Pokémon Delta Reign: Release Date, Mega Rayquaza ex and What to Buy
Mega Rayquaza ex leads the newest Mega Evolution expansion. Here's when Delta Reign came out, what's in it and which box we'd pick.
5 min read
Pokémon guide
If you’ve spotted a big green dragon on the shelves lately, that’s Delta Reign. It’s the newest main expansion in the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution series, and Mega Rayquaza ex is very much the star of the show.
We’ve been opening it since launch week, so this is a straight-talking guide: when it came out, what’s inside, the Japanese set it’s based on and which product makes the most sense for you.
The 36-pack booster box, led by Mega Rayquaza ex.
In this guide
What is Pokémon Delta Reign?
Its full name is Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution, Delta Reign. It’s the sixth main expansion of the Mega Evolution series and the English version of the Japanese set Storm Emeralda (M6). If you follow Japanese releases, you’ll already know a lot of the cards.
Mega Rayquaza ex leads the way, joined by Mega Golisopod ex, Mega Golurk ex and Mega Malamar ex. It’s an unusual mix, which is part of the fun. You won’t be opening the same three Pokémon you’ve seen in every expansion for the last two years.
How big is the set?
The Pokémon Company lists more than 135 cards across regular cards, reverse holos and secret rares. That’s a normal size for a main expansion. It’s big enough to keep master set collectors busy, but not so huge that finishing the main set feels impossible. Every English Delta Reign pack has 10 cards and one Basic Energy.
The Japanese original
Storm Emeralda came out in Japan first, as usual. Japanese boxes have fewer cards per pack and different pull rates, and plenty of collectors open both. The artwork is the same, so the choice really comes down to language, price and whether you play in English tournaments.
Delta Reign release date
The English release was on 6 November 2026. The Build & Battle Box follows on 20 November 2026, after first appearing at prerelease events, which is how Pokémon usually handles them.
So if you’ve been wondering when Delta Reign comes out, the short answer is that it’s already here, and most of the range is in stock now. The official Pokémon product showcase lists every product if you want to see the whole line-up in one place.
Which box should you buy?
Unlike a special set, this one comes in the usual line-up, so there’s a box for every budget. Here’s how we’d choose.
Elite Trainer Box
Booster Bundle
Build & Battle Box
Best value: the booster box
The 36-pack booster box gives you the lowest price per pack you’ll get. If you’re serious about chasing Mega Rayquaza ex or building a master set, start here. A full box also gives you enough reverse holos to make real progress on the set.
Best all-rounder: the Elite Trainer Box
The Elite Trainer Box gives you nine packs, a full-art Kyogre promo, sleeves, Energy and dice. It’s the one we’d pick for a newer player or as a gift, because it has everything you need to start playing.
Just want to open packs: the booster bundle
Six packs, no extras. The booster bundle is perfect if you already have sleeves and dice and just want to see what you pull.
Want to play straight away: Build & Battle
The Build & Battle Box comes with a 40-card deck, four packs and one of four foil promos. Add your pulls to the deck and you’re ready for a game at the kitchen table.
Is it worth opening?
Honestly, it depends what you love. If you’re a fan of Rayquaza, or you enjoy sets that feel a little different, Delta Reign is a good one. The Mega Pokémon line-up is varied, and the full-art cards look great in a binder.
If you’re a pure collector and only plan to open one thing this winter, it’s also worth a look at the Pokémon 30th anniversary set, where every card is a foil. They’re very different sets, and plenty of people are opening both.
Who it suits best
Players will like the new Mega Pokémon ex for testing decks while the format is fresh. Collectors get a solid chase without the wild prices of the most hyped releases. Parents buying a first box can’t really go wrong with the Elite Trainer Box, as it covers both playing and collecting. And if you just like opening a few packs on a Friday night with a cup of tea, that’s a perfectly good reason too.
Tips for opening the set
A few things we’ve learned from opening Delta Reign packs here in the shop:
Keep your reverse holos. They’re the hardest part of a master set to finish from loose packs, so don’t bin them.
Check the Japanese list first. Because it’s based on Storm Emeralda, Japanese card lists are a good preview of what you might pull.
Sleeve the Megas. Full-art and secret rare cards scratch easily, so get them into a sleeve as soon as you pull them.
Don’t open everything at once. Spreading a box over a few evenings is more fun, and it’s easier to keep track of what you’ve got.
