Short answer: The best Pokémon cards to collect this month are Mega Charizard X ex if you want one grail card, Mega Darkrai ex from the newest set, and Mega Greninja ex, which just dropped about 11% in price. Budget collectors should look at Dawn (about $18) and Cinccino ex (about $39). All 10 picks below are Special Illustration Rares from the Mega Evolution era, from about $18 to $600.
Updated October 24, 2026 · English near-mint TCGplayer market prices, checked October 24, 2026. We refresh this list every month.
Who this is for: Collectors who want a short list of modern cards worth owning, rather than the most expensive cards in the hobby. We picked cards across price ranges, with a reason for each one. If you want the most expensive cards instead, see our 15 most expensive Mega Evolution cards.
What Pokémon cards should you collect this month?
Here are our 10 picks, from grail to budget. Click any card to see its current price on TCGplayer.
1. Mega Charizard X ex
Why collect it: Charizard is the hobby’s blue-chip Pokémon, and this is the most valuable card from any main Mega Evolution set so far. If you only buy one big card this year, this is the safest pick.
The art: Mega Charizard X in blue flame, towering over its earlier evolutions.
Price: Market price $602.14, cheapest listing $500. Down about 5% from $631 on October 13. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
2. Mega Gardevoir ex
Why collect it: Gardevoir has one of the most loyal collector followings in Pokémon, and this card has barely moved in price while bigger chases have dropped.
The art: A soft pastel scene with Ralts and Kirlia gathered around Gardevoir.
Price: Market price $168.18, cheapest listing $140. Basically flat since October 13 ($170.44). (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
3. Mega Darkrai ex
Why collect it: The top chase card from the newest main set, and it’s holding its price while older sets cool off. It also has one of the most striking designs of the year.
The art: A black-and-white nightmare swirl with sharp green highlights.
Price: Market price $144.47, cheapest listing $125.99. Unchanged since October 13 ($144.39). (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
4. Mega Venusaur ex
Why collect it: You get the original Kanto-starter appeal for a fraction of what Charizard costs. Starters from the first generation have always been a safe long-term collect.
The art: Loud neon pink-and-green pop-art jungle.
Price: Market price $123.17, cheapest listing $102.50. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
5. Mega Greninja ex
Why collect it: Greninja was voted Pokémon of the Year in 2020 and stays hugely popular, and its price just dipped. That makes this the best buying window on the list.
The art: Greninja leaping through bright, bubbly ocean waves.
Price: Market price $115.70, cheapest listing $95.01. Down about 11% from $129.46 on October 13. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
6. Meowth ex
Why collect it: Team Rocket nostalgia plus some of the most fun art of the year. The cheapest listing is almost exactly the market price, which means a steady, healthy market.
The art: A retro cartoon Meowth posing like a lucky cat.
Price: Market price $84.89, cheapest listing $82. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
7. Mega Latias ex
Why collect it: An under-$100 Special Illustration Rare from the first Mega Evolution set. Listings start well below the market price, so it pays to shop around.
The art: Latias streaking through a burst of cosmic color.
Price: Market price $69.71, cheapest listing $50. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
8. Morpeko ex
Why collect it: The second-best card in the newest set at about a third of Darkrai’s price, and the art is a lot of fun.
The art: Hangry Mode Morpeko in hot pink and black.
Price: Market price $56.27, cheapest listing $51.99. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
9. Cinccino ex
Why collect it: One of the most charming cards of the year for under $40, and an easy gift for a Pokémon fan who already has the big names.
The art: A cozy pastel room, with Cinccino tidying up with a feather duster.
Price: Market price $38.98, cheapest listing $35. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
10. Dawn
Why collect it: The best budget pick in the Mega Evolution era. Trainer Special Illustration Rares of fan-favorite characters tend to hold their appeal, and this one is under $20.
The art: Dawn with her bike on a sunny mountain trail.
Price: Market price $18.02, cheapest listing $14. (TCGplayer, October 24). Check today’s price on TCGplayer
Are Pokémon card prices going down right now?
At the very top, yes. The biggest chase cards from Ascended Heroes have cooled off since mid-October:
| Card | October 13 | October 24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Gengar ex SIR (Ascended Heroes) | $826.88 | $739.05 | -11% |
| Pikachu ex SIR (Ascended Heroes) | $765.56 | $639.71 | -16% |
| Mega Charizard X ex SIR (Phantasmal Flames) | $631.27 | $602.14 | -5% |
| Mega Greninja ex SIR (Chaos Rising) | $129.46 | $115.70 | -11% |
| Mega Darkrai ex SIR (Pitch Black) | $144.39 | $144.47 | 0% |
Prices move fast. Follow @HelloNerdsnack on X for price drops and new chase cards.
Mid-priced cards from newer sets have held steady. If you’ve been waiting on a big card, prices are moving in your favor, and Black Friday on November 27 could bring more deals. Our Black Friday prices to beat tracks the sealed side.
What’s coming in November?
Delta Reign releases November 6, with Mega Rayquaza ex as its big chase card. New sets tend to pull attention and money away from older chase cards for a few weeks, which can be a good time to buy the cards above. If you plan to open Delta Reign, read our Delta Reign pull rates and the Delta Reign chase cards first.
Buying singles is almost always cheaper than chasing a specific card in packs. Once you have them, protect them: our guide to protecting trading cards covers sleeves, toploaders and graded cases.
Rather open packs? Check today’s prices
Frequently Asked Questions
What Pokémon cards are worth collecting right now?
Special Illustration Rares of popular Pokémon from the Mega Evolution era: Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Greninja ex, Mega Gardevoir ex and Meowth ex are our top picks this month.
What is the most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon card?
Mega Gengar ex Special Illustration Rare from Ascended Heroes, at about $739 on October 24, 2026. Our most expensive Mega Evolution cards list ranks the top 15.
What’s a good cheap Pokémon card to collect?
Dawn (Phantasmal Flames 129/094) at about $18 and Cinccino ex (Chaos Rising 119/086) at about $39 are two of the best-looking Special Illustration Rares under $40.
Are Pokémon card prices dropping?
The top Ascended Heroes chase cards fell 11-16% between October 13 and October 24, 2026. Most mid-priced cards from newer sets held steady.
Sources: TCGplayer market prices and listings, checked October 13 and October 24, 2026. Card images from The Pokémon Company International via TCGplayer.
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