Blog · Mega Evolution & Modern Sets
Emboar in 2026: The Collector's Guide From $1 Pulls to the Ascended Heroes ex Box
By Dexhaul Team · August 27, 2026
Tomorrow's Ascended Heroes launch gives Emboar its first Mega ex card. The timing matters: the rest of the Unova fire starter's TCG market is still priced as if the spotlight hasn't arrived yet.
Emboar is Pokémon #500, the Fire/Fighting-type final evolution of Tepig, introduced in the Black & White generation (2010 JP / 2011 EN). Its TCG history spans fifteen years of printings, from the BW base set through the current Scarlet & Violet era, and now the Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes expansion launching August 28.
This guide covers what each tier looks like and what it costs right now.
The Entry Tier: White Flare Holo Rares Under $2
The cheapest way into an Emboar collection is the White Flare Holo Rare (013/086). It's the standard holo print from the 2025 Scarlet & Violet set SV11W, and multiple sellers list it under $2 in near-mint condition.
White Flare is a Japanese-first set. It reached English-language secondary markets quickly, which is why these common pulls are accessible at entry prices.
The card itself is a clean Holo Rare design, nothing more. But it is Emboar's current-era look, and for $2 it's the lowest-cost way to own a recent print.
There's also a separate Japanese AR (Alternate-Art) version numbered 098/086, sitting above the base set count. That card is different from the Holo Rare: it's the one most Emboar collectors are actually targeting.
The Plush Option: Pokémon Fit at $20
Emboar's soft-goods catalog is compact. The Pokémon Fit plush is essentially the primary licensed option for collectors who want the character on a shelf rather than in a binder.
The Fit line is built around Pokédex proportions, which suits Emboar well: the fire-belly ring and wide stance are core to its design, and the plush renders them accurately. Ichiba Japan carries it at $20, imported from Pokémon Center Japan. It's the lowest-cost Emboar item that displays well without commitment to the TCG market.
For context: Emboar doesn't have a Squishmallows version, a large Kuttari plush, or any mass-market Western soft-goods release. The Fit plush is it, and at $20 that's a reasonable entry for a character with limited plush availability.
Fifteen Years of BW Prints: What Older Cards Cost Now
Emboar was printed throughout the full Black & White era: the base BW set (2011), Next Destinies (2012), Boundaries Crossed (2012), and Legendary Treasures (2013). Most Holo Rares from these sets are under $20 on the secondary market today.
The Legendary Treasures 27/113 is a clean holo print and available around $18. It was overlooked during its original print run for a reason that still explains today's prices: the Tepig line was the least popular of the three Unova starters at launch. Collectors chased Snivy and Oshawott cards while Emboar prints stayed accessible.
The outlier is the Next Destinies Secret Rare (100/99). It exceeds the base set card count, marking it as a full-art treatment, and it currently prices around $58 in near-mint condition.
That's substantially below the Mewtwo-EX Secret Rares from the same set, which trade at multiples of that figure. For collectors who want BW-era Secret Rare quality at a discount, Emboar's Next Destinies print is the clearest example of that gap.
The fan-demand differential is the entire reason the gap exists.
The White Flare Illustration Rare: Emboar's Current Sweet Spot
The White Flare Illustration Rare (098/086) is where most Emboar collectors focus in 2026. Card numbers above a set's base count indicate Special Illustration Rares in the Scarlet & Violet era's rarity structure. Emboar 098/086 is the character's first extended-artwork treatment in the SV era.
English copies run $40 to $50 depending on seller and condition. The Japanese original, the AR (098/086) version, prices significantly lower: around $8. If you prefer the Japanese card format or want to put the budget toward the Ascended Heroes box launching tomorrow, the Japanese version is a genuine option that delivers the same full illustration at a fraction of the English secondary market price.
The key distinction is that SV11W White Flare is a Japanese-first set. English printings came through the secondary import market, not a direct English set release, which is why the Japanese and English versions trade at different prices.
The Ascended Heroes Window: Mega Emboar ex ($54 to $76)
The Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes expansion introduces Mega Emboar ex. It is the only Unova representative in the Ascended Heroes trio, which otherwise features Mega Feraligatr ex and Mega Meganium ex from Johto. The cross-regional grouping is unusual and worth noting for collectors building a Johto or Unova focused collection.
The ex Box contains the Mega Emboar ex foil promo card, an oversized lenticular card, and four booster packs. Prices across DexHaul merchants range from $57.99 (PokePlay Collectible) to $74 (HK Collectibles), with the tin format at Boxed Vinyl listed at $69.95.
If you want only the card and not the box format, standalone copies of the Mega Emboar ex 273/217 Holofoil from Danireon are listed at $54. The Special Illustration Rare variant (also numbered 273/217, but with extended artwork) runs to about $76 at Papa Joey's Collectibles.
That's the Ascended Heroes Emboar decision: box plus packs at $57-$74, standalone Holofoil at $54, or the SIR at $76 if extended artwork is the target.
Japanese Premium: The M Start Deck 100 Cards ($109 to $161)
Above the Ascended Heroes market sits the Japanese Mega Emboar ex from the M Start Deck 100 Battle Collection. This is a specialty Japanese product with its own card numbering (762/742) distinct from the standard Ascended Heroes print. Nippon Trove lists it at $109.99 in near-mint condition; used copies from Japanese import sellers appear around $161 and lower.
The 762/742 numbering reflects the M Start Deck 100's massive card pool, not a different rarity. The card itself is the same Mega Emboar ex character, but in Japanese format and with a different sourcing path.
Collectors focused exclusively on Japanese releases consider the M Start Deck 100 version the primary Japanese Mega Emboar ex. English-focused collectors can skip it without missing a rarity tier. Both are legitimate depending on what your collection prioritizes.
DexHaul searches across independent Pokémon shops worldwide, so you can compare every Emboar option in one place. Find Emboar cards, plush, and Ascended Heroes boxes from sellers around the globe, filtered by your price range and region. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.