Mega Rayquaza ex hasn’t headlined a Pokémon TCG set since the XY era. That drought ends November 6.
That’s the global launch date The Pokémon Company is currently targeting for Delta Reign, the next major expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Dedicated fans won’t have to wait that long, though. Special pre-release events kick off October 24, which gives the people who show up to their local shop a nearly two-week head start.
Delta Reign lands after the 30th Anniversary set, which is the next big arrival on the calendar. But the release that follows it might be the more interesting one.
The sky ruler is back, and it brought friends
Mega Rayquaza ex is the obvious draw here. It’s the kind of return that moves singles prices before a set even hits shelves, and it’s been long enough since XY that a whole generation of collectors has never opened a pack with it inside.
The other addition worth your attention is quieter but stranger: Legendary Stadiums. They function as two stadiums placed alongside one another with an interconnected artwork. Two cards, one image running across both.
It’s the sort of design idea the TCG has been leaning into lately, and it’s a big part of why collecting right now feels genuinely different from collecting five years ago.
What the company is saying
In sharing a little about what fans can expect, The Pokémon Company posted this description:
“A thunderous roar from above heralds the descent of a renowned ruler of the sky! Mega Rayquaza ex brings unparallelled strength to battle, inspiring Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex, and Mega Golisopod ex to come forth and put their own skills to the test. Prevailing winds lead to legendary places and emerald-colored storms in the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign expansion!”
So that’s four Mega cards named outright, with Golurk, Malamar and Golisopod riding in behind Rayquaza. Golisopod ex in particular is going to make somebody’s day.
The part everyone actually worries about
Buying Pokémon cards has become its own competitive event. Card prices regularly reach into the thousands of dollars, and new sets are harder for the average consumer to get than they’ve ever been, thanks to a combination of enormous demand and scalpers doing what scalpers do.
There’s no word yet on when Delta Reign pre-orders open, though if the manufacturer follows its usual pattern, it should be relatively soon.
The better news: Delta Reign should be considerably easier to get ahold of than the current run of 30th Anniversary products.
If you struck out on those, this is the set where you should be able to walk out with packs to rip. Emerald storms and all.
