Phantasmal Flames: Date, Cards and Prices of ME02

The Phantasmal Flames set hit the shelves on November 14, 2025, and it didn't take long to get people talking. The second installment of the Mega Evolution block, this set, known in French as Flammes Fantasmagoriques, puts Mega Charizard X ex at the center of all the attention, surrounded by a lineup of Darkness and Fire Pokémon that give the set an atmosphere both dark and spectacular. If you want to know what this set is really worth, which cards to chase and how to optimize your collection tracking, you're in the right place.

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Phantasmal Flames (ME02): overview of the set

Official name and context

Mega Evolution - Phantasmal Flames is a set in the Pokémon TCG's Mega Evolution series. Its official designation is ME02. It directly follows ME01 Mega Evolution, released in September 2025, and confirms the direction of the new block: reintroducing Mega Evolution mechanics into the modern TCG with Pokémon ex cards.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution,Phantasmal Flames is the second main set of the Mega Evolution series, and continues to introduce Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards into the game, with Mega Charizard X ex as the central Pokémon.

Phantasmal Flames release date

Phantasmal Flames (ME02) is the 2nd set of the Pokémon TCG's Mega Evolution block. The official date is November 14, 2025 in France and Europe, with Play! Pokémon pre-release events starting November 1, 2025.

It was officially announced on September 3, 2025.

How many cards in ME02?

The main set contains 94 cards before the secret rares, which makes it one of the most compact regular expansions released in eight years. Once the full rarity breakdown is taken into account, the total Phantasmal Flames list rises to 130 cards. The rarity structure breaks down as follows: 43 Commons, 31 Uncommons, 10 Rares, 10 Double Rares, 17 Ultra Rares, 13 Illustration Rares, 5 Special Illustration Rares and 1 Mega Hyper Rare.

Phantasmal Flames will be the smallest regular set in years with only 94 cards before the secret rares! This compact format is a notable feature of the Mega Evolution block, reminiscent of the expansions of the HeartGold SoulSilver era.

Theme and mechanics

The set introduces powerful Fire-type and Darkness-type Pokémon, headlined by Mega Charizard X ex and Mega Gengar ex, two cards with particularly high HP and attack damage.

In total, there are six Mega Evolution ex Pokémon in Phantasmal Flames: Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Gengar ex, Mega Diancie ex, Mega Heracross ex, Mega Banette ex and Mega Sharpedo ex.

The Ultra Rare cards of Phantasmal Flames feature the silhouette of the Pokémon's normal form in the background of the illustration, a style specific to the Mega Evolution series. This graphic treatment is one of the block's most recognizable visual signatures.

Beyond the Fire theme carried by Charizard, the set also puts a strong emphasis on Darkness-type Pokémon, notably Mega Sharpedo ex and especially Mega Gengar ex. The latter has the "Shadow Concealment" ability: Darkness Pokémon that are Knocked Out make the opponent take one fewer Prize card, provided they were Knocked Out by the attack of another Pokémon ex.

Available products

Mega Evolution - Phantasmal Flames offers over 120 cards to collect, available in various Pokémon TCG products. The main formats are:

• Display (36 boosters): the preferred format for opening in volume

• ETB (Elite Trainer Box): each Phantasmal Flames ETB contains 9 boosters, a full art Charcadet promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, a plastic coin and a sturdy box to store everything.

• Pokémon Center ETB: the Pokémon Center version includes 11 boosters, two more than the standard ETB, plus two full art Charcadet promo cards, one of them stamped with the Pokémon Center logo.

• Booster Bundle: a Booster Bundle brings together six Phantasmal Flames boosters in a single convenient package.

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The headline cards of Phantasmal Flames

There's no shortage of gorgeous cards to obtain in this set, with beautiful illustrations even for the common Pokémon.

Mega Charizard X ex 125/094, The absolute chase card

This intensity-filled illustration depicts the darkest and most majestic form of Charizard: the Mega Charizard X ex 125/094. At the November 2025 launch, the card traded between €480 and €525 on the secondary market.

As of April 2026, the card is listed at roughly €456 on CardMarket, confirming a slight cooling compared to the release peak, but a value that remains among the highest in the set.

The main chase card of Phantasmal Flames is the Mega Charizard X ex #125, which captures the Pokémon's grandiose power well. Interesting fact: despite its title of most expensive card in the set, it's not the rarest, that honor goes to the fully gold Mega Hyper Rare Mega Charizard X ex #130.

Mega Charizard X ex 130/094, Gold Mega Hyper Rare

The set's only Mega Hyper Rare is the Mega Charizard X ex #130, with a fully gold treatment etched onto the black Mega Evolution border.

The Mega Charizard X ex 130/094 is a true piece of goldsmithing, whose monochrome design gives the dragon an aura of absolute prestige. At launch, the card traded between €410 and €450.

Regarding pull rates, this Mega Hyper Rare is pulled at roughly 1 booster in 1,000 to 1,250, which makes it one of the hardest cards to obtain when opening packs.

The 5 SIR (Special Illustration Rares)

The set's five Special Illustration Rares are: Mega Charizard X ex SIR, Dawn SIR, Rotom ex SIR, Mega Banette ex SIR and Mega Sharpedo ex SIR, the main targets for most collectors.

For the Mega Charizard X ex SIR specifically, pull rates are 1 chance in 400 per booster (since there are 5 different SIRs in the series).

Here is a summary table of the most sought-after cards and their indicative values:

Indicative values from market data available between November 2025 and April 2026. To be checked in real time on CardMarket.

The other notable Illustration Rares

The set contains a total of 36 secret rares: 13 Illustration Rares, 17 Ultra Rares, 5 SIR and 1 Mega Hyper Rare.

Among the Illustration Rares that caught the community's attention:

Rotom ex #126 with an electrifying design that does justice to the mischievous Pokémon, and Piplup #98 depicted adorably under a shelter, avoiding the freezing weather.

Moltres #14 with its particularly successful flamboyant illustration, which makes you appreciate the common cards more than you'd have imagined.

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Analysis for collectors: should you invest in Phantasmal Flames?

A compact set, an opportunity to complete

The 94-card main set makes completing a collection far more accessible than in a standard 200-card set. The pull rates for Double Rares and Illustration Rares are generous enough that opening boosters remains rewarding without requiring a massive investment.

Budget-conscious collectors who want to complete their Phantasmal Flames checklist should open two to three displays to build their base, then buy the remaining secret rares as singles. Completing the 130-card master set (all secret rares included) is estimated in a range of €1,200 to €1,400 based on current market prices.

The appreciation potential

The Mega SIRs (especially Mega Charizard X and Mega Gengar) are serious grading candidates for their exceptional artwork and their likely long-term appeal.

ME02 will remain legal in the Standard format until at least September 2027, which ensures stable competitive demand in the short term.

Nevertheless, experienced collectors warn against overpaying during the release hype. As with other Charizard-centered sets (for example Obsidian Flames in 2023), initial prices can be inflated before stabilizing once supply normalizes.

The risks to know

• The Mega Hyper Rare is very expensive to pull: the Mega Hyper Rare comes out at roughly 1 booster in 1,000 to 1,250, and the two premium SIR cards are priced beyond what booster openings at retail price can make profitable.

• The set is small but the top cards are rare: the compact format is double-edged, fewer cards to complete, but the most sought-after secret rares require substantial opening volumes.

• The Charizard effect: as is often the case, the concentration of value on a single Pokémon (here Charizard) creates an asymmetry: the set's other cards struggle to find liquidity compared to the star.

What seasoned collectors advise

If you're aiming for the top cards, buying singles on CardMarket is generally more rational than opening displays hoping to pull the SIRs. To enjoy the thrill of opening without breaking the bank, the ETB or a display remain the most balanced formats. The grading cost (€40 - 60) is only justified for an expected added value of at least €200 worth keeping in mind before sending your cards to PSA.

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How to track Phantasmal Flames with PokeItem

Fell for a Phantasmal Flames card? Or trying to find out whether your Mega Charizard X ex has gained value since you bought it? That's exactly where PokeItem comes in.

Track the value of your ME02 cards in real time

PokeItem integrates European secondary-market data for all physical Pokémon TCG sets, including ME02. You can:

• Check the real-time value of each card, from the most common to the Mega Hyper Rare
• Track price movements over time, very useful for spotting the right moment to buy the SIRs
• Calculate the total value of your ME02 collection in one click

Complete your set with the advanced filters

If you're in the process of completing the Phantasmal Flames master set, PokeItem's filters let you quickly isolate:

• The cards you already own vs. the ones missing
• Cards by rarity (Double Rare, Ultra Rare, SIR, Mega Hyper Rare…)
• Cards by price range, handy for prioritizing your single purchases

Scan your cards and add them to your collection

With the built-in card scanner, you can photograph your pulls directly after opening your boosters. PokeItem automatically identifies the card, its rarity and adds it to your collection with its current value. Ideal after opening an ME02 display to get an immediate view of the value of what you pulled.

The wishlist to never miss a good deal

Looking for the Mega Charizard X ex 125 without breaking the bank? Add it to your PokeItem wishlist and keep an eye on its price movements. When the market eases (and it always does at some point), you'll be positioned to buy at the right moment.

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Conclusion

Phantasmal Flames stands out as one of the most notable sets of 2025 for the physical Pokémon TCG. Its compact format (94 cards in the main set), its dark atmosphere around the Fire and Darkness Mega Evolutions, and the presence of Mega Charizard X ex in multiple rare versions make it a set that every serious collector should know, and have on their radar.

The November 14, 2025 release triggered immediate excitement, with SIRs approaching €500 at launch before a slight stabilization. Collectors who play the patience card, buying singles progressively rather than opening in bulk, are generally better positioned to complete their set without breaking the bank.

To track your Phantasmal Flames cards, their real-time value and the total value of your Mega Evolution collection, head to app.pokeitem.fr, it's free and built for the European secondary market.