The next English special Pokémon TCG set has a name: **Ascended Heroes**. According to reporting from PokeBeach, it is scheduled to release on **January 30, 2026**. It will serve as the English counterpart to Japan’s upcoming **MEGA Dream ex** High Class Pack, featuring **Mega Dragonite ex**.
If you like Mega Evolution, chunky dragon chase cards, and hard-to-get Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes, this is one you will want on your radar immediately.
PokeBeach reports that **Ascended Heroes** is slated for **January 30, 2026**.
It is a special set, so you should expect it to follow the usual pattern:
• No traditional booster boxes at big box stores
• Packs mainly found inside branded products like ETBs and collections
• A self-contained mini-era that sits between mainline sets
The initial product list (which is still subject to change) includes:
• **Elite Trainer Box**
• **Premium Poster Collection**
• **Tech Sticker Collections**
• **Trainer’s Blisters**
• **Special Collection**
The interesting part is the **variety**. A Premium Poster Collection and Tech Sticker products suggest Pokémon is leaning into display pieces and collectability, not just packs. Expect at least one unique promo card in some or all of these, and very likely different promo art between the standard ETB and the Pokémon Center version, if one exists for this set, like it has for recent releases.
Ascended Heroes is built on the Japanese special set **MEGA Dream ex**, which releases in Japan on **November 28, 2025**, as that year’s High Class Pack.
Key points about MEGA Dream ex:
• It is a **Mega Evolution-focused** set, headlined by **Mega Dragonite ex**.
• The set features multiple **Mega Evolution Pokémon ex** with massive HP totals and powerful attacks, mirroring the feel of the XY Mega era but updated for the current game.
• Attack names are printed over the artwork on some cards, a deliberate callback to 2013’s Mega cards.
We already know some of the headliners from official reveals and card lists:
• **Mega Dragonite ex** with the Ability Sky Transport and a 330-damage attack, making it both flashy and competitive-leaning.
• **Mega Eelektross ex**, which can spread damage across the board and paralyse the opponent at the cost of Lightning energy.
All of these are expected to appear in English within **Ascended Heroes**, most likely along with a full spread of Ultra Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Gold cards that High Class Packs are known for.
The other big Japanese product feeding into Ascended Heroes is **Start Deck 100 Battle Collection**, releasing in Japan on **December 19, 2025**.
What it is:
• A massive batch of **100 different pre-constructed decks**, labelled 001 to 100
• Each deck built from an enormous card pool of hundreds of cards
• Mostly **reprints**, but with a healthy sprinkle of brand-new cards, including fresh Mega Evolutions and Trainers
Notable highlights from early coverage include:
• **Mega Charizard Y ex** returning with a massive 360 HP and a big single-target attack
• Various new Trainer and Item cards that support non-Rule Box Pokémon and Mega Evolution strategies
PokeBeach notes that Ascended Heroes is expected to pull **some or all** of the new cards from these decks to round out the English set, including a chunk of secret rares that do not come directly from MEGA Dream ex itself.
In other words, Ascended Heroes will not just be “MEGA Dream ex but English.” It is likely to be a curated mix of:
• The main MEGA Dream ex card pool
• Exclusive or semi-exclusive cards initially found only in Start Deck 100 Battle Collection
• Extra secret rares and alt arts added to hit the usual English special set structure
We do not have a full English card list yet, but based on the Japanese information and standard set design patterns, you can reasonably expect:
**1. Mega Evolution ex headliners**
Mega Dragonite ex is guaranteed, and it is almost certainly going to be one of the main chase cards of Ascended Heroes. Other Mega Pokémon from MEGA Dream ex and Start Deck 100, such as Mega Eelektross ex and Mega Charizard Y ex, are very likely to appear in some form as well.
**2. High-rarity bling**
High Class Packs traditionally carry:
• A dense spread of Ultra Rares
• Special Illustration Rares with full-art scenes
• Gold cards and other premium finishes
Ascended Heroes should inherit that structure, so collectors can expect multiple tiers of chase cards rather than a single “top hit.”
**3. Reprint support and meta pieces**
Because Start Deck 100 Battle Collection is heavily reprint-driven with some new tech Trainers, Ascended Heroes will likely include:
• Staple Trainers and Items that help newer players build functional decks straight from a few products
• A few new engine or support cards that may quietly become competitive staples
Now for the part a lot of people actually stress over: **preorders**, especially for the Pokémon Center ETB.
Historically, once an English set is officially revealed by The Pokémon Company, **Pokémon Center preorders for that set tend to go live the same day**, typically **within 1 to 3 hours of the announcement**, or in rare cases, **the next business day**.
Community tracking accounts and preorder guides for recent sets show the same pattern: the reveal hits social media and the official site, and Pokémon Center listings appear shortly afterwards, often without much warning.
What this means for Ascended Heroes:
• Once the **official reveal** lands, expect Pokémon Center ETB preorders to follow very shortly.
• Traffic will be heavy. Recent sets have sold out quickly or caused site issues when demand spiked.
If you are specifically chasing **Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes** or want to secure product without panic, here is a simple prep checklist:
**1. Get your Pokémon Center account ready**
• Log in ahead of time
• Make sure your shipping address and payment info are up to date
• Familiarise yourself with how preorders are charged and shipped (Pokémon Center authorises your card when you order, but does not fully charge until shipping).
**2. Set alert systems now, not later**
• Keep an eye on official Pokémon TCG social channels for the reveal
• Follow Stock Checker. We track Ascended Heroes and Pokémon Center drops
**3. Use Stock Checker and Discord alerts**
[Stock Checker](https://stock-checker.com/products/toys-games/) can ping you in real time when Pokémon Center preorders go live in both the UK and the US via [Discord](https://discord.gg/stockchecker). That kind of instant alert is beneficial when windows are measured in minutes rather than hours.
**For collectors**
• Mega Dragonite ex and any Mega Charizard or other Mega alt arts are obvious long-term chase candidates.
• Special sets with no regular booster boxes often age well because sealed product is harder to come by later.
• The themed Poster and Sticker products may make nice display items if they feature exclusive promos.
**For players**
• Mega Evolution ex Pokémon that give up 3 Prizes are risky but powerful. If their Abilities and attacks line up with existing engines, some could slot directly into competitive decks.
• Start Deck 100 cards appearing in English could refresh key Trainer reprints, helping more people build meta decks without chasing older sets.
Ascended Heroes is shaping up to be:
• A **Mega Evolution celebration set**
• A **High Class Pack experience in English form**
• A likely **feeding ground for some of 2026’s biggest chase cards**, anchored by Mega Dragonite ex and friends
If you care about Pokémon Center ETBs, promos, or Mega Evolutions finally getting a modern spotlight again, treat the upcoming official reveal as your starting gun. Get your accounts ready, join the Stock Checker Discord for instant alerts, and be prepared to act quickly once preorders open.
If you like Mega Evolution, chunky dragon chase cards, and hard-to-get Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes, this is one you will want on your radar immediately.
Release date and product lineup
PokeBeach reports that **Ascended Heroes** is slated for **January 30, 2026**.
It is a special set, so you should expect it to follow the usual pattern:
• No traditional booster boxes at big box stores
• Packs mainly found inside branded products like ETBs and collections
• A self-contained mini-era that sits between mainline sets
The initial product list (which is still subject to change) includes:
• **Elite Trainer Box**
• **Premium Poster Collection**
• **Tech Sticker Collections**
• **Trainer’s Blisters**
• **Special Collection**
The interesting part is the **variety**. A Premium Poster Collection and Tech Sticker products suggest Pokémon is leaning into display pieces and collectability, not just packs. Expect at least one unique promo card in some or all of these, and very likely different promo art between the standard ETB and the Pokémon Center version, if one exists for this set, like it has for recent releases.
The Japanese backbone: MEGA Dream ex
Ascended Heroes is built on the Japanese special set **MEGA Dream ex**, which releases in Japan on **November 28, 2025**, as that year’s High Class Pack.
Key points about MEGA Dream ex:
• It is a **Mega Evolution-focused** set, headlined by **Mega Dragonite ex**.
• The set features multiple **Mega Evolution Pokémon ex** with massive HP totals and powerful attacks, mirroring the feel of the XY Mega era but updated for the current game.
• Attack names are printed over the artwork on some cards, a deliberate callback to 2013’s Mega cards.
We already know some of the headliners from official reveals and card lists:
• **Mega Dragonite ex** with the Ability Sky Transport and a 330-damage attack, making it both flashy and competitive-leaning.
• **Mega Eelektross ex**, which can spread damage across the board and paralyse the opponent at the cost of Lightning energy.
All of these are expected to appear in English within **Ascended Heroes**, most likely along with a full spread of Ultra Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Gold cards that High Class Packs are known for.
Start Deck 100 Battle Collection: the secret sauce
The other big Japanese product feeding into Ascended Heroes is **Start Deck 100 Battle Collection**, releasing in Japan on **December 19, 2025**.
What it is:
• A massive batch of **100 different pre-constructed decks**, labelled 001 to 100
• Each deck built from an enormous card pool of hundreds of cards
• Mostly **reprints**, but with a healthy sprinkle of brand-new cards, including fresh Mega Evolutions and Trainers
Notable highlights from early coverage include:
• **Mega Charizard Y ex** returning with a massive 360 HP and a big single-target attack
• Various new Trainer and Item cards that support non-Rule Box Pokémon and Mega Evolution strategies
PokeBeach notes that Ascended Heroes is expected to pull **some or all** of the new cards from these decks to round out the English set, including a chunk of secret rares that do not come directly from MEGA Dream ex itself.
In other words, Ascended Heroes will not just be “MEGA Dream ex but English.” It is likely to be a curated mix of:
• The main MEGA Dream ex card pool
• Exclusive or semi-exclusive cards initially found only in Start Deck 100 Battle Collection
• Extra secret rares and alt arts added to hit the usual English special set structure
What kinds of cards can we expect?
We do not have a full English card list yet, but based on the Japanese information and standard set design patterns, you can reasonably expect:
**1. Mega Evolution ex headliners**
Mega Dragonite ex is guaranteed, and it is almost certainly going to be one of the main chase cards of Ascended Heroes. Other Mega Pokémon from MEGA Dream ex and Start Deck 100, such as Mega Eelektross ex and Mega Charizard Y ex, are very likely to appear in some form as well.
**2. High-rarity bling**
High Class Packs traditionally carry:
• A dense spread of Ultra Rares
• Special Illustration Rares with full-art scenes
• Gold cards and other premium finishes
Ascended Heroes should inherit that structure, so collectors can expect multiple tiers of chase cards rather than a single “top hit.”
**3. Reprint support and meta pieces**
Because Start Deck 100 Battle Collection is heavily reprint-driven with some new tech Trainers, Ascended Heroes will likely include:
• Staple Trainers and Items that help newer players build functional decks straight from a few products
• A few new engine or support cards that may quietly become competitive staples
How Pokémon Center preorders usually work
Now for the part a lot of people actually stress over: **preorders**, especially for the Pokémon Center ETB.
Historically, once an English set is officially revealed by The Pokémon Company, **Pokémon Center preorders for that set tend to go live the same day**, typically **within 1 to 3 hours of the announcement**, or in rare cases, **the next business day**.
Community tracking accounts and preorder guides for recent sets show the same pattern: the reveal hits social media and the official site, and Pokémon Center listings appear shortly afterwards, often without much warning.
What this means for Ascended Heroes:
• Once the **official reveal** lands, expect Pokémon Center ETB preorders to follow very shortly.
• Traffic will be heavy. Recent sets have sold out quickly or caused site issues when demand spiked.
How to prepare for Ascended Heroes preorders
If you are specifically chasing **Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes** or want to secure product without panic, here is a simple prep checklist:
**1. Get your Pokémon Center account ready**
• Log in ahead of time
• Make sure your shipping address and payment info are up to date
• Familiarise yourself with how preorders are charged and shipped (Pokémon Center authorises your card when you order, but does not fully charge until shipping).
**2. Set alert systems now, not later**
• Keep an eye on official Pokémon TCG social channels for the reveal
• Follow Stock Checker. We track Ascended Heroes and Pokémon Center drops
**3. Use Stock Checker and Discord alerts**
[Stock Checker](https://stock-checker.com/products/toys-games/) can ping you in real time when Pokémon Center preorders go live in both the UK and the US via [Discord](https://discord.gg/stockchecker). That kind of instant alert is beneficial when windows are measured in minutes rather than hours.
What Ascended Heroes means for players and collectors
**For collectors**
• Mega Dragonite ex and any Mega Charizard or other Mega alt arts are obvious long-term chase candidates.
• Special sets with no regular booster boxes often age well because sealed product is harder to come by later.
• The themed Poster and Sticker products may make nice display items if they feature exclusive promos.
**For players**
• Mega Evolution ex Pokémon that give up 3 Prizes are risky but powerful. If their Abilities and attacks line up with existing engines, some could slot directly into competitive decks.
• Start Deck 100 cards appearing in English could refresh key Trainer reprints, helping more people build meta decks without chasing older sets.
Final thoughts
Ascended Heroes is shaping up to be:
• A **Mega Evolution celebration set**
• A **High Class Pack experience in English form**
• A likely **feeding ground for some of 2026’s biggest chase cards**, anchored by Mega Dragonite ex and friends
If you care about Pokémon Center ETBs, promos, or Mega Evolutions finally getting a modern spotlight again, treat the upcoming official reveal as your starting gun. Get your accounts ready, join the Stock Checker Discord for instant alerts, and be prepared to act quickly once preorders open.