Mega Evolutions return as Pokémon TCG reveals “Mega Brave” and “Mega Symphonia” booster packs

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is ushering in a new era with the official reveal of its latest Japanese expansion/booster packs.

“MEGA Expansion Pack Mega Brave” and “MEGA Expansion Pack Mega Symphonia” will move the TCG beyond the Scarlet & Violet series and were unveiled during the Japan Championships 2025 event.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game, a global phenomenon that began in 1996, continues to evolve its gameplay and card mechanics.

These new booster packs coincide with the promotion of the upcoming video game Pokémon Legends: Z-A, signaling a fresh wave of content for players and collectors.

A significant feature of these new sets is the reintroduction of Mega Evolution ex cards, a mechanic first teased on Pokémon Day 2025.

Unlike previous Mega EX cards from the XY and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire eras, these new Mega Evolution ex cards are Stage 2 Pokémon, evolving from their pre-evolutions (such as Kirlia).

When a Mega Evolution ex card is knocked out, it awards three Prize Cards, reflecting its power and strategic importance in gameplay.

Revealed Mega Evolution ex cards include Mega Lucario ex, Mega Gardevoir ex, Mega Latias ex, and Mega Venusaur ex.

Six additional Mega Evolution ex cards are yet to be announced. These cards will feature a textured, glittery appearance, similar to the existing Tera ex cards, enhancing their visual appeal.

Each expansion/booster set will include 63 cards before secret rares.

The “MEGA” sets will introduce several new card types and bring back fan-favorite characters.

We’ll take a look at each of the cards revealed so far in more detail at the end of the article, but first, here’s a rundown of what you can expect in the new “MEGA Expansion Pack Mega Brave” and “MEGA Expansion Pack Mega Symphonia” sets:

• Full Art Item Cards: For the first time, full art versions of Item cards, including Rare Candy and Night Stretcher, will be available as SR (Super Rare) cards. Previously, these were only released as gold UR (Ultra Rare) cards.

• Illustration Rare (AR) Cards: The popular Illustration Rare cards are confirmed to continue, with Bulbasaur AR, Vulpix AR, and Inteleon AR teased during the reveal trailer.

• Returning Trainers: Fan-favorite characters Lillie and Wally make a comeback in the TCG with new Supporter cards: Lillie’s Determination and Wally’s Compassion.

• New Trainer Cards:
  • Mega Signal: Allows players to search their deck for one Mega Pokémon ex card.
  • Mystery Garden: Lets players draw cards until they have as many cards in hand as they have Psychic Pokémon in play.
• Non-ex Pokémon: Evolution lines for Pokémon such as Ninetales, Inteleon, Hariyama, Latios, and Pachirisu will also be included.

Alongside the dual booster sets, two new product lines tied to the release have been revealed:

Premium Trainer Box MEGA

• Price: ¥6,350 (tax included)
• Release Date: August 1, 2025
• Contents: 10 packs of “Mega Brave,” 10 packs of “Mega Symphonia,” 172 cards (51 types including 13 Pokémon, 59 Trainers, 4 Special Energy, 96 Basic Energy), 1 card storage box, 1 Pokémon coin, 1 set of Acrylic damage counters (6x 100, 8x 50, 20x 10), 1 damage counter case, and 1 of each Premium condition marker (poison/burn).

Pokémon Center Set Mega Brave / Pokémon Center Set Mega Symphonia

• Price: ¥12,800 (tax included) each
• Release Date: August 1, 2025
• Contents (Mega Brave Set): 2 boxes of “Mega Brave” (60 packs), 1 set of Lillie Deck Sleeves (64 pieces), 1 Lillie Deck Box (with 2 card dividers), 1 card storage box, and 4 card box dividers.
• Contents (Mega Symphonia Set): 2 boxes of “Mega Symphonia” (60 packs), 1 set of Acerola Deck Sleeves (64 pieces), 1 Acerola Deck Box (with 2 card dividers), 1 card storage box, and 4 card box dividers.

Each booster box for the “Mega Brave” and “Mega Symphonia” sets will contain 30 packs and be priced at ¥5,400.

Let’s take a look at all of the cards revealed so far, including their respective abilities!

• Bulbasaur – Grass – HP80
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attack: [G] Bind Down (10 damage. During your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon can’t retreat.)
  • Weakness: Fire (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 2

• Ivysaur – Grass – HP110
  • Stage 1 – Evolves from Bulbasaur
  • Attack: [G][G] Razor Leaf (60 damage.)
  • Weakness: Fire (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 3

• Vulpix – Fire – HP70
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attacks: [C] Stampede (10 damage.), [R][C] Combustion (20 damage.)
  • Weakness: Water (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Ninetales – Fire – HP120
  • Stage 1 – Evolves from Vulpix
  • Attacks: [C] Suspicious Shapeshifting (Discard the top card of your deck. If that card is a Supporter, use its effect as the effect of this attack.), [R][C] Blaze (60 damage.)
  • Weakness: Water (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Sobble – Water – HP70
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attack: [W] Surprise Attack (30 damage. Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.)
  • Weakness: Lightning (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Drizzile – Water – HP100
  • Stage 1 – Evolves from Sobble
  • Attack: [W] Double Stab (30x damage. Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage for each heads.)
  • Weakness: Lightning (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Inteleon – Water – HP150
  • Stage 2 – Evolves from Drizzile
  • Attacks: [W] Bring Down (The Pokémon in play that has the least HP remaining, except for this Pokémon, is Knocked Out. (If there are multiple Pokémon, choose 1.)), [W] Water Shot (110 damage. Discard an Energy from this Pokémon.)
  • Weakness: Lightning (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Pachirisu – Lightning – HP70
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attack: [L] Tingly Incisors (10 damage. During your opponent’s next turn, whenever your opponent attaches an Energy from their hand to the Defending Pokémon, put 8 damage counters on that Pokémon.)
  • Weakness: Fighting (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Ralts – Psychic – HP70
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attacks: [C] Collect (Draw a card.), [P] Headbutt (10 damage.)
  • Weakness: Darkness (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Kirlia – Psychic – HP100
  • Stage 1 – Evolves from Ralts
  • Attacks: [P] Call Sign (Search your deck for up to 3 Pokémon, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.), [P] Psyshot (30 damage.)
  • Weakness: Darkness (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Mega Gardevoir ex

• Makuhita – Fighting – HP80
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attacks: [F] Corkscrew Punch (30 damage.), [F][F] Confront (30 damage.)
  • Weakness: Psychic (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 2

• Hariyama – Fighting – HP150
  • Stage 1 – Evolves from Makuhita
  • Ability: Sumo Catcher (Once during your turn, when you play this card from your hand to evolve one of your Pokémon, you may switch one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon.)
  • Attack: [F][F][F] Wild Press (210 damage. This Pokémon does 70 damage to itself.)
  • Weakness: Psychic (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 3

• Riolu – Fighting – HP80
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attack: [F] Accelerating Stab (30 damage. During your next turn, this Pokémon can’t use Accelerating Stab.)
  • Weakness: Psychic (x2)
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 2

• Mega Lucario ex

• Mega Latias ex – Dragon – HP280
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Attacks: [C] Strafe (40 damage. You may switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon.), [R][P][C] Mirage Pulse (300 damage. Discard all Energy from this Pokémon.)
  • Mega Evolution ex rule: When your Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards.
  • Weakness: None
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

• Latios – Dragon – HP130
  • Basic Pokemon
  • Ability: Luster Assist (Once during your turn, when your Mega Latias ex moves from the Bench to the Active Spot, you may move any number of Energy from your Benched Pokémon to that Active Pokémon.)
  • Attack: [W][P][C] Dragon Claw (130 damage.)
  • Weakness: None
  • Resistance: None
  • Retreat: 1

Trainer Cards

• Mega Signal – Trainer (Item)
  • Effect: Search your deck for 1 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your deck.
  • Rule: You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn.

• Wally’s Compassion – Trainer (Supporter)
  • Effect: Heal all damage from 1 of your Mega Evolution Pokémon ex. If you do, put all Energy attached to that Pokémon back into your hand.
  • Rule: You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn.

• Lillie’s Determination – Trainer (Supporter)
  • Effect: Shuffle your hand into your deck. Then, draw 6 cards. If you have 6 Prize cards remaining, draw 8 cards instead.
  • Rule: You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn.

Stadium Cards

• Mystery Garden – Trainer (Stadium)
  • Effect: Once during each player’s turn, that player may discard 1 Energy card from their hand. If they do, that player draws cards until they have as many cards in hand as they have [P] Pokémon in play.
  • Rule: You may play only 1 Stadium card during your turn. Put it next to the Active Spot, and discard it if another Stadium comes into play. A Stadium with the same name can’t be played.

These cards will all be included in the as yet unnamed English language set featuring Mega Evolutions, which is set to release on September 26th, 2025.

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