Ascended Heroes Guide: Release Date, Card List, Chase Cards and Products

Ascended Heroes is the special set of the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Evolution series, and at 295 cards it is more than twice the size of the main sets around it. Released on 30 January 2026, it is led by the brand-new Mega Dragonite ex and packed with returning Megas, Trainer’s Pokémon and a new rarity called the Mega attack rare.

Because it is a special set, it is sold differently from a regular expansion, which can catch collectors out. This guide explains the release timeline, what the card list looks like, which cards people chase, how each English product compares, and how the Japanese MEGA Dream ex and Korean versions fit in.

What Is Ascended Heroes?

Pokémon Ascended Heroes carries the product code ME2.5 and the set abbreviation ASC. The “.5” tells you it is a special set that sits between the second and third main expansions, in the same way earlier special sets slotted between main releases. The Pokémon Company describes it as inspired by Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with new characters and locations from that game.

Most of the cards come from the Japanese MEGA Dream ex high-class pack, with a few drawn from the Japanese Start Deck 100 Battle Collection. The English set has 295 cards in total: 217 in the main numbered set plus 78 secret rares. That is a huge checklist, so set your expectations before you start chasing a master set.

The set mixes several card types that collectors love: new and returning Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, Trainer’s Pokémon such as Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and N’s Zoroark ex, and Tera Pokémon ex. According to The Pokémon Company, the line-up includes 13 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, six Tera Pokémon ex and 20 other Pokémon ex.

Ascended Heroes Release Date and Product Rollout

The Ascended Heroes release date was 30 January 2026 at participating retailers worldwide, including Australia, with Pokémon TCG Live getting the cards a day earlier on 29 January. The products did not all launch together. The Pokémon Company rolled them out in waves over the following three months:

Date	Products released
30 January 2026	Set launch, Collection (Erika or Larry), Tech Sticker Collection
20 February 2026	Elite Trainer Box, Mini Tins
20 March 2026	Premium Poster Collection, First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection
24 April 2026	Mega Meganium, Mega Emboar or Mega Feraligatr ex Box, Booster Bundle

That staggered schedule matters if you are trying to work out which products came first or why some items appeared later than others. By now, all of these have been released, so you can choose based purely on what each product contains.

Is There an Ascended Heroes Booster Box?

No. The Pokémon Company’s English product line-up for the set does not include a standard 36-pack booster display box. Like several earlier special sets, including Prismatic Evolutions, it is sold through Elite Trainer Boxes, bundles, tins and collections instead. If you want to open a lot of English Ascended Heroes packs at once, your best options are:

• Premium Poster Collection: ten booster packs, the most of any single English collection in the line-up.
• Elite Trainer Box: nine booster packs plus a promo and accessories.
• Booster Bundle: six booster packs, or step up to the Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle Sealed Display for multiple bundles in factory packaging.

If you prefer a true booster box format, the Japanese and Korean editions are the way to go, which we cover further down. They use different numbering, but the artwork and headline cards are closely related. For a broader look at box formats across languages, see our Pokémon booster box guide.

Mega Dragonite ex and the Mega Line-Up

Mega Dragonite ex is the face of Ascended Heroes. It is a Stage 2 Dragon-type Pokémon that evolves from Dragonair and has 370 HP. Its Ability, Sky Transport, lets you switch your Active Pokémon with one of your Benched Pokémon once during your turn, and its attack, Ryuno Glide, deals 330 damage and discards two Energy from Mega Dragonite ex.

As with every Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, your opponent takes three Prize cards when it is Knocked Out, so it rewards careful play. The other Megas in the main set are Mega Meganium ex, Mega Charizard Y ex, Mega Emboar ex, Mega Feraligatr ex, Mega Froslass ex, Mega Eelektross ex, Mega Gardevoir ex, Mega Lucario ex, Mega Hawlucha ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Scrafty ex and Mega Audino ex.

The three starter Megas are a highlight for many fans: Mega Meganium ex and Mega Feraligatr ex from Johto, and Mega Emboar ex from Unova. Each has a Special Illustration Rare, and they also star in their own collection box, which makes them an easy theme to collect around.

The Ascended Heroes Card List Explained

The Ascended Heroes card list runs from 001 to 295, with every card printed out of 217. Anything numbered 218 or higher is a secret rare, so a quick look at the number tells you straight away whether you have pulled something special. Here is how those 78 secret rares are split:

Rarity	Card numbers	Cards	Examples
Main set (Common to Double Rare)	001 to 217	217	Mega Dragonite ex 152, Pikachu ex 057
Illustration Rare	218 to 250	33	Erika’s Tangela, Dreepy, Fan Rotom
Ultra Rare	251 to 264	14	Sprigatito ex, Mega Audino ex, Ultra Ball
Mega attack rare	265 to 271	7	Mega Froslass ex, Mega Dragonite ex
Special Illustration Rare	272 to 293	22	Pikachu ex, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex
Mega Hyper Rare	294 to 295	2	Mega Charizard Y ex, Mega Dragonite ex

Parallel holofoils

On top of the numbered cards, low-rarity Pokémon can appear in two parallel holofoil versions: one with a Poké Ball pattern and one with an Energy-symbol pattern. Team Rocket’s Pokémon swap the Poké Ball for the Team Rocket “R”. Common and uncommon Trainer and Special Energy cards use the regular reverse pattern only. Master set collectors should plan for far more than 295 Ascended Heroes cards.

Trainer’s Pokémon in the set

Trainer’s Pokémon are back in a big way in Ascended Heroes. Double Rare ex cards in the main set include Erika’s Vileplume ex, Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, Hop’s Pincurchin ex, Iono’s Bellibolt ex, Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, N’s Zoroark ex, Team Rocket’s Kangaskhan ex and Larry’s Dudunsparce ex. If you enjoy collecting by character, this set gives you plenty of material.

Ascended Heroes Chase Cards

With 78 secret rares, there is no shortage of Ascended Heroes chase cards, and different collectors will rank them differently depending on their favourite Pokémon and characters. The Pokémon Company does not publish pull rates, so treat any odds you see online as community estimates rather than fact.

The two Mega Hyper Rares

This set has two Mega Hyper Rares instead of the usual one: Mega Charizard Y ex (294) and Mega Dragonite ex (295). Mega Charizard Y ex is a particularly interesting card, because its only other version in the set is the main set Double Rare at 022. For Charizard collectors, the Mega Hyper Rare is the premium card to find.

Special Illustration Rare highlights

There are 22 Special Illustration Rares (272 to 293), far more than the five or six found in recent main sets. These full-scene artworks cover Megas, Trainer’s Pokémon and Supporters, so there is something for almost every collector. Highlights include:

• Mega Meganium ex (272), Mega Emboar ex (273) and Mega Feraligatr ex (274)
• Two different Pikachu ex SIRs (276 and 277)
• Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex (281) and N’s Zoroark ex (286)
• Mega Gengar ex (284) and Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex (287)
• Steven’s Metagross ex (289) and Mega Dragonite ex (290)
• Supporters Canari (291), Iris’s Fighting Spirit (292) and Surfer (293)

The new Mega attack rare

The Mega attack rare is a new rarity that made its English debut in this set. These seven cards (265 to 271) show Mega Evolution Pokémon ex in the middle of their biggest attacks, with the attack names written in Japanese katakana. The seven are Mega Froslass ex, Mega Eelektross ex, Mega Diancie ex, Mega Hawlucha ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Scrafty ex and Mega Dragonite ex.

Illustration Rares

The 33 Illustration Rares are a rewarding project on their own. They include Trainer’s Pokémon such as Erika’s Tangela, Ethan’s Magcargo, Iono’s Wattrel, Hop’s Trevenant, Team Rocket’s Mimikyu, Team Rocket’s Dugtrio, Cynthia’s Spiritomb and Larry’s Staraptor, alongside favourites like Psyduck, Togekiss, Dreepy and Drakloak.

The English Ascended Heroes Product Line-Up

Every English product below was confirmed by The Pokémon Company in its launch announcement. Pack counts range from two to ten, and most products include at least one promo card you cannot pull from booster packs. Here is what each one contains:

Product	Booster packs	Extras
Elite Trainer Box	9	Illustration Rare-style N’s Zekrom promo, gameplay accessories
Premium Poster Collection	10	Mega attack rare-style Mega Gardevoir ex or Mega Lucario ex promo, two-sided poster
First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection	5	Foil Chikorita, Tepig and Totodile promos, deluxe pin
Mega ex Box	4	Mega Meganium, Mega Emboar or Mega Feraligatr promo, oversize lenticular card
Booster Bundle	6	None
Tech Sticker Collection	3	Charmander or Gastly foil promo, sticker sheet
Collection (Erika or Larry)	2	Trainer’s Pokémon promo, matching coin
Mini Tin	2	Art card, matching sticker card

Elite Trainer Box

The Ascended Heroes ETB is the all-rounder: nine packs, an Illustration Rare-style N’s Zekrom promo and the gameplay accessories you need to start building a deck. It is a natural first pick for many collectors. Compare it with other sets in our Pokémon Elite Trainer Boxes range.

Booster Bundle

The Ascended Heroes booster bundle keeps it simple with six packs and no extras. It suits collectors who already own sleeves and dice and just want to open packs, and it was the last core product to arrive, on 24 April 2026. Browse other sets in Pokémon Booster Bundles.

Collections with promos

The Ascended Heroes Mega ex Box comes in Mega Meganium, Mega Emboar or Mega Feraligatr versions, each with four packs, a promo and an oversize lenticular card. The Ascended Heroes Premium Poster Collection gives you ten packs and a Mega Gardevoir ex or Mega Lucario ex promo in the Mega attack rare style.

Starter fans should also look at the Ascended Heroes First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection, with foil Chikorita, Tepig and Totodile promos. The pin collection includes five packs, and it pairs nicely with our guide to the First Partner Illustration Collection series if you collect starters across sets.

Japanese MEGA Dream ex and Korean Editions

The Japanese version of the Ascended Heroes cards is MEGA Dream ex (set code M2a), a high-class pack released in Japan on 28 November 2025. Each 10-card pack includes at least one Pokémon ex or Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, and the set debuted the Mega attack rare (MA). In Japan, the MA line-up includes Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Gardevoir ex and Mega Lucario ex.

Because the Japanese set uses its own numbering and rarity names, such as Art Rare and Special Art Rare, it is collected separately from the English set. The Mega Dream Booster Box M2a gives you that boxed format, which English buyers do not get. Learn more in our guide to Japanese Pokémon cards.

Korean collectors get their own edition of the same set, also called Mega Dream ex. The Korean Mega Dream ex Booster Box M2A is another way to open these cards in a box. Browse every option in our Japanese Pokémon Booster Boxes and Korean Pokémon Booster Boxes ranges.

How Ascended Heroes Compares With Main Sets

Special sets like Ascended Heroes work differently from the main expansions around them. This table shows how it stacks up against the main sets released either side of it in the Mega Evolution series, using each set’s official card count and the English sealed products available:

Set	Total cards	Secret rares	Mega Hyper Rares	English booster box
Phantasmal Flames (ME02)	130	36	1	Yes
Ascended Heroes (ME2.5)	295	78	2	No
Perfect Order (ME03)	124	36	1	Yes
Chaos Rising (ME04)	122	36	1	Yes

The difference is striking. Ascended Heroes has more than twice as many secret rares as the main sets, and it adds the Mega attack rare tier on top. That makes completing it a longer journey, with far more cards to chase between the main set and the two Mega Hyper Rares, and plenty of Trainer’s Pokémon artwork along the way.

Which Ascended Heroes Product Is Right for You?

The right product depends on what you want from the set, whether that is playing, opening packs, collecting promos or keeping something sealed. Because there is no English booster box, the choice is a little different from a main expansion. Use this quick guide:

• New players and gift buyers: the Elite Trainer Box, for its nine packs, promo and accessories.
• Pack openers on a smaller scale: the Booster Bundle, or a Mini Tin for a quick two-pack opening.
• Promo collectors: the Premium Poster Collection, Mega ex Box and First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection each carry promos you cannot pull from packs.
• Box openers: the Japanese or Korean Mega Dream ex box, if you are happy collecting a non-English version of Ascended Heroes.
• Sealed collectors: the Booster Bundle Sealed Display, for multiple bundles in one factory-sealed unit.

If you have already opened Phantasmal Flames, you will notice that this set feels very different. Instead of a focused 130-card set, you get a sprawling list that rewards long-term collecting and trading, with many more characters and Trainer’s Pokémon to follow.

Tips for Collecting Pokémon Ascended Heroes

A set this large takes planning, and a few simple habits make it far more enjoyable. Whether you are opening a single Mini Tin or working through several Elite Trainer Boxes, these tips will help you keep track of your Ascended Heroes collection:

1. Choose your goal early. A main set of 217, a secret rare run or a full master set with parallel holofoils are very different projects.
2. Get a big enough binder. The 295-card Ascended Heroes card list needs a large binder, and a master set needs several.
3. Sleeve your hits. Put Special Illustration Rares, Mega attack rares and Mega Hyper Rares straight into penny sleeves and top loaders.
4. Trade duplicates. With so many cards, trading with friends or at local game stores is the quickest way to fill gaps.
5. Store sealed product well. Keep boxes out of direct sunlight and away from humidity, especially during an Australian summer.

Tip: If you mainly want the starter Megas, the Mega ex Box and First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection give you guaranteed promos while you chase the Special Illustration Rares in packs. Buying one of each is a fun way to build a starter-themed binder page.

Ascended Heroes FAQ

When was Ascended Heroes released in Australia?

The set launched on 30 January 2026 at participating retailers worldwide, including Australia. The Elite Trainer Box followed on 20 February 2026, the Premium Poster Collection on 20 March 2026 and the Booster Bundle on 24 April 2026. Mini Tins arrived alongside the Elite Trainer Box in February.

How many cards are in Ascended Heroes?

There are 295 cards: 217 in the main set and 78 secret rares. The secret rares are 33 Illustration Rares, 14 Ultra Rares, seven Mega attack rares, 22 Special Illustration Rares and two Mega Hyper Rares. Parallel holofoil versions make a full master set even bigger.

Is there an English Ascended Heroes booster box?

No. The English line-up has no standard booster display box. The Premium Poster Collection (ten packs), Elite Trainer Box (nine packs) and Booster Bundle (six packs) are the closest options. For a boxed format, look at the Japanese MEGA Dream ex or Korean Mega Dream ex booster boxes.

What are the biggest Ascended Heroes chase cards?

The two Mega Hyper Rares, Mega Charizard Y ex (294) and Mega Dragonite ex (295), sit at the top. Popular Special Illustration Rares include the two Pikachu ex cards, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, Mega Gengar ex and Mega Dragonite ex, plus the three starter Megas.

What is a Mega attack rare?

It is a new rarity that debuted in Ascended Heroes in English and in MEGA Dream ex in Japan. The seven English Mega attack rare cards show Mega Evolution Pokémon ex mid-attack, with the attack names written in Japanese katakana.

What is the Japanese version of Ascended Heroes?

Most of the cards come from the Japanese MEGA Dream ex high-class pack (M2a), released on 28 November 2025, with a few from the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection. Korea has its own Mega Dream ex edition, and both are sold in booster boxes.

Ready to start your collection? Browse the Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box, the Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle and the full Pokémon Elite Trainer Boxes range. Every product is 100% authentic, officially licensed and priced in Australian dollars, and we ship Australia-wide. For official product details, see The Pokémon Company’s launch announcement or the Bulbapedia set page. Find more guides on the Ozzie Collectables blog, and if you have questions, contact us.