ME07 Aura Seeker ETB: Wave 1 vs Wave 2, and Why the Pre-Order Window Matters
By Dexhaul Team · September 24, 2026
The Wave 1 vs Wave 2 price gap on the ME07 Aura Seeker ETB is smaller than most collectors expect. And that gap tells you something useful about when to buy.
ME07 Aura Seeker launches in Japan on November 27, 2026. The set introduces the ex star rarity tier to the Mega Evolution TCG series, a designation that sits above the SIR (Special Illustration Rare) on the rarity ladder.
Mega Lucario Z ex is the set's featured card. Suicune, Entei, and Raikou round out the confirmed ex star roster. None of the four have canonical Mega Evolution forms in any mainline Pokémon game.
Pre-orders are live now across multiple retailers.
Wave 1 vs Wave 2: The $13-$26 Gap
Banana Games lists the ME07 ETB in two waves at the same storefront. Wave 1 sits at $122 CAD. Wave 2 is $135 CAD.
That $13 gap is tighter than the typical ME series wave spread. For context, the Delta Reign ME06 ETB saw Wave 2 premium well above $20 at most retailers, and the ME01 base set ETB gap reached $30 between its earliest pre-order pricing and its third restock. The narrowing gap on ME07 suggests retailers are pricing Wave 2 availability as a mild premium for buyers who miss Wave 1, not a scarcity event.
If you want the set, Wave 1 is the lower floor. If you need more time to decide, Wave 2 exists, but you pay a small penalty for the delay.
The Acrylic Case Difference
Not all Wave 1 listings are equivalent. The Gemzy Wave 1 ETB pre-order at $109 CAD explicitly includes an acrylic display case. The Banana Games Wave 1 ETB at $122 lists the box only.
That is a $13 price inversion where the cheaper listing comes with more. Buyers comparing storefronts who miss that detail may inadvertently overpay.
If you want the display case and prefer to shop at a single retailer, Gemzy's $109 bundle is the better deal. If you want the card product only and are comfortable with Banana Games, $122 is competitive.
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution ME07 Elite Trainer Box + Acrylic Case (PRE-ORDER) (WAVE 1)
$109.00 CAD
The $8 Pack Entry
The ME07 Sleeved Booster Pack pre-orders at $8 CAD each from Banana Games. That makes it the lowest-commitment way into the set.
At $8 per pack, eight singles cost $64 vs a Wave 1 ETB at $109 to $122 for ten packs plus accessories and a promo.
The math: ETB buyers pay $10.90 to $12.20 per pack, versus $8 for booster-only orders. The $2.90 to $4.20 per-pack premium on the ETB covers the accessories, the promo card, and the collector box. Whether that trade is worth it depends on your collecting goals.
Why ex Star Is Different From SIR
The SIR (Special Illustration Rare) has been the apex rarity in the Mega Evolution series since ME01. Aura Seeker adds an entirely new tier above it.
The ex star designation carries a different art format and is expected to be pulled at significantly lower frequency than SIR. How much lower is not yet confirmed by any official source as of this writing.
What is known: ex star cards are numbered above the SIR tier, and they feature Pokémon that, as Bulbapedia's Mega Lucario article confirms, have no canonical Mega Evolution in the mainline video games. Mega Lucario Z, Suicune ex star, Entei ex star, and Raikou ex star are TCG-constructed forms with no game precedent.
That distinction matters for value framing. Prior ME series SIRs were anchored partly by the character's in-game Mega relevance.
Ex star cards have no game-canon anchor. Their value ceiling depends entirely on collector demand, not competitive recognition or game-meta significance.
The ME01 Connection
ME07 Aura Seeker is built around Lucario. So is ME01, the first set in the Mega Evolution series.
ME01 introduced Mega Lucario ex as its flagship card. Aura Seeker introduces Mega Lucario Z ex star. That narrative arc from the series' opening set back to Lucario for the ex star debut is intentional.
Collectors who hold the original Mega Lucario ex Figure Collection have the origin-point product for this character's ME TCG arc. Whether that affects secondary market pricing as Aura Seeker approaches is speculation, but the connection is documented.
The Johto Beasts: Why No in-Game Precedent Changes the Collector Logic
Suicune, Entei, and Raikou are the three Johto legendary beasts. None have Mega Evolution forms in any mainline Pokémon game, including Legends: Z-A.
In ME01 through ME06, every featured Pokémon had an in-game Mega form that collectors could reference. The visual design of the TCG card corresponded to game-canonical art.
Aura Seeker's ex star trio breaks that pattern. These are original TCG designs, not adaptations of existing game visuals.
For collectors, that means no existing graded population data, no established secondary market for these specific Pokémon in Mega form, and no prior-set comparable to anchor pricing. Ex star cards will set their own price floor once the set launches, with no comp card in the wider market to reference. Buying on pre-order is buying ahead of that data.
What to Do With Nine Weeks of Lead Time
November 27 is the JP launch. English release dates are not yet announced.
Wave 1 pre-orders lock in the lowest current floor. Wave 2 gives more time but costs more.
Sleeved packs at $8 work for buyers who want card-pool access without the ETB premium. The 3-Pack Blister Set of 2 at $61 gives six packs for $10.17 each, sitting between pack-only pricing and ETB value. None of these options require committing before you know ex star pull rates or secondary market floors.
If the Johto beasts or Mega Lucario Z ex are the pull targets, singles after launch will be the most cost-efficient path once pricing stabilizes. If sealed product or a display case is the goal, Wave 1 is the window to buy at the lowest documented price.
Search DexHaul for ME07 Aura Seeker to compare pre-order listings, Wave 1 and Wave 2 ETBs, sleeved packs, and the full format range from independent shops across multiple currencies. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.