It’s been since the XY era that Mega Rayquaza ex headlined a Pokémon TCG set. On November 6, that wait finally comes to an end.
November 6 is the worldwide launch date The Pokémon Company has currently penciled in for Delta Reign, the Pokémon Trading Card Game‘s next major expansion. The most committed fans, however, get an earlier crack at it: pre-release events begin October 24, handing anyone who turns up at their local shop close to a two-week jump on everyone else.
Delta Reign arrives on the heels of the 30th Anniversary set, which is the next major item on the release calendar. The set coming after it, though, may be the more compelling of the two.
The sky ruler is back, and it brought friends
The headline attraction is plainly Mega Rayquaza ex. Comebacks like this one send singles prices climbing before a set even reaches store shelves, and enough time has passed since XY that an entire generation of collectors has never cracked open a pack containing it.
Less flashy but far odder is the set’s other new inclusion: Legendary Stadiums. These work as a pair of stadiums set side by side, joined by artwork that connects between them — one image spread over two cards.
This is exactly the kind of design experiment the TCG has been embracing of late, and it goes a long way toward explaining why collecting today feels so unlike collecting did half a decade ago.
What the company is saying
Offering a glimpse of what’s in store, The Pokémon Company published the following 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!”
That’s four Mega cards confirmed by name, with Golurk, Malamar and Golisopod trailing in Rayquaza’s wake. Golisopod ex, especially, is bound to make somebody’s day.
The part everyone actually worries about
Picking up Pokémon cards has turned into a competition of its own. Individual cards routinely fetch thousands of dollars, and getting hold of new sets is tougher for the ordinary buyer than at any point in the past — the product of massive demand paired with scalpers behaving like scalpers.
Nothing has been announced yet regarding when Delta Reign pre-orders go live, but based on the manufacturer’s typical cadence, it shouldn’t be far off.
Here’s the upside: tracking down Delta Reign ought to be a good deal less painful than chasing the current wave of 30th Anniversary products.
Anyone who came up empty on those should be able to leave the store with packs to tear into this time around. Emerald storms included.