**Increased supply from the Ascended Heroes set has driven recent price corrections for the high-end Pikachu ex variants (notably the 276/217 Special Illustration Rare), pushing market-implied odds toward a decline by August 31.** TCGPlayer data from late July 2026 showed sharp drops, including one variant falling nearly $124 to around $1,161 and another losing $60 to $390, as more copies entered circulation after the initial post-release surge. Traders view this as a classic hype-cycle cooldown in the Pokémon TCG collectibles space, where chase cards often peak within months before supply stabilizes and speculative demand eases. Broader market tracking through mid-August reinforces the downward trajectory, with no major new catalysts like set reprints or viral collector demand expected before month-end. While short-term fluctuations remain possible, the prevailing supply dynamics and recent sales trends underpin the 71% consensus for lower prices.