A new player on the horizon: the 2026 release calendar
While most players and collectors are still finalizing their budgets for the January release of Ascended Heroes, a record-breaking set in terms of size, the game's publisher has decided not to slow down. The next expansion has been officially announced: Mega Evolution: Perfect Order, which will hit store shelves on March 27, 2026.
For anyone managing a collecting budget, this is key information. The March set follows a completely different philosophy from January's upcoming hit. We took a look at the first announcements to assess the investment potential and playability of the new set.
Quality over quantity? The structure of the new set
From a collector's perspective, the most important news is the size of the set. In contrast to Ascended Heroes (with close to 300 cards), Perfect Order is a much more compact offering. The main set is expected to contain just 88 cards, and the full set including Secret Rares will probably come to around 120.
This is the smallest main English-language set in quite a while. What does that mean in practice?
An easier Master Set: Completing the whole collection will be far less of a financial burden.
Higher market saturation: With fewer cards in the pool, pulling specific "ex" cards may be statistically easier, which should stabilize single card prices shortly after release.
Thematically, the set draws fully on Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the Kalos region. Key Mega Evolution ex cards include:
Mega Zygarde ex (the set's headline character),
Mega Clefable ex,
Mega Skarmory ex,
Mega Starmie ex.
Surprising marketing decisions: Meowth instead of Greninja
A look at the booster pack artwork came as quite a surprise to the community. Despite huge expectations, the set will not include Mega Greninja (the so-called Ninja Spinner). Everything suggests that this fan favourite is being saved for the May release to keep interest in the series going into the next quarter.
Instead, Meowth ex appears on one of the main promotional images (the Box Art). The decision to feature an "ordinary" Pokémon next to powerful Mega Evolutions is unusual. It may suggest that the card will get a unique mechanic or Ability that affects the tournament meta. TCG history has seen cases where unassuming cards became the foundation of top decks.
Collector potential: Trainers from Legends: Z-A
Despite its small size, Perfect Order may prove significant on the secondary market thanks to its Trainer cards. The set will feature characters central to the story of Legends: Z-A, such as Jacinthe, Emma and Lida.
Given market trends (the so-called "Waifu Tax"), the Special Illustration Rare (SAR) versions of these cards may account for most of the financial value of an opened box. If the artwork is of high quality, these are the cards collectors will be chasing, even if the set's playability turns out to be moderate.
Editor's recommendation: how to plan your purchases in Q1 2026?
Considering the nature of both upcoming releases, we suggest the following strategy for our users:
Priority for January (Ascended Heroes): Because of its size and impact on the Standard format, this set will require a bigger financial outlay. This is where to look for key cards for tournament play.
A selective approach to March (Perfect Order): With its small card count, this set is ideal for buying smaller products (e.g. a Booster Bundle or an Elite Trainer Box) for collecting purposes.
Buying singles: With Perfect Order, completing your collection by buying single cards may prove exceptionally cost-effective. The market will quickly become saturated with cards from such a small set, which should bring their prices down a few weeks after release.
In summary: Perfect Order is shaping up to be an interesting, technical interlude before the next big releases, offering your wallet a breather after an intense start to the year.
Planning your purchases? Check current preorder prices and product availability: