Ascended Heroes
Mega Evolution — Ascended Heroes (ME2.5)
Ascended Heroes is the second special expansion in the 2026 Mega Evolution series, released on 30 January 2026. Set code ASC, it builds directly on Mega Evolutions (ME01) and Phantasmal Flames (ME02) to continue reintroducing beloved first- and second-generation Mega Evolution Pokémon in the modern Pokémon TCG ex framework. With 295 cards across the full set — including 22 Special Illustration Rares — Ascended Heroes is the most card-dense Mega Evolution release to date and stands as one of the most sought-after sealed products of 2026.
Set Details
- Set Name: Mega Evolution — Ascended Heroes
- Set Code: ASC
- Series: Mega Evolution (2026)
- Release Date: 30 January 2026
- Total Cards: 295 (217 in the standard numbered set + 78 secret rares)
- Special Illustration Rares (SIRs): 22
- Mega Evolution Pokémon ex: 13
- Packs per ETB: 9
What Is Available
Grailborne stocks the full Ascended Heroes sealed product range:
- Elite Trainer Box (ETB) — 9 booster packs + promo card (Mega Gengar ex SIR) + accessories
- Booster Box — 36 booster packs, sealed factory fresh
- Booster Bundle — 6-pack bundles, great for casual opening
- Mini Tins — 2 packs + promo coin, collectible character tins
- Pin Collections — 3 packs + enamel pin + promo card
- Premium Poster Collection — 4 packs + oversize poster card
- Mega ex Box — premium box featuring a jumbo Mega Evolution card + 4 booster packs
Chase Cards and Key Pulls
Ascended Heroes is defined by its Special Illustration Rare pool — 22 SIRs with an estimated pull rate of 1 in 70 packs. The standout chase cards are:
- Mega Gengar ex SIR (#284/217) — The ETB exclusive promo and the set's headline card. Featuring full-art illustrated horror-styled artwork, this card has traded at –,145 AUD and is the primary driver of ETB demand.
- Pikachu ex SIR (#276/217) — The second major chase, combining gen-one nostalgia with full-art illustration. Currently trading around AUD and consistently strong in resale.
- Mega Dragonite ex SIR — A notable pull from the set's 13 Mega Evolution ex pool, widely regarded as a collector favourite for artwork quality.
- Mega Charizard Y ex Hyper Rare — Ultra-rare pull valued above most SIRs due to lower pull frequency.
SIR pull rates make booster boxes (36 packs) a more reliable path to pulling chase cards than individual ETBs (9 packs).
Collector Notes
Ascended Heroes holds a distinct position in the 2026 Pokémon TCG landscape for three reasons. First, it is a special expansion — like Prismatic Evolutions and Pokémon 151 — meaning it is only available in standalone sealed products (ETBs, tins, bundles, boxes), not mixed into other set booster boxes. Supply is finite and does not reprint into rotation. Second, the Mega Gengar ex SIR as an ETB promo ties the highest-value card in the set directly to the most accessible sealed format, creating unusual demand pressure on ETB stock. Third, the Mega Evolution series as a whole is targeting a demographic of collectors who grew up with X and Y-era Mega Evolutions, creating durable long-term demand that mirrors the collector arc seen with 151 and Prismatic Evolutions.
ETBs are the recommended entry point for collectors who want the promo card and a controlled sealed-product cost. Booster boxes are preferred for those targeting SIR pulls by volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Ascended Heroes ETB include the Mega Gengar ex SIR promo card?
A: Yes. Every Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box includes the Mega Gengar ex Special Illustration Rare as the exclusive ETB promo card, along with 9 booster packs and accessories. This promo is not available in any other product format.
Q: How many packs are in an Ascended Heroes booster box?
A: Each Ascended Heroes booster box contains 36 booster packs. At an estimated SIR pull rate of 1 in 70 packs, a booster box gives you roughly a 40% chance of pulling at least one SIR.
Q: Is Ascended Heroes part of the Scarlet and Violet series?
A: No. Ascended Heroes is part of the 2026 Mega Evolution series — a separate product line that revives Mega Evolution Pokémon ex. It is not an SV-series expansion and uses its own set code (ASC) and numbering independent of the Scarlet and Violet card pool.
Q: Will Ascended Heroes be reprinted?
A: As a special expansion (not a standard-rotation set), Ascended Heroes follows the same model as 151 and Prismatic Evolutions — initial print runs without a confirmed ongoing reprint schedule. Stock is allocation-based and historically runs out at distributor level before collector demand is met.
Q: What is the difference between the Ascended Heroes ETB and the Pokémon Center ETB?
A: The standard Ascended Heroes ETB includes the Mega Gengar ex SIR promo. The Pokémon Center exclusive ETB features an alternate-art promo and different box packaging. Both contain 9 booster packs.
Related Collections
Explore the full Mega Evolution series and broader Pokémon TCG range at Grailborne:
- Phantasmal Flames (ME02) — Chase the Mega Charizard X ex SIR from the second Mega Evolution set
- Perfect Order (ME03) — The third Mega Evolution expansion
- Chaos Rising (ME04) — Coming soon: preorder ETBs and booster boxes
- All Mega Evolution Products — Browse the complete Mega Evolution series
- Prismatic Evolutions (SV8.5) — Another high-demand special expansion featuring Umbreon ex SIR
- All Pokémon TCG — Full Pokémon catalogue at Grailborne Australia