Delta Reign Chase Cards: The Most Valuable Cards to Pull

Verdict: The chase cards in Pokémon Delta Reign are the two top Mega Rayquaza ex cards. In Japan, the gold version sells for about $946 and the Special Illustration Rare for about $297, with Raikou ex a distant third at $47. English prices may be much closer together: in the last set, the English Special Illustration Rare ended up worth more than the gold card.

Updated October 13, 2026 · Delta Reign releases November 6 in English · Prices from Storm Emeralda, the Japanese version of the set, on TCGplayer

Who this is for: You’re deciding whether to open Delta Reign packs, preorder sealed product or wait for singles, and you want to know which cards are worth pulling.

What are the chase cards in Delta Reign?

English singles aren’t for sale yet, so the best guide is the Japanese set it’s based on, Storm Emeralda, which is already out. These are the most valuable cards in that set:

Graphic: NerdSnack. Japanese prices from TCGplayer, October 13, 2026.

The English set uses different rarity names. Japan’s Special Art Rare is a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) in English, an Art Rare is an Illustration Rare, and a Super Rare is an Ultra Rare. Japan’s gold Mega Ultra Rare has been called a Mega Hyper Rare in earlier English Mega Evolution sets, but Pokémon hasn’t confirmed Delta Reign’s yet.

Japanese prices have also been falling. On September 30, the Mega Rayquaza ex Special Art Rare was about $356 and Raikou ex about $67.

What will English Delta Reign cards be worth?

Probably not what Japan says. The last English set, Pitch Black, shows how prices translate. Here it is next to its Japanese version, Abyss Eye, as priced on September 30:

The English gold card sold for about a third of the Japanese one, so the SIR became the top English card, and the second-tier SIRs sold for about double. Apply the same ratios to today’s Japanese prices and the gold Mega Rayquaza ex lands around $310, the Mega Rayquaza ex SIR around $235 and the Raikou ex SIR around $95.

That’s a scenario built on one set, not a prediction, and the English set adds 27 main-set cards that aren’t in Storm Emeralda. It’s still a better guide than today’s preorder listings.

Why is Mega Rayquaza ex the card to pull?

It’s the face of the set and a fan-favorite Pokémon, and Pokémon’s own product page opens with it. The Japanese market already shows the pattern: the gold version is worth more than every other card in the set combined, and the Special Art Rare is still worth over six times the next-best card.

The regular English card, numbered 084/103, is a Basic Mega Evolution Pokémon ex with 280 HP. Its Ability, Ruler’s Roar, works once per turn when you play it from your hand onto your Bench: you look at the top 4 cards of your deck and attach a Basic Energy card from among them to it. Its attack, Storm Emerald, costs one Fire, one Lightning and one Colorless Energy and does 50 damage for each Fire and Lightning Energy attached to all of your Pokémon. Like every Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, it gives up 3 Prize cards when it’s Knocked Out.

What other Delta Reign cards are worth pulling?

• Raikou ex Special Illustration Rare (about $47 in Japanese). It’s the clear #3 and the only non-Rayquaza card over $25.
• Zinnia’s Trust Special Illustration Rare (about $22). Zinnia is the Draconid character tied to Rayquaza in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, so her card pairs naturally with the Rayquazas.
• Mega Golurk ex and Mega Golisopod ex Special Illustration Rares (about $16 and $13). They’re two of the four new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex the set is built around.
• Groudon and Kyogre Illustration Rares (about $12 and $11). With Rayquaza, they complete Hoenn’s legendary weather trio, which collectors like to own as a set.
• Kecleon Illustration Rare (about $9). It’s the most valuable Illustration Rare of a non-legendary Pokémon.

Mega Golisopod ex, Mega Golurk ex and Mega Malamar ex. Images: The Pokémon Company International.

Everything below the top 10 sells for under $10 in Japanese, and most regular Illustration Rares are $3 to $6. If you’re opening packs for value, you’re mostly opening for a Rayquaza.

How many cards are in Delta Reign?

Over 135, according to Pokémon. The main set is numbered to 103, and the rest are secret rares numbered past 103. Pokémon says the set includes more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, more than 20 Trainer cards, and more than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations.

The English set is bigger than Storm Emeralda, which has 76 cards in its main set, so the English version adds cards that aren’t in the Japanese one. One highlight already revealed: Legendary Summit, a Stadium card split across two cards, 096 and 097, that form one continuous mountain landscape when you put them side by side.

Legendary Summit, cards 096 and 097, side by side. Images: The Pokémon Company International.

Should you preorder Delta Reign?

Not at current prices, unless you’re sure you want sealed product on day one. Preorders on TCGplayer are running well above MSRP:

At $14 a pack, you’re paying a lot for a set where most of the value is in one or two cards. If you only want Mega Rayquaza, buying the single after release will almost always cost less than chasing it in packs. If you want the fun of opening, a good way in is a Build & Battle box at a prerelease event from October 24 to November 1. Our Delta Reign prerelease guide explains how they work, and our Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box guide covers what’s in each box.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most expensive card in Delta Reign?
In Japanese, the gold Mega Rayquaza ex, at about $946 on TCGplayer. In English, the Mega Rayquaza ex Special Illustration Rare could rival it, as the SIR did in Pitch Black.

When does Delta Reign come out?
November 6, 2026, with prerelease events from October 24 to November 1.

What is Delta Reign in Japanese?
Storm Emeralda (M6). Delta Reign is the English version, numbered ME06, and it’s the sixth set in the Mega Evolution series.

How many cards are in Delta Reign?
Over 135. The main set is numbered to 103, and the rest are secret rares.

Is Delta Reign worth buying?
For the Rayquazas, yes, but buy singles after release rather than preordering sealed at current prices. The Elite Trainer Box is selling for more than twice its $49.99 MSRP on TCGplayer.

Next step: decide whether you want the chase (buy the single after November 6) or the experience (go to a prerelease). We’ll update this page with English prices after release. For more, see the 30th Celebration Battle Decks and our Pokémon gift guide.

Also useful: Ultra Pro penny sleeves, 100 pack ($7.00). Prices checked October 13, 2026.

Sources: Pitch Black and Abyss Eye comparison prices from TCGplayer, September 30, 2026. Set size, featured cards and card text from Pokémon’s Delta Reign product page and official card images. Japanese card prices are TCGplayer market prices for M6: Storm Emeralda, and sealed preorder prices are TCGplayer market prices for ME06: Delta Reign, both checked October 13, 2026. MSRPs from Pokémon. Accessory prices checked on Amazon (US) on October 13, 2026; each is sold by the manufacturer’s official Amazon store. Card images: The Pokémon Company International. Price chart: NerdSnack.