Before I fell in love with Giratina, my favourite Pokémon was Kyogre. For 17 years (and counting), my old childhood email had a computer generated picture of Kyogre as my profile image - over a decade and a half before Kanto Post was even thought of. I was going to skip Pokémon Delta Reign, but with a Kyogre Pokémon card in the list, it’s become an instant buy for me.
The last Pokémon set of the year, Delta Reign, is releasing in November 2026. However, the Japanese equivalent - Storm Emerelda - launches this week, months before Pokémon 30th Celebration even arrives. That means we’re getting our first look at Delta Reign’s Illustration Rares well ahead of the English release. That means we get to see the IRs and SIRs way before we get the expansion, which is what is happening now.
Early pack openings of the Pokémon TCG’s Japanese variant are being shared on social media, as posted by PokéBeach, and one of them is the Illustration Rare (Art Rare in Japan) of Kyogre. The first images aren’t particularly clear, but they’re more than enough to show off the artwork.
The Illustration Rare depicts Kyogre smashing above a large wave, a big chomping grin on its face, with its sheer scale hidden mostly by the other side of the tsunami. Compared to many previous cards based on the Legendary Pokémon, this one is sleek and simple - it’s just a neat looking card that captures the Water-type in its natural environment.
Am I surprised? Not really. Groudon was revealed earlier this week, and with Rayquaza leading the set, With Groudon already revealed and Rayquaza leading the set, Kyogre always felt like a matter of when, not if. I’m somewhat disappointed it’s missing out on the premium texturing of an SIR, but at this point, I’m just happy to see the Sapphire mascot.
I mostly collect my favourite Pokémon rather than chase the biggest cards, so this is an instant addition to my wishlist. It’s the same reason I ripped so many packs of Stellar Crown - just for the focus on getting that adorable Squirtle IR. I rarely buy singles because opening packs is half the fun, so I’ll happily be chasing this Kyogre once Delta Reign arrives in November.
Are you getting Pokémon Delta Reign when it launches, or this set a skip for you? Let us know in the comments below.
