Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising Set Review & Complete Checklist

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising is one of the most interesting expansions of the 2026 Mega Evolution era. Released on May 22, 2026, the set combines a strong Mega Evolution theme with Pokémon and Trainer artwork inspired by Lumiose City, while putting Mega Greninja ex at the center of its collector appeal.

For collectors, Chaos Rising is particularly interesting because its printed set number stops at 86, but the complete numbered checklist continues all the way to 122 cards. That means a collector looking only at the main-set numbering can easily underestimate how much there is to collect.

This guide breaks down the entire expansion, including the card structure, rarity tiers, complete checklist, major chase cards, products, master-set strategy, promotional cards, and practical advice for deciding whether to open sealed product or buy singles.

Chaos Rising Set Overview

Set Detail	Information
Official Name	Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising
Set Code	ME04 / CRI
Release Date	May 22, 2026
Main Set	86 cards
Complete Numbered Checklist	122 cards
Illustration Rares	11
Ultra Rares	18
Special Illustration Rares	6
Mega Hyper Rare	1
Featured Pokémon	Mega Greninja ex, Mega Floette ex, Mega Pyroar ex, Mega Dragalge ex, Mega Gallade ex

Why Chaos Rising Is Different

Chaos Rising has a much clearer identity than a generic modern expansion. The set revolves around the tension between Mega Floette ex and Mega Greninja ex, while several cards connect the Pokémon and Trainer artwork to the world of Lumiose City.

Mega Greninja ex is naturally the headline Pokémon, but the set does not depend entirely on one chase card. Mega Floette ex, Mega Pyroar ex, Mega Dragalge ex, and Mega Gallade ex give Mega Evolution collectors several different targets, while Pokémon such as Froakie, Frogadier, Xerneas, Ampharos, Chespin, and Cinccino add variety to the Illustration Rare and higher-rarity sections.

Another important strength is the artwork progression. The Froakie, Frogadier, and Mega Greninja ex cards form an especially appealing mini-collection for collectors who enjoy connected artwork rather than simply collecting cards based on market value.

How the 122-Card Numbered Set Is Structured

The easiest way to understand Chaos Rising is to divide it into five sections.

Numbers	Rarity	Count
#001–#086	Main Set	86
#087–#097	Illustration Rare	11
#098–#115	Ultra Rare	18
#116–#121	Special Illustration Rare	6
#122	Mega Hyper Rare	1

This structure creates an important distinction between a complete numbered set and a master set. Completing cards #001 through #122 gives you every numbered card, but it does not necessarily mean you own every physical variation connected to the expansion.

Chaos Rising Rarity Breakdown

The 86-card main set contains commons, uncommons, rares, and Double Rare Pokémon ex. The premium section then adds the Illustration Rare, Ultra Rare, Special Illustration Rare, and Mega Hyper Rare tiers.

Rarity	Number of Cards	Number Range
Common	38	Main set
Uncommon	26	Main set
Rare	12	Main set
Double Rare	10	Main set
Illustration Rare	11	#087–#097
Ultra Rare	18	#098–#115
Special Illustration Rare	6	#116–#121
Mega Hyper Rare	1	#122

The ten Double Rare Pokémon ex are particularly important because five of them are Mega Evolution Pokémon ex. This gives the main set a strong Mega Evolution identity even before the premium cards are considered.

The Mega Evolution Factor

Mega Evolution Pokémon ex introduce a major strategic trade-off in the modern Pokémon TCG. Their power can be significant, but when a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, the opponent takes three Prize cards.

That trade-off also influences collecting. Mega Pokémon have become one of the defining visual and gameplay themes of the 2025–2026 era, so cards that combine a popular Pokémon, Mega Evolution status, and premium artwork can attract attention from both players and collectors.

Chaos Rising benefits from that formula because Greninja, Floette, Pyroar, Dragalge, and Gallade all provide distinct characters rather than repeating the same visual concept across the entire set.

What Collectors Should Know Before Opening Packs

Chaos Rising was distributed through several products, including booster displays, Elite Trainer Boxes, Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes, Build & Battle Boxes, and Booster Bundles. A standard booster display contains 36 booster packs, while the standard Elite Trainer Box contains nine booster packs and a Fennekin full-art promo.

The Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box contains 11 booster packs and two Fennekin full-art promos, including a Pokémon Center version.

Chaos Rising and the 2026 Mega Evolution Era

Chaos Rising works especially well as a middle chapter in the Mega Evolution era because it follows the broader design language established by earlier Mega Evolution releases while giving collectors a very different visual theme.

Compared with a set built almost entirely around one nostalgic Pokémon group, Chaos Rising offers a broader mixture of Pokémon, Trainers, Mega Evolutions, Illustration Rares, and connected artwork. That makes it suitable for collectors who enjoy building themed binder pages rather than simply chasing the single most expensive card.

Complete Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising Checklist

The following checklist covers all 122 numbered cards in Chaos Rising. The main set runs from #001 through #086, followed by the higher-rarity cards from #087 through #122.

Cards #001–#043

No.	Card	Rarity	Collected
001/086	Weedle	Common	☐
002/086	Kakuna	Common	☐
003/086	Beedrill ex	Double Rare	☐
004/086	Carnivine	Common	☐
005/086	Chespin	Common	☐
006/086	Quilladin	Uncommon	☐
007/086	Chesnaught	Rare	☐
008/086	Vulpix	Common	☐
009/086	Ninetales	Rare	☐
010/086	Ho-Oh	Rare	☐
011/086	Fennekin	Common	☐
012/086	Braixen	Uncommon	☐
013/086	Delphox	Rare	☐
014/086	Litleo	Common	☐
015/086	Mega Pyroar ex	Double Rare	☐
016/086	Remoraid	Common	☐
017/086	Octillery	Common	☐
018/086	Delibird	Uncommon	☐
019/086	Keldeo	Uncommon	☐
020/086	Froakie	Common	☐
021/086	Frogadier	Uncommon	☐
022/086	Mega Greninja ex	Double Rare	☐
023/086	Bergmite	Uncommon	☐
024/086	Avalugg	Rare	☐
025/086	Wimpod	Common	☐
026/086	Golisopod	Uncommon	☐
027/086	Mareep	Common	☐
028/086	Flaaffy	Uncommon	☐
029/086	Ampharos	Uncommon	☐
030/086	Emolga	Common	☐
031/086	Deoxys	Common	☐
032/086	Deoxys	Uncommon	☐
033/086	Deoxys	Uncommon	☐
034/086	Deoxys	Uncommon	☐
035/086	Mega Floette ex	Double Rare	☐
036/086	Espurr	Common	☐
037/086	Meowstic	Uncommon	☐
038/086	Phantump	Common	☐
039/086	Trevenant	Uncommon	☐
040/086	Pumpkaboo	Common	☐
041/086	Gourgeist ex	Double Rare	☐
042/086	Xerneas	Rare	☐
043/086	Sudowoodo	Common	☐

Cards #044–#086

No.	Card	Rarity	Collected
044/086	Phanpy	Common	☐
045/086	Donphan	Common	☐
046/086	Baltoy	Common	☐
047/086	Claydol	Uncommon	☐
048/086	Mega Gallade ex	Double Rare	☐
049/086	Zubat	Common	☐
050/086	Golbat	Uncommon	☐
051/086	Crobat	Common	☐
052/086	Qwilfish	Common	☐
053/086	Stunky	Common	☐
054/086	Skuntank	Uncommon	☐
055/086	Krookodile ex	Double Rare	☐
056/086	Trubbish	Uncommon	☐
057/086	Garbodor	Common	☐
058/086	Skrelp	Common	☐
059/086	Beldum	Common	☐
060/086	Metang	Uncommon	☐
061/086	Metagross	Rare	☐
062/086	Ferroseed	Common	☐
063/086	Ferrothorn	Uncommon	☐
064/086	Cobalion ex	Double Rare	☐
065/086	Mega Dragalge ex	Double Rare	☐
066/086	Goomy	Common	☐
067/086	Sliggoo	Uncommon	☐
068/086	Goodra	Rare	☐
069/086	Tauros	Common	☐
070/086	Patrat	Common	☐
071/086	Watchog	Uncommon	☐
072/086	Minccino	Common	☐
073/086	Cinccino ex	Double Rare	☐
074/086	Adversity Policy	Uncommon	☐
075/086	Ange Floette	Uncommon	☐
076/086	AZ’s Tranquility	Uncommon	☐
077/086	Emma	Uncommon	☐
078/086	Great Haul Net	Uncommon	☐
079/086	Philippe	Uncommon	☐
080/086	Prism Tower	Uncommon	☐
081/086	Roxie’s Performance	Uncommon	☐
082/086	Special Red Card	Uncommon	☐
083/086	Transformation Tome	Uncommon	☐
084/086	Bubbly Water Energy	Rare	☐
085/086	Magnetic Metal Energy	Rare	☐
086/086	Nitro Fire Energy	Rare	☐

Cards #087–#097: Illustration Rares

No.	Card	Collected
087/086	Chespin — Illustration Rare	☐
088/086	Froakie — Illustration Rare	☐
089/086	Frogadier — Illustration Rare	☐
090/086	Ampharos — Illustration Rare	☐
091/086	Xerneas — Illustration Rare	☐
092/086	Claydol — Illustration Rare	☐
093/086	Crobat — Illustration Rare	☐
094/086	Metang — Illustration Rare	☐
095/086	Sliggoo — Illustration Rare	☐
096/086	Tauros — Illustration Rare	☐
097/086	Watchog — Illustration Rare	☐

Cards #098–#115: Ultra Rares

No.	Card	Collected
098/086	Beedrill ex — Ultra Rare	☐
099/086	Mega Pyroar ex — Ultra Rare	☐
100/086	Mega Greninja ex — Ultra Rare	☐
101/086	Mega Floette ex — Ultra Rare	☐
102/086	Gourgeist ex — Ultra Rare	☐
103/086	Cobalion ex — Ultra Rare	☐
104/086	Mega Dragalge ex — Ultra Rare	☐
105/086	Cinccino ex — Ultra Rare	☐
106/086	AZ’s Tranquility — Ultra Rare	☐
107/086	Emma — Ultra Rare	☐
108/086	Energy Retrieval — Ultra Rare	☐
109/086	Jumbo Ice Cream — Ultra Rare	☐
110/086	Philippe — Ultra Rare	☐
111/086	Prism Tower — Ultra Rare	☐
112/086	Roxie’s Performance — Ultra Rare	☐
113/086	Special Red Card — Ultra Rare	☐
114/086	Surfing Beach — Ultra Rare	☐
115/086	Tool Scrapper — Ultra Rare	☐

Cards #116–#122: Special Illustration Rares & Mega Hyper Rare

No.	Card	Rarity	Collected
116/086	Mega Greninja ex	Special Illustration Rare	☐
117/086	Mega Floette ex	Special Illustration Rare	☐
118/086	Mega Dragalge ex	Special Illustration Rare	☐
119/086	Cinccino ex	Special Illustration Rare	☐
120/086	AZ’s Tranquility	Special Illustration Rare	☐
121/086	Roxie’s Performance	Special Illustration Rare	☐
122/086	Mega Greninja ex	Mega Hyper Rare	☐

The Most Important Chaos Rising Chase Cards

Not every rare card has the same collector significance. A useful chase list should consider Pokémon popularity, artwork quality, rarity, number of available versions, and actual market activity rather than simply choosing the cards with the highest asking prices.

1. Mega Greninja ex #116 — Special Illustration Rare

The Special Illustration Rare Mega Greninja ex is the clearest flagship collector target in Chaos Rising. Greninja already has enormous recognition among Pokémon fans, and this card combines that popularity with premium artwork and the set’s central storyline.

For collectors who prefer artwork over rarity labels, #116 may be more attractive than the gold version because the SIR treatment gives the Pokémon a much stronger narrative presentation.

2. Mega Greninja ex #122 — Mega Hyper Rare

#122 is the final numbered card in the expansion and the only Mega Hyper Rare. That makes it an obvious long-term tracking card even when market prices move.

The important point is that #116 and #122 are not interchangeable simply because they feature the same Pokémon. They are completely different cards with different rarity tiers and different collector audiences.

3. Cinccino ex #119 — Special Illustration Rare

Cinccino ex is one of the most interesting non-Mega premium cards in the set. Its SIR gives the expansion additional character variety and prevents the chase section from being dominated entirely by Mega Pokémon.

4. Mega Dragalge ex #118 — Special Illustration Rare

Mega Dragalge ex has a very different visual identity from Greninja and Floette. That distinction can matter for collectors building themed binder pages where artwork diversity is more important than simply ranking cards by price.

5. Mega Floette ex #117 — Special Illustration Rare

Mega Floette ex is especially relevant because it represents the opposing side of the set’s storyline. Its role in the Chaos Rising narrative gives the card more context than a standalone premium Pokémon card.

6. AZ’s Tranquility #120 and Roxie’s Performance #121

Trainer SIRs often appeal to a different collector segment than Pokémon SIRs. AZ’s Tranquility and Roxie’s Performance therefore give Chaos Rising additional depth for collectors who enjoy character and Trainer cards.

Card	Number	Why It Matters
Mega Greninja ex	#116	Flagship SIR and major Greninja chase
Mega Greninja ex	#122	Only Mega Hyper Rare and final card
Cinccino ex	#119	Premium non-Mega Pokémon chase
Mega Dragalge ex	#118	Distinctive Mega Evolution artwork
Mega Floette ex	#117	Important storyline character
AZ’s Tranquility	#120	Character-focused SIR
Roxie’s Performance	#121	Trainer-focused SIR

Chaos Rising Products: Which One Makes Sense?

One of the biggest mistakes collectors make with a modern expansion is assuming that every sealed product is equally useful for every collecting goal. Chaos Rising offers several products, but they serve different purposes.

Product	What You Get	Best For
Booster Display Box	36 booster packs	Opening experience and larger pulls sample
Elite Trainer Box	9 packs + Fennekin promo + accessories	General collector
Pokémon Center ETB	11 packs + two Fennekin promos	Promo and sealed-product collectors
Booster Bundle	6 booster packs	Smaller opening sessions
Build & Battle Box	40-card deck + 4 packs + one of four promos	Players and prerelease collectors

The official Pokémon product information confirms the contents of these major products, including the 36-pack Booster Display Box, nine-pack standard ETB, 11-pack Pokémon Center ETB, six-pack Booster Bundle, and Build & Battle Box. The standard and Pokémon Center ETBs also contain different Fennekin promo configurations.

Chaos Rising Master Set vs. Numbered Set

This distinction is extremely important if you want to use Chaos Rising as a long-term collection project.

The 122-card numbered set means owning one copy of every numbered card from #001 through #122.

A commonly used pack-pullable master-set approach goes further by adding the reverse-holo versions of the eligible Common, Uncommon, and Rare cards. Since the main set contains 76 cards across those three rarity groups, that creates another 76 physical reverse-holo variants.

That produces a commonly used mathematical target of:

However, “master set” is not a universal official definition. Some collectors also include Elite Trainer Box promos, Pokémon Center stamped versions, prerelease promos, retailer promos, regional variants, and other associated cards.

For that reason, the smartest approach is to define your finish line before spending heavily.

Collection Goal	Recommended Finish Line
Basic Set	#001–#086
Complete Numbered Set	#001–#122
Pack-Pullable Master Set	122 numbered + eligible reverse holos
Expanded Master Collection	Master set + promos + product variants

Should You Open Chaos Rising or Buy Singles?

The answer depends on your goal.

Opening Sealed Product

Opening packs is the most entertaining way to collect. You get the excitement of discovering cards yourself, and duplicates can be useful for trading.

The problem appears when your checklist becomes mostly complete. Once you need only a handful of specific premium cards, every additional booster becomes a gamble rather than a targeted purchase.

Buying Singles

Buying singles is usually more efficient when you already know exactly which cards you want. If your binder is missing #116, for example, buying that specific card eliminates the randomness involved in opening more product.

The Hybrid Strategy

For most collectors, the hybrid approach is the most sensible:

1. Open a reasonable amount of sealed product because you enjoy collecting.
2. Sort every card by number immediately.
3. Separate duplicates from missing cards.
4. Build your main-set section first.
5. Buy inexpensive missing singles.
6. Research premium cards individually before purchasing.
7. Stop opening packs once the expected value of random pulls becomes less useful than simply buying the cards you still need.

Chaos Rising Market Outlook for Collectors

Chaos Rising has already developed a clear hierarchy among its premium cards. Current market trackers place Mega Greninja ex #116 and #122 at the top of the set, followed by the strongest SIR cards such as Cinccino ex, Mega Dragalge ex, Mega Floette ex, AZ’s Tranquility, and Roxie’s Performance.

Those rankings should not be treated as permanent price predictions. Modern Pokémon TCG prices can change rapidly as supply increases, collectors move to newer sets, grading populations grow, and sealed product becomes more or less available.

For that reason, the most useful market signal is not simply the highest listing you can find. Look at recent completed sales, listing depth, number of active sellers, condition, language, and whether the card is raw or graded.

For example, a PSA 10 Mega Greninja ex and a raw Near Mint Mega Greninja ex are not the same market product even though they share the same card number.

What Makes a Chaos Rising Card Worth Watching?

Rather than predicting which card will “explode,” collectors should look for a combination of measurable characteristics.

Factor	Why It Matters
Pokémon Popularity	Large collector audience can support long-term demand.
Artwork	Unique or story-driven artwork can create demand beyond gameplay.
Rarity	Higher rarity can restrict supply, but rarity alone does not guarantee value.
Liquidity	Frequent transactions make market pricing easier to evaluate.
Condition	Clean raw copies and high grades can occupy different market segments.
Character Versions	Multiple rarities can create mini-collections around one Pokémon.

Is Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising Worth Collecting?

Yes, especially for collectors who enjoy Mega Evolution, Kalos-themed Pokémon, connected artwork, and manageable modern master sets.

Chaos Rising is not as enormous as some modern expansions, which makes the 122-card numbered checklist relatively approachable. At the same time, the premium section is large enough to create a genuine chase experience.

The set’s strongest collecting feature is its balance. You have the flagship Mega Greninja ex cards, multiple other Mega Evolutions, a variety of Illustration Rares, Trainer-focused premium cards, and three consecutive cards that create a particularly attractive Froakie-to-Greninja artwork progression.

For a collector on a limited budget, the set can also be approached in layers. Completing #001–#086 gives you the core collection. Adding the Illustration Rares expands the artwork section. The Ultra Rares and SIRs can then be acquired selectively rather than all at once.

Our Chaos Rising Collector Rating

Category	Rating	Why
Artwork	9/10	Strong character art and connected Greninja-line presentation.
Collector Appeal	9/10	Popular Pokémon and several premium collecting targets.
Checklist Depth	8.5/10	122 numbered cards with a meaningful premium section.
Budget Friendliness	8/10	Core set is approachable, while premium cards can be expensive.
Long-Term Interest	8.5/10	Mega Evolution era significance plus Greninja and Kalos appeal.

Practical Chaos Rising Collection Strategy

1. Start with #001–#086. This establishes the complete core of the set.
2. Track reverse holos separately. Do not mix them with the numbered checklist.
3. Add Illustration Rares next. They provide a strong visual upgrade without requiring every premium chase card.
4. Choose your Ultra Rares selectively. Focus on Pokémon and Trainers you personally enjoy.
5. Research #116 and #122 separately. These are two different Mega Greninja chase cards.
6. Inspect condition before paying premium prices. Centering, whitening, surface scratches, dents, and print defects can affect raw-card value.
7. Track recent sales instead of asking prices. A high listing does not prove that buyers are paying that amount.
8. Store premium cards immediately. Use appropriate sleeves and a quality side-loading binder or protective holder.

Final Verdict

Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising is a strong modern Pokémon TCG expansion with enough depth to satisfy both casual collectors and serious master-set builders.

Its 122-card numbered checklist is large enough to feel substantial without becoming overwhelming, while the six Special Illustration Rares and final Mega Hyper Rare provide a clear premium chase tier.

Mega Greninja ex is the obvious centerpiece, but the set becomes more interesting when you look beyond the headline card. Mega Floette ex, Mega Dragalge ex, Cinccino ex, AZ’s Tranquility, Roxie’s Performance, and the Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja artwork progression give collectors multiple reasons to build the set.

If you are collecting on a budget, there is no need to chase everything immediately. Build the core 86-card set, add the Illustration Rares you love, and then approach the premium cards individually. If you enjoy sealed product, opening a box or two can provide the fun of discovery before switching to singles for the remaining gaps.

Most importantly, decide what “complete” means to you before you start spending heavily. A 122-card numbered set, a reverse-holo master set, and a full promo collection are three different projects. Defining your target first will make Chaos Rising much easier—and much more enjoyable—to collect.

Sources & References

• The Pokémon Company — Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising Release Announcement
• The Pokémon Company — Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising Product Showcase
• The Pokémon Company — Chaos Rising Build & Battle Box / Prerelease Information
• Midwest Cards — 2026 Pokémon Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Checklist
• Beckett — Pokémon Chaos Rising Checklist and Set Details
• TCGplayer — Mega Evolution: Chaos Rising Market Listings
• Limitless TCG — Chaos Rising Card Database

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