Fans are split as Mega Evolutions return in Pokémon TCG Pocket, with excitement over new decks matched by worries about balance and pacing.
Mega Evolutions are making their way into Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket later this year, bringing a wave of powerful new cards and fresh rules to the mobile title.
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships, with The Pokémon Company confirming the news on its official website and through the Pokémon TCG Pocket X (formerly Twitter) account:
Set to launch this autumn, Mega Evolution ex cards will arrive with unique mechanics designed to shake up matches. Trainers can expect to see the return of Mega Evolution ex rules, which previously gave battles a dramatic edge in the tabletop version of the TCG.
Mega versions of Altaria, Gyarados, and Blaziken revealed
A short teaser trailer revealed the first three Mega Evolution Pokémon ex joining the expansion: Mega Altaria ex, Mega Gyarados ex, and Mega Blaziken ex.
The introduction of Mega Evolution is the latest in a series of expansions aimed at keeping the mobile TCG dynamic and closely tied to the wider Pokémon universe. For long-time players of the physical game, it also marks the arrival of a beloved mechanic first introduced in Pokémon X and Y over a decade ago.
Redditors had plenty to say about the return of Megas in TCG Pocket, and the three prize points for KO-ing one quickly became the centre of debate. User ebevan91 flagged the hefty penalty, while Daydream_machine summed it up as “high risk, high reward.”
FSome players raised broader concerns about the pace of changes. Queerthulhu_ wrote: “I’m fine with new sets, but they’re introducing too many big changes to the game with each one. Yeah changing the meta is good, but I feel like these are just approaching Yughioh turn one KOs soon.”
Others singled out Mega Gyarados as particularly worrying, pointing out how its potential could create unfair swings in matches if not balanced properly. “Judging from the responses in this thread, I predict that Mega Gyarados ex will dominate the meta some 2 weeks after launch,” ico12 said, to which Kronman590 said that “Gyara[dos] is already a playable deck now so this Gyarados is literally a straight buff lol.”
Together, the thread showed a mix of anticipation and scepticism: some see Megas as a refreshing shake-up, while others worry that they might push the game too far, too fast.
Mega Evolutions were a defining feature of the Pokémon TCG during the X and Y era, and bringing them into Pokémon TCG Pocket ties the mobile game more closely to the original TCG. With autumn fast approaching, Trainers now have good reason to plan their next deck around these powerhouse evolutions.
