Introduced with 3 exclusive pre-orders between June and September before being released for general availability in October 2019, Bandai’s Pokémon Scale World is an ever-evolving collection of 1:20 scale Pokémon figures currently only distributed in Japan. Even though these have only been out for 7 months, the most popular set is already selling for almost 7 times higher than its original RRP.
As I would now regard myself as a collector of these figures, I figured I’d put this thread together to introduce more people to their existence and hopefully deter some of you from buying the common widely-distributed figures at inflated flipper prices.
I had no idea these even existed until @linkdu83 shared some of his collection on Instagram last month (my wallet is not your biggest fan, but thank you).
The official Japanese website for these can be found at www.bandai.co.jp/candy/pokemonscaleworld, which is conveniently where I’ve pinched those images from.
How are these distributed?
The official website uses the following key to denote how each figure has been (or will be) distributed:
I can’t read Japanese and the text is embedded inside an image, but I believe these loosely translate to:
- Available through Premium Bandai on a pre-order basis.
- Available in Pokémon Center shops (not online) for a limited time.
- Available in corner shops (convenience stores).
- Available in supermarkets (grocery stores).
- Available in hobby shops (presumably this includes game stores, etc.).
Note that these are all currently exclusive to Japan with the exception of the Premium Bandai service which I believe is also open to Singapore.
How do pre-orders work?
Premium Bandai-exclusive pre-orders work in such a way that the number of pre-orders received is equal to the number of figures produced. That is to say, if there were 1,000 pre-orders there will be 1,000 of that figure made and distributed.
If the pre-orderable figures are distributed within Pokémon Center shops, I believe this is a whilst stocks last scenario whereby each Pokémon Center shop will receive a fixed number of figures each and when they’re gone they’re gone.
If the pre-orderable figures are distributed within convenience stores, grocery stores or hobby shops, they presumably are not limited at all and more will be created as demand requires.
November 2020 Update: Reorders
In November 2020 Bandai announced “reorders” for some of the older out of manufacture figures. The earliest ones will be getting distributed in April 2021 and until then it isn’t known if these will differ in any way from the original distribution (i.e. different boxes, different features, etc.). I’ve specifically marked the reorder dates for those figures in purple for now and I’m hoping to update these as soon as I know any more information.
June 2021 Update: Reorders
The first few reorder figures have now been distributed. There is one subtle difference between those and the original release figures and that’s the copyright date. The original boxes show “©2019 Pokémon. ©1995-2019 Nintendo/Creatures…” whereas the reoder boxes show “©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures…”. For the sake of identifying those I’ll keep them marked in purple below.
What figures exist?
I’ll try to keep this section up to date as new figures are released. This information is mostly a quick summary of what’s currently available here.
Kanto
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Kanto Region - October 2019
(Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Charmander, Charmeleon, Squirtle, Wartortle, Pikachu, Eevee, Mewtwo, Mew, Red)
Also available as individual numbered boxes:- 1 - Charmander, Squirtle & Bulbasaur
- 2 - Pikachu & Charmeleon
- 3 - Eevee & Wartortle
- 4 - Mew & Ivysaur
- 5 - Mewtwo
- 6 - Red
-
Venusaur - October 2019 and April 2021
-
Charizard - October 2019 and April 2021
-
Blastoise - October 2019 and April 2021
-
Professor Oak Set - October 2019
(Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Professor Oak, long grass, starter Poké Ball select table)
[Pre-order phase: July 22nd and September 2nd 2019] -
Leaf, Clefable & Gengar - November 2019 and June 2021
[Pre-order phase: July 22nd and September 2nd 2019]
[Second pre-order phase: November 13th 2020 and February 15th 2021] -
Green & Arcanine - November 2019 and June 2021
[Pre-order phase: July 22nd and September 2nd 2019]
[Second pre-order phase: November 13th 2020 and February 15th 2021] -
Sylph Company Set - December 2019 and July 2021
(Nidoqueen, Porygon, Lapras, Giovanni)
[Pre-order phase: August 22nd and October 1st 2019]
[Second pre-order phase: November 13th 2020 and March 28th 2021] -
Kanto Set - April 2020
I don’t know what the difference between this and Kanto Region above is, if any. It could just be a re-release. -
Kanto Region 2 - May 2020
(Pidgey, Rattata, Vulpix, Oddish, Magikarp, Jolteon, Vaporen, Flareon, Ditto, Green (HGSS version) long grass)
Also available as individual numbered boxes:- 1 - Pidgey, Rattata, Magikarp & long grass
- 2 - Vulpix & Jolteon
- 3 - Oddish & Vaporeon
- 4 - Ditto & Flareon
- 5 - Pidgeot
- 6 - Green (HGSS version)
-
Lance & Dragonite - July 2020
[Pre-order phase: February 7th and April 26th 2020] -
Red (HGSS version), Snorlax & Poké Flute - August 2020
[Pre-order phase: February 7th and May 26th 2020]
Note: Galarian Ponyta and a different Pikachu figure are included in the Galar region below.
Johto
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Johto Region - January 2020
(Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Quilava, Totodile, Pichu, Togepi, Espeon, Wobbuffet (female) Wobbuffet (male), Unown G, Unown S)
Also available as individual numbered boxes:- 1 - Chikorita & Espeon
- 2 - Cyndaquil & Quilava
- 3 - Totodile & Umbreon
- 4 - Unown G & Wobbuffet (male)
- 5 - Pichu, Togepi & Aipom
- 6 - Typhlosion
- 7 - EthanNote: Unown S and Wobbuffet (female) are exclusive to the Johto Region box and aren’t available individually.
-
Meganium - March 2020
-
Feraligatr - March 2020
-
Lyra, Bayleef, Natu & Smoochum - April 2020
-
Silver, Croconaw & Sneasel - April 2020
-
Morty, Celebi, Misdreavus & long grass - April 2020
-
Raikou, Entei & Suicune - June 2020
Note: Hitmontop is included alongside Bea as part of the Galar region below.
Alola
Note: Mimikyu is included alongside Allister and Cursola as part of the Galar region below.
Galar
-
Galar Region - September 2020
(Grookey, Thwackey, Scorbunny, Raboot, Toxel, Sobble, Drizzile, Yamper, Wooloo, Alcremie, Inteleon, Cinderace)
Also available as individual numbered boxes:- 1 - Grookey & Thwackey
- 2 - Scorbunny, Raboot & Toxel
- 3 - Sobble & Drizzile
- 4 - Yamper, Wooloo & Alcremie
- 5 - Inteleon
- 6 - Cinderace
- 7 - Gloria
-
Rillaboom - September 2020
[Pre-order phase: May 20th and June 28th 2020] -
Nessa & Drednaw - November 2020
[Pre-order phase: June 22nd and August 30th 2020] -
Raihan & Duraludon - December 2020
[Pre-order phase: July 21st and September 27th 2020] -
Corviknight - January 2021
[Pre-order phase: August 7th and November 1st 2020] -
Galar Region 2 - January 2021
(Arrokuda, Cramorant, Morpeko, Galarian Ponyta, Pikachu, Polteageist, Sirfetch’d, Toxitricity)
Also available as individual numbered boxes:- 1 - Morpeko (full belly), Morpeko (hungry) & Galarian Ponyta
- 2 - Cramorant, Arrokuda & Pikachu
- 3 - Polteageist & Sirfetch’d
- 4 - Toxitricity (amped form)
- 5 - Toxitricity (low key form)
- 6 - Victor
- 7 - Marnie
-
Bea & Hitmontop - February 2021
[Pre-order phase: August 24th and November 1st 2020] -
Allister, Cursola & Mimikyu- February 2021
[Pre-order phase: August 24th and November 1st 2020] -
Galar Gym Battle Set- March 2021
(Gloria (Gym uniform), Victor (Gym uniform), Grossifleur, Impidimp, Rolycoly, Swovet)
[Pre-order phase: October 5th and November 29th 2020] -
Leon & Dragapult - April 2021
[Pre-order phase: November 13th 2020 and January 4th 2021]
Should I pay $50 for the Charizard figure???
The rarity of the figure depends on its distribution method denoted above. Anything which has only Premium Bandai as the distribution method was only available through pre-ordering and is logically the rarest, although this depends entirely on just how many people pre-ordered at the time - as mentioned above, these were manufactured to meet pre-order demands. Simply put: you cannot buy these directly if the pre-order phase has expired. If the pre-order phase is still going on, you can probably pick these up from popular online Japanese figure stores for little more than the pre-order price itself.
Following that anything with both Premium Bandai and Pokémon Center is the next logical rarest and can likely also no longer be purchased directly. These will probably have more copies available than just those with only Premium Bandai as the distribution method, but after a certain time will no longer be available in Pokémon Centers and will not be restocked.*
Finally, anything marked convenience store, superstore or hobby shop will have been mass-produced and available to buy direct online and in stores throughout Japan. If you’re paying more than the RRP, you’re probably getting ripped off. Heck, even if you’re paying the RRP in some cases you’re probably getting ripped off too as lots of the older stock has now been discounted. Should you pay $50 for the Charizard figure? No. It has an RRP of 1,980 JPY (~$19) and you shouldn’t be spending more than that.**
* Pokémon Centers have not been restocked yet to my knowledge. In time this may change.
** As time goes on, like with Pokémon cards, the supply will dry up unless they continue to be manufactured to meet demand.
I’m not in Japan, where can I pre-order these?
- Global: Nin-Nin-Game.com, Okini.land
- Singapore: p-bandai.com