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The Special Illustration Rare features alternate art by a returning illustrator and is expected to be a chase pull; marketplace pre-order interest spiked within hours.
The July 17, 2026 set features Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex, drawing its Mega Evolutions from Pokémon Legends: Z-A and its DLC.
Distribution lasted only minutes after 40,000-plus people crowded Seoul Forest; stamp-rally finishers can request the Magikarp promo from May 4, while listings have reached about $200.
Abyss Eye launches in Japan on May 22, with its fossil-focused cards feeding into July’s English set Pitch Black; Rampardos ex has 330 HP and a 150-damage scaling attack.
Comedians Yohei Hihara and Ohzuru Himan of Mama Tart will compete at Aichi Sky Expo on May 9–10, with matches streamed live on the official Pokémon Card channel.
Starting May 9, universities across Japan will host free learn-to-play sessions and casual battles, with loaner decks available and limited stickers for participants.
The May 9–10 Aichi Sky Expo tournament will stream Masters matches through the finals, with 10 viewers per day winning Shaymin and Basic Energy promo cards.
The two-day event will take place June 6–7 at Pacifico Yokohama, with photo ID checks required for Senior and Master League competitors.
The worldwide expansion launches July 17, with Prereleases from July 4 and 18 ultra rares among its card lineup. TCG Live access begins July 16.
The 115-plus-card expansion launches July 17, 2026, led by Mega Darkrai ex and five other Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, with more than 35 special-illustration cards.
The 115-plus-card English set launches July 17 after July 4–12 prereleases, featuring six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and a new Zarude Illustration Rare ETB promo.
The 234-card B3 expansion is led by Mega Lucario ex, with May events offering Mega Heracross ex, Treecko and Gallade promos, plus a Mega Charizard Y ex deck mission through July.
Netflix will release eight new stop-motion episodes on September 4, following a first season credited with boosting casual interest in reflective Pokémon merchandise.
Chaos Rising launches May 22 after May 9–17 prereleases, adding Mega Gallade ex and Krookodile ex while moving Fennekin’s Illustration Rare to the Elite Trainer Box promo.
Noah Sakadjian’s N’s Zoroark ex list won Orlando Regionals, and the deck is expected to remain popular after rotation at Prague despite losing key pieces.
Five Japanese pop-up stores will run May 22–June 7, offering free TCG lessons and an Eevee promo card to participants while supplies last.
The fourth Japanese Mega Pokémon Card Gym promo wave adds seven cards, led by Mega Delphox ex with a 200-damage attack that leaves the opponent Burned and Confused.
First-come, first-served registration for Day 2 of the Junior League runs from April 17 at 18:00 through May 1 at 17:00 via the Pokémon Card Game Players Club.
Promo Card Pack Vol. 4 begins distribution at Pokémon Card Gyms across Japan on May 1, with one or two cards drawn from a seven-card lineup led by Mega Delphox ex.
From April 29, participants who complete selected Pokémon Card Gym events will receive one of six random stickers while supplies last.