It’s amazing how Pokémon has endured and evolved as a pop culture phenomenon. I wasn’t a kid myself when Pokémon first emerged in the 90s, but even then it felt special, and I was absolutely hooked on the original Game Boy Pokémon games (shout out to my first ever Pokémon game: Pokémon Blue!). It didn’t take that long for me to get drawn into the trading card game either, and here I am, over two decades later, still writing about it! The latest Pokémon set, and the first for 2026, is Ascended Heroes. Let’s take a look at the most valuable cards in the Ascended Heroes set!
10. Mega Froslass ex – Special Illustration Rare, 275/217
Though art is, of course, subjective, it’s almost always the case that cards with the most beautiful artwork populate lists of the most valuable cards. Case in point is this gorgeous Mega Froslass ex, which kicks off our list of the most valuable cards in Ascended Heroes. However, don’t overlook that Resentful Refrain attack; costing just 1 Water Energy, it deals 50 damage for each card in your opponent’s hand, which means that it can deal some serious punishment if timed right!
9. Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex – Special Illustration Rare, 287/217
We always see cards featuring Pokémon trainers on our most valuable cards lists, and given that Ascended Heroes features plenty of Owner’s Pokémon, you’ll see several of them here too! This one features trainer Marnie alongside her Grimmsnarl ex, definitely more than ready for battle.
8. N’s Zoroark ex – Special Illustration Rare, 286/217
Another card featuring a trainer alongside their Pokémon, this Special Illustration Rare card has the trainer known as N in a more relaxed pose with his Zoroark ex. It makes use of other N’s Pokémon you have on your bench for its attack, so it’s definitely worth building your deck with N specific Pokémon populating it!
7. Iono’s Bellibolt ex – Special Illustration Rare, 279/217
An adorably cartoonish illustration features on this card, which sees Iono having fun with her Bellibolt ex. The gorgeous colors and stylized art make this an immediately appealing card, so we can see why it’s so highly sought after by fans.
6. Mega Feraligatr ex – Special Illustration Rare, 274/217
Stepping away from Owner’s Pokémon for this entry, it’s a very in-your-face shot of the Mega Feraligatr ex, who looks more than ready to take on whatever it’s facing. Which, and this is bad news I’m afraid, seems to be you!
5. Lillie’s Clefairy ex – Special Illustration Rare, 280/217
Of course, it doesn’t take long for us to return to the Owner’s Pokémon, with this card featuring Lillie and her Clefairy ex. It’s another card that features a more relaxed and candid shot, with Lillie giving her Clefairy a lovely hug, and the Pokémon responding with what looks like truly infectious happiness.
4. Mega Diancie ex – Special Illustration Rare, 282/217
The Mega Diancie ex art on this Special Illustration Rare is beautiful, giving this Pokémon the Diamond Coat which their ability is named after. The Mega Diancie ex is no slouch when it comes to attacking; its 2 Psychic Energy attack deals up to 240 damage, with 120 damage dealt for each of up to 2 Energy cards you discard while attacking. Though that can slow the Mega Diancie ex down a bit, if you have the Energy cards to keep adding, you can keep on fuelling their attack!
3. Mega Dragonite ex – Special Illustration Rare, 290/217
This card features the perfect artwork for the Ascended Heroes set, given that it shows Mega Dragonite ex actually ascending. Behind the Mega Dragonite ex are Dragonairs and Dragonites, symbolizing the transformation into the Mega form.
2. Mega Charizard Y ex – Mega Hyper Rare, 294/217
The single, non-Special Illustration Rare card on this list is the Mega Hyper Rare variant of Mega Charizard Y ex. As the rarest card in the set, we’d have expected this to be in at the number one spot, but with our data on pricing being gathered from TCGplayer, the likelihood is that there are so few of these cards currently in circulation that the real value hasn’t yet been established. Nonetheless, this golden, impressively textured card is definitely one to look out for in your Ascended Heroes booster packs!
1. Mega Gengar ex – Special Illustration Rare, 284/217
Finally, the current card which everyone wants is this incredible Mega Gengar ex. The beautifully sinister art is the perfect fit for the Darkness Energy type Pokémon. The practically glowing colors really give this card an incredible aesthetic, and it’s no surprise to see it at the very top of the most valuable cards in Ascended Heroes!
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