Mega Meganium ex
Quick take
- Special Illustration Rare 272/217 from Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes, released January 30, 2026
- Full-art illustration by Tika Matsuno
- Grass-type Stage 2 Mega Evolution Pokemon ex tied to the Johto starter line
- Mid-tier SIR demand, not the set's top chase, which keeps it accessible
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Ascended Heroes
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 272/217 · $67.95 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyA Grass-type Mega chase from the Z-A set
Mega Meganium ex sits at 272/217 in Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes, the first special expansion in the Mega Evolution series. It launched January 30, 2026. As a Special Illustration Rare, it is the full-art tier that master-set builders need a copy of to call the set complete. Mega Meganium ex also shows up as a regular card and is the face of its own product box, so the name carries weight across the release.
“Special Illustration Rare 272/217 from Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes, released January 30, 2026”
The set draws on Pokemon Legends: Z-A and leans hard into Mega Evolution forms. Meganium is the Grass member of the Johto starter line, and a Mega treatment plus a Tika Matsuno full art gives it real pull with players who grew up on Gen 2.
Within the SIR lineup, this one is a solid mid-tier pick. The set's bigger-name Megas pull the loudest demand, which keeps Mega Meganium ex reachable for collectors who want a strong full art without paying for the headline chase.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Settles into the lower-to-middle band of Ascended Heroes Special Illustration Rares. The set's headline Megas command more, so Meganium ex reads as an attainable full art rather than a budget-breaker.
Like most cards from a still-printing modern set, the raw price has softened since release as supply opened up. Expect movement to track print supply and starter-line nostalgia more than play demand.
Treat it as a collector hold, not a flip. Modern SIRs from heavily printed sets tend to drift lower while packs are widely available, then firm up once the set leaves print. Meganium's character loyalty gives it a steady floor, but it is unlikely to outrun the set's marquee chases.
Clean Gem Mint copies pull the usual modern SIR premium over raw, and the gap is widest for a true PSA 10 or BGS Black Label. Centering and edge whitening on the full-art border are the main things that hold copies back from a 10.
Ascended Heroes follows modern Scarlet and Violet era pack odds. Any Special Illustration Rare lands at roughly 1 in 90 packs, and that is the chance of pulling any SIR, not this one. The set carries many SIRs, so the odds of hitting this specific Mega Meganium ex run far longer, often into the hundreds of packs. For comparison, any Double Rare is about 1 in 5 packs, any Illustration Rare about 1 in 12, any Ultra Rare about 1 in 15, and Hyper Rares are scarcer still at roughly 1 in 300 to 700. Most collectors buy the single rather than chase it from packs.
Rarer than the set's Double Rares, Illustration Rares, and Ultra Rares, but easier to find on the secondary market than the top Hyper Rares. Among the set's SIRs it is one of the more attainable names.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Tika Matsuno is a credited Pokemon TCG illustrator with a catalog of modern cards. The full-art Special Illustration Rare print of Mega Meganium ex is attributed to Matsuno on Bulbapedia, TCG Collector, and Limitless.
The card is a full-art Special Illustration Rare, the extended-frame style where the Pokemon breaks out of the standard card box. I could not confirm the specific scene from a source this session, so I am keeping the description general rather than guessing at the imagery.
Special Illustration Rare layout: full-bleed artwork, textured holo finish, and the card numbered 272/217. That number sits above the set's 217-card base count, which marks it as a secret-rarity slot.
It pairs a fan-favorite Johto starter with the SIR tier collectors chase hardest. For a master set, this is the version that completes the page, not the plain regular print.
BackgroundAbout Mega Meganium ex
Meganium is the final form of Chikorita, the Grass-type starter introduced in Gold and Silver. It has been a steady presence for Johto fans since 1999. The Mega Evolution treatment in the Ascended Heroes era gives the line a new card identity built around the reintroduced Mega mechanic.
- ›Gen 2 starter nostalgia from a large, loyal fanbase
- ›Grass-type collectors who build around a single type
- ›The novelty of a Mega form for a Pokemon that did not have one in older games
- ›Full-art SIR treatment in a popular modern set
- ›Face of its own Mega Meganium ex product box in the Ascended Heroes release
- ›Tied to the Pokemon Legends: Z-A theme that runs through the set
The card is a Stage 2 with 360 HP and a Grass attack called Giant Bouquet that does 70, plus 50 more for each Grass Energy attached. Whether it sees real tournament play depends on the Grass support legal alongside it. Most demand for this card is collector-driven, not competitive.
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art borders show whitening fast, so check all four edges and corners under good light. Centering varies on SIRs from this era. Surface scratches on the holo texture are the other common knock.
Worth grading only if the raw copy looks clean: sharp corners, even centering, no print lines. For a mid-tier SIR like this, grading fees can eat most of the premium unless you land a 10, so be honest about the card before submitting. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve it in a penny sleeve plus a toploader or a one-touch right away. Keep it out of direct light and away from humidity. For long-term storage, a semi-rigid holder in a binder with side-loading pockets protects the corners better than top-loading pages. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than ripping packs for it. The set is modern and still printing, so there is no rush. Watch raw prices while supply is high, and target a copy with clean centering and edges. For graded buys, stick to PSA or BGS slabs from trusted sellers. See the singles buying guide →
Modern SIRs get faked less than vintage chases, but still buy from reputable sellers. Check the holo texture, the crisp full-art print, and the 272/217 number against a reference image on Bulbapedia or TCG Collector before paying a premium.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Reception has been positive among Johto and Grass-type collectors who were glad to see Meganium get a Mega card and a full-art SIR. Broader hype in the set has centered on its bigger-name Megas, so Meganium ex reads as a beloved deep cut rather than the headline pull.
Discussion has mostly run through the usual channels: set-completion threads, starter-line fans, and SIR pull posts. I did not find a specific viral moment tied to this card, so treat the buzz as steady collector interest rather than a spike.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
Keep collectingRelated cards
Plan your Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes master set
Track every card, see what you're missing, and lay out your binder page by page.
