Delta Reign: Release Date, Chase Cards and What to Expect
By Mitchell Taljaard · · Updated
Delta Reign is the next English set in the Mega Evolution era, and Mega Rayquaza ex is the card everyone wants. The Japanese version has been out since July, so we already know a lot about what's coming.
We're Cuppas Cards, a PCG submission service for South African Pokémon collectors. We don't grade cards ourselves: PCG (Premier Card Grading) in the UK assigns every grade. This guide covers the dates, the chase cards, what's on local shelves and which pulls are worth grading. All facts are as of 20 October 2026.
When does Delta Reign come out?
Delta Reign releases in English on 6 November 2026 (Pokémon, 20 August 2026). Here are the dates that matter:
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2026 | Japanese version, Storm Emeralda, releases | Famitsu |
| 24 October 2026 | Prerelease events begin, and Build & Battle Boxes go on sale at select Play! Pokémon stores | Siliconera, ICv2 |
| 5 November 2026 | Cards arrive in Pokémon TCG Live | Siliconera |
| 6 November 2026 | English release | Pokémon |
Prereleases run at participating stores, so ask your local Play! Pokémon store whether it's hosting one. We haven't seen an official end date for the prerelease window, so don't leave it late.
What's in the Delta Reign set?
Pokémon says Delta Reign has over 135 cards, including more than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations (Pokémon). The main set is numbered to 103 (Pokellector), with the secret rares numbered above that.
The headline cards are four Mega Evolution Pokémon ex:
- Mega Rayquaza ex, the cover card
- Mega Golurk ex
- Mega Malamar ex
- Mega Golisopod ex
The set also brings Legendary Stadiums: six Stadium cards that pair up into three Legendary Stadiums (PokeGuardian). The first revealed is Legendary Summit (Siliconera).
The final secret rare count isn't settled. Fan trackers put the total at 140 (PokeCottage) or 141 (WikiDex) cards. One site still prints a different main-set number (Serebii). We'll update this post when the full English list is confirmed.
Why is the English set bigger than the Japanese one?
Storm Emeralda has 76 cards in its main set. The English set adds cards from Japan's 2026 starter sets, which is why it reaches 103 (eGamers, October 2026). This is common for English sets, which often combine more than one Japanese release.
What are the Delta Reign chase cards?
The biggest chase cards are the rare versions of Mega Rayquaza ex. The Mega Evolution era's rarest tiers are Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare and Mega Hyper Rare. Mega Hyper Rare replaced the old gold Hyper Rare (TCGplayer).
Only the regular Mega Rayquaza ex has a confirmed English number so far. The table shows each version, with Japanese launch-day prices from 31 July 2026 (SNKRDUNK). Rand figures are rough conversions at ¥9.65 to the rand (Trading Economics, 20 October 2026).
| Mega Rayquaza ex version | Japanese number | English number | Japanese price, 31 July | In rand (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Rare | 058/076 | 084/103 (Pokellector) | about ¥900 | about R90 |
| Ultra Rare (full art) | 095/076 | not yet confirmed | from ¥8,000 | about R830 |
| Special Illustration Rare | 110/076 | not yet confirmed | from ¥140,000 | about R14,500 |
| Mega Hyper Rare (gold) | 113/076 | not yet confirmed | from ¥300,000 | about R31,000 |
Treat those prices as a launch-day snapshot, not today's value. Both chase cards have since fallen about 70% in Japan. Our Mega Rayquaza ex guide has current prices for every version. Release-day prices swing hard, and other trackers reported different figures for the same gold card on the same day. English prices can also differ a lot from Japanese ones.
Keep an eye out for these too:
- Raikou ex Special Illustration Rare, which started from ¥17,000 (about R1,760) at the Japanese launch (SNKRDUNK)
- Illustration Rares of Eevee and Zorua, both confirmed for English (PokeCottage)
The Pokémon Company doesn't publish pull rates. Any odds you see online are estimates from pack openings, so treat them with care. For a set that's already out, our 30th Celebration pull rates guide shows what those counts look like.
Which Delta Reign pulls are worth grading?
Grade the cards where a slab adds more than it costs. Through us, PCG grading costs R495 a card, which includes PCG's £15 grading fee and airfreight. Customs, VAT and insurance (3% of the declared value) are added at checkout. Our full cost breakdown shows every line.
With that in mind, here's a simple way to sort your pulls:
- Strong candidates: the Mega Rayquaza ex Special Illustration Rare and Mega Hyper Rare. These had by far the highest prices in Japan, so a clean copy is worth protecting in a slab.
- Worth a closer look: other Special Illustration Rares, the full-art Ultra Rares and Illustration Rares of popular Pokémon. Grade them if they're centred and clean, or if they're cards you want to keep.
- Usually not worth it: Double Rares and regular cards. The regular Mega Rayquaza ex launched at about ¥900 in Japan, roughly R90. That's far less than the R495 it costs to grade.
Condition decides more than rarity. A Special Illustration Rare with a soft corner or a print line won't grade well. Before you send anything, run through our pre-grading checklist for centering, corners, edges and surface.
No grade is guaranteed, and a slab doesn't guarantee a higher sale price. PCG prints four subgrades on its Standard label, so you'll see exactly how your card scored in each area.
Should you grade the Japanese or English version?
Both grade on the same PCG scale for the same price. If you already own a Japanese Storm Emeralda hit, our guide to grading Japanese vs English cards covers what's different.
What does Delta Reign cost in South Africa?
We haven't found an official South African distributor announcement or official rand prices yet. Local stores are taking preorders. On 20 October 2026, one South African retailer listed these preorder prices, all marked sold out (Pokestore):
| Product | Preorder price (20 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Booster pack | R110 |
| 3-pack blister | R370 |
| Elite Trainer Box | R1,350 |
| Booster box | R3,999 |
Prices move quickly around a release, so check a few stores before you buy. We don't sell sealed product ourselves. At R110 a pack against R495 to grade, only the rare hits above usually justify a slab.
Is Delta Reign the last Mega Evolution set?
No. Japan's next Mega set, Aura Seeker, is reported for a Japanese release on 27 November 2026. Wargamer expects the English version in early 2027 (Wargamer).
Japan's MEGA x MEGA Parade pack, due in February 2027, includes a new Mega Attack Rare of Mega Rayquaza ex (Wargamer). Delta Reign won't be the only way to get a rare Mega Rayquaza.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Delta Reign release date?
Delta Reign releases in English on 6 November 2026. Prerelease events at participating stores start on 24 October 2026, and the cards reach Pokémon TCG Live on 5 November.
How many cards are in Delta Reign?
Pokémon says over 135 cards. The main set is numbered to 103, with secret rares above that. Fan trackers put the total at 140 or 141, but the full English list isn't confirmed yet.
Pulled one? Get it graded
If you pull a Mega Rayquaza ex hit at a prerelease or on launch day, sleeve it straight away. Then pack it in a semi-rigid card holder, following our packing guide.
When you're ready, start a submission. We check and pack your cards, ship them to PCG in the UK and bring your slabs home. New to PCG? Read what PCG grading is first.