The latest Pokémon Trading Card Game set, Ascended Heroes, has seen its cards resell at unprecedented prices due to distribution issues and high demand for rare variants. Released partially on January 30, 2026, the set features a record 217 regular cards and 77 ultra-rares, but pull rates for special illustrations remain low. Top cards like Mega Gengar ex SIR are fetching up to $830 on resale markets.
Pokémon's Ascended Heroes set, launched on January 30, 2026, has been marked by distribution challenges, with only the triple-pack sticker collection initially available due to undisclosed issues. The full release, including the Elite Trainer Box, is scheduled for February 20, 2026. This set stands out as the largest ever, containing 217 regular cards (including ex cards) and 77 ultra-rares and higher. Every regular card appears in multiple reverse-holo variants, including energy-type reverses, four Poké Ball designs, and Team Rocket reverses for relevant cards.
The set revives elements like Mega Evolutions, Mega Attack rares (last seen in 2015's XY Primal Clash), and Trainer Pokémon cards, alongside two gold cards: Mega Dragonite and Mega Charizard Y, plus a detailed Special Illustration Rare of Gengar. However, obtaining these rarities is difficult; testing around 35 packs yielded no Special Illustration Rares (SIRs) out of 22 possible, with early stats indicating one SIR per 100 packs and gold cards at one per 1,000 packs. In those openings, only one Illustration Rare, six regular ex cards, two ultra rares, and two Mega Attack rares (Lucario and Diancie) appeared.
Resale prices have surged, with the tenth-most expensive card at $164, far exceeding typical values from two years ago. According to TCG Player data at the time of reporting, notable prices include N’s Zoroark ex SIR at $164, Mega Feraligatr ex SIR at $193, Lillie’s Clefairy ex SIR at $247, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex SIR at $336, Pikachu ex 277 SIR at $364, Mega Dragonite ex Gold at $458, Pikachu ex 276 SIR at $516, Mega Dragonite ex SIR at $564, Mega Charizard Y ex Gold at $638, and Mega Gengar ex SIR at $830 (previously up to $1,300). Even some regular ex cards, like Mega Feraligatr ex, sell for just $8, highlighting market volatility. The article notes ongoing supply issues since November 2024, attributing frenzy to TPCi's focus on nostalgic rarities.
