Ascended Heroes is the biggest English Pokémon TCG set ever printed. Released on January 30, 2026, this special set has 295 cards, stars Mega Dragonite ex and celebrates the heroes of Scarlet & Violet alongside the new Mega Evolution era, with Trainer's Pokémon, Stellar Tera Pokémon ex and the debut of Mega Attack Rares. Here's the collector's guide: the dates, the chase cards and what came in every product.
Ascended Heroes at a Glance
- Release date: January 30, 2026, with more products rolling out through April
- Set code: ME2.5, a special expansion
- Set size: 217 cards plus secret rares (295 in total), the largest English set ever
- No booster box: packs come in Elite Trainer Boxes, bundles, tins, blisters and collections
- Headliner: Mega Dragonite ex
- Card count highlights: 13 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, 33 Illustration Rares, 22 Special Illustration Rares and 7 Mega Attack Rares
Heroes of Two Eras
Ascended Heroes mixes the best of Scarlet & Violet with the new Mega Evolution series. Trainer's Pokémon return with characters like N, Erika and Larry, Stellar Tera Pokémon ex bring back the rainbow Tera crown, and 13 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex include returning favorites and brand-new Megas. The set also debuted the Mega Attack Rare, special art that shows a Mega Pokémon's biggest attack in action.
The Chase Cards
Mega Dragonite ex Mega Hyper Rare. The gold headliner closes out the set at card 295.
Mega Gengar ex and Pikachu ex. Their top-tier versions are among the most valuable cards of the entire Mega Evolution era.
Mega Attack Rares. The brand-new rarity, with seven Mega Pokémon in action.
22 Special Illustration Rares. More SIRs than any other set, spanning Pokémon and Supporters.
The Product Lineup
| Product | What's inside |
|---|---|
 Booster Pack
|
10 cards plus a basic Energy |
 2 Pack Blister |
2 packs, a Trainer's Pokémon promo and a matching coin, in Larry and Erika versions |
 Tech Sticker 3 Pack Blister |
3 packs, a foil promo and stickers, in Charmander and Gastly versions |
 Mini Tin Display
|
A full display of mini tins, each with booster packs and an art card |
 Mega ex Tins |
Booster packs and a Mega ex promo, in Mega Emboar, Mega Meganium and Mega Feraligatr versions |
 Mega ex Boxes |
Booster packs plus foil Mega ex promos, in Mega Meganium, Mega Feraligatr and Mega Emboar versions |
 Booster Bundle
|
6 packs |
 First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection
|
5 packs plus First Partner pins |
 Elite Trainer Box
|
9 packs, full-art N's Zekrom promo, 65 sleeves, 40 Energy cards, dice and a storage box |
 Premium Poster Collection |
10 packs, a Mega ex promo and a double-sided poster, in Mega Lucario and Mega Gardevoir versions |
| Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box | 11 packs and 2 full-art N's Zekrom promos, plus everything in the standard box |
Our quick picks: The Premium Poster Collections are the most packs in one box. The Elite Trainer Box is the best all-around pick and the only way to get the N's Zekrom promo, and the Booster Bundle and 2 Pack Blisters are easy entry points.
Tips for Collectors
- Pick your targets. With 295 cards, a master set is a huge project, so decide whether you're chasing Megas, Trainer's Pokémon or SIRs.
- Check your reverse holos. The set uses Energy, Poké Ball and Team Rocket reverse holo patterns.
- Check sold listings. Prices on the top cards move a lot, so compare recent eBay sold listings.
Keep Collecting With Booster Pack Cards
Browse our Pokémon TCG Collection Boxes, Tins and Elite Trainer Boxes, or shop the full Pokémon TCG collection. Next up: Mega Zygarde in our Perfect Order collector's guide.
