If you were looking for an excuse to keep your weekend open on Oct. 24, four brand-new promo cards might be it.
On that date, Pokémon-approved game stores begin hosting prerelease events for Pokémon Trading Card Game: Mega Evolution – Delta Reign. Every Build & Battle Box distributed at these events gives players a chance at one of four promos that were just revealed. Because the complete expansion won’t reach store shelves until Nov. 6, 2026, the prerelease is the earliest opportunity to actually hold these cards.
Only one promo per box, so come ready to trade
Just one of the four promos is included in each box. Pull a card you didn’t want? No problem: the room will be packed with other players who may have exactly the one you’re after, so get trading.
Every one of the four is a new alternate art take on a card from the Delta Reign set. They also each feature an ability that can anchor a strategy, such as Masquerain’s “Bug Out” attack.
Prerelease play has its own rules
Leave your regular deck expectations at home. The prerelease format introduces a handful of new rules, and the most important one is that every player must use a 40-card deck built from the Build & Battle Box.
That requirement is exactly why these events work so well for introducing someone new to the game. Shorter rounds keep things moving at a brisk pace, and no one gets to show up with a finely tuned deck they’ve been polishing for months. All players begin on equal footing.
To track down an event, check with your local game store to see if it’s participating, or use The Pokémon Company’s official Event Locator.
Mega Rayquaza ex takes center stage
Mega Rayquaza ex is the star of Delta Reign, the sixth main set in the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution series. A portion of the cards has already appeared in Japan, through the Japanese set Storm Emeralda and the 2026 Japanese ex Starter Sets.
The most sought-after pulls are the two matching Legendary Stadium cards, which combine to form a single image. There’s welcome news for collectors’ budgets here: whenever a Delta Reign booster pack contains a Legendary Stadium, it includes both halves. That should help keep the pair’s prices from skyrocketing.
Unable to attend in person?
The boxes will still be within reach. Build & Battle Boxes become available for purchase once Delta Reign launches on Nov. 6, 2026.
In the meantime, October typically delivers the Pokémon TCG’s Halloween-themed cards and merchandise to tide fans over. After that, Rayquaza season begins.