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The Pokémon Company International has officially unleashed Delta Reign - the all-new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion that finally brings Mega Rayquaza back to tabletop prominence after a long five-year absence since its iconic run in Evolving Skies.
That Rayquaza VMAX (Alternate Art Secret) from Evolving Skies chase card is still one of the most iconic cards of all time, currently sitting at a high of $1,044.19 on TCGplayer.
As collectors race to collect all 141 cards and chase the set's heaviest hitters, the secondary market is already experiencing severe turbulence.
To help you navigate the chaos of Delta Reign’s soaring valuations, we’ve broken down the 10 most expensive cards you can pull in the Delta Reign expansion, according to third-party market TCGPlayer.
Kecleon - 117/103
This vaguely suggestive card of a Kecleon sliding down a pole, illustrated by Tomokazu Komiya, has proven to be a bit divisive; not everyone is a fan.
I, personally, love the Art Brut-esque art style - it reminds me of colored pencils and crayons, when I would draw all my beloved Hoenn team as a child playing through Pokémon Emerald.
This card can be yours for $16.93, falling from an initial launch price of $25.17. This is a great budget option, and one of my favourites in Delta Reign.
Growlithe - 106/103
Illustrated by Yoshimoto Yoshimon, who you might know for heavy-hitters like Marill and Slurpuff from Ascended Heroes, this sweet Growlithe card got the ultimate cozy treatment in this adorable new Illustration Rare.
Sat chilling in a pink, sunlit living room, you can almost imagine Growlithe basking in the sun, soaking in those final rays of the day.
With a semi-translucent outline around this original 151 fire pup, it almost looks like a sticker. You can pick this up on release day for $17.67 from TCGPlayer - the price is already falling from a high of $18.92.
Mega Golisopod ex - 135/103
This dynamic, colorful card from 5ban Graphics is coming in at number 8 on the most expensive cards of Delta Reign so far. The market average price is sat at $22.12, falling from an initial $23.24.
Groudon - 111/103
This awesome Illustration Rare from Ryota Murayama shows off the continent Pokémon in all its glory. It packs a competitive punch too, dealing an extra 170 damage if a Stadium card with "Legendary" in its name is active.
If its current market average of $28.43 is a little too steep for your liking, or if you just played Pokémon Sapphire as a kid, Kyogre is only $0.44 despite being a similarly gorgeous card.
Eevee - 114/103
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m a big Eevee fan. So much so that I have over 200 Eeevee plushies in my bedroom. Yes, it’s becoming a bit of a problem.
I adore this card from Hideki Ishikawa, showing Eevee in an adorable picnic scene for $30.37. If I lived in the world of Pokémon, I like to think this card is a snapshot of what my life would look like.
Mega Golurk ex - 137/103
This card from 5ban Graphics has shot up in price since launch - it launched at $23.24, and now sits at $43.99. It’s no surprise really, when you consider the popularity of Mega Evolutions and their relative newness to the TCG.
If you’re a big Mega Golurk fan, you should consider picking this card up sooner rather than later - I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts to spike again.
Zinnia's Trust - 140/103
The Zinnia's Trust Special Illustration Rare, illustrated by GIDORA, just misses out on the top 3 spot. As the devoted Lorekeeper of the Draconid people, Zinnia’s connection to the Draconid legends and her efforts to summon Rayquaza to intercept the Grand Meteor Delta in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire make her presence in an expansion anchored by Mega Rayquaza feel completely earned. You can pick this card up for $49.49.
Raikou ex
Taking the bronze Ribbon for the most expensive card in Delta Reign is this incredible Raikou Special Illustration Rare from aky CG Works. Raikou leaps through a jagged, towering canyon landscape that can’t help but remind me of Mt Thunder from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue games.
Mega Rayquaza ex - 138/103
A hefty jump into second place here, and it’s no surprise which Mon takes home the silver Ribbons. This Mega Rayquaza ex Special Illustration Rare, illustrated by Kozuki Minami – the same artist that won the 2024 Pokémon TCG Illustration contest thanks to her inspired take on Pikachu, is currently sat at a market average of $334.82.
Mega Rayquaza ex - 141/103
A fitting card to take home the Gold Ribbon, the Mega Ultra Rare Mega Rayquaza ex, illustrated by takuyoa, is, unsurpsingly perhaps, currently the most expensive card you can find in Delta Reign. TCGPlayer has one currently sold for $349.34, but the average price on eBay is sitting at an eye-watering $500. There are three total Rayquaza cards in this set if you’re looking to hunt them down - the 084/103 Double Rare, and the two mentioned in this list.
There are some gorgeous cards in Delta Reign, and if you’re looking to hunt them down, your best bet is to hunt for Booster Boxes or ETBs at your local game store or online, as they offer the most consistent pull rates for the price. If you want a card in particular, I’d recommend waiting until the market settles so you can get the best value for money. Which card you you hoping to add to your binder? I'll definitely be keepng an eye out for the Eevee card as I mentioned. I also love the Kyogre card, and for that price, you can't really go wrong. There are some really nice cards in this set, and it's shaking out as one of the more affordable ones of recent memory.
Happy hunting, Trainers!
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