep 14": "$182.94",
          "Change": "+52.6%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Kingdra](/card/neo1-8)",
          "Set": "[Neo Genesis](/set/neo%20genesis)",
          "Aug 29": "$82.50",
          "Sep 14": "$124.00",
          "Change": "+50.3%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Rayquaza](/card/col1-20)",
          "Set": "[Call of Legends](/set/call%20of%20legends)",
          "Aug 29": "$679.27",
          "Sep 14": "$1,013.27",
          "Change": "+49.2%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Espeon](/card/hgss3-81)",
          "Set": "[Undaunted](/set/undaunted)",
          "Aug 29": "$241.56",
          "Sep 14": "$360.30",
          "Change": "+49.2%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Dark Blastoise](/card/lc-4)",
          "Set": "[Legendary Collection](/set/legendary%20collection)",
          "Aug 29": "$145.99",
          "Sep 14": "$213.49",
          "Change": "+46.2%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Light Azumarill](/card/neo4-13)",
          "Set": "[Neo Destiny](/set/neo%20destiny)",
          "Aug 29": "$151.48",
          "Sep 14": "$62.49",
          "Change": "-58.7%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Rayquaza](/card/ex9-9)",
          "Set": "Emerald",
          "Aug 29": "$112.06",
          "Sep 14": "$49.99",
          "Change": "-55.4%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Dark Houndoom](/card/ex7-5)",
          "Set": "Team Rocket Returns",
          "Aug 29": "$93.37",
          "Sep 14": "$50.00",
          "Change": "-46.4%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Hitmontop](/card/neo2-3)",
          "Set": "[Neo Discovery](/set/neo%20discovery)",
          "Aug 29": "$300.00",
          "Sep 14": "$161.45",
          "Change": "-46.2%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Poliwrath](/card/neo2-9)",
          "Set": "[Neo Discovery](/set/neo%20discovery)",
          "Aug 29": "$78.90",
          "Sep 14": "$48.35",
          "Change": "-38.7%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Poliwrath](/card/ecard1-24)",
          "Set": "[Expedition Base Set](/set/expedition)",
          "Aug 29": "$72.49",
          "Sep 14": "$44.99",
          "Change": "-37.9%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Entei ex](/card/ex4-91)",
          "Set": "Team Magma vs Team Aqua",
          "Aug 29": "$277.24",
          "Sep 14": "$175.00",
          "Change": "-36.9%"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Charizard](/card/ex3-100)",
          "Set": "EX Dragon",
          "Aug 29": "$739.97",
          "Sep 14": "$489.99",
          "Change": "-33.8%"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "charts": [],
  "sections": [
    "Broad, cheap, and vintage",
    "151 rose two to one; Journey Together fell two to one",
    "The biggest sixteen-day moves above $25 were nearly all vintage"
  ],
  "method": [
    "Universe: catalog cards with a recorded price on both the first three days (2026-08-30 to 09-01) and the last three days (2026-09-12 to 09-14) of our daily canonical price store: 35,885 cards after excluding 531 whose change was 60% or more in magnitude; 20,915 English and 14,970 Japanese. The store's first day is 2026-08-30, so the card window is fifteen days, one shorter than the index window quoted in the title, which starts from the index's own 2026-08-29 close. English figures are reported; Japanese cards, 78% of which were flat, are excluded from the tables. Price is the cheapest-printing market price, median of the three days at each end. Up and down mean a change of more than 2%; flat is within 2%. Mean change is the arithmetic mean of per-card changes; value-weighted change is the sum of end prices over the sum of start prices minus one. Era follows the set prefix; the set tables require 30 or more priced cards per set. The set table prints a selection from each end rather than the strict extremes: recomputed for this audit, Phantasmal Flames (53.8% up) belongs among the risers, and Chaos Rising (54.8% down) and the four Trick or Trade bundle sets, the deepest faller of the whole list at 70% down on 30 cards, belong among the fallers. The index figure is the moonstone Pokémon Index closing level on 2026-08-29 and 2026-09-14 from the same series the homepage charts. The flagship-column robustness check uses 2026-09-07 to 09-08, the first two days under the new rule, against 09-13 to 09-14, with the same 60% exclusion, so both of its endpoints sit on one side of the change. Not financial advice."
  ],
  "terms": "Figures are moonstone's own recorded measurements, dated as published. Quote them with the population stated beside them. The article at `url` is the human form of this file."
}