The 10 Most Expensive Mega Evolution Pokemon Cards
Mega Evolution, releasing on September 26, 2025, marks the beginning of a brand new era for the Pokemon TCG, with an overt tie-in with the Pokemon Legends Z-A game coming out this year.
To start things off, Pokemon is giving us a “mega” set filled to the brim with exciting new mechanics, powerful Mega Evolution Pokemon, and nostalgic favorites like Venusaur and Lucario. Kalos is the Pokemon region that the Mega Evolution phenomon originates from in the Pokemon universe. As Pokemon Legends Z-A takes place in Lumiose City within Kalos, it makes sense that Mega Pokemon would play a huge role in both the video and card games.
Already the Pokemon Company has already graciously shared several of the top chase cards from Mega Evolution via X. However, Japan’s sister sets – “Mega Brave” and “Mega Symphonia” – have already been released. As Mega Evolution should include most of – if not all of – the cards from these two sets, we have a solid idea of what the remainder of the top chase cards are going to be.
#1 & 2 Mega Ultra Rare Cards – Lucario and Gardevoir ex
Although not officially revealed in English yet, we know from the Japanese sister sets “Mega Brave” and “Mega Symphonia” that Mega Evolution should be getting two brand new cards never seen in the Pokemon TCG before. These cards aren’t simple “gold” cards like the hyper rare cards we’ve had to date. Instead, they’re a whole new rarity similar to the BWR cards we had in Black Bolt and White Flare.
They also feature totally unique illustrations you won’t find on any other Pokemon card from the set, similar to how the SIR prints work. Assuming these cards are similarly rare and desirable as the BWR cards, these two cards should be very, very valuable – potentially as much as $500 on the secondary card market.
#3 Mega Venusaur ex – Special Illustration Rare
One of the original starters, Mega Venusaur ex’s SIR print is drop-dead gorgeous with resplendent colors and the iconic Kanto Starter Pokemon caught mid-action pose as it launches its glorious vines into battle.
While we’ve had gorgeous, hyper realistic prints of Venusaur in recent sets (like in Pokemon 151), few have managed to convey such emotion using abstract visuals. What’s more, the card art doesn’t simply end with Venusaur. Instead, all three of the Pokemon in the evolution line will be receiving similar alternate art treatments, and each will connect to the other to complete a whole picture.
Despite the news of these connected secret rares only hitting the internet today, fans and collectors everywhere are abuzz with this exciting reveal, and you can bet that the desire to collect all three of these magnificent cards will drive each one to a top spot on the secondary card market in terms of value.
Just how valuable will Mega Venusaur ex SIR likely to be? Given the success of Black Bolt and White Flare, Venusaur ex could easily soar to $200-$400 in value. The card is so iconic with the connecting artworks from Ivysaur and Bulbasaur, however, that I could see the Mega Venusaur ex soar even higher, potentially reaching as high as $500 the way the Pikachu ex SIR from Surging Sparks did before eventually dropping to a more modest number.
#4 Mega Gardevoir ex – Special Illustration Rare
Next up on the list we have this gorgeous Gardevoir ex SIR. Always a favorite, Pokemon simply loves to print Gardevoir cards, but they may have outdone themselves with this one. I for one have never seen a Gardevoir Pokemon card look this exquisite. Resting in an abstract pastoral setting and surrounded by members of its evolution line, this slightly trippy artwork is sure to send fans and collectors running wild looking for ATMs in order to rip open some packs.
However, it’s not only collectors who will be excited about this chase. Players are also getting hyped for the Gardevoir ex as it is one of the strongest Mega Evolution Pokemon cards originally spoiled from the set, well before we got a look at the SIR print.
For those who don’t know, the Gardevoir ex deck is already a top deck in the meta, and Gardevoir ex lends significant power to that already top strategy.
For collectors, it’s an audacious artwork filled to the brim with everything we love about Pokemon, and picturing a classic favorite. When all is said and done, this card could potentially reach the $300 mark when the set is released.
#5 Mega Lucario ex – Special Illustration Rare
The Pokemon Company certainly has a penchant for perpetually raising the bar for their Pokemon card artworks. Perhaps Pokemon TCG Pocket is partly to blame for this, with Mega Lucario ex taking a more experimental approach to its design the likes of which we’ve seen in extended artworks from the digital game.
Initial feelings aside, Lucario is likewise a bankable Pokemon with tons of fans around the world. It doesn’t hurt that in this hyper realistic illustration it is facing off against Venusaur, helping create drama for the little world that Mega Evolution inhabits as its own set.
Take a little look around in the background and you might be able to spot some other Pokemon you recognize. Could they be included in the set, too? I’d say chances are certainly good, and suddenly this SIR of Mega Lucario ex is something of a spoiler within a spoiler – an inception of Pokemon Easter Eggs that aims to achieve what we love about the storytelling that happens within each and every Pokemon TCG set. The sets themselves, when done right, become stories of their own.
Thanks to all of this incredible artwork and storytelling, it’s quite likely Mega Lucario ex SIR will be a high valued card, potentially fetching around the $250 mark on the secondary card market.
#6 Bulbasaur – Illustration Rare (Stamped)
Being one of the original Kanto Starters, alternate artworks of Bulbasaur tends to be instant chase cards when included in a set. However, this Bulbasaur IR has two things going for it typical secret rares featuring this Pokemon don’t have. First, it’s got the connected artwork angle, making it a must-have for collectors looking to complete the set.
Second, it’s got he Mega Evolution stamp on it because this particular card can only be obtained via an Enhanced Mega Evolutions Booster Box (available for preorder from my friends at TCGPlayer). While the stamp should add to its value, the set will also include a regular IR card without the stamp, and both should be decently valuable (think somewhere in the $50-150 range).
#7 Mega Kangaskhan ex – Special Illustration Rare
Finally, there’s Mega Kangaskhan ex. I’m not going to sugar coat this for those who aren’t as familiar with Kangaskhan, but for whatever reason and despite being one of the original 151 Pokemon, Kangaskhan doesn’t tend to be the most popular Pokemon in the world. That being said, the artwork on display here is pretty exciting, as are the vibrant hues of blue, orange, yellow and green swirling into the faint outline of Lumiose City in the background.
Lumiose City is based after Paris after all, giving Pokemon creative liscense to really lean into that iconic backdrop to create something magic. And while Kangaskhan ex itself may not hard sell this card, its rarity, creative design, and seeming playability combine to propel this secret rare to the top of the list of most expensive Mega Evolution cards of them all.
#8 Mega Latias ex – Special Illustration Rare
Mega Latias ex SIR is going to be one of the most expensive cards in the set when Mega Evolution releases internationally. This card is highly reminiscent of the Latias ex SIR from Surging Sparks, albeit with much more electric colors and an intensity that the latter lacks. Latios and Latias’s mega evolution forms are relatively well known, however, as they were prominently featured in the Pokemon Clash of Ages movie – one that also takes place in the Kalos region. As such, Mega Latias ex SIR should be highly sought after and valuable.
#9 Absol ex – Special Illustration Rare
I like a lot of Pokemon. As such, I feel like I’m always saying one Pokemon or another is one of my favorites. But in the case of Absol, there’s a special place in my heart for this Pokemon. It was one of my favorites from the Ruby/Sapphire games and one that I have fond memories of working hard to capture, train and battle with.
Absol’s Mega Evolution form looks excellent, and many are pointing out the thematic tie-ins with the Noivern V alt art we got back in Sword and Shield. Both are done by the same artist, and both have that eerie, Batman-watching-over-Gotham kind of a feel.
Getting an Absol ex SIR is a big deal, though, and this card will certainly collect a relatively high value – anywhere in the $50-$100 range.
#10 Lillie’s Determination – Special Illustration Rare
We’ve already seen the English version of Lillie’s Determination spoiled in English for Mega Evolution, so it’s highly likely we’ll be getting this gorgeous SIR. A handy draw supporter in the game, the real appeal of this card isn’t competitive. The artwork is absolutely captivating, with the colors and impressionistic style reminding me of something Van Gogh might have created.
Lillie has proven herself to be a popular trainer, as well as a draw for value with recent cards including her fairing quite well on the secondary card market. Value-wise, I’d expect to see this card reach as high as $130.
By now, every single secret rare for Mega Evolutions’s sister sets in Japan have been spoiled. The excitement for this set is absolutely electric. The general timing of this set releasing so close to the brand new Pokemon Video Game should further gross demand for it. A brand new era of the Pokemon TCG, a brand new Pokemon video game, and all on the brand new Switch 2 should create an aura of absolute giddiness for Pokemon fans who have so much to look forward to end of the year, 2025.
