With the Pokémon TCG releasing its newest set, Chaos Rising, on May 22, 2026, now is the perfect time to take a look at the cards that are sure to be the hottest tickets from the Mega Evolutions era’s fifth set upon release.
From full-art trainers to chase rares boasting some incredibly popular Pokémon, Chaos Rising is sure to be a big hit that will have collectors seeking out booster packs, booster boxes, and Elite Trainer Boxes with reckless abandon. Let’s dive in.
Here are the Pokémon cards from Chaos Rising that every collector should be hunting for
An immediate fan favorite, Emma first debuted in the post-game of Pokémon X & Y, and then featured heavily in the main storyline of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
While the new head of the Looker Bureau will not be getting her own Special Illustration Rare (SIR) in Chaos Rising, her full-art Super Rare (SR) rendition is sure to be a hot ticket on the secondary market due to her popularity and plot importance.
9. Froakie (Illustration Rare)
Seeing as Mega Greninja is the box art ‘mon from Chaos Rising, it’s no surprise that Greninja’s pre-evolutions, Froakie and Frogadier, also receive the Illustration Rare (IR) treatment in the set.
Notably, Froakie and Frogadier’s IRs actually make up interconnected artworks, a la Perrin and Hisuian Growlithe from Twilight Masquerade, among others and will look great in binders or in graded slab cases. Speaking of interconnected artworks, it’s high time classic Gen. One ‘mons like Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee get their first Illustration Rares, hopefully of the interconnected variety.
8. AZ’s Tranquility (Special Illustration Rare)
AZ is the tortured, towering, 3,000-year-old gentleman who owns Hotel Z and plays a major role in the storyline of both Pokémon X & Y and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Strangely enough, this ancient character has only been featured on two cards of his own across the TCG’s history, both of which are from 2014’s Phantom Forces. This beautiful SIR AZ card shows him finally at peace with his beloved Floette by his side, both basking in the sun. A stunning card that is sure to demand a premium on the secondary market upon its release.
7. Mega Floette ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Speaking of Floette, this fairy-type’s Mega form was unavailable in the TCG… until now. Mega Floette plays a notable role in the plot of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, so it’s only fitting that this powerful ‘mon gets its own SIR in Chaos Rising, which, due to the supreme rarity of this card type, is sure to be fairly pricey to acquire when the set comes out. Lush, stunningly colorful artwork from Teeziro doesn’t hurt the card’s curb appeal, either.
6. Roxie’s Performance (Special Illustration Rare)
It’s always nice when two things you love combine, and, in this case, music and the Pokémon TCG have never looked better together than they do on this striking Roxie SIR.
A bright color palette and action-packed artwork from artist Tomowaka certainly help to make this card pop, but it’s that sick bass that will keep music fans coming back for more of this SIR. Rock on, Roxie!
5. Mega Greninja ex (Super Rare)
Unsurprisingly, the top five of this list is littered with the set’s box art ‘mon: Mega Greninja. The first of these cards is the full-art SR version, which lacks both the supreme scarcity of the all-gold Mega Hyper Rare as well as the cachet and stunning beauty of the SIR.
Still though, pulling this SR card will still be a notable hit, as any card boasting Mega Greninja from this is sure to be a high-dollar card. Seemingly, Greninja is becoming a notable favorite of Pokémon TCG collectors, with nine cards currently sitting with a price tag above $50 on the secondary market – including the masterpiece Greninja ex SIR from Twilight Masquerade.
4. Mega Dragalge ex (Special Illustration Rare)
The first full-art card featuring Dragalge also happens to be among the first to feature its Mega-evolved form, which looks resplendent in SIR form thanks to the high-contrast colors and graffiti-like style of artist Kazumasa Yasukuni.
With elegant, flowing lines and an utter onslaught of purples, blues, maroons, greens, and soft browns, Yasukuni delivers a PTCG masterpiece on this card. Sometimes, amazing artwork is all a card needs to be a spectacularly valuable one, and this Mega Dragalge fits the bill. Keep an eye on this one.
3. Cinccino ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Cozy, cute, and colorful—sometimes that’s all a Pokémon card needs to be one of the most valuable from a set, and Chaos Rising’s Cinccino ex SIR comes through with all three of those elements in spades on a gorgeous card illustrated by Keisin.
The artist has only illustrated 11 cards so far in their PTCG career, but with bangers like this one on the resume, they are sure to get some more full-art highlights in the future.
2. Mega Greninja ex (Mega Hyper Rare)
While this card is technically harder to pull than the SIR version, it is likely that the all-gold MHP Mega Greninja ex will actually be less valuable (at least at first, probably permanently) than the SIR version. Surprisingly, no Greninja cards rank among the most valuable water-type cards ever, but that will likely change with this set.
Perhaps players and collectors simply don’t dig the all-gold monochrome finish of these new-to-Mega Evolution-era cards, or perhaps it’s the holdover from the not highly sought-after gold cards from the Scarlet & Violet era. Either way, this card likely won’t live up to…
1. Mega Greninja ex (Special Illustration Rare)
As you might expect, the headlining SIR from Chaos Rising will almost certainly be the singular chase card from the set, and it’s easy to see why. Beyond the interconnected artworks, all courtesy of Susumu Maeya, this card is already a big pull from the Japanese version of the set, and Pokerev himself already pulled it.
Beyond that, being the first SIR card with Mega Greninja on it will surely give it a historical importance that will only continue to help the card gain—and, importantly, hold on to—value over time. When you rip Chaos Rising, the Mega Greninja ex SIR will be the card you’re looking for.
Let the Chaos Rise
Chaos Rising will surely be a big hit for the Pokémon TCG thanks to the presence of these 10 amazing cards. Enjoy ripping packs when the set comes out and share your pulls!
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