Japan’s latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Storm Emeralda, hit shelves on Friday, and the early market data is already painting a vivid picture of which cards collectors are scrambling for. With the set’s English counterpart — Delta Reign — slated for a November release, it’s well worth paying attention to how these prices shake out.
Mega Rayquaza ex Towers Above the Rest
No surprises at the very top: the set’s gold Mega Rayquaza ex has claimed pole position at a staggering ¥238,000 (roughly $1,587 / ~£1,250). Gold cards are notoriously difficult to pull, and this one follows the same pattern we saw with Mega Darkrai ex’s gold card from the previous Japanese set, Abyss Eye, which debuted at a comparable price point. If you’re hunting one of these from sealed product, bring patience — and a lot of booster boxes.
Slotting in at number two is Mega Rayquaza ex’s Special Illustration Rare, currently sitting around ¥82,800 ($552). Again, this mirrors the trajectory of Mega Darkrai ex’s SIR from Abyss Eye. Rayquaza has always been one of the franchise’s most beloved legendaries, and the market is reflecting that star power in full.
Below that, Raikou ex’s SIR holds the third spot at ¥8,480 ($57), followed by Mega Rayquaza ex’s full art at ¥5,980 ($40). The gap between the top two cards and everything else is enormous — a pattern that’s become fairly standard in modern Japanese sets where one headline chase card dominates.
Zinnia’s Trust Underwhelms — and the IRs Steal the Show
Perhaps the most interesting story from the early data is Zinnia’s Trust. Female Supporter SIRs have historically been reliable earners, typically landing in second or third place during opening-weekend pricing. For context, Gwynn’s SIR from Abyss Eye debuted at around $101. Zinnia’s Trust SIR? Just ¥3,080 ($21) — roughly a fifth of Gwynn’s launch price. It’s an unusual result, and nobody seems entirely sure why. One theory is that Zinnia simply stabilised to her natural price much faster than usual, rather than riding the initial hype wave other Supporters enjoy.
Meanwhile, three Illustration Rares are quietly outperforming several of the set’s Special Illustration Rares, which is always fun to see. Kecleon, Kyogre, and Groudon each sit between $12 and $13 — more than double most other IRs in the set, and above the SIRs for Mega Golisopod ex ($12), Mega Golurk ex ($11), and Aarune ($7). Being part of the Hoenn weather trio alongside Rayquaza clearly boosts Kyogre and Groudon’s appeal, while Kecleon’s placement is largely down to its artwork. Here’s a look at that trio:
Growlithe’s IR rounds out the noteworthy picks at ¥880 ($6), with the remaining IRs — Altaria, Azurill, Electivire, Magmortar, and others — settling into the $3–$4 range. It’s a healthy spread that suggests the set has plenty of accessible art cards for collectors who aren’t chasing the ultra-premium pulls.
Double Rares and the Road to Delta Reign
On the playability side, most Double Rare cards in Storm Emeralda are already hovering around 50 cents or less — except for two. Mega Rayquaza ex’s Double Rare sits at roughly $6 and Talonflame ex at $5, both buoyed by their competitive potential rather than collector demand alone.
English-language players won’t have long to wait. All of Storm Emeralda’s cards will be folded into Delta Reign when it arrives in November, giving Western collectors and competitive players their crack at Mega Rayquaza ex, Raikou ex, and the rest. If Japanese launch prices are any guide, expect Mega Rayquaza ex to be the centrepiece chase once again — though it’ll be fascinating to see whether Zinnia’s Trust fares better with the international audience.
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