Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia launched in Japan on August 1, 2025, reigniting the Mega Evolution era with Lucario and Gardevoir as their lead Pokémon. Each set blends nostalgic Mega mechanics with modern illustration artistry, introducing new full-art and Special Illustration Rares that celebrate Trainer-Pokémon connections. The English version, titled Mega Evolution, follows on September 26, 2025, merging both Japanese expansions into one global release.
The chase cards from these sets—Mega Lucario ex SAR and Mega Gardevoir ex SAR—stand out for their cinematic artwork and collector demand. Both sets also revisit classic Pokémon like Venusaur, Vulpix, and Steelix, blending nostalgia with modern full-art presentation. Japanese prints remain the preferred choice among investors for their superior centering, color depth, and grading quality. Together, these expansions capture Pokémon’s renewed commitment to high-impact art and classic gameplay in the modern TCG era.
15. Riolu #68 – Mega Brave
Riolu’s Illustration Rare feels like a quiet prelude to Lucario’s dominance in the set. The card captures the little Fighting-type mid-training, surrounded by scattered aura stones glowing in blue light. It’s one of the more understated but emotionally rich pieces from Mega Brave, showing the spirit behind Mega Evolution. Collectors love it as a storytelling counterpart to Mega Lucario ex.
14. Exeggutor #66 – Mega Brave
Exeggutor’s illustration brings a tropical calm to an otherwise action-heavy set. The artist leans into humor, with the towering palm Pokémon looming over beach scenery, a nod to its classic Kanto personality. It’s not a chase piece by rarity, but its composition and nostalgia make it a steady favorite for collection displays. High-grade Japanese copies are particularly clean thanks to sharp contrast and balanced foil layering.
13. Stufful #75 – Mega Symphonia
Stufful’s card delivers a burst of color and charm, using soft brush textures and musical scenery to fit Mega Symphonia’s melodic theme. The pastel palette and innocent expression make it one of the cutest Illustration Rares of the year. It’s often grouped with similar “supporting cast” cards collectors keep for binder symmetry. Pull rates are modest, but pristine Japanese prints stay in demand.
12. Steelix #73 – Mega Brave
Steelix’s art focuses on raw scale—its metallic body winding through a canyon as sunlight reflects off its armor. The card feels heavy in hand, with a foil pattern that emphasizes its mineral texture. It’s one of the best uses of metallic detailing since Ancient Origins. Graded copies have held consistent value, particularly from the Japanese release where centering tends to be near-perfect.
11. Vulpix #67 – Mega Brave
Vulpix returns in an illustration that feels straight out of a storybook, framed by lanterns glowing against twilight snow. The attention to light and shadow elevates this card beyond its rarity, making it a hidden gem for nostalgic collectors. Its pairing with Mega Venusaur ex in the same set creates a subtle balance between cute and power cards. Many collectors chase the Japanese print for its finer color clarity and surface gloss.
10. Alakazam #71 – Mega Symphonia
Alakazam’s artwork embraces psychic intensity, using swirling pink and violet hues that match the set’s musical motif. The posture and energy waves give it a symphonic rhythm that ties to Gardevoir’s elegance. It’s not the rarest pull but ranks high among Illustration Rares for visual design. In Japanese stock, print alignment and surface texture are noticeably better, adding grading appeal.
9. Marshadow #69 – Mega Brave
Illustrated by 0313, this Marshadow Illustration Rare is a masterclass in atmosphere. Set deep within a stylized forest, Marshadow stands in a pool of light that cuts through layers of warm orange and green foliage. The flat, painterly shading gives it a storybook feel, while the glowing eyes and faint shadow behind it remind you of the Pokémon’s ghostly nature. It’s one of the most artistic low-rarity cards in Mega Brave, often praised for how it blends eerie and serene tones.
8. Mega Absol ex #89 – Mega Brave
Mitsuhiro Arita’s take on Mega Absol ex turns the card into pure visual drama. The Dark-type stands poised on a skyscraper ledge under a storm-lit sky, its wings spread wide as moonlight breaks through the clouds. The illustration radiates quiet power rather than aggression—Absol looks more guardian than destroyer, echoing its lore as the Pokémon that senses disaster.
7. Mega Kangaskhan ex #89 – Mega Symphonia
Mega Kangaskhan ex showcases both parent and child in a motion-filled composition that captures the heart of Symphonia’s theme—connection and rhythm. The card’s layered texture makes the Mega energy pop against warm tones. It’s one of the most dynamic ex artworks in the set, with collector appeal far beyond gameplay. The Japanese foil has superior embossing, making it the version to vault.
6. Acerola’s Mischief #90 – Mega Symphonia
Acerola steals the spotlight with a full-art design bursting with personality. Surrounded by ghostly sparkles and a smirk that feels straight out of Sun & Moon nostalgia, it quickly became one of the most chased Trainer cards in the set. Its playful tone contrasts perfectly with the elegance of Gardevoir. For grading, the Japanese run maintains better print consistency and smoother foil finishes.
5. Mega Latias ex #88 – Mega Symphonia
Mega Latias ex offers a graceful aerial scene painted in shimmering violet hues. The artwork emphasizes speed and harmony rather than raw power, aligning beautifully with the Symphonia motif. Collectors view it as one of the most refined Mega designs since the XY era. Its SAR version is notoriously tough to pull, making Japanese mint copies especially coveted.
4. Mega Venusaur ex #87 – Mega Brave
Mega Venusaur ex returns with immense presence, its vines sprawling across a battlefield wrapped in sunlight. The texture work and color saturation give it a hand-painted quality that stands above most Grass-type designs. It’s a nostalgia heavyweight for Kanto fans and a strong pull for collectors. The Japanese print showcases deeper greens and near-flawless surface gloss, perfect for grading.
3. Mega Lucario ex #88 – Mega Brave
This Special Art Rare captures the essence of Mega Evolution in motion. Mega Lucario bursts forward mid-battle, its aura flaring across a shattered skyline as Mega Venusaur and Mega Latios clash in the distance. The perspective gives an explosive, cinematic feel—every detail from the debris to Lucario’s energy trails adds to the sense of speed and power. Illustrated by Atsushi Furusawa, it’s one of the most dynamic artworks in recent memory and a clear chase card for 2025.
2. Mega Gardevoir ex #87 – Mega Symphonia
Mega Gardevoir ex captures pure elegance, surrounded by a swirl of pink petals and symphonic light. The full-art variant feels alive, embodying both grace and strength. Its pairing with Lucario forms the artistic centerpiece of the dual release. Many collectors prioritize the Japanese SAR print for its refined texture and stable grading record.
1. Lillie’s Determination #91 – Mega Brave
Topping the list is Lillie’s Determination, a stunning full-art Trainer that instantly became the signature card of both sets. The artwork radiates optimism, with Lillie standing against a glowing horizon—a perfect reflection of the Mega Evolution comeback. It bridges nostalgia with new-era storytelling and commands major attention in both raw and graded form. Japanese versions are the clear grading favorite, often achieving pristine surface and centering quality.
Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia prove that illustration-driven sets can still surprise even the most seasoned collectors. With rich storytelling, refined printing, and unforgettable chase cards, they stand as the strongest return yet for the Mega Evolution era.
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