The sky is about to turn emerald. Mega Evolution—Delta Reign lands on November 6, 2026, and it brings Mega Rayquaza ex back to the Pokémon TCG for the first time since the XY era. It's the last main expansion on the 2026 calendar and the first to follow the 30th Celebration, so a lot of collectors are watching this one. Here's everything confirmed so far: the dates, the new mechanic, the cards to chase and which box to grab.
Delta Reign at a Glance
- Release date: November 6, 2026 (playable on Pokémon TCG Live from November 5)
- Prerelease events: October 24 through November 1 at participating stores
- Set code: ME06, the sixth main expansion in the Mega Evolution series
- Set size: over 135 cards
- Headliners: 4 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and 6 more Pokémon ex
- Special art: 14 Illustration Rares, 17 Ultra Rares and 6 Special Illustration Rares
- New mechanic: Legendary Stadiums
- Japanese counterpart: Storm Emeralda, released in Japan on July 31
Mega Rayquaza Returns
Rayquaza has always moved product, and its Mega form is the face of this set: it's on the booster packs, the Elite Trainer Box, the sleeves and the coin. Mega Rayquaza ex leads a group of four new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, each with its own pack artwork:
- Mega Rayquaza ex, the headliner and the card everyone will be hunting
- Mega Golurk ex
- Mega Malamar ex
- Mega Golisopod ex, a 340 HP attacker that hits for 60 on a single Grass Energy, plus 160 more if the target is already damaged
Six more Pokémon ex round out the set, with Meowscarada ex and Raikou ex among the cards shown so far.
If a Rayquaza set makes you think of Evolving Skies, you're not alone. That set arrived just before the 25th anniversary release, and Delta Reign arrives right after the 30th. Whether it lives up to the comparison is something only time and pull rates will tell.
New Mechanic: Legendary Stadiums
Delta Reign introduces Legendary Stadiums: Stadium cards split across two cards that are played together as a pair, with one piece of artwork stretching across both. Longtime players will recognize the idea from the two-part LEGEND cards of the HeartGold & SoulSilver era.
- The set has six Stadium cards that form three Legendary Stadiums.
- Any booster pack that contains a Legendary Stadium includes both halves, so you won't be stuck hunting for the other side.
- Legendary Summit was the first one shown in English.
- Legendary Ocean Trench doubles all healing, for you and your opponent alike.
The Chase Cards
Mega Rayquaza ex. The high-rarity versions of the headliner are expected to be the top pulls in the set. Rayquaza cards have a long history of holding collector interest.
Six Special Illustration Rares. Delta Reign has six Special Illustration Rare Pokémon and Supporter cards, the rarest full-art tier in the set.
Fourteen Illustration Rares. These are the binder cards: full-art Pokémon with storybook-style scenes, and far easier to pull than the Special Illustration Rares.
The Kyogre promo. One of the most talked-about illustrations from Japan's Storm Emeralda isn't in English packs at all. A full-art Kyogre is the promo in the Elite Trainer Box, and the Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box adds a second copy with the Pokémon Center logo.
The Product Lineup
| Product | What's inside |
|---|---|
 Booster Pack
|
10 cards plus a TCG Live code card, in one of four pack artworks |
 Sleeved Booster Pack
|
1 booster pack in cardboard sleeve packaging |
 3 Pack Blister
|
3 packs, foil Seel promo |
 Build and Battle Box
|
4 packs, ready-to-play 40-card deck, 1 of 4 promos |
 Booster Bundle
|
6 packs |
 Elite Trainer Box
|
9 packs, full-art Kyogre promo, 65 sleeves, 40 Energy cards, dice, coin, player's guide |
 Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box
|
11 packs, 2 Kyogre promos (one with the Pokémon Center logo), plus everything in the standard box |
 Booster Box
|
36 packs |
Our quick picks: The Booster Box is the way to go if you're opening in bulk or chasing Mega Rayquaza ex. The Elite Trainer Box is the best all-around pick and the only way to get the Kyogre promo sealed. The Booster Bundle is the easy entry point, and single packs are there if you just want to rip a few.
Tips for Collectors
- Play it early. Prerelease events run October 24 through November 1, built around the Build and Battle Box.
- Let prices settle. Early prices on new sets swing hard. Check recent eBay sold listings before buying or selling singles.
- Keep your Stadium halves together. A Legendary Stadium needs both cards, so sleeve and store each pair as a set.
- Don't sleep on the promos. The Kyogre in the Elite Trainer Box and the Seel in the 3 Pack Blister can't be pulled from packs.
Get Ready With Booster Pack Cards
Delta Reign closes out a huge year for the hobby. Browse our Pokémon TCG Booster Boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes and Booster Packs, or shop the full Pokémon TCG collection. Still catching up on the anniversary set? Read our 30th Celebration collector's guide.
