Phantasmal Flames: Ultimate Guide to 10 Amazing Chase Cards
Phantasmal Flames is the set that turned the Mega Evolution era into a Charizard story. The second main expansion of the series arrived in November 2025 with Mega Charizard X ex as its mascot, a compact 130-card list and one of the most valuable Special Illustration Rares printed in years. This guide covers everything you need to know about Phantasmal Flames: how the card list is built, which cards are worth chasing, how the rarities break down and which products suit collectors and players in Australia.
Phantasmal Flames follows the first set of the era, so if you have not read it yet, start with our Mega Evolution card list guide. The two sets share the same rarity system, which makes it easy to compare what you pull from each.
Table of Contents
Phantasmal Flames set overview
These are the details that define the set. They are worth knowing before you open anything, because card numbers above 094 tell you straight away that you have pulled a secret rare.
- English release: November 2025, as the second main expansion of the Mega Evolution Series
- Total cards: 130, made up of 94 main set cards and 36 secret rares
- Japanese source: the Inferno X expansion, plus cards from the Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex Starter Sets
- Featured Pokémon: Mega Charizard X ex, with Mega Gengar ex, Mega Sharpedo ex and Mega Lopunny ex alongside it
- Secret rares: 13 Illustration Rares, 17 Ultra Rares, 5 Special Illustration Rares and 1 Mega Hyper Rare
How the Phantasmal Flames card list is structured
The main set runs from 001 to 094 and contains the commons, uncommons, rares and double rare Pokémon ex. The six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and four regular Pokémon ex all appear here first as double rares. Everything numbered 095 and above is a secret rare, laid out in four blocks.
- 095 to 107: Illustration Rares, including Zacian and Dawn’s partner Piplup
- 108 to 124: Ultra Rares, covering Mega Pokémon ex, Trainers and the full-art Ignition Energy
- 125 to 129: Special Illustration Rares
- 130: the gold Mega Hyper Rare Mega Charizard X ex
At 130 cards, Phantasmal Flames is one of the smaller sets of the era. That works in your favour. With fewer cards competing for each slot, the main set fills quickly and the secret rares are easier to track than in a 200-plus card release.
Every version of Mega Charizard X ex
Charizard drives demand for almost every set it appears in, and Phantasmal Flames prints Mega Charizard X ex four times. All four share the same Inferno X attack, so the difference is purely the artwork and rarity.
- 013/094 Double Rare: the playable main set version and the one deck builders buy in multiples
- 109/094 Ultra Rare: a full-art card and the most affordable premium Charizard in the set
- 125/094 Special Illustration Rare: the scenic artwork by danciao and the most valuable card in Phantasmal Flames
- 130/094 Mega Hyper Rare: the gold etched version and the hardest card to pull
If you want one Charizard for your binder without paying top prices, the Ultra Rare is the sensible pick. Collectors who want the full run usually buy the Special Illustration Rare and the Mega Hyper Rare as singles once the release rush settles.
Top 10 Phantasmal Flames chase cards
Values move constantly, so this is a ranking based on sales across 2026 rather than a price guide. These ten cards are the ones collectors look for first when they open Phantasmal Flames.
- Mega Charizard X ex, Special Illustration Rare 125/094
- Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Hyper Rare 130/094
- Mega Charizard X ex, Ultra Rare 109/094
- Dawn, Special Illustration Rare 129/094
- Mega Sharpedo ex, Special Illustration Rare 127/094
- Rotom ex, Special Illustration Rare 126/094
- Mega Lopunny ex, Special Illustration Rare 128/094
- Dawn, Ultra Rare 118/094
- Piplup, Illustration Rare
- Zacian, Illustration Rare 100/094
The gap between the top card and the rest of the list is wide. Community trackers have shown the Charizard Special Illustration Rare selling for many times the value of the fifth card, which is why so many collectors treat Phantasmal Flames as a one-card chase and buy everything else as singles.
The Special Illustration Rares
Only five Special Illustration Rares appear in Phantasmal Flames: Mega Charizard X ex, Rotom ex, Mega Sharpedo ex, Mega Lopunny ex and the Supporter Dawn. Mega Sharpedo ex by nagimiso is a fan favourite for its chaotic underwater scene, and Mega Lopunny ex brings back a Mega that first appeared in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Trainer and Energy Ultra Rares
The Ultra Rare block includes Trainers such as Dawn and Grimsley’s Move, and a full-art Ignition Energy. These cards are cheaper than the Pokémon Ultra Rares but are popular with players who like to bling out their decks.
Mega Gengar ex and the Starter Set cards
Phantasmal Flames pulls a handful of cards from two Japanese Starter Sets, which is how Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex ended up in an English booster set. Mega Gengar ex is especially popular because Gengar has one of the most loyal followings of any Pokémon. It later returned as a headline Special Illustration Rare in Ascended Heroes, so collecting both versions is a nice long-term goal.
Phantasmal Flames for players
Mega Evolution Pokémon ex give up three prize cards when knocked out, so they need big attacks to pay off the risk. Mega Charizard X ex fits that role as a heavy Fire attacker, and Rotom ex added flexible draw support. Ignition Energy also helped Fire decks speed up their setup. If you play, the double rare versions are the cards to collect in multiples, since they are identical in play to the expensive secret rares.
Pull rates and what to expect from a box
Pull rates are never officially published, so the numbers below are community estimates based on large openings. They are useful for setting expectations, not for predicting what you will pull.
- Illustration Rares turn up around once in every hundred-plus packs for any specific card
- Each Special Illustration Rare is far rarer, with the Charizard estimated at roughly one in several hundred packs
- The Mega Hyper Rare is the hardest pull and is often missing from multiple sealed boxes
- A 36-pack booster box usually gives a spread of Illustration Rares and Ultra Rares rather than a top chase card
The honest takeaway is that opening packs is about the experience. If one card matters to you, buying the single is almost always cheaper than chasing it.
Storage matters too. Sleeve every Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare the moment it leaves the pack, then move it into a toploader or a side-loading binder page. Fresh modern cards can pick up edge wear and surface scratches quickly, and those small marks make a big difference if you ever decide to grade or sell. A little care in the first minute protects the value of your best pulls for years.
It also pays to keep a simple checklist as you open. Tick off each number from 001 to 130, note your duplicates, and you will always know exactly which singles you still need when you trade at a local game night or shop online.
Best Phantasmal Flames products to buy
- Phantasmal Flames booster box: 36 packs, the best value per pack for opening
- Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs plus sleeves, dice and storage
- Phantasmal Flames booster bundle: 6 packs and an easy gift
- Mega Charizard X ex Ultra Premium Collection: the premium display box for Charizard fans
- Mega Charizard X ex tin: a promo card and packs in a collectable tin
Japanese collectors can also look at the Inferno X booster box, the Japanese set behind Phantasmal Flames. Browse every English product on our Phantasmal Flames product page.
Phantasmal Flames FAQ
How many cards are in Phantasmal Flames?
There are 130 cards: 94 in the main set and 36 secret rares. With reverse holos, the master set is a little over 220 cards.
What is the most valuable card in Phantasmal Flames?
Mega Charizard X ex Special Illustration Rare 125/094 has been the most valuable card in the set since release, followed by the gold Mega Hyper Rare 130/094.
Is Phantasmal Flames worth opening?
Yes, if you enjoy opening and want a compact set to complete. The main set is quick to finish, and even without a Charizard the Illustration Rares and Supporter cards make a strong binder.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Phantasmal Flames page lists every card number and rarity for checking your collection.
More guides from the Mega Evolution era
After Phantasmal Flames, the era moved to Ascended Heroes, the largest English set ever printed. Then came Perfect Order, Chaos Rising and Pitch Black, with Delta Reign the latest release. You will find every set guide on the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
Phantasmal Flames is a small set with a very big headline card. Enjoy the Charizard hunt, but do not overlook the Supporters, Illustration Rares and the playable Mega Pokémon ex that make Phantasmal Flames one of the most complete sets of the era.