Mega Dragonite ex
Quick take
- Special Illustration Rare, 290/217, from the first special set of the Mega Evolution series
- Art by DOM showing Mega Dragonite soaring through a starry, dotted backdrop in a bold pop-art style
- Mega Dragonite is the cover Pokemon for Ascended Heroes
- Widely called one of the two top chases in the set, next to Mega Gengar ex
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Ascended Heroes
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 290/217 · $477.42 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Mega Dragonite card collectors went after on sight
Ascended Heroes is the first special expansion in the Mega Evolution series, and it is one of the largest English Pokemon sets ever printed. Special sets sell through select retailers rather than the usual booster-box channel, which tends to tighten supply on the headline rares. Mega Dragonite ex at 290/217 is one of those headliners.
“Special Illustration Rare, 290/217, from the first special set of the Mega Evolution series”
Mega Dragonite is the cover Pokemon for the entire set. The Special Illustration Rare leans into that. DOM draws it mid-flight, soaring through the stars, the light body popping against a dark dotted sky. The look is closer to pop art than the usual soft-focus SIR, and that made it stand out the moment the card was revealed. Coverage at the time paired it with Mega Gengar ex as the set's two must-have chases, with Gengar usually carrying the popularity edge and Dragonite carrying the art crowd.
For master-set builders, this is the card you plan the binder around. It sits near the top of the Ascended Heroes checklist alongside the other SIRs, and the special-set distribution keeps demand running ahead of supply.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits in the top tier of Ascended Heroes, among the set's most wanted Special Illustration Rares. Among modern SV-and-later SIRs it reads as a strong card rather than a budget pickup, driven by the art rather than competitive play.
Demand ran hot from the reveal and through launch, which is typical for a heavily hyped SIR. Expect the usual modern pattern. A spike around release, then a settling period once the initial chase cools. The art ceiling and the special-set supply argue against it sliding down to bulk.
Art-driven SIRs of beloved Pokemon tend to hold collector interest well past their print window, and Dragonite is about as safe a name as the hobby has. The main risk is the standard modern one. A lot of these were chased at launch, so near-term pricing can be choppy. A clean copy, ideally graded, is the version with the most durable demand.
Modern SIRs live and die by centering and edges, so a PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 commands a clear premium over raw, while a 9 narrows that gap considerably. The full-art surface shows whitening and print lines easily, so high grades are not a given.
In Scarlet & Violet-era and later sets, any Special Illustration Rare lands roughly 1 in 90 packs, far rarer than Double Rares (about 1 in 5), Illustration Rares (about 1 in 12), or Ultra Rares (about 1 in 15), and below only the Hyper Rare gold cards (about 1 in 300 to 700). Those numbers are for hitting any card of the rarity. The odds for this one specific SIR run much longer, since each set has many SIRs, which pushes a targeted pull into the hundreds of packs. Ascended Heroes is also a special set sold through select retailers rather than standard booster boxes, so plan to buy the single rather than rip for it.
Alongside Mega Gengar ex, this was treated as one of the two top chases in the set. Gengar tends to win on raw popularity, while Dragonite wins with the art crowd, and both sit comfortably above the set's lesser SIRs.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
DOM illustrated the Mega attack rare and the Special Illustration Rare prints of this card. The art was singled out across launch coverage as a standout of Ascended Heroes, which is a big part of why the card became a chase. The regular and Mega Hyper Rare versions use different artwork by aky CG Works.
Mega Dragonite is shown in flight, soaring through the stars. Its light-colored body is set against a dark backdrop scattered with purple dots, and the whole piece carries vivid color, a striking pose, and thick line work that reads more like pop art and comics than a typical soft SIR. Pokemon's own art feature grouped it with two other DOM Mega illustrations built around the idea of these Pokemon as heroes on the rise.
Full-art Special Illustration Rare treatment, with the illustration extending across the card and beyond the standard window. Mega Dragonite ex also appears in other rarities in the set, including a Mega Hyper Rare, but the 290/217 SIR is the pack-pulled chase covered here.
It takes the set's cover Pokemon and gives it a loud, graphic treatment that does not look like the rest of the SIRs around it. The mix of a fan-favorite Pokemon, the bold pop-art styling, and DOM's composition is what pushed it onto so many want lists at reveal.
BackgroundAbout Mega Dragonite ex
Dragonite has been a marquee Pokemon since the original games, the pseudo-legendary of Kanto and a regular fixture on competitive and casual teams alike. The Dratini line carries a lot of nostalgia, which gives any premium Dragonite card a built-in audience well beyond the people chasing this specific set.
- ›One of the most recognizable and beloved Pokemon across every generation
- ›The Mega Evolution treatment is new for the 2026 era, adding novelty to a classic
- ›Mega Dragonite is the face of Ascended Heroes, which raises its profile
- ›Dragon-type pseudo-legendary status keeps it desirable for theme collectors
- ›A staple of the original Kanto roster and Lance's signature Pokemon in the games and anime
- ›Recurring premium-card subject across many Pokemon TCG eras
On the card itself this is a Stage 2 Dragon-type that evolves from Dragonair, with 370 HP, the Sky Transport Ability for repositioning your Active Pokemon, and the Ryuno Glide attack. The SIR is collected for the art rather than for tournament use, so treat the play details as secondary to its status as a chase collectible.
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art SIRs show flaws fast. Check the four corners for whitening, the large flat color areas for print lines and scratches, and the edges for chipping. The dark, dotted background makes surface scuffs easy to spot under angled light.
Worth grading if the copy is clean. Centering is the usual gatekeeper on cards like this, so inspect front-to-back alignment before paying grading fees. A PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 carries a real premium; a 9 much less so. Read the grading guide →
Get it into a penny sleeve and a top loader or one-touch right away, kept out of direct light and away from humidity. For long-term display, a UV-resistant case helps protect the colors from fading. See the storage guide →
Because this is a special-set release, buying the single is more sensible than chasing it in packs. Prioritize centering and clean corners over a marginally lower price, and for serious money buy it already graded from a reputable seller so you are not gambling on a raw card's true condition. See the singles buying guide →
Buy graded for higher-value copies. On raw cards, check the holofoil pattern and texture against a known-genuine SIR, verify crisp text and a clean rarity stamp, and be wary of listings with only stock photos or prices well under market.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Reception was strongly positive at reveal. Multiple outlets and collectors called DOM's art among the best in the set, and the bold pop-art look got specific praise for standing apart from the other SIRs. It became a frequent reason people cited for pre-ordering Ascended Heroes product.
Buzz centered on the art and on the Dragonite-versus-Gengar chase debate, with the general read being that Gengar had the popularity edge and Dragonite had the aesthetics. Expect it to stay a recurring favorite in best-of-set art discussions.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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