Mega Forces Tins vs Ascended Heroes Tins: What to Buy Before August 28
By Dexhaul Team · August 25, 2026
Two Pokémon TCG tin product lines launch on the same date: August 28.
That shared launch date is the easy part. The harder question is which one to pre-order when they are genuinely different products aimed at different collectors.
Mega Forces Tins and Ascended Heroes Tins overlap in format but differ on Pokémon, price, and the type of nostalgia they are selling. Here is a direct comparison so you can decide before the date arrives.
The Two Lines at a Glance
Mega Forces Tins (ME05 in the Mega Evolution product line) covers three Pokémon: Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, and Mega Dragonite ex. Individual tins pre-order at around $39.99 USD from most US retailers. A set of three bundles at $89.95 USD from MHDEALSPLUS, which reduces the per-tin cost compared to buying individually.
Ascended Heroes Tins (positioned as ME2.5) covers the Johto and Unova starters: Mega Feraligatr ex, Mega Meganium ex, and Mega Emboar ex. Individual tins list at $69.95 USD, with a set of three at $149.95 USD. The Ascended Heroes line also offers a mini tin format at lower price points for the same Pokémon.
The gap per tin is $30. What you get for that $30 depends on what you collect.
What's in the Mega Forces Tins
Each Mega Forces Tin contains one foil Mega ex promo card and four booster packs in a collectible tin.
Mega Darkrai ex
Darkrai is a Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation IV, with a long history in competitive TCG formats from Black and White through Sword and Shield. The Mega Forces version gives it a Mega form it never received in any mainline game. For Dark-type collectors, Darkrai is one of the stronger recognizable names in the lineup.
Mega Zeraora ex
Zeraora was introduced in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (Generation VII), arriving after Mega Evolution was discontinued from the mainline games. It was never eligible for a Mega form through normal game development. The Mythical designation gives it ongoing collector interest independent of competitive demand.
Mega Dragonite ex
Dragonite is Generation I's original pseudo-legendary and the most powerful Dragon-type available before the introduction of Salamence and Garchomp. Despite being one of the most iconic non-Legendary Pokémon in the franchise, it was passed over for Mega Evolution in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, where Salamence, Altaria, and Latias all received Mega forms. The TCG fills that gap here.
What's in the Ascended Heroes Tins
Each Ascended Heroes Tin follows the same structure: one foil Mega ex promo card and four booster packs. The difference is which starters are featured and what they cost.
Mega Feraligatr ex
Feraligatr is Johto's Water starter and one of the most nostalgic Pokémon for Gold and Silver players. It is the anchor product of the Ascended Heroes line, and at $69.95 per tin it carries the premium price point. This is the first official Mega Feraligatr design in the franchise.
Mega Meganium ex
Meganium, the Johto Grass starter, has historically been less commercially prominent than Typhlosion or Feraligatr in terms of collector demand. Its inclusion alongside Feraligatr makes Ascended Heroes appealing specifically to collectors building a complete Johto starter arc. Without Meganium in the set, that arc would have a gap.
Mega Emboar ex
Emboar is Generation V's Fire starter and the final evolution of Tepig, a Unova Pokémon that sits chronologically and tonally separate from the Johto pair. Including it here alongside two Johto starters is a product decision that broadens the appeal across two generations rather than one region.
A Detail Worth Knowing: None of These Pokémon Had Official Mega Forms
This matters for how you think about either product.
Mega Evolution was introduced in Pokémon X and Y and covered approximately 46 Pokémon across Generations I through VI, with the final additions appearing in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. The mechanic was not carried forward into Sun and Moon or any subsequent mainline game. According to Serebii's Mega Evolution reference, the complete list spans Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Mewtwo, and dozens more, but it does not include Dragonite, Darkrai, Zeraora, Feraligatr, Meganium, or Emboar.
Every Pokémon in both tin product lines is receiving its Mega form for the first time, as a TCG-original design. That is a consistent feature across the 2025-2026 Mega Evolution product wave, not unique to either launch. Whether that makes the products more appealing (new designs, no game reference to compete with) or less so (no established game artwork to compare against) is a matter of collector preference.
For competitive players, neither lineup introduces cards from a rotation-legal set solely by virtue of being in a tin. The promo cards are the primary draw, alongside whatever booster packs are included.
Which One to Pre-Order
Here is the decision in plain terms.
Mega Forces Tins are the lower-cost entry into the August 28 wave. At $39.99 per tin, they sit at the standard price point for Pokémon TCG tins.
If Darkrai, Zeraora, or Dragonite connect with your collection, these are the right choice. The set-of-three option at $89.95 reduces the per-tin cost versus most individual retailer prices.
Ascended Heroes Tins are positioned higher at $69.95 per tin. They justify that premium through the Johto starter angle: Mega Feraligatr is the anchor, and Mega Meganium makes the full Johto set possible for collectors who want it.
If you are indifferent to Johto starters, the $30 gap per tin does not resolve in Ascended Heroes' favor. If Johto nostalgia drives the purchase, the premium is the point of the product.
The line also includes a mini tin format at significantly lower entry prices for the same Pokémon, providing a lower-cost alternative if you want the artwork without the full tin budget.
Both lines launch the same day. If you want either product at MSRP, pre-order availability before August 28 is the practical consideration. Independent shops listed on DexHaul have had pre-orders active across both lines, and shipping timelines vary by retailer.
Browse current pre-order listings for both product lines at DexHaul, where prices display in your local currency and every listing links directly to the merchant's checkout. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, with no affiliation with The Pokémon Company or Nintendo.