These Ultra-Valuable Mega-Evolved Pokémon TCG Cards Take Any Collection to Its Ultimate Form

14th November 2024 EDT FEATURES

These Ultra-Valuable Mega-Evolved Pokémon TCG Cards Take Any Collection to Its Ultimate Form

With Mega Evolution soon to return to the Pokémon video games, there's no better time to take a look back at some of the Mega-Evolved cards which can fetch serious money.

Mega Evolution was a mechanic introduced to the Pokémon video games in sixth-generation games Pokémon X and Y. It went on to be included in all the other core video games of Gens 6 and 7—Omega Ruby and Ultra Sapphire, Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee before being discontinued when the eighth generation began to make way for the Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics. Mega Evolution will be returning to the video games in Pokémon Legends Z-A, the prequel to Pokémon X and Y which will be released in 2025.

In the Pokémon video games, a Pokémon Mega Evolves via the use of a Mega Ring and the Mega Stone associated with that Pokémon. However, in the Pokémon TCG, a Pokémon-ex does not require any special cards to Mega Evolve. However, when a player chooses to Mega Evolve a Pokémon-ex, the player’s turn ends immediately unless the Spirit Link card that corresponds to the Pokémon to be Mega-Evolved has been attached to the Pokémon in question.

Mega-Evolved Pokémon cards have more HP and more powerful attacks than ordinary Pokémon-ex. However, to keep them balanced, they have just one attack and cannot have any Ability. With the return of Mega Evolution to the video games, speculation is rife that it will also be making a comeback to the TCG.

Throughout the sixth and seventh generations of the Pokémon TCG, Mega-Evolved Pokémon featured on some of the rarest, most memorable, and most valuable cards of the era. The following are some of the most valuable Mega-Evolved Pokémon TCG cards—for the sake of diversity, every entry on this list will spotlight a different Mega-Evolved Pokémon.

Mega Gardevoir ex (PokéKyun Collection [CP3] 020/032) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$289)

Pokémon TCG Most Valuable Mega-Evolved Cards

The only card depicting a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in the PokéKyun Collection [CP3] subset, this Mega Gardevoir ex card’s Full Art illustration features two Mega Gardevoir of which one is a Shiny Pokémon. As is so often the case, the presence of a Shiny Pokémon on the card elevates the value of the card due to the rarity and prestige of these alternate-colored ‘mons in the video games.

On the left side of the card are four symbols unique to PokéKyun Collection [CP3] cards. Although these symbols are purely aesthetic and don’t have any gameplay function, their presence gives this card’s value a further bump simply because no other set has cards with them. Another factor adding to the card’s demand is the fact that it uses Fairy Energy cards. Fairy Energy cards were discontinued at the end of the seventh generation, giving this card a “throwback” quality.

Gardevoir itself has been highly popular among fans ever since its debut in Gen 3. In addition, notice the position of the heads of the two Mega Gardevoir ex as well as the juxtaposition of the regular version’s white gown and the Shiny version’s black gown. We’ll just say “you know where we’re going with this” and leave it at that.

Mega Mewtwo ex (Red Flash [XY8] 063/059) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$330)

The version of Mega Mewtwo ex shown on this card is Mega Mewtwo Y, so named because in the video games, it was only available in Pokémon Y. Mega Mewtwo Y is the more popular of Mewtwo’s two Mega Evolutions, largely because it was the version featured in 2013 Pokémon anime movie Genesect and the Legend Awakened.

The pulsing energy across the background of the card’s Full Art illustration as well as the gold outline surrounding Mega Mewtwo ex provide the card with a mystical feel that highlights the overwhelming force of Mega Mewtwo ex’s psychic powers. The words “PSYCHIC INFINITY”—the name of Mega Mewtwo ex’s attack—are displayed in large capital letters across the illustration. This imagery as well as the choice of words adds a level of extravagance and grandeur to the card.

It’s also worth mentioning that this card was released during mid-Gen 6. The period spanning from late 2014 through most of 2015 and covering Gaia Volcano and Tidal Storm [XY5] to Blue Shock and Red Flash [XY8] is the most critically-acclaimed era in the history of the Pokémon TCG. This card’s standing as one of the standouts of the Pokémon TCG’s “golden age” gives its status a massive boost.

Mega Latios ex (Emerald Break [XY6] 083/078) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$386)

What’s interesting to note about this card is that although both members of the Eon duo are able to Mega Evolve in the video games, only Mega Latios ever received a card in the TCG; there was never a Mega Latias card. Additionally, this Super Rare (SR) card is the rarer of the two iterations of the only Mega Latios card in existence. Such exclusivity and scarcity drastically increases the value of this Mega Latios ex card.

The card’s imagery implies that Mega Latios ex is flying through the skies at a tremendous speed as highlighted by the energy waves bursting from it. Mega Latios ex has also been shown at an angle which puts the visual focus on one of its now-expanded wings—the primary physical feature of the Mega-Evolved version of the Dragon/Psychic-type Pokémon.

Just like Mega Mewtwo ex, the set that this card is in plays a role in its reputation—but even more so. There’s a sizeable contingent of Pokémon TCG experts who consider Emerald Break [XY6] to be the greatest Pokémon TCG set of all time; Mega Latios ex is but one of this incredible set’s highlights. This card thus represents a moment at which the people Creatures Inc. were in absolute peak form.

Mega Gengar ex (Phantom Gate [XY4] 097/088) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$697)

Although there were two Mega Gengar ex cards released, there’s a very obvious reason why this Ultra Rare (UR) card is so much more valuable than the other card from the XY-P Promotional Cards. Despite featuring a Shiny Mega Gengar, the promotional Mega Gengar ex card turned out to be a dud for one vital reason: it was literally unplayable in tournaments. At the time of the promotional card’s release outside Japan, all Gengar ex cards from which Mega Gengar ex could evolve had been rotated out of legal tournament use.

This Mega Gengar ex card from Phantom Gate [XY4], however, faced no such issue. In addition to the fact that Mega Gengar is one of the most iconic Mega-Evolved Pokémon, this card’s illustration directly alludes to the lore surrounding the Ghost/Poison-type’s Mega-Evolved form. Mega Gengar is able to travel to other dimensions; the illustration by 5ban Graphics spotlights the warping dimensions around Mega Gengar ex.

A Japanese translation of the words “PHANTOM GATE” is written in bold letters across the illustration. This is the attack after which the entire set is named, showing that Mega Gengar ex is the centerpiece of the set. For all these reasons, Mega Gengar ex is far and away the biggest pull of Phantom Gate [XY4].

Mega Rayquaza ex (Bandit Ring [XY7] 095/081) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$1,357)

Mega Rayquaza is best known for the impact it made in the Pokémon video games. When it was introduced in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Mega Rayquaza was so exceedingly powerful that it ended up being banned from Ubers—the Pokémon tier in which the most overpowered Pokémon of all are placed. Its counterpart from the TCG turned out to be no slouch itself.

This card depicts Mega Rayquaza ex in its Shiny form. In addition to the prestige associated with Shiny Pokémon, many fans prefer the look of Rayquaza’s Shiny version to its ordinary one. The card’s striking Full Art illustration shows Mega Rayquaza ex primed to attack and full of the power it has been granted via the Mega Ring—so much so that its iconic body markings are glowing. In general, Mega Rayquaza ex’s sheer ferocity and might are evidently conveyed through the illustration.

What’s interesting is that Mega Rayquaza ex’s attack is named Emerald Break; the words “EMERALD BREAK” are clearly displayed across the illustration. However, this card does not belong to the Emerald Break [XY6] set. It could be possible that the card was originally intended to be that set’s centerpiece but subsequently shelved until Bandit Ring [XY7], the next set.

Mega Charizard ex (Wild Blaze [XY2] 089/080) (PSA 10 Price: ~US$2,238)

You probably knew it was coming. Truth be told, we could have filled this list with multiple different Mega Charizard ex iterations—as mentioned earlier, we just chose not to do so for the sake of variety. While there are two Mega Charizard ex cards in Wild Blaze [XY2], by far the biggest get of not only the set but of all Mega-Evolved Pokémon cards is the Dragon-type Mega Charizard X.

For years, many Pokémon fans had questioned why Charizard was never made a Dragon-type Pokémon. That question was put to rest in Gen 6—specifically in Pokémon X when the original Fire-type starter’s final form was gifted a Dragon-type Mega Evolution by Nintendo. Not only did this card’s Ultra Rare (UR) version fulfill the fantasy of countless fans; the card’s general aesthetic, stunning Full Art illustration, and general novelty as a Dragon-type version of Charizard were all contributing factors to the card’s lofty price tag.

Like the Mega Gengar ex card mentioned earlier, this card was always intended to be the set’s centerpiece as is shown by the fact that its set is named “Wild Blaze”—after Mega Charizard ex’s attack. It’s obvious that Creatures Inc. knew what they had on their hands even before they released it, and understandably so—this is a truly epic card. There’s no question that when it comes to Mega-Evolved Pokémon TCG cards, this Mega Charizard ex card stands alone at the summit.

This list of Mega-Evolved Pokémon TCG cards is more than just a simple list of cards; it’s potentially a “preview” of what’s to come due to Mega Evolution’s possible return. Assuming it does come back, while it won’t be easy for Creatures Inc. to match the precedent they’ve already set, there’s certainly no question that at least some Mega-Evolved Pokémon cards to come will establish their own places as Pokémon TCG icons.

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