EX Delta Species vs EX Legend Maker TCG: Which to Buy (2026)

Buy EX Delta Species if you want the set that defined the Holon era and its iconic Eeveelution delta holos. Buy EX Legend Maker if you want seven ex Pokémon in a smaller set, including Mew ex and the complete Regi trio Stars.

Both sets were released in the same 2005-2006 Holon story arc for the Pokémon TCG. They share the delta species mechanic: Pokémon printed with the δ symbol that run on a different energy type than their species normally requires. A collector choosing between them is really deciding what they value most from the era.

At a glance

Where EX Delta Species wins

The mechanic that changed collecting

EX Delta Species introduced something the TCG had never done before: Pokémon with typing that broke every assumed rule. A Dragonite that needed Lightning energy instead of Colorless, an Espeon that ran Fire, a Vaporeon on Grass energy.

The δ symbol on a card meant its Pokémon had been altered by the Holon Transceiver research triangle in the lore. In gameplay terms, it opened unexpected combo decks.

For collectors, it created an entirely new category of holo rare that looked familiar but played completely differently. No other era of the TCG matched this creative risk at the same scale.

Eeveelution delta holos

The set's most collectible cards are its delta species holo rares: Espeon δ (4/113, Fire-type), Umbreon δ (17/113, Psychic-type), and Vaporeon δ (18/113). These Eeveelution holos are among the most recognizable cards from the entire EX era.

Dragonite δ (3/113) is the set's headline holo rare: a Lightning-type Dragonite with striking artwork observed at $358.00 on October 19, 2026. Tyranitar δ (16/113) offers a lower-entry alternative at $80.00 on the same date.

Dragonite (3/113) (Delta Species) [EX: Delta Species]

$358.00 USD

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Three Legendary Star cards

EX Delta Species holds three Pokémon Star ultra rares: Groudon ★ (111/113), Kyogre ★ (112/113), and Metagross ★ (113/113). The weather trio pairing of Groudon and Kyogre made these among the most sought-after Stars across the entire Holon series.

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Where EX Legend Maker wins

Seven ex Pokémon in a smaller set

EX Legend Maker packs seven ex Pokémon into 92 cards: Arcanine ex, Armaldo ex, Banette ex, Dustox ex, Flygon ex, Mew ex, and Walrein ex. EX Delta Species has only three ex Pokémon (the Eeveelution trio) across its 113 cards.

For collectors building an ex roster, Legend Maker offers significantly more variety per set. Flygon ex (87/92) is the set's visual standout, with artwork that holds up well against modern ultra rares. Observed at $95.00 on October 19, 2026, it is one of the more accessible ex cards from this era of the TCG.

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Mew ex and its lasting legacy

Mew ex is the reason most collectors look at EX Legend Maker first.

Mew ex (88/92) was one of the original ex Pokémon that made the EX era feel important. It was later reprinted in the Celebrations Classic Collection (released October 8, 2021), which renewed collector interest in the original 2006 printing.

If Mew is a core part of your collection focus, Legend Maker is your set. The Celebrations reprint is a different card for completion purposes, but the 2006 original carries the original EX era's production quality and set numbering.

2006 Pokemon EX Legend Maker Mew #088/092 Holo

$20.00 USD

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The complete Regi trio Stars

EX Legend Maker contains all three Regi Pokémon Stars in one set: Regice ★ (90/92), Regirock ★ (91/92), and Registeel ★ (92/92). Completing a trio of Star cards from a single set is considerably simpler than hunting Stars spread across multiple releases.

EX Delta Species splits its Stars between weather legendaries (Groudon and Kyogre) and Metagross, none of which form a natural trio. For a collector who values thematic coherence, the Regi Stars in Legend Maker are a distinct advantage.

The deciding question

The choice comes down to what kind of collector you are.

If you want the set that started something, buy EX Delta Species. It introduced a mechanic no other era of the TCG ever repeated, and the delta species Eeveelution holos remain the most visually distinctive cards of the period. The larger card pool (113 vs 92) gives you more to chase across holo rares and Stars.

If you want more ex Pokémon per dollar and a clear trio goal, buy EX Legend Maker. Seven ex Pokémon in 92 cards is a better density than Delta Species, Flygon ex offers accessible entry, and the Regi Stars form a natural set-within-a-set to complete.

There is a third option: both sets are part of the same story arc in the TCG lore and complement each other. Collectors who are already deep in the vintage TCG space often pursue complete Holon series runs, which spans several releases beyond these two.

FAQ

Which set came first, EX Delta Species or EX Legend Maker?

EX Delta Species released October 31, 2005. EX Legend Maker followed on February 8, 2006. Delta Species introduced the delta species mechanic; Legend Maker continued the Holon arc.

How many cards are in EX Delta Species vs EX Legend Maker?

EX Delta Species has 113 cards. EX Legend Maker has 92 cards. Both sets include Pokémon Star ultra rares at the top of their numbering.

What is a delta species Pokémon card?

A delta species card is printed with a δ symbol and uses a different energy type than that Pokémon normally requires. For example, Dragonite δ (3/113) is Lightning-type rather than Colorless. The mechanic was introduced in EX Delta Species and continued through several subsequent EX-era sets.

Does EX Legend Maker have Mew ex?

Yes. Mew ex (88/92) is in EX Legend Maker, released February 8, 2006. It was later reprinted in the Celebrations Classic Collection in 2021, but the original 2006 printing is the one numbered 88/92.

Which set has more Pokémon Stars?

Both sets have three Pokémon Stars. EX Delta Species has Groudon ★, Kyogre ★, and Metagross ★. EX Legend Maker has Regice ★, Regirock ★, and Registeel ★. Legend Maker's Stars form the complete Regi trio from a single set.