will be the name of our next English set!
It will release on September 26th. The English set will feature 132 cards before secret rares, which means it will mostly contain the cards from the Japanese Sets of Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia.
This is the first set of the new MEGA block, thereby ending the Scarlet & Violet era. The TCG will now shift its focus to Legends: Z-A, which releases in October. The same transition occurred during Generation IV, when the TCG moved from the Diamond & Pearl block, to Platinum, and then to HeartGold & SoulSilver all within the same generation.
There are no regular Pokemon ex in this set, all ten are Mega Evolutions that forfeit three Prize cards. Presumably all Pokemon ex in this block's sets will be Mega Evolutions. There are currently 49 Mega Evolutions including newly announced Dragoanite and more to come in Z-A, so the TCG may aim to feature all of them before Generation X.
Mega cards don't evolve from their regular forms. For example, Mega Gardevoir ex evolves from Kirlia, bypassing Gardevoir entirely. This is not how the mechanic works in the video games. The TCG presumably did this to avoid creating Stage 3 Pokemon. (And Mega Evolutions without pre-evolutions are simply Basic Pokemon, like Mega Kangaskhan ex.)
To make up for neglecting their regular forms, the Mega cards have a special note that says they're the Mega-Evolved forms. Their full art versions, which haven't been officially revealed, will also feature the regular forms in the artwork.
Our Mega Evolution set will feature:
- Over 180 cards including secret rares
- 10 Mega Evolution Pokemon ex (confirmed are Venusaur, Camerupt, Abomasnow, Gardevoir, Lucario, Absol, Mawile, Latias, and Kangaskhan, leaving only Ampharos or Manectric for the unrevealed Lightning-type Mega)
- More than 15 Trainer cards
- 22 full art Mega Evolution Pokemon ex and Trainer cards (this includes -- for the first time ever -- Item, Stadium, and Pokemon Tool cards)
- 22 Illustration Rare Pokemon
- 10 Special Illustration Rare Mega Evolution Pokemon ex and Supporter cards
Mega Evolution will also feature a new art style for full art Mega Evolution Pokemon ex featuring a silhouette of the regular version of that Pokemon alongside its Mega Evolution. For example, Lucario's silhouette next to Mega Lucario. Presumably this will be like the full art Owner's Pokemon where their Trainer is seen in the background.
Released Art Work of Cards in New Set.
The full product lineup for our Mega Evolution set has been revealed! The set will release on September 26th as the first set of the new Mega Evolution block. Preorders should be available on PokemonCenter.com tomorrow, but they sometimes open during the following week.
The Elite Trainer Boxes will feature Riolu or Alakazam for their promo cards.
Like Journey Together, there will be Mega Evolution Enhanced Booster Boxes that include a stamped box topper promo: Bulbasaur! Presumably we'll also get regular booster boxes without the promo.
Releasing alongside the set will be "Mega Heroes Mini Tins." As usual they will come with two booster packs, a coin, and an art card.
Here is the upcoming Japanese TCG schedule:
- August 1st: Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia featuring Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex.
- September 5th: Two preconstructed decks named “Starter Set Mega Gengar ex” and “Starter Set Mega Diancie ex.”
- September 26th: Inferno X featuring Mega Charizard (X) ex.
- October 16th: Legends: Z-A releases worldwide.
- October (?): Ninja Spinner featuring Mega Greninja ex?
- November (?): Storm Emeralda featuring Mega Rayquaza ex?
Our November set will at least feature the cards from Inferno X and the Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex decks.