The fourth set in the English Mega Evolution series, Chaos Rising, is here. Based on the Japanese set Ninja Spinner, it introduces five new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, led by a headliner that many collectors have been waiting for since the block began.
That is, of course, Mega Greninja ex, which features among the 122 cards, alongside a suite of Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, 11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares, and six Special Illustration Rares – all beneath one hotly-anticipated Mega Hyper Rare.
But it’s not just our new Mega Evolution that is capturing collectors’ imaginations, as there’s an attractive list of chase cards that are holding attention in the current market.
1. Mega Greninja ex (Special Illustration Rare)
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It was always going to be Mega Greninja. The moment Chaos Rising was announced, collectors fixed their sights squarely on the Mega Greninja ex Special Illustration Rare – and for good reason.
Illustrated by Susumu Maeya, this card is the centrepiece of one of the most celebrated connected artworks the Mega Evolution era has produced.
Placed alongside its partner cards, the pre-evolution forms, Mega Greninja ex looms above a swirling, sunset-drenched sky, shuriken beneath its feet, the background bleeding from deep water blue through pink and orange as the three-card panorama completes itself.
In its design, it also becomes the first lead Special Illustration Rare in this new block to not have all three evolution stages featured on the same card. That in itself sets it apart from other chases that have come before.
Undoubtedly, the appeal goes beyond the artwork. Mega Greninja has been one of the most-requested Mega Evolutions in the Pokémon TCG since Greninja’s explosion in popularity back in 2014, and this is its first appearance in the game in this form.
That kind of history has helped turn the Mega Greninja ex SIR into the defining chase of the set, and one of the standout collector cards released anywhere in the Mega Evolution era so far.
2. Mega Greninja ex (Mega Hyper Rare)
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Here, we have our golden Greninja. Given how long fans have waited for this Mega Evolution to arrive in the TCG, it feels entirely right that it should be the one gleaming in gold in this set.
The Mega Hyper Rare treatment was made for a moment like this. All-gold borders, foil that demands to be seen from across the room. This is as loud as the Pokémon TCG gets at the moment, and Mega Greninja ex wears it perfectly.
As the rarest pull in Chaos Rising in terms of pull rates, the Mega Hyper Rare is the ultimate statement piece from this set.
There is only one Mega Hyper Rare in any given expansion, and in Chaos Rising that honour belongs to Greninja.
Like its companions from this block, it already has plenty of collector momentum. In the long run, once nostalgia settles in, I’d expect that demand for all that glitters on gold to ramp up further.
3. Cinccino ex (Special Illustration Rare)
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Perhaps the biggest surprise among the Chaos Rising chases – and one of the most talked-about cards in the set – is the Cinccino ex Special Illustration Rare.
Illustrated by Keisin, this pretty print depicts Cinccino bouncing gleefully on a mountain of pillows and blankets in a scene of absolute, unapologetic cosiness. It is cheerful, it is adorable, and it has somehow outpaced not one but two debut Mega Evolution Special Illustration Rares to become one of the set’s standout chase cards.
Part of that is down to the artwork itself, which has taken on a life of its own on social media, with pull videos and online posts repeatedly singling it out as the prettiest non-Mega card in the set.
Whatever the reason, the demand is real, and this card has been consistently tracking alongside other top chases since release.
4. Mega Dragalge ex (Special Illustration Rare)
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Mega Dragalge ex is not, perhaps, the most beloved Pokémon on the block. But its Special Illustration Rare in Chaos Rising is undoubtedly one of the most visually arresting cards in the set.
Lucid swirls of purple, brown and blue frame the newly famed Mega Evolution in this artistic encounter. In doing so, Kazumasa Yasukuni, the artist behind the masterpiece, places Mega Dragalge in a dark, atmospheric scene that stands apart from the warmer, more ornate artworks elsewhere in the secret rare run.
As a Poison/Dragon-type, Mega Dragalge brings a disruptive toolkit to the Mega format – its combination of Tool and Special Energy removal alongside powerful Poison damage has made it one of the more interesting archetypes introduced in this era of the game, and competitive players hunting it have helped bolster demand alongside pure collectors.
5. Mega Floette ex (Special Illustration Rare)
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Floette carries one of the most affecting storylines in the entire Pokémon franchise – the long-lost companion of AZ, whose return forms the quiet, heartbreaking climax of Pokémon X and Y.
Its Mega Evolution form making its TCG debut here is what certain collectors would have been anticipating, and the Special Illustration Rare artwork delivers entirely on that expectation.
Illustrated by Teeziro, the card renders Mega Floette ex suspended mid-air in a warm, golden-pink palette that leans fully into grace rather than power.
Where most Mega ex Special Illustration Rares reach for scale and drama, Teeziro goes the other direction with soft, luminous, and quietly stunning. The foil and texture play beautifully with those warm tones, and it is a card that photographs exceptionally well in a binder.
Many collectors consider it the aesthetic pick of the set. It represents some of the most striking art in Chaos Rising.
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6. AZ’s Tranquility (Special Illustration Rare)
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The history behind this card truly drives home AZ’s status as one of the most mysterious and quietly devastating characters in the Pokémon games.
An ancient Kalos king who built a weapon of mass destruction to revive a single Pokémon, only to wander the world in penance for three thousand years. His reunion with Eternal Flower Floette remains one of the most remembered moments in the series, and this Special Illustration Rare captures that relationship with real care.
This serene Special Illustration Rare, developed by OKACHEKE, places AZ and his Floette together in a scene that leans into that close relationship between Pokémon and trainer.
With AZ’s prominence in the recent Pokémon Legends: Z-A game, we have a card imbued with such a deep level of storytelling that few in the Mega Evolution era can match. It’s the kind of card that tends to age well.
7. Roxie’s Performance (Special Illustration Rare)
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A fan favourite from Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Roxie is the Poison-type Gym Leader and punk rock frontwoman of Virbank City – and her Special Illustration Rare leans into that energy in full.
It is a characterful card, visually distinct from the more serene or dramatic artworks elsewhere in the set’s secret rare run, and it has attracted a solid collector following since release.
Like AZ’s Tranquility, Roxie’s Performance also has genuine Supporter utility, giving it that dual appeal among players and collectors alike.
8. Mega Greninja ex (Ultra Rare)
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If you want a different premium take on Mega Greninja ex, the Ultra Rare is your entry point.
Illustrated by GIDORA, this version of Mega Greninja ex presents the Pokémon in a golden full-art outline against a shadowy backdrop – a stylish, striking card that makes the most of the Ultra Rare treatment.
It is the most accessible way to own a premium version of the set’s flagship Pokémon as a chase. It is elevated enough to acknowledge what it is, approachable enough to actually pick up.
For anyone building a Greninja-focused collection across multiple prints, this is an essential piece of the puzzle alongside the Special Illustration Rare and Mega Hyper Rare above it. It is worth grabbing sooner rather than later.
9. Froakie (Illustration Rare)
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Froakie’s Illustration Rare may be quieter than the biggest headline cards, but it certainly earns its place among the Chaos Rising chases.
Illustrated by Susumu Maeya as part of the connected triptych alongside Frogadier and Mega Greninja ex, this card depicts Froakie underwater – calm, serene, the background rich with blue tones that eventually warm into orange as the panorama progresses toward Mega Greninja’s sunset sky above.
Alone, it’s a beautiful card. Lined up beside its two companions, it’s something else entirely. That appeal has driven demand for Froakie well beyond what a typical basic Pokémon Illustration Rare might receive.
While the earliest rush has settled, it remains a memorable, panoramic Illustration Rare.
10. Frogadier (Illustration Rare)
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The middle piece of the puzzle is Frogadier’s Illustration Rare by Susumu Maeya.
This print depicts the Water-type middle evolution breaking the surface of the water, caught mid-leap in a burst of colour and motion as the background shifts from the blue depths below to the warm sky above.
As a connecting piece between the submerged Froakie and the airborne Mega Greninja ex, it has a natural energy to it – and it carries that sense of momentum both visually and in terms of collector demand.
Like Froakie, Frogadier benefits enormously from its place in the triptych. Strip the context away and it would still be a beautifully illustrated Illustration Rare; add it back in, and it becomes a necessary piece for anyone completing one of the strongest connected artworks in the Mega Evolution block so far.
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What else should you look out for?
When sets are spearheaded by a fan favourite Pokémon, like Twilight Masquerade from our previous era, it can be easy to overlook the value and vibrant artwork found elsewhere.
Xerneas (Illustration Rare)
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In the case of Chaos Rising, there’s plenty to find. The Xerneas Illustration Rare has also attracted some early attention for its artwork.
For those with a keen eye, you’ll notice the distinct style of YASHIRO Nanaco coming through – the artist behind the famed Moonbreon from Prismatic Evolutions.
Metang (Illustration Rare)
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For collectors with an eye for that construction site aesthetic, Metang is a welcome addition to the roster.
Timburr, Gurdurr, Conkeldurr, Steelix, Excadrill, Bisharp, Metagross and more now have a new companion to stand alongside. Metang fits right in with an Illustration Rare that shows a pair of Steel-types shouldering steel beams between them.
Ampharos (Illustration Rare)
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And a final shout for one that feels like it will age ever so well is the Ampharos Illustration Rare, illustrated by saino misaki.
The scene shows the Gen two Pokémon in a sun-drenched meadow, wildflowers scattered across the foreground and a warm, painterly sky dissolving into deep violet above. It is a card that does not shout for attention, but rewards anyone who takes a moment to look at it properly.
That said, it’s hard to shortlist from this set, and there are plenty of others that nod to the cityscape aesthetics that have come with the recent Pokémon Legends: Z-A expansion.
Final thoughts
Following on from the insatiable hype of Ascended Heroes was always going to be a tall order, and sometimes it’s better to be the set that follows the one that follows.
That is exactly the position Chaos Rising finds itself in. Perfect Order absorbed the pressure of stepping out of Ascended Heroes’ shadow, and by the time Chaos Rising arrived, the stage was clear.
That breathing room has served the set well. Without the weight of impossible expectations bearing down on it, Chaos Rising has been free to introduce some genuinely incredible artwork.
What’s particularly encouraging about Chaos Rising is that the appeal is spread across multiple types of chase. The triptych of Froakie, Frogadier, and Mega Greninja ex offers a genuinely compelling collector target for those not ready to chase the Mega Greninja ex SIR, and several Special Illustration Rares remain appealing singles targets.
As always, demand will continue to move as more product is ripped and the market finds its level. But right now, Chaos Rising looks like a set that rewards both the collectors going all-in on the Greninja chase and those building at a more measured pace.
Shop the Chaos Rising set and all things Pokémon TCG, including booster boxes and Elite Trainer Boxes, right here at Gathering Games.
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