Mega Forces and Ascended Heroes Tins Launch Today: What's Live on August 28
By Dexhaul Team · August 28, 2026
August 28 brings two Pokémon TCG tin waves to market on the same day.
Mega Forces (ME05) and Ascended Heroes (ME02.5) are both part of the Mega Evolution TCG series, which introduces Mega Evolution forms for Pokémon that never received them in the main series games. Mega Forces covers Darkrai ex, Zeraora ex, and Dragonite ex. Ascended Heroes covers Feraligatr ex, Meganium ex, and Emboar ex.
Each tin includes a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex promo card alongside booster packs from the ME series.
The two waves serve different collector profiles. Understanding which one matches your collection is the only real decision you need to make today.
Mega Forces: Three Mythicals, One to Pick
The Mega Forces wave centers on three Pokémon that sit at the upper end of competitive and collector interest: a Generation IV Mythical, a Generation VII Mythical, and a Generation I pseudo-legendary. All three are popular enough that any of the three tins will find an audience, but the right pick depends on which era and playstyle you gravitate toward.
Mega Darkrai ex
Darkrai is the collector's choice in this wave. It debuted in the Diamond and Pearl era and built a reputation across multiple TCG sets as a fan-favorite Mythical. The Mega ex form extends that lineage into the ME series, making this tin the natural anchor for anyone who already collects Darkrai cards across generations.
Mega Zeraora ex
Zeraora is the newest Pokémon in this wave, introduced in Generation VII. It has consistently shown up in competitive formats since its debut, which makes the Mega ex tin worth tracking if you play the ME series competitively or want the format's most current Mythical represented in your collection. Sellers are listing individual Zeraora tins starting around $29 USD, making it the lowest entry point in the Mega Forces wave.
Mega Dragonite ex
Dragonite is the nostalgia pick.
As a Generation I pseudo-legendary with decades of TCG history stretching back to the Base Set era, Dragonite carries the kind of cross-generational appeal that the Mythical variants don't quite reach. If your collection skews toward the original 151 or the early card eras, the Dragonite ex tin is the most natural addition from this wave. Independent sellers are listing it in the $32 to $50 USD range depending on the storefront.
Ascended Heroes: The Supplemental Wave That Fills a Real Gap
The ME02.5 designation is not a minor detail. It marks Ascended Heroes as a supplemental release inserted between the Phantasmal Flames (ME02) and Perfect Order (ME03) main set waves. That placement is deliberate: the three Pokémon in this wave were not included in either adjacent main set, and releasing them in a standalone tin wave gives collectors a dedicated entry point that doesn't require buying into a full booster box run.
Mega Feraligatr ex, Mega Meganium ex, and Mega Emboar ex are the three featured characters. Feraligatr and Meganium are the final evolutions of the Johto Water and Grass starters. Emboar is the final evolution of the Unova Fire starter Tepig.
None of the three received official Mega Evolutions in the main series games, which makes their appearances in the ME series genuinely new card designs rather than reprints or callbacks to existing artwork.
That distinction matters more than it might seem at first glance.
For collectors who focus on Feraligatr, Meganium, or Emboar specifically, the Ascended Heroes tins are the only standalone products in the ME series that feature these characters' Mega ex promos. Chasing these cards through booster boxes means competing with the full ME02 or ME03 pull pools. The tins cut straight to the promo.
Individual Ascended Heroes tins are listed from around $38 to $70 USD across independent sellers, with the full set of three bundled at prices that can offer a lower per-tin cost if you want all three promos. The Feraligatr ex tin is the one most sellers are featuring prominently given Feraligatr's long collector following dating back to the Neo Genesis era.
Mega Tin vs. Mini Tin: Two Formats in One Wave
Both waves released two separate tin formats today. The full-size Mega Tins are the main product in each wave and include the Mega Evolution ex promo card with booster packs. The Mini Tins are a smaller, lower-cost format featuring two booster packs, an art card, and a sticker sheet.
If your goal is the Mega ex promo card, the full Mega Tin is the product you want. The Mini Tin format is better suited for players who want extra booster packs from the ME series at a lower upfront cost, or for gifting where the smaller tin form factor is more practical.
Both waves are now live across multiple independent shops. Prices vary between sellers, and individual listings may show different availability as stock moves through launch day. Comparing sellers before checkout is worth the extra minute.
Search DexHaul to see current listings for both the Mega Forces and Ascended Heroes waves from independent shops across multiple regions. You can find both waves now at dexhaul.com. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company or any of the sellers listed.