What a week for Pokémon TCG collectors! Chaos Rising officially dropped yesterday (May 22), and the community has been going absolutely wild. Preorders started rolling in strong on Friday, and a ton of you out there got your allocations... whether it was booster boxes, ETBs, or those coveted Pokémon Center exclusives. From what I’m seeing across the groups and marketplaces, boxes are flying off shelves and people are cracking packs left and right.
The set is living up to the hype as a solid Mega Evolution entry. We’re seeing strong pull rates on the Ultra Rares and Illustration Rares, though the Special Illustration Rares (SIRs) and that lone Mega Hyper Rare remain chase-level difficult, as expected.
Top SIR Hits & Current English Market Values (as of May 23)
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| Cards aren't real -- Fan Made |
Here are the standout Special Illustration Rares making the biggest waves right now:
Mega Greninja ex SIR – The undisputed king of the set. Raw copies are trading in the $500 - $650+ range already, with some graded or pristine examples pushing higher. This one is the clear chase and isn’t slowing down anytime soon..
Cinccino ex SIR – Strong second place, hovering around $100–$120.
Mega Dragalge ex SIR – Solid performer in the $100–$110 area.
Mega Floette ex SIR & AZ’s Tranquility SIR – Both landing in the $50–$80 range depending on condition and demand. AZ’s card has emotional appeal for Legends Z-A fans.
The Mega Hyper Rare Mega Greninja ex is also commanding serious premiums, often trading neck-and-neck with its SIR counterpart in early market action.
Overall, the set feels healthy. Not every box is a money printer, but good hits are showing up consistently enough to keep the ripping energy high.
Looking Ahead: Pitch Black – Massive Hits Incoming
Next up on the horizon is Mega Evolution: Pitch Black (English release July 17, 2026), based heavily on Japan’s Abyss Eye set that just dropped. If you’ve been following the Japanese reveals, you already know this one is stacked with dark, moody artwork and powerful Mega cards.
Expect roughly 15 different high-end hits (SIRs, Illustration Rares, and secret rares) mirroring what we’re seeing in Abyss Eye. That includes multiple Mega ex SIRs, full-art trainers, and a deep pool of secret rare Pokémon. The set features:
Mega Darkrai ex (the big mascot)
Mega Zeraora ex
Mega Chandelure ex
Mega Excadrill ex
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| Cards are not real, just examples. |
And several more surprises
Quick correction from me: Earlier I floated the possibility of a Mega Giratina appearing in Pitch Black. That turned out to be incorrect... sorry about the rumor mill mix-up. We’ve got confirmation on the key Megas now, and Giratina isn’t among them. Still, the set looks fantastic without it.
With around 115+ total cards and a strong emphasis on dark-themed illustration and special illustration rares, Pitch Black has serious collector potential. The secret rares in Abyss Eye are particularly stunning, so English versions should translate well.
Bigger Things Coming Later in 2026
The rest of the year is loaded:
September: The big Mega Rayquaza set (Storm Emeralda in Japan). Rumored to be called Emerald Storm -- Rayquaza always moves product .. this one could be massive.
Sept/Oct: The 30th Anniversary Set "Eternals" ... A worldwide celebration product line. Expect nostalgia, special subsets, and heavy collector demand.
December: A new Radiant Ruby (Groudon) and Shining Sapphire set, lead by Kyogre to close out the year.
Either way, everything on the horizon is intentionally feeding into the absolute behemoth that is the 30th Anniversary "Eternals" set.
Plenty of opportunities ahead for sealed investors, competitive players, and art collectors alike.
Final Thoughts
Chaos Rising is delivering fun rips right now, and the pipeline for the rest of 2026 looks stronger than ever. Whether you’re chasing that Mega Greninja SIR or holding sealed for Pitch Black and beyond, it’s a great time to be in the hobby.
What did you pull from Chaos Rising? Drop your hits in the comments or hit me up on X (@DJrythaman). I’ll be back with more updates as the market settles and Pitch Black previews ramp up.
Stay ripping,
The R in Krain
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