It has been exactly one year since the Pokemon TCG introduced the Mega Evolution era. More specifically, it has been one year since the Japanese release, even though the English one only happened in September. Even so, now is a good time to look back on what this era has brought to the English ecosystem.
One Year, Six Mega Evolution Sets
Although the release calendar for the international Mega Evolution era started on September 26, 2025, we will count this as a ‘year ago”. It is fairly normal to do so, as the 30th anniversary set is an outlier. While it also falls in the “Mega Evolution era”, there do not appear to be any Mega Evolutions present. A very quirky development, but it does help our cause for this article.
For the past year, there have been 6 international Mega Evolution sets. It started with Mega Evolution (MEG) in September 2025, up to Pitch Black (PBL) in July 2026. A very busy release schedule, with sets coming out roughly 7 weeks apart on average. However, the gap between Phantasmal Flames (November 14, 2025) and Ascended Heroes (January 30, 2026) was quite large.
With these 6 sets released, it is fun to look at some of the statistics. Every set had at least 120 cards, with Pitch Black being the smallest. Not much smaller than Chaos Rising (122) and Perfect Order (124), though. Phantasmal Flames’ 130 cards are also “small” compared to Mega Evolution (188 cards).
However, the big set of this era is Ascended Heroes at 295 cards. A staggering amount, as it is larger than any two other sets from this era combined. The sheer number of cards also explains why its release was “slower” than the seven-week average. All combined, these sets introduce 979 cards to collect.
Do These Sets Hold Their Value?
While MidnightPullsJP primarily focuses on collecting, a lot of people care about pricing and value. Therefore, we will see how well these sets have held up since their release. Unsurprisingly, the outcome can be interpreted in many different ways. There’s also the question of whether cards are undervalued, overvalued, etc.
The data from TCGCollector tells a very interesting tale. No one will be shocked to learn the set with the most cards has the highest overall value. Ascended Heroes, with 295 cards, has a current market value of $6,653. A very respectable number, but more cards means more overall value, even if not all cards are as desirable.
Sadly, it seems two sets are also underperforming heavily. Social media users won’t need any hint to understand which two sets are in this category. Fans of both Perfect Order and Chaos Rising know these sets are the worst performers value-wise. These Mega Evolution sets are valued at $652 and $748, respectively.
Pitch Black may soon join the three-digit club as it barely hangs on to a value of $1,001. A bit odd, for the most recent set, but the hype surrounding the Mega Darkrai EX SAR has quieted down significantly. Phantasmal Flames, valued at $1,353, holds its own, so far, as does Mega Evolution at $1,666.
Many Promo Cards To Collect
As highlighted in an earlier article, the Mega Evolution era has seen numerous promo cards being released. A total of 108, to be exact, almost making it a collection capable of rivaling Pitch Black and Chaos Rising in size. More interestingly, the promos are valued at a combined $1,480 as of today.
Quick math shows us the promo cards – as a set – are more valuable than four out of six ACTUAL sets from this TCG era. That is a remarkable development, although not a unique one. Scarlet & Violet promos, spanning 226 cards, are valued at over $4,000. Only ONE out of twelve sets from that era has a higher market valuation today (Prismatic Evolutions).
It is worth mentioning 1 card represents almost 50% of the promo set’s total valuation. The card, Celebratory Fanfare, currently sells for $685. Such a high price may seem odd, but the card was only issued to competitive TCG players. One needed at least 200 Championship Points during the competitive season to receive it.
The promo cards also include all of First Starter series 1 and 2 cards, led in value by Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. Of that set, the lowest values go to Rowlet, Poplio, and Litten, all priced at under $5. Even the Chaos Rising ETB promo, the Fenniken, now costs under $3.
General Mega Evolution Sentiment
It is hard to tell whether people like or dislike the Mega Evolution era more than the previous. Yes, the era does not have the “cute” set on the level of Prismatic Evolution. Without Ascended Heroes and its sheer size, however, the market values would be a bit more dramatic than they are today.
The upside is how there are some very collectible cards in this TCG era. Think of the Mega Gengar EX and “Treekachu” SIRs from Ascended Heroes. However, those cards also cost so much money they may very well be out of most people’s budgets. You can buy the ENTIRE set of Pitch Black for one Treekachu’s price, for comparison.
Putting value aside for now, one also has to wonder how collectors feel about these Mega Evolution era sets. Prices might not necessarily reflect collector sentiment, as these are two different quantizations. Even so, there are a lot of nice cards to collect from these sets, regardless of rarity.
What do you think about the Pokemon TCG Mega Evolution Era? Is there any card or set you really like or dislike, and why?
