Part of our guide to the Pokémon Delta Reign: Set Guide, Card List and What to Buy.
The Delta Reign chase cards are led by Mega Rayquaza ex, which appears in three rare versions, with the gold Mega Hyper Rare at the very top. Behind it sit five more Special Illustration Rares and a long list of Illustration rares, including Kyogre, Groudon and a surprise favourite, Kecleon. This guide ranks the cards collectors want most and explains how each rarity works.
For the full set overview, see our Pokémon Delta Reign set guide. For launch dates and prerelease details, read our Delta Reign release date guide.
Delta Reign chase cards at a glance
| Rank | Card | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mega Rayquaza ex (gold) | Mega Hyper Rare |
| 2 | Mega Rayquaza ex | Special Illustration Rare |
| 3 | Raikou ex | Special Illustration Rare |
| 4 | Zinnia’s Trust | Special Illustration Rare |
| 5 | Mega Golisopod ex | Special Illustration Rare |
| 6 | Mega Golurk ex | Special Illustration Rare |
| 7 | Mega Rayquaza ex (full art) | Ultra Rare |
| 8 | Kyogre | Illustration Rare |
| 9 | Groudon | Illustration Rare |
| 10 | Kecleon | Illustration Rare |
This ranking is based on rarity and on how the same cards have been received in the Japanese set Storm Emeralda, which came out in July 2026. English card values settle in the weeks after release, so treat the order below number three as a guide rather than a fixed list.
How Delta Reign rarities work
The Pokémon Company says Delta Reign has over 135 cards, including 14 Illustration Rare Pokémon, 17 Ultra Rare Pokémon and Trainer cards and 6 Special Illustration Rare Pokémon and Supporter cards. Above them sits a single gold Mega Hyper Rare.
Because the artwork first appeared in Japan, you will often see Japanese rarity names online. This table shows how they match up:
| Japanese name | English name | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| MUR (Mega Ultra Rare) | Mega Hyper Rare | Gold, textured card |
| SAR (Special Art Rare) | Special Illustration Rare | Full-card scene, often with a story |
| SR (Super Rare) | Ultra Rare | Full-art card with texture |
| AR (Art Rare) | Illustration Rare | Full-card artwork of a single Pokémon |
Pokémon does not publish official pull rates. What is clear from opening is the order: Illustration rares are the most common of the chase cards, Special Illustration Rares are much harder to find, and the gold Mega Hyper Rare is the rarest card in the set.
1. Mega Rayquaza ex Mega Hyper Rare
The gold Mega Rayquaza ex is the hardest card to pull in Pokémon Delta Reign. It is the only Mega Hyper Rare in the set, which makes it the natural top chase for anyone opening a booster box. In Japanese it was the most valuable card in Storm Emeralda by a wide margin.
Gold cards are popular with collectors who like a clean, striking look. They are also easy to damage, because the textured surface shows scratches and print lines, so it is worth checking the card closely before you put it in a top loader.
2. Mega Rayquaza ex Special Illustration Rare
For many collectors this is the real star of the set. The Delta Reign Rayquaza Special Illustration Rare was illustrated by Kazuki Minami, the winner of the 2024 Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest, and it is only the second card Minami has illustrated for the game.
Special Illustration Rares often end up worth as much as, or more than, the gold card in English sets, because collectors value artwork over shine. If you only chase one Delta Reign Rayquaza, most people would pick this one.
The four versions of Mega Rayquaza ex
Mega Rayquaza ex appears four times in the set, so it helps to know which one you have pulled:
- Double Rare (084/103): the standard holo card with the ex frame. This is the one you will see most often.
- Ultra Rare: a full-art version with texture, numbered above 103.
- Special Illustration Rare: the full-scene artwork by Kazuki Minami.
- Mega Hyper Rare: the gold version and the rarest card in the set.
Any card numbered above 103 is a secret rare, so check the number in the bottom corner if you are not sure what you have found.
3. Raikou ex Special Illustration Rare
Raikou ex is the clear number two Pokémon chase behind Rayquaza. In Japanese it was the most sought-after card outside the Mega Rayquaza versions, and Raikou also appears as an Illustration rare, so fans of the legendary beast have two cards to look for.
4. Zinnia’s Trust Special Illustration Rare
Zinnia is the Draconid character linked to Rayquaza in the Hoenn games, so her Supporter card fits the theme of the set perfectly. Trainer and Supporter Special Illustration Rares are always popular, because they show a character rather than a Pokémon and there are fewer of them in each set.
In play, Zinnia’s Trust lets you switch your Active Pokémon with one on your Bench and move an Energy across with it. That makes it useful as well as collectable.
5 and 6. Mega Golisopod ex and Mega Golurk ex
The other two Mega Pokémon ex with Special Illustration Rares are Mega Golisopod ex and Mega Golurk ex. Neither is as famous as Rayquaza, which tends to make them more affordable, but both are striking cards. The Golisopod artwork in particular has won fans for making the giant bug look genuinely menacing.
If you are trying to complete the set, these are the Special Illustration Rares you are most likely to pick up as singles rather than pull yourself.
Illustration rares worth pulling
Illustration rares are easier to find than Special Illustration Rares, but several of the Delta Reign chase cards sit in this tier. There are 14 of them, including Raikou, Growlithe, Marill, Altaria, Kecleon, Electivire and Inkay.
Kyogre and Groudon
The two Hoenn legends both have Illustration rares, and they suit a set built around the Delta Episode. Collectors have also noticed that the Kyogre artist drew a popular Groudon Illustration rare in an earlier set, so the cards are often collected as a pair.
Kecleon
Kecleon is the surprise of the set. Its Illustration rare has become one of the most wanted cards of a non-legendary Pokémon, thanks to playful artwork that rewards a close look.
The Kyogre Elite Trainer Box promo
There is also a Kyogre Illustration rare promo that does not come in booster packs at all. It is the promo card in the Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box, so the only way to get it sealed is to buy the box.
Legendary Stadiums: a different kind of chase
Delta Reign has six Stadium cards that join into three Legendary Stadiums, including Legendary Summit and Legendary Trench. They are not secret rares, but many collectors want every pair, because a single half looks unfinished on its own. Store both halves side by side so the full artwork stays together.
How rare are the Delta Reign chase cards?
Without official numbers, the safest rule is this: a booster box will usually give you a handful of Illustration rares and Ultra Rares, but it does not guarantee a Special Illustration Rare, and most boxes will not contain the gold Mega Rayquaza ex.
Be wary of pull-rate figures you see before or just after launch. They are estimates from a small number of opened boxes and often change as more product is opened.
Japanese and English Delta Reign chase cards
The artwork on the English chase cards is shared with the Japanese set Storm Emeralda, but the numbering is different. Japanese cards are numbered out of 076, with the gold Mega Rayquaza ex at 113/076, while English cards are numbered out of 103 because Delta Reign adds cards from the 2026 MEGA Starter Decks.
Japanese packs are smaller and cheaper, with 5 cards each, so some collectors chase the same artwork in both languages. If you want to try Japanese packs, browse our Japanese Pokémon cards. Keep the two languages in separate binders so the numbering stays easy to follow.
Best products for chasing Delta Reign cards
- Delta Reign Booster Box: 36 packs and the best value per pack if you want to chase the top cards.
- Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs plus the exclusive Kyogre Illustration rare promo.
- Delta Reign Booster Bundle: 6 packs, a simple way to open a few without extras.
- Delta Reign Build & Battle Box: 4 packs, a 40-card deck and a promo for players.
Browse our full range of English Pokémon cards or compare boxes from other sets in our English booster boxes. Upcoming releases are on our pre-orders page.
Protecting your Delta Reign chase cards
- Sleeve straight away. Put every Illustration rare and above into a penny sleeve as soon as it leaves the pack.
- Use a top loader or semi-rigid holder for Special Illustration Rares and the gold Mega Hyper Rare.
- Check the surface and centring under good light if you are thinking about grading a card.
- Keep cards away from sunlight and damp. Both can fade or warp cards over time.
Delta Reign chase cards FAQs
What is the best Delta Reign chase card?
Mega Rayquaza ex is the top chase, with the gold Mega Hyper Rare as the rarest version and the Special Illustration Rare as the most loved artwork.
How many Special Illustration Rares are in Delta Reign?
There are six, including Mega Rayquaza ex, Raikou ex, Zinnia’s Trust, Mega Golisopod ex and Mega Golurk ex.
Is the Kyogre promo in booster packs?
No. The Kyogre Illustration rare promo only comes in the Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box.
Where can I see the official Delta Reign card information?
The Pokémon Company publishes product and set details on the official Pokémon TCG website.
