The 20 Most Expensive Ascended Heroes Pokemon Cards
Wondering what the current top Ascended Heroes chase cards are?
Now that every product from the set is fully out, we’ll take a look at where the prices are at. And I will warn you – you may be in for something of a shock. Unlike what we’ve come to expect from most sets that tend to decrease a bit in price at least in the immediate aftermath of a full release, Ascended Heroes chase cards have only continued to dramatically increase in value. Cards like Mega Gengar ex SIR have shot up to insanely high prices on the secondary card market, while many, many cards from this set still are worth a healthy sum.
So with all of that hype, let’s go ahead and dive into the very most expensive cards in the set and what makes them so valuable – all while also looking at current market data.
#1 Pikachu ex – Special Illustration Rare is the most expensive card in Ascended Heroes
Pikachu ex - 276/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
Market Value
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This Pikachu ex SIR was originally released as a promo in Japan alongside the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection, and as such I felt very suspicious as to whether or not we’d get it in Ascended Heroes. Today, that uniqueness (backed by one of the world’s most recognizable mascots) helps lend incredible value to this epic chase. It has been confirmed to be included in the set, and unlike the other Pikachu ex SIR we get in the set, this one isn’t an alternate art of a previously released card. It is instead a brand new card with a brand new artwork never seen before Ascended Heroes hit the streets.
Let’s be real though – even for a gorgeous Pikachu SIR that current price tag is pretty insane.
#2 Mega Gengar ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Gengar ex - 284/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
Market Value
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While Mega Gengar ex Special Illustration Rare (SIR) saw immediate success on the secondary card market when Ascended Heroes released back in January, 2026, its incredible market value has only skyrocketed since then.
Original news of its inclusion in the set sent shockwaves through the hobby. The last time we had a Gengar alt that was this exciting was way back in Fusion Strike during the Sword and Shield era of the Pokemon TCG. According to TCGPlayer, that Gengar VMAX is worth a solid amount of money – well in the three digits. However, this Mega Gengar ex – spurred in part by Ascended Heroe’s notorious product rarity – has blown the last big Gengar chase out of the water.
Hype and TCG market economics aside, for this card the value really does feel earned. Mega Gengar ex SIR is a gorgeous chase with swirling, abstract artwork reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s painting “Scream” – an epic artwork for an epic Pokémon from an epic set.
#3 Mega Dragonite ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Dragonite ex - 290/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
Market Value
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In any other set, this Mega Dragonite ex SIR would be considered an absolute banger of a chase card. Stylistically, this card follows the lead of Mega Charizard X ex from Phantasmal Flames by being casually displayed surrounded by the ethereal images of its evolution line behind it.
It’s yet another Ascended Heroes top chase card that’s only gone up in value since the set originally dropped, making it the single most valuable Dragonite card from the modern era of the Pokémon TCG.
#4 Mega Charizard Y ex – Mega Hyper Rare
Mega Charizard Y ex - 294/217
Ascended Heroes • Mega Hyper Rare
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From the get-go, Mega Charizard Y ex felt like a huge card. After all, Charizard is one of the most bankable Pokemon of all time capable of front-lining entire sets that are often themed around it. And while Mega Charizard Y ex may be the less popular of the two mega versions of this iconic Pokemon, clearly it’s still got enough star power to drive its way all the way to the upper thresholds of this list.
Of course, popularity isn’t the only thing going for this card: Mega Hyper Rare cards are notoriously hard to pull, granting extra value from its scarcity alone. Combine that with curb appeal and you have not only one of the top chase cards of this set, but perhaps one of the most valuable cards in the entire Mega Evolution era of the Pokemon TCG.
#5 Pikachu ex – Special Illustration Rare
Pikachu ex - 277/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Ascended Heroes really is self-conscious of the Pokemon TCG’s latest and greatest Pokemon TCG packs, featuring this creative and cute look alternate art of the Pikachu ex SIR that many (myself included) credit in part with setting off the renewed excitement for the Pokemon TCG when it was released in Surging Sparks.
While the SIR from Surging Sparks is arguably better from an artistic standpoint, it really does further prove that Ascended Heroes is a “greatest hit” album from the last few years of the Pokemon TCG, much like Prismatic Evolutions was before it. Being created by legendary Pokémon artist, James Turner, doesn’t hurt this card’s longterm value potential, either.
#6 Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Special Illustration Rare
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 281/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Here we have an alternate and even darker look at Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex SIR that’s already rivaling the original released in Destined Rivals (which was one of the most expensive Pokemon cards of 2025). With a more abstract take on this dynamically evil duo than what we saw in its original SIR, this epic chase shows incredibly positive signs – basically doubling in value since a month ago when I last updated this guide. If this trend continues, we could be seeing this card topping its predecessor in value sooner rather than later.
#7 Mega Dragonite ex – Mega Hyper Rare
Mega Dragonite ex - 295/217
Ascended Heroes • Mega Hyper Rare
Market Value
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As predicted ahead of the release, the Mega Dragonite ex Mega Hyper Rare card is one of the most valuable cards in the set, although not the defining chase card of them all. Still, this card is worth a lot of money, with market data putting it in a price range that would easily make it the top card in a lesser Pokemon TCG set.
As for its potential value down the line? Personally I feel like these Mega Hyper Rare cards are unique enough to warrant holding onto them. They feel relatively undervalued currently in comparison to the more hyped SIRs in the set. Down the road their insane rarity could help them edge out many of the other cards currently worth more than them.
#8 N’s Zoroark ex – Special Illustration Rare
N's Zoroark ex - 286/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Here we have this captivating look at N’s Zoroark ex SIR that very much follows the same kind of abstract floral patterns that made the Prismatic Evolution chase cards like Umbreon ex SIR really stand out. While we already had a very cool looking SIR of this card back in Journey Together, I like this one even better, and am not at all surprised to see it overwhelm the modest value the original currently commands on TCGPlayer.
#9 Lillie’s Clefairy ex – Special Illustration Rare
Lillie's Clefairy ex - 280/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Ascended Heroes is full of revamped Special Illustration Rare cards that were originally part of Journey Together. Only, many of these cards got a huge upgrade.
One of the most valuable of these is this Lillie’s Clefairy ex SIR. While the original Lillie’s Clefairy ex SIR was nice, my hunch that this card would outperform its predecessor has turned out to be true. A competitively viable Pokémon card featuring one of the franchise’s most beloved trainers equates to Pokemon TCG collector gold.
What’s more, there’s an up-close-and-personal feel to this card that spreads warmth through you just looking at it. You get a strong sense for the bond between Pokémon and trainer while the colors and texture exude summer vibes — just like some of Lillie’s other recent SIRs manage to convey.
#10 Mega Feraligatr ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Feraligatr ex - 274/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Mega Feraligatr ex was revealed at the same time as the Meganium and the Emboar. However, it shares clear thematic ties with the former as it, too, is a Mega form of a Johto starter. What’s more, Mega Feraligatr ex may be the hardest hitting Pokemon card we’ve had in the Pokemon TCG in a long while, easily hitting for 400 damage. It’s an insane card, and insane artwork that’s collecting a surprisingly high market value early on.
#11 Mega Meganium ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Meganium ex - 272/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Another of the Johto starters in this set, Mega Meganium ex SIR portrays an exciting combination of Mega Evolution energy with a pastoral and floral setting that seems to be resonating well with collectors. Players, on the other hand, will be even more excited for the powerful Mega Meganium ex deck which harnesses the full effect of all the grass support that’s been added to the TCG. Yet the SIR doesn’t need a boost from being playable competitively: it’s a memorable enough card on its own to drive a high value on the secondary card market.
#12 Mega Froslass ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Froslass ex - 275/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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This card gets bonus points for its incredible artistry, looking like something you’d see in an art gallery rather than on a trading card. Mega Froslass is yet another of the newly introduced Mega Pokemon for the Pokemon Z-A game, and as such gets some added hype from collectors looking to bag this Pokemon entering the Pokemon TCG for the first time.
#13 Steven's Metagross ex – Special Illustration Rare
Steven's Metagross ex
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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This is the first time this particular Steven’s Metagross ex has received an alt art treatment, making a pretty compelling chase. It may not have the same competitive appeal that once bolstered Marnie’s SIR, but the artwork and uniqueness of this art launch it to the Ascended Heroes top 20.
#14 Iono’s Bellibolt ex – Special Illustration Rare
Iono's Bellibolt ex - 279/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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It’s nice to see Trainer’s Pokemon featured so prominently in this special Pokemon set. After all, they played a huge role in the Pokemon TCG in 2025 – the year that saw them officially return to the game for the first time in decades. While we did get an SIR of this same duo back in Journey Together, this alternate art is somehow even more satisfying. Iono was a super popular trainer from the Scarlet and Violet era, and this card is a fantastic sendoff for one of the most bankable trainer cards from that era.
#15 Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex – Special Illustration Rare
Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Marnie’s Grimmsnarl once consistently ranked among the strongest Pokemon TCG decks which meant plenty of players wanted to grab this card to bling out their decks.
Since then, the card has retained market value as a collectible. Marnie herself is a pretty popular trainer, so you know collectors are going to go crazy for an alt art featuring her with her Pokemon. Also worth mentioning – unlike many of the other Trainer’s Pokémon with SIRs on this list (but like Steven’s Metagross ex), this card is an original to Ascended Heroes: no alt art of Marnie’s Grimmsnarl pre-dates it!
#16 Mega Scrafty ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Scrafty ex - 285/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Despite not necessarily being the most memorable Pokemon out there, this Mega Scrafty ex is carried to the top 20 chase cards in Ascended Heroes thanks largely to nagimiso’s expert illustration. Seen here as a reluctant punk-like character, Mega Scrafty ex Special Illustration Rare is an expertly illustrated card with a gorgeous and irregular mix of colors perfectly blended into an underground, urban masterpiece.
#17 Fezandipiti ex – Special Illustration Rare
Fezandipiti ex - 288/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Fezandipiti ex is here partly because of how vital it is to the Pokemon TCG meta and partly because of how beautiful it is. While the card is gorgeous with a direct homage to the video game, this card’s value will largely be driven by how omnipresent Fezandipiti is in the Pokemon TCG thanks to its powerful Flip the Script. Sometimes competitive viability and collectibility collide in cards like these.
While the SIR we got in Shrouded Fable looked nice, this artwork is on a whole different level, and makes me really excited for spring.
#18 Psyduck – Illustration Rare
Psyduck - 226/217
Ascended Heroes • Illustration Rare
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I’m so stoked to see my personal pick for sleeper chase for the set – the Psyduck Illustration Rare – climbing higher and higher on this list. From the moment Ascended Heroes came out, it felt like Psyduck would be the “it” Illustration Rare from this set – one that would punch far above its weight on the secondary card market the way other hot IRs have done in recent sets.
While the big SIRs and Mega Hyper Rare cards may get the most notice, it almost feels like this Psyduck IR has silently become the underdog mascot of Pokémon’s biggest set right now.
#19 Mega Hawlucha ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Hawlucha ex - 283/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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Hawlucha is a memorable Pokémon from the Kalos-era anime, and it makes its Pokémon TCG debut as a Mega in Ascended Heroes. While it was never destined to be #1 chase, it commands a respectable market value, especially for a Mega Evolution era SIR.
#20 Mega Diancie ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Diancie ex - 282/217
Ascended Heroes • Special Illustration Rare
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To close things out, we have Mega Diancie! This mythical Pokémon had an entire Pokémon movie made around it. And while it’s not the most popular mythical of all time, given its unique tie-ins with Kalos and the current era, it’s a fitting card to round off the list.
As you can see from the above prices, Ascended Heroes is in pretty rare air among modern Pokémon sets. And even though hype for Ascended Heroes is past its peak, it remains the gold standard for collectors and investors from the Mega Evolution era of the Pokémon TCG.
