Delta Reign doesn’t hit English shelves until November 6th, but thanks to the Japanese Storm Emeralda reveals, we already know which chase cards are worth watching. This is a Mega Rayquaza set, the first one built around him since Evolving Skies back in 2021, and the full arts coming out of it are some of the most exciting we’ve seen all year.
Below are the early standouts, based on the Japanese cards. English names and numbering can shift slightly before release, so we’ll update as official images land, but the art is the art, and some of these are already generating serious hype.
Note: These cards are only available in low resolution clips for now, so we’ve upscaled screenshots to give you a clearer idea of how each one looks. We’ll swap in official images as soon as they’re available!
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Mega Rayquaza ex
The card the whole set is built around, and the one everyone will be chasing. This Special Illustration Rare is the debut card from Kazuki Minami, one of the winners of the 2024 Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest, and it’s the only other card Minami has drawn for the TCG. Rayquaza coils across the frame in a swirl of green and gold, and the color work is stunning. The pose is a fairly classic roar rather than a big storytelling scene, so opinions are split on whether it lives up to the SWSH-era alt arts, but as the flagship of the set it’s the one to beat.
Mega Rayquaza ex · Storm Emeralda #110 on eBay
Raikou ex
For a lot of collectors this is the real chase of the set, Rayquaza or not. The Special Illustration Rare has Raikou mid-leap through a storm, lightning cracking around it, and it’s got all the motion and drama people wanted. It’s one of the most dynamic cards in the set and an easy favorite.
Raikou ex · Storm Emeralda #108 on eBay
Kecleon
One of our favorites in the set, and unmistakably a Tomokazu Komiya card. Kecleon curls around a vine in a riot of color that’s already earned it a “pole dancing” nickname, and the loose, painterly chaos is exactly what makes Komiya’s work so collectable. If you love his stuff, this is a must.
Kecleon · Storm Emeralda #088 on eBay
Growlithe
In a set full of fighters and legendaries, Growlithe gives you a cozy scene instead. It’s just a happy pup trotting through a sunlit home, warm and domestic and a total palette cleanser next to the big dramatic cards. An easy pick for dog and cozy card collectors!
Growlithe · Storm Emeralda #078 on eBay
Mega Golisopod ex
Golisopod picks up its second SIR and the fanbase is thrilled. It’s a high energy card, all sharp armor and slashing color, and it leans hard into the menacing bug-warrior thing Golisopod does so well.
Mega Golisopod ex · Storm Emeralda #107 on eBay
Mega Golurk ex
A bit of a surprise SIR, and a great one. Golurk glows in an ancient ruins scene, the blue and gold body lit against warm red stone, and the sealed-energy detailing gives it real atmosphere. A quietly excellent card with a small but loud fanbase behind it.
Mega Golurk ex · Storm Emeralda #109 on eBay
Mega Rayquaza ex Gold
The gold hyper rare version, and a chase in its own right. Gold cards can feel like an afterthought, but this one’s a standout with the Rayquaza motif etched into a full sheet of gold detailing. If the SIR is the emotional centerpiece, this is the flex.
Mega Rayquaza ex · Storm Emeralda #113 on eBay
Azurill
A lovely little surprise, and one nobody expected to get a full art. Azurill bounces on its tail in a soft watercolor garden by Narumi Sato, all gentle light and flowers. Quietly one of the prettiest cards in the set.
Azurill · Storm Emeralda #086 on eBay
Altaria
A gorgeous sky scene and the early favorite to end up as the ETB promo. Altaria drifts through cloud and light in a way that really plays up the cotton-bird softness, and it’s a strong Hoenn pick either way.
Altaria · Storm Emeralda #087 on eBay
Inkay
Maybe the most striking of the smaller cards. Inkay drifts through a swirling cosmic wash of color that looks like a galaxy, and the contrast between the tiny goofy squid and the vast starry background is fantastic. A real hidden gem.
Inkay · Storm Emeralda #085 on eBay
Kyogre
One third of the connected legendary trio, its art linking up with Groudon and Mega Rayquaza. Kyogre surges through crashing waves here, and it’s a great water card on its own. Illustrated by Anderson, another recent illustration contest name.
Kyogre · Storm Emeralda #080 on eBay
Groudon
The other half of the duo, and the backgrounds connect across all three legendary cards. Groudon rises out of lava and molten rock here, fierce and glowing, and it’s the fiery counterweight to Kyogre’s waves. Grab both if you can.
Groudon · Storm Emeralda #084 on eBay
Electivire
All motion and electricity, with a bold angular style that really pops. Electivire charges forward mid-attack in a storm of yellow and purple, and the geometric, almost low poly look sets it apart from the rest of the set.
Electivire · Storm Emeralda #081 on eBay
Zinnia’s Trust
A big nostalgia hit for anyone who remembers the Delta Episode. Zinnia gets a soft, warm character portrait that’s easily one of the prettiest trainer cards in the set, and it’s a must for Hoenn and gym leader binders. Illustrated by Teeziro, and it shows.
Zinnia’s Trust · Storm Emeralda #112 on eBay
Aarune
A charming full art that’s a lot cuter than expected. Aarune bounds through a bright, blocky wilderness scene with flag in hand, and the whole thing has a playful, adventurous energy. A fun surprise inclusion.
Aarune · Storm Emeralda #111 on eBay
Masquerain
An underrated one, and a really pretty card. Masquerain hovers in a soft green forest scene, the eyespot wings catching the light and the whole thing shimmering. Easy to overlook, well worth a second look.
Masquerain · Storm Emeralda #077 on eBay
Magmortar
A fiery, high drama card that goes all in on the heat. Magmortar looms over a river of lava with flames pouring off it, and it’s about as intense as the set gets. A great fire type pickup!
Magmortar · Storm Emeralda #079 on eBay
Pincurchin
A sleeper that’s better than it has any right to be. Pincurchin sits in a dim, glowing underwater cave surrounded by bubbles and coral, and the atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting. One of those cards that quietly wins people over.
Pincurchin · Storm Emeralda #082 on eBay
Enamorus
A soft, dreamy card with a lot of charm. Enamorus floats above a misty mountain landscape dotted with flowers, and the pastel palette gives it a gentle romantic feel that suits it perfectly.
Enamorus · Storm Emeralda #083 on eBay
Tate & Liza’s Training
A great pull for gym leader and Hoenn collectors. The twins get a bright, dynamic full art mid-training pose, and it’s a fun, energetic character card that rounds out the trainer lineup nicely.
Tate & Liza’s Training · Storm Emeralda #103 on eBay
Which of these cards are you chasing when Delta Reign drops? Drop your pick in the comments!
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