The Chaos Rising card list has 122 cards: 86 in the main set and 36 secret rares. Released in May 2026 as the fourth main expansion of the Mega Evolution series, Chaos Rising is led by Mega Greninja ex and set in Lumiose City at night. This guide explains how the card list is made up, which cards collectors chase and which product to open.
Want the newest set instead? Our Pokémon Delta Reign guide covers the sixth Mega Evolution expansion, and our Phantasmal Flames card list covers the second.
Chaos Rising at a glance
| Detail | Chaos Rising |
|---|---|
| Series | Mega Evolution |
| Set code | ME04 (printed CRI) |
| Prerelease events | 9 to 17 May 2026 |
| Release date | 22 May 2026 |
| Total cards | 122 |
| Main set | 86 cards |
| Secret rares | 36 |
| Headline card | Mega Greninja ex |
| Japanese base set | Ninja Spinner (M4) |
Chaos Rising release date
The Chaos Rising release date was Friday 22 May 2026, worldwide. Prerelease events ran at Play! Pokémon stores from 9 to 17 May, giving players a chance to try the set two weeks early.
In Japan, the same cards came out earlier as Ninja Spinner, released on 13 March 2026. The Japanese set has 83 cards and smaller packs of 5 cards, so the English version is a little larger and comes in standard 10-card packs.
What is in a Chaos Rising booster pack?
An English Chaos Rising booster pack holds 10 game cards, a Basic Energy and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. Most of the cards are commons and uncommons, with at least one rare or better in each pack and a reverse holo slot that can show any card from the main set.
Japanese Ninja Spinner packs are smaller, with 5 cards each. The artwork on the best cards is shared between the two languages, but the numbering is different, so keep Japanese and English cards in separate binders.
Pull rates for Chaos Rising have not been published by The Pokémon Company. Any odds you see online come from community openings, so treat them as a rough guide only.
How the Chaos Rising card list works
The main set runs from 001 to 086. Anything numbered 087 and above is a secret rare, so it is easy to spot a hit by its number. The official line-up includes five Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, five other Pokémon ex, 11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares and six Special Illustration Rares.
| Card numbers | Rarity | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| 001 to 086 | Main set | 86 |
| 087 to 097 | Illustration Rare | 11 |
| 098 to 115 | Ultra Rare | 18 |
| 116 to 121 | Special Illustration Rare | 6 |
| 122 | Mega Hyper Rare | 1 |
That neat numbering makes the Chaos Rising card list one of the easiest to track. If a card is numbered between 116 and 121, you have pulled one of the six Special Illustration Rares.
The Mega Pokémon ex in Chaos Rising
Chaos Rising brings five Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, all tied to Pokémon Legends: Z-A and its setting of Lumiose City. The headline card is Mega Greninja ex, with Mega Floette ex and Mega Pyroar ex among the others.
- Mega Greninja ex: the cover star and the top chase card of the set.
- Mega Floette ex: known for its large HP and Energy acceleration in play.
- Mega Pyroar ex: a hard-hitting Fire attacker.
For players, Mega Pokémon ex are powerful but risky, because they give up extra Prize cards when they are knocked out. For collectors, they are the cards that get the most dramatic artwork.
Chaos Rising chase cards
These are the Chaos Rising chase cards collectors look for first:
1. Mega Greninja ex Mega Hyper Rare (122)
The gold Mega Greninja ex is the last card in the set and the hardest to pull. As in every Mega Evolution set, there is only one Mega Hyper Rare, so it naturally sits at the top of the chase list.
2. Mega Greninja ex Special Illustration Rare
Mega Greninja ex takes both top spots, and its Special Illustration Rare is close behind the gold card. Greninja has been one of the most popular Pokémon in the hobby for years, and this artwork has done nothing to change that.
3. The other Special Illustration Rares (116 to 121)
The six Special Illustration Rares include Mega Pokémon ex, other Pokémon ex and a Supporter. They are rarer than Illustration Rares and are usually the cards collectors buy as singles to finish the set.
4. Illustration Rares such as Ampharos
The 11 Illustration Rares are easier to find and cover a wide range of Pokémon. Ampharos, numbered 090/086, has become one of the most popular of them.
Chaos Rising and Lumiose City at night
The set’s theme is danger in Lumiose City after dark, which ties in with the story of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. That theme gives the set a darker, night-time feel, and it links the Mega Pokémon on the box art to the story of the game. If you enjoy collecting by theme, Chaos Rising pairs well with the other Lumiose City sets in the series.
Chaos Rising products
| Product | Packs | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Checklane Blister | 1 | A single pack and a quick look |
| 3-Pack Blister | 3 | A small gift with a promo card |
| Booster Bundle | 6 | Simple pack opening |
| Elite Trainer Box | 9 | Packs plus sleeves, dice and storage |
| Pokémon Centre Elite Trainer Box | 11 | Extra packs and a stamped promo |
| Booster Box | 36 | The most packs and the best chance at chase cards |
A Build and Battle Box was also made for prerelease events. It contains four booster packs, a 40-card deck, one of four foil promo cards and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.
Which Chaos Rising product should you buy?
- For the most packs: the Chaos Rising Booster Box gives you 36 packs and the best chance at the top cards.
- For a gift: the Elite Trainer Box includes nine packs plus accessories a new collector will use.
- For extra packs: the Pokémon Centre Elite Trainer Box has 11 packs instead of nine.
- For a budget: the Booster Bundle or a 3-Pack Blister are good ways to open a few packs.
How big is a Chaos Rising master set?
A master set includes every card plus the reverse holo version of every common, uncommon, rare and Double Rare. That gives a Chaos Rising master set of 208 cards: the 122 cards in the set plus 86 reverse holos. Secret rares do not have reverse holo versions.
At 86 main cards, Chaos Rising is a small set, which makes the master set one of the more achievable in the series. The six Special Illustration Rares and the gold Mega Greninja ex are the hard part.
Tips for collecting the Chaos Rising card list
- Use a 9-pocket binder. Ten pages hold the main set, with a few more for the 36 secret rares.
- Sleeve every hit. Put Illustration Rares and above into a penny sleeve and top loader straight away.
- Track by number. The rarities are grouped by number, so you can see at a glance which tier you still need.
- Buy singles for the top cards. If you only want Mega Greninja ex, buying the single is often cheaper than opening box after box.
Chaos Rising chase cards compared with other Mega Evolution sets
Chaos Rising follows the same rarity ladder as the rest of the series: Illustration Rares, Ultra Rares, Special Illustration Rares and one gold Mega Hyper Rare. What makes it different is how close the top two cards are. In some sets the Special Illustration Rare clearly beats the gold card, or the other way round. Here, both Mega Greninja ex cards sit close together, so either one is a great pull.
If you are comparing sets, our Ascended Heroes card list shows how a special set with 22 Special Illustration Rares works very differently.
Is Chaos Rising worth collecting?
Yes, especially if you like Greninja or the Lumiose City setting. The set is small enough to complete, has a clear theme and offers two outstanding Mega Greninja ex cards to chase. It also offers players two strong Mega attackers in Mega Floette ex and Mega Pyroar ex.
Browse every English set in our English Pokémon cards range, compare boxes in English booster boxes, or see what is coming next on our pre-orders page.
Chaos Rising card list FAQs
How many cards are in Chaos Rising?
There are 122 cards: 86 in the main set and 36 secret rares.
What is the Chaos Rising release date?
Chaos Rising was released on 22 May 2026, with prerelease events from 9 to 17 May.
What is the best card in Chaos Rising?
The Mega Greninja ex Mega Hyper Rare, card 122, and the Mega Greninja ex Special Illustration Rare are the top two chase cards.
What Japanese set is Chaos Rising based on?
Ninja Spinner, which was released in Japan on 13 March 2026.
Where can I see the official card list?
The Pokémon Company publishes set details on the official Pokémon TCG website.
