Released globally on November 14, 2025, Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Phantasmal Flames (set code PFL / ME02) is the second main expansion in the Mega Evolution Series, totalling 130 cards (94 main + 36 secret rares). Globally it bundles the Japanese booster Inferno X (released September 26, 2025) together with the MEGA Starter Set Mega Gengar ex and MEGA Starter Set Mega Diancie ex into one English-language set.
This guide walks through all six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex — Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Diancie ex, Mega Heracross ex, Mega Lopunny ex, Mega Sharpedo ex — the debut of Dawn as a Supporter card, meta-defining Trainers, and the five Special Illustration Rares and one Mega Hyper Rare that are driving the secondary market.
Product lineup
English and Japanese products differ in pack size, contents and price. Knowing both helps you pick the right product whether you're playing, collecting or investing.
Official and authorised channels
Authorised local game stores: best spot for singles and League Cup play
Pokémon Center Online (US / Japan): stocks the Pokémon Center ETB with 11 packs and a stamped Charcadet promo
Pokémon Center retail stores: in-person restocks from launch week onwards
Leagues and sanctioned events
Find your nearest League Cup or League Challenge through Pokémon.com's event locator. Japanese players can look up Gym Battles and City League events via the official Pokémon Card Game site. New-set release windows often bundle participation promos, so it's a good time to try organised play.
Main products (English / Japanese)
Booster box: English = 36 packs; Japanese Inferno X = 30 packs at ¥5,400
Booster Bundle (English): 6 packs — the most efficient small-format purchase
Booster pack: English = 10 cards + 1 Basic Energy + 1 Pokémon TCG Live code; Japanese Inferno X = 5 cards at ¥180
Build & Battle Box (English): 40-card ready-to-play deck + 1 of 4 Prerelease promos + 4 booster packs
Elite Trainer Box (English): 9 packs + Charcadet promo + 65 sleeves + 40 Energy + damage counters + TCG Live code. Pokémon Center ETB upgrades to 11 packs and a stamped promo
Ultra-Premium Collection (English): high-end collector box featuring Mega Charizard X ex-themed extras
Chase cards & pull rates
Phantasmal Flames is a classic one-card-concentrated set. Using raw ungraded prices around December 2025 and Japanese Inferno X comps, here is the current secondary-market picture.
Illustrator lineup
Artwork credits include takuyoa (Mega Charizard X ex MHR), danciao (Mega Charizard X ex SIR), 5ban Graphics (Mega Heracross ex) and Akira Egawa, among others. Blue-flame lighting and evolution-line silhouette compositions define the set's visual identity.
Top 5 chase cards
Mega Charizard X ex SIR #125/094 (illustrator: danciao)
Widely regarded as the best artwork in the Mega Evolution era — Charmander, Charmeleon and Mega Charizard X share a single frame. Raw $500–800, PSA 10 at $1,200+. Pull rate roughly 1 per 420 packs. The Japanese SAR equivalent (#110/080 Inferno X) trades around ¥80,000.
Mega Charizard X ex Mega Hyper Rare (gold) #130/094 (illustrator: takuyoa)
The only MHR in the set. Gold-etched black frame. Raw $210–725. Pull rate about 1 per 1,000–1,250 packs — the rarest card Phantasmal Flames prints. Japan's Inferno X MUR #116/080 trades around ¥148,000.
Dawn SIR #129/094 (Supporter, first-ever single print)
Dawn — protagonist of the Diamond & Pearl anime — gets her first solo Pokémon TCG card, paired with a busted deck-search effect. Raw $100–180, PSA 10 $400+. Expect sustained demand from both players and character collectors.
Mega Gengar ex SIR #126, Mega Sharpedo ex SIR #127, Mega Lopunny ex SIR #128
Budget-tier SIRs that often get overshadowed by Charizard. Mega Sharpedo SIR around $59, Mega Gengar SIR around $42, Mega Lopunny SIR around $22. For the price of a single Charizard SIR you can acquire all three and still have change.
Non-Mega ex art variants (Rotom ex, Oricorio ex, Empoleon ex)
Look beyond the Megas: Oricorio ex is the Fire-acceleration linchpin of the format thanks to Excite Turbo, and its SIR print holds both collector and gameplay value. Rotom ex's SIR sits around $120–150 and rising.
Opening and buying tips
- Elite Trainer Boxes ship with a Charcadet promo; the Pokémon Center ETB swaps in 11 packs plus a Pokémon Center-stamped Charcadet promo
- Booster boxes (36 packs) are the most pack-efficient route to SIR pulls. With Charizard X SIR at ~1/420, plan on 2+ boxes if you are targeting it specifically
- In Japan, Inferno X sells at ¥180 per 5-card pack, ¥5,400 per 30-pack box, ¥64,800 per 12-box carton — buy from authorised retailers and double-sleeve graded candidates
- Store high-value pulls out of direct sunlight; yellowing and edge whitening hurt PSA grades significantly
Competitive deck building
Japanese Inferno X results from City League and Gym Battle events already point to four viable archetypes. The same shells translate straight into English Phantasmal Flames decks.
In Japan's post-Inferno X format, Charizard Fire sits at the top of win rates thanks to first-strike upside and Oricorio ex acceleration. Secure your playset of Oricorio ex (x4), Firebreather (x2–3) and Dawn (x2) first — these form the backbone of nearly every competitive Phantasmal Flames deck.
Deck-building priorities
- Fire acceleration: Oricorio ex (Excite Turbo attaches a Basic Fire from hand each turn while a Fire Mega ex is in play) + Firebreather (search up to seven Basic Fire Energy) powers Inferno X's discard math
- Evolution consistency: Dawn grabs a Basic, Stage 1 and Stage 2 in one Supporter — no more dead hands on turn two with Charmander
- Pressure tools: Punk Helmet plus Mismagius ex or Mega Sharpedo ex creates retaliation angles; Battle Cage protects the Bench while you set up
- Energy economy: Ignition Energy broadens attacker options; Jet Energy + Mega Lopunny ex's Swift Kick combo rewards tempo-first builds
Winning archetypes
Four shells emerging from early Japanese events that should translate to the English metagame:
- Charizard Fire: Mega Charizard X ex + Oricorio ex + Firebreather for explosive first-strike damage
- Gengar Control: Mega Gengar ex + Grimsley's Move + Punk Helmet to attrition opponents across the long game
- Diancie Mid-range: MEGA Starter Set Mega Diancie ex base with Fairy/Rock resistance angles
- Lopunny Tempo: Mega Lopunny ex + Jet Energy aggro that races for early prize leads
Set overview (PFL / ME02)
Phantasmal Flames is the second mid-size Mega Evolution expansion, built around Fire versus Darkness. It unifies the Japanese Inferno X booster plus both Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex MEGA Starter Sets into one English release. Prereleases ran from November 1, 2025; the global launch followed on November 14.
Card count:
130 cards total (94 main + 36 secret rares)
Mega Evolution Pokémon ex:
Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Diancie ex, Mega Heracross ex, Mega Lopunny ex, Mega Sharpedo ex (six in total)
Format:
Standard legal (regulation mark "I")
Release date:
November 14, 2025 (Prerelease: November 1)
Series:
Mega Evolution Series, expansion #2
Set code:
PFL (English) / ME02 (internal) / M2 (Japanese Inferno X)
Rarity breakdown:
43 Common / 31 Uncommon / 10 Rare / 10 Double Rare / 17 Ultra Rare / 13 Illustration Rare / 5 Special Illustration Rare / 1 Mega Hyper Rare
Key features
- All six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex (Charizard X, Gengar, Diancie, Heracross, Lopunny, Sharpedo) consolidated into one English expansion
- Fire-versus-Darkness theme anchored by Mega Charizard X ex (Fire/Dragon, 360 HP) and Mega Gengar ex (Dark/Ghost, 350 HP)
- Four new non-Mega Pokémon ex (Rotom ex, Oricorio ex, Empoleon ex, Mismagius ex) plus the first-ever single-card print of Dawn as a Supporter
- Meta-defining Trainers: Battle Cage (Stadium), Punk Helmet (Tool), Firebreather (Supporter), Grimsley's Move, Blowtorch and Ignition Energy
Frequently asked questions
How does English Phantasmal Flames relate to Japanese Inferno X?
English Phantasmal Flames (PFL / ME02, November 14, 2025) is a superset of the Japanese booster Inferno X (M2, September 26, 2025, 80 cards + secrets) plus both MEGA Starter Set products (Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex). Total English print: 130 cards vs. the ~110 cards spread across the three Japanese products.
What are the pull rates for MUR / SAR / SIR?
The lone Mega Hyper Rare — Japan's MUR — sits at about 1 per 1,000–1,250 packs (Mega Charizard X ex #130/094 gold). The five Special Illustration Rares (SIR = Japan's SAR) appear at roughly 1 per 5–6 booster boxes combined, meaning hundreds of packs if you're chasing a specific SIR.
How are the new Mega Evolution ex rules different?
Unlike the old XY-era Mega rule ("Mega Evolving ends your turn"), the current Mega Evolution ex cards evolve normally and can still attack that turn. The trade-off: when a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards instead of 2, so tempo and protection matter more than ever.
What are the release dates and prices?
Prereleases started November 1, 2025 via Build & Battle Kits; global launch on November 14, 2025. English MSRPs vary by region. Japanese Inferno X is ¥180 per 5-card pack and ¥5,400 per 30-pack box at retail.
What product should beginners buy first?
For gameplay-focused beginners, start with the Build & Battle Box (English) or the Japanese MEGA Starter Sets (Mega Gengar ex or Mega Diancie ex) for a complete 40–60 card ready-to-play deck. For collectors, the Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box (11 packs + stamped Charcadet promo) or a single Mega Charizard X ex SIR is the most cost-efficient way to enjoy the set.
Featured Mega ex & attacks
The set sells on Mega Charizard X ex: a black-and-blue repaint whose attack Inferno X discards any number of Fire Energy from your Pokémon and does 90 damage per card discarded — one of the highest burst-damage attacks printed in years.
Mega Evolution ex rules (current format)
These Mega Evolution ex cards use the modern rules, not the old XY "evolving ends your turn" mechanic:
- High baseline stats: 350–360 HP with powerful single-card attacks
- Evolution timing: Evolve from the corresponding Pokémon ex (Basic or Stage 1) during your turn — your turn does not end
- Prize penalty: When your Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 3 Prize cards (vs. 2 for a regular ex)
- Regulation mark "I": Legal in both Standard and Expanded through the 2025 rotation
Mega Charizard X ex (360 HP, Fire/Dragon)
A Stage 2 Mega that evolves up the Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard ex line. Inferno X at 90× Fire Energy discarded means three Energy = 270 damage, five Energy = 450 — one-shot range for most 330-HP threats. Combined with Oricorio ex's Excite Turbo energy acceleration, turn-two knockouts are realistic.
Two art variants dominate collector demand: the Special Illustration Rare #125/094 by illustrator danciao, which weaves Charmander, Charmeleon and Mega Charizard X into a single evolution-line composition, and the Mega Hyper Rare (gold) #130/094 by takuyoa with black-and-gold etching — the lone MHR in the set.
Mega Diancie ex (Rock/Fairy)
From the MEGA Starter Set Mega Diancie ex. Brings bench-support attacks and tempo tools, making it an accessible entry point for players upgrading from the starter product into a custom build.
Mega Gengar ex (350 HP, Dark/Ghost)
Sourced from the Japanese MEGA Starter Set Mega Gengar ex. Lower attack costs and chip-damage options give Gengar a control-focused alternative to Charizard's burst plan. The Special Illustration Rare #126/094 wreathes Gengar in swirling purple flames and has climbed from about $42 since launch.
Mega Heracross ex, Mega Lopunny ex, Mega Sharpedo ex
- Mega Heracross ex (280 HP, Fighting): Panzer Horn counter-attacks by adding the damage taken on the previous turn, rewarding tanky, reactive play.
- Mega Lopunny ex (Fighting): Swift Kick hits 60+ and adds +110 when Lopunny enters from the Bench that turn — 170 damage for a single Energy with Jet Energy synergy.
- Mega Sharpedo ex (Water/Dark): Greedy Fangs deals 70 and draws two cards; the follow-up Hungry Jaws does 120 + optional 150 for aggressive tempo plus hand advantage.
Game-changing Trainers and Energy
The Trainer package is what makes Phantasmal Flames competitive — not just collectible:
- Dawn (Supporter): Search your deck for one Basic, one Stage 1 and one Stage 2 Pokémon. The most versatile evolution-line search ever printed; SIR #129/094 with a Kanto-inspired backdrop is a top chase.
- Firebreather (Supporter): Pull up to seven Basic Fire Energy from your deck to your hand — the definitive Fire acceleration card.
- Grimsley's Move (Supporter): Darkness-type search, the backbone of Mega Gengar ex control decks.
- Battle Cage (Stadium): Bench-protection effect that hardens decks against spread and sniper strategies.
- Punk Helmet (Tool): Retaliation damage whenever your Pokémon is attacked.
- Blowtorch (Tool): Flat-damage add-on tailored to Fire-type attackers.
- Ignition Energy (Special Energy): Extra tempo levers for Mega Evolution lineups.
Set value recap
Phantasmal Flames is rare in that both its ladder relevance and its collector value are concentrated in the same cards. Mega Charizard X ex SIR #125 has held a $500+ floor since launch and continues to climb as PSA 10 populations stay thin, while the gold MHR #130 and Dawn SIR #129 anchor the next tier of chase demand.
Investment priority reads: SIR #125 > Mega Hyper Rare #130 > Dawn SIR > Mega Gengar ex SIR. From a gameplay angle, Oricorio ex, Firebreather, Dawn and Ignition Energy are the essentials — lock down those four as singles and you can build into any Fire/Dark shell the format produces.
PokemonLore will keep tracking deck-adoption data and live secondary-market prices so you can refine buy/build decisions as the format settles. Deeper competitive breakdowns and set comparisons live in our
comprehensive guides section.