Pokemon Trading Card Game Adding Mega Evolutions

The Pokemon Company officially announced that Mega Evolutions will be returning to the Pokemon Trading Card Game in a future expansion, re-adding the classic Pokemon X and Y mechanic. The massively popular trading card game adaptation of the monster-catching franchise has introduced plenty of gimmicks throughout the year, changing up how the game plays with powerful new cards. The Scarlet and Violet era re-added ex Pokemon to the game as its main mechanic, while the “Tera” mechanic allows Pokemon to prevent damage to themselves while on the bench. Now, a fan-favorite older mechanic is coming back.

Mega Evolutions have been one of the most popular gimmicks introduced to the Pokemon franchise since their debut in Pokemon X and Y. The mechanic was re-used throughout the rest of the main-series games on 3DS, offering a way for fans to further power up their favorite Pokemon. The Pokemon TCG would follow suit soon after the games’ release, introducing Mega Pokemon to the TCG as an upgrade to fan-favorite Pokemon like Charizard and Gardevoir. A new announcement has now revealed that Mega Pokemon are coming back to the TCG.

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During Thursday’s “Pokemon Presents” livestream, The Pokemon Company officially revealed that the Pokemon TCG will be welcoming Mega Evolutions back to the game. The developer revealed two of the first Mega Evolution cards coming to the game as part of the presentation, with Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex joining the game. The sizzle reel also confirmed that players stand to gain a significant amount from knocking out a Mega Evolution ex card, able to take three Prize cards. The Pokemon Company did not reveal which set will feature the re-introduction of Mega Pokemon, though the studio did confirm that Mega Pokemon will be added at some point during 2025.

Pokemon TCG Re-Adding Mega Evolutions Later This Year

The return of Mega Evolutions will come as the mechanic has not been featured in the game for nearly a decade. The mechanic was featured exclusively as part of the game’s X and Y era, with Mega Pokemon cards being phased out in the Sun and Moon era in favor of GX Pokemon. Mega Pokemon have also been confirmed to be making a comeback to the video games, with the mechanic set to feature in the upcoming Pokemon Legends Z-A releasing later this year.

The Pokemon TCG announcement was just one part of a plethora of reveals packed into the Pokemon livestream. The Pokemon Company would reveal Pokemon Champions as a brand-new battle-focused game coming to Switch and mobile devices, allowing players to carry over their Pokemon from Pokemon Home and Pokemon GO. The livestream also featured a major segment on Pokemon Legends Z-A, giving fans a first look at its overhauled battle gameplay and some of the featured characters. Pokemon fans look to have an exciting 2025 ahead, with the newest main-series game and a major update to the TCG on the way.

Pokemon TCG

Original Release Date

October 20, 1996