Pokémon Ascended Heroes: An Amazing 295-Card Special Set

Pokémon Ascended Heroes is the special set that turned the Mega Evolution era into a celebration of Trainers and their partners. Released on 30 January 2026 under the full name Mega Evolution—Ascended Heroes, it packs 295 cards, which makes it the largest English Pokémon TCG expansion so far, ahead of the 284 cards in Fusion Strike. Here is what is inside, which cards collectors chase and how the product line fits together.

The Premium Poster Collection pictured above is one of the set’s showpiece products. It comes in two versions, Mega Lucario ex or Mega Gardevoir ex, and the foil promo matches the version on the box. Each one adds ten Ascended Heroes booster packs and a double-sided poster of roughly 68 x 99 cm, so it suits fans who want something for the wall as well as the binder.

Pokémon Ascended Heroes at a glance

• Set code: ME2.5, a special expansion and the first of its kind in the series.
• Release date: 30 January 2026, with the Elite Trainer Box following on 20 February 2026.
• Size: 295 cards, made up of 217 in the main set and 78 secret rares.
• Headliner: Mega Dragonite ex.
• Pokémon ex: 13 Mega Pokémon ex, 6 Tera Pokémon ex and 20 other Pokémon ex in the main set.
• Rarities above the main set: 33 illustration rares, 14 ultra rares, 7 Mega Attack Rares, 22 special illustration rares and 2 Mega Hyper Rares.

The headline Megas: Mega Dragonite ex and Mega Charizard Y ex

Mega Dragonite ex is the face of Ascended Heroes. It appears as a regular double rare, a Mega Attack Rare and a special illustration rare (both drawn by DOM), and it closes the list as Mega Hyper Rare #295. Right before it sits Mega Charizard Y ex at #294, the set’s second Mega Hyper Rare. If you already own Mega Charizard X ex from Phantasmal Flames, this is the card that completes the pair.

The rest of the Mega line-up is broad. The main set includes Mega Meganium ex, Mega Emboar ex and Mega Feraligatr ex, plus Mega Froslass ex, Mega Eelektross ex, Mega Hawlucha ex, Mega Scrafty ex, Mega Audino ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Gardevoir ex and Mega Lucario ex. Mega Diancie ex also turns up, but only in its secret rare forms.

What is a Mega Attack Rare?

The Mega Attack Rare is a rarity that debuted in this set. These are full-art Mega Pokémon ex with pop-art style illustrations and the Pokémon’s highlight attack printed in large text across the card. Seven of them sit between #265 and #271: Mega Froslass ex, Mega Eelektross ex, Mega Diancie ex, Mega Hawlucha ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Scrafty ex and Mega Dragonite ex, illustrated by Saboteri, DOM and Taiga Kasai. The Premium Poster Collection promos use the same eye-catching style.

Tera Pokémon ex, a Legendary trio and notable Trainers

Beyond the Megas, the set includes six Tera Pokémon ex: Pikachu ex, Miraidon ex, Koraidon ex, Dragapult ex, Terapagos ex and Cinderace ex. Regice ex, Regirock ex and Registeel ex form a Legendary trio, while Fezandipiti ex, Zangoose ex, Stunfisk ex and Togedemaru ex add variety among the regular Pokémon ex. Sprigatito ex is a fun extra: it appears only as an ultra rare in the secret section.

On the Trainer side, cards to note include N’s PP Up, Glass Trumpet and Team Rocket’s Transceiver, along with two Special Energy cards, Prism Energy and Team Rocket’s Energy. N’s PP Up, Glass Trumpet and the Transceiver also have ultra rare versions in the secret section, joined by Jamming Tower and Counter Gain, so they are worth a second look when you sort your pulls.

Trainer’s Pokémon take centre stage

Ascended Heroes is packed with Trainer’s Pokémon, cards that show a famous Trainer’s partner and carry that Trainer’s name. Many of the best-known faces from the games and anime turn up:

• N: N’s Zoroark ex, N’s Reshiram, N’s Zekrom, N’s Darmanitan and N’s Vanilluxe.
• Iono: Iono’s Bellibolt ex and Iono’s Kilowattrel.
• Lillie and Hop: Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Hop’s Pincurchin ex, Hop’s Trevenant and Hop’s Cramorant.
• Cynthia and Ethan: Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, Cynthia’s Spiritomb, Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex and Ethan’s Magcargo.
• Erika and Larry: Erika’s Vileplume ex, Erika’s Victreebel, Larry’s Dudunsparce ex, Larry’s Staraptor and Larry’s Braviary.
• Team Rocket: Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and Team Rocket’s Kangaskhan ex, backed by Giovanni, Archer, Ariana, Petrel and Proton as Supporters.

Two more Trainers appear only among the secret rares: Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex and Steven’s Metagross ex are both special illustration rares, which makes them a nice surprise for anyone working through the list.

Chase cards worth knowing

With 22 special illustration rares, the chase list is deep. Highlights include two different Pikachu ex cards (#276 by booota and a Tera version at #277 by James Turner), Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex by Mitsuhiro Arita, N’s Zoroark ex by Raita Kazama, Iono’s Bellibolt ex, Lillie’s Clefairy ex and Mega Gengar ex by danciao. Canari, Iris’s Fighting Spirit and Surfer round things out as Supporter special illustration rares.

Don’t overlook the 33 illustration rares, either. They range from Psyduck by REND and Team Rocket’s Mimikyu by GOSSAN to Dreepy and Drakloak, both by Jerky, and they are often the cards that make a binder page feel finished.

Where the cards come from

Most of the cards here come from the Japanese set MEGA Dream ex, released on 28 November 2025, with others drawn from the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection. A Japanese Mega Dream M2a booster box holds 10 packs of 10 cards, and every pack includes a Pokémon ex or Mega Pokémon ex. For the full English details, Bulbapedia’s Ascended Heroes page lists every card and variant.

Ascended Heroes products and who they suit

Ascended Heroes is a special set, so it reaches shelves through collection-style products. These are the three in our range:

• Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box (20 February 2026): 9 packs, a full-art N’s Zekrom promo and a full set of play accessories. Our Ascended Heroes ETB guide covers it in depth.
• Ascended Heroes Premium Poster Collection (20 March 2026): 10 packs, a Mega Attack Rare-style promo and the double-sided poster.
• Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle (24 April 2026): six booster packs and nothing else, for pure opening.

The set suits a wide crowd. Trainer’s Pokémon fans get N, Iono, Lillie, Cynthia and Team Rocket in one place, Mega fans get 13 Megas plus the debut of the Mega Attack Rare, and binder collectors get a huge list to work through. Players will also find reprints of familiar Trainers such as Boss’s Orders and Ultra Ball. New to Megas? Read our guide to how Mega Evolution works first.

Shop the range

• Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box
• Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle
• Ascended Heroes Premium Poster Collection

Whether you are chasing Mega Dragonite ex or simply love Trainer’s Pokémon, Pokémon Ascended Heroes offers a lot to explore. Browse our Pokémon TCG range for more sets from the era.

Pokémon Ascended Heroes FAQs

When was Pokémon Ascended Heroes released?

Ascended Heroes launched on 30 January 2026. 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.

How many cards are in Ascended Heroes?

There are 295 cards: 217 in the main set and 78 secret rares. That makes Ascended Heroes the largest English Pokémon TCG expansion to date, ahead of Fusion Strike’s 284 cards.

What are the highest rarity cards in Ascended Heroes?

The set ends with two Mega Hyper Rares: Mega Charizard Y ex at #294 and Mega Dragonite ex at #295. Before them come 22 special illustration rares and 7 Mega Attack Rares.

Which Japanese set is Ascended Heroes based on?

Most of its cards come from the Japanese set MEGA Dream ex, released on 28 November 2025, with some drawn from the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection.

What is a Mega Attack Rare?

It is a rarity introduced in Ascended Heroes: full-art Mega Pokémon ex with pop-art style artwork and the highlight attack printed in large text. There are seven in the set.