Mega Charizard X ex takes center stage in the Phantasmal Flames expansion, igniting excitement among Pokémon TCG fans.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game community is buzzing about Phantasmal Flames – a new 2025 Pokémon TCG set release that brings back the beloved Mega Evolution mechanic. Officially slated for a worldwide release on November 14, 2025, Phantasmal Flames is the second expansion in the Mega Evolution series (following the base Mega Evolution set) . This set is unusually compact – containing only 94 cards before secret rares (around 130 cards total with secret rares included) – making it the smallest regular English set in eight years.

For context, the last set this small was Sun & Moon: Crimson Invasion in 2017, which had 124 cards including secrets . Phantasmal Flames draws its content from Japan’s Inferno X expansion (80 cards) and the Mega Gengar ex & Mega Diancie ex starter decks (18 unique cards), which all debut in Japan shortly before the international launch . Below we break down everything you need to know – from the card list highlights and featured products to early access events and where to buy this hotly anticipated set.

Featured Content and Card List

Phantasmal Flames puts a spotlight on Fire-type and Darkness-type Pokémon, headlined by the iconic Mega Charizard X ex and the shadowy Mega Gengar ex . Collectors and players can look forward to a variety of powerful cards and rarities in this set:

  • Six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex – Mega Charizard X, Mega Gengar, Mega Diancie, Mega Lopunny, Mega Heracross, and Mega Sharpedo . These mega evolutions boast high HP and stunning artwork, exemplifying the return of the Mega mechanic.
  • Four Pokémon ex – Empoleon, Rotom, Mismagius, and Oricorio . These are the first regular Pokémon ex to appear in the new Mega Evolution series, adding fresh strategies to the meta.
  • 13 Illustration Rare Pokémon cards  – Full-art cards with unique artwork, featuring various Pokémon in creative scenes.
  • 17 Ultra Rare cards (including Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, Trainer, and Energy cards)  – These include textured ultra-rare versions of Pokémon ex and important Trainer/Energy cards to bling out your deck.
  • Five Special Illustration Rare (SIR) cards (featuring Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and Supporter characters)  – The most premium cards in the set, with elaborate artwork (often showcasing a Pokémon with its Trainer or a thematic scene).
  • 10 Trainer cards – New Item, Supporter, and Stadium cards to enhance gameplay strategies .

Notably, Phantasmal Flames focuses on Mega Pokémon of Fire and Darkness types, giving us powerhouse cards like Mega Charizard X ex (Fire/Dragon type) and Mega Gengar ex (Darkness type) as marquee pulls. This set’s card list composition (with its mix of ex, Illustration Rares, etc.) promises a more collector-friendly size – opening booster packs should feel rewarding, with a decent chance to hit something special given the compact set size.

Premium Products and Pricing

Alongside the main booster packs, The Pokémon Company is releasing several sealed products for Phantasmal Flames that will interest collectors:

Elite Trainer Box (ETB): The Phantasmal Flames ETB will feature a special Charcadet promo card in Illustration Rare style, showcasing Charcadet in what appears to be a battle arena setting . This full-art Charcadet promo comes in both the standard ETB and the Pokémon Center exclusive ETB (the Pokémon Center edition includes the same Charcadet card stamped with the Pokémon Center logo).

The ETB includes 9 booster packs (11 packs in the Pokémon Center version), the promo card, a set of 65 card sleeves (with a Mega Charizard X theme), dice, condition markers, and other accessories, all packaged in a collector’s storage box . The MSRP is $49.99 (or $59.99 for the Pokémon Center edition) in the U.S. for this premium bundle.

Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection: For the most hardcore Charizard fans, a Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection releases the same day as the main set (November 14, 2025) at a price of $119.99 . This high-end box is loaded with exclusive items and is expected to be the hottest product of the release. It includes:

  • 2 foil promo cards: one featuring Mega Charizard X ex (with exclusive artwork) and one featuring Oricorio ex
  • 18 booster packs from the Mega Evolution series  (guaranteeing plenty of chances to pull set cards)
  • 65 card sleeves featuring Mega Charizard X
  • 1 playmat featuring Mega Charizard X
  • 1 deck box featuring Mega Charizard X
  • 1 metal coin featuring Mega Charizard X
  • 6 damage-counter dice
  • 1 code card for Pokémon TCG Live (to redeem the contents digitally)

Essentially, the Ultra-Premium Collection is a treasure trove for Charizard enthusiasts – not only do you get the coveted Mega Charizard X ex promo card (which features artwork not found in booster packs), but you also get a host of branded goodies to enhance your TCG experience. Considering the popularity of Charizard, this box is expected to sell out quickly.

Early Access Opportunities

Eager to get your hands on Phantasmal Flames cards early? You won’t have to wait until November 14th. The Pokémon Company is offering early access products that let players sample the set’s cards in advance:

  • Mega Gengar ex & Mega Diancie ex Battle Decks: On October 24, 2025, two preconstructed Mega Battle Decks will release, featuring Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex as headliners. Priced at $14.99 each, these 60-card decks are ready-to-play and contain a selection of cards from Phantasmal Flames – roughly 20% of the set can be obtained in these decks before the official launch . Notably, they include cards like Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex themselves, giving players a jump start on using these Mega Evolution cards in battle. Each deck also comes with an exclusive Illustration Rare promo that won’t be in regular boosters (a Haunter promo in the Mega Gengar deck, and a Meloetta promo in the Mega Diancie deck) . These promos, plus the deck-exclusive content, make the battle decks enticing for collectors as well. If you’re a competitive player, the decks offer a great way to practice new strategies about three weeks early.

Digital Release and Prerelease Events

Competitive players and online enthusiasts have more to look forward to beyond physical cards. Phantasmal Flames will go live in the digital game Pokémon TCG Live on November 13, 2025 – one day before the physical release . This means online players (on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows) can start opening digital packs and building decks with Phantasmal Flames cards on the 13th. The digital launch comes with in-game bonuses for logging in, giving players an incentive to dive in early .

For those who enjoy the thrill of in-person events, Prerelease tournaments for Phantasmal Flames will run from November 1 through November 9, 2025 at participating local game stores . These prerelease events use Build & Battle Boxes, which contain 4 booster packs of Phantasmal Flames plus a 40-card ready-to-play deck (and one of four stamped promo cards). Attending a prerelease is a fun way to crack packs early, build a sealed deck, and get an early taste of how the new cards perform in battle.

According to The Pokémon Company, these events are part of the Play! Pokémon program and give players the chance to play with Phantasmal Flames two weeks before the official release . If you’re eyeing specific cards or strategies (like trying out Mega Charizard X ex in a Fire deck or Mega Gengar ex in a Dark deck), check with your local card shop for prerelease dates around the start of November.

Market Expectations and Chase Cards

With its mix of fan-favorite Pokémon and limited set size, Phantasmal Flames is shaping up to be a high-demand set in late 2025. Collectors are already zeroing in on several chase cards revealed in Japanese previews. The consensus top prize will be the Special Illustration Rare (SIR) Mega Charizard X ex – a card expected to command a premium thanks to Charizard’s enduring popularity and its stunning artwork . In addition, other SIR cards are generating buzz, including Mega Lopunny ex (SIR), Mega Sharpedo ex (SIR), and Rotom ex (SIR), all of which feature unique artwork and are likely to be quite scarce .

There’s also a Special Illustration Rare Supporter card featuring Dawn (the Sinnoh-region Trainer) that many collectors will chase for its character artwork and playability . Notably, Mega Gengar ex itself does not have a SIR version in this set (unless a surprise addition occurs), but its regular and ultra-rare versions will still be coveted by players who favor Darkness decks .

The return of the Mega Evolution mechanic, combined with nostalgic Pokémon like Charizard and Gengar, has created a perfect storm of excitement. Because Phantasmal Flames is a relatively small set, every booster pack has a better chance of yielding a hit, which increases the thrill for collectors. Early market indicators from Japan (the Inferno X set) suggest limited print runs and high initial secondary market prices for the top cards. In short, expect Phantasmal Flames to be one of the most sought-after Pokémon TCG releases of 2025 for both competitive play and collection value.

Preorders and Where to Buy

Preorders for Phantasmal Flames opened in mid-September on the official Pokémon Center online store – and the demand was intense. The Pokémon Center implemented a virtual queue system to manage the traffic, as thousands of fans rushed to secure products . Despite these measures, the initial wave of preorders sold out within about 2.5 hours of going live . Many collectors experienced website slowdowns or even errors due to the high traffic, a testament to the set’s popularity.

If you missed out on the Pokemon Center preorder, don’t panic – additional waves of preorders and product allocations are expected at major retailers. As the release date approaches, keep an eye on big-box retailers and TCG stores such as Amazon, GameStop, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and specialized card shops. Since Phantasmal Flames is a standard (non-special) expansion, it will be widely available at all retailers that carry Pokémon cards . Internationally, retailers like Game (UK) and Smyths Toys in Europe will also stock the set .

On release day (November 14th), products like booster packs, booster boxes, the Elite Trainer Box, and the Ultra-Premium Collection will hit shelves. Given the extraordinary interest (the Pokémon Center preorder pages even saw millions of hits, with reports of long queues ), it’s wise to secure your purchases early.

Preorder if possible, or be ready to visit your local store when doors open on release. Also consider checking with local game stores, as they often take in-person preorders or have limited quantities set aside for the community. With Phantasmal Flames bringing back Mega Evolution in a big way, demand will be high – so plan ahead to grab your Mega Charizard X ex and other favorites before they fly off the shelves.