With the 30th Celebration finally out, it’s time to look. Pokémon Delta Reign is just months away, with the expansion releasing in November 2026, and the Rayquaza-led set marks the first one to release in the shadow of the small, definitely-not-exciting 30th anniversary set. Fortunately, it seems like it has its own chases to be excited about, and the Raikou SIR might be one of my top picks.
Like many Pokémon sets of recent years, SIRs are typically the most elusive and popular cards. Raikou, I expect, shall be no different, with the Pokémon TCG’s Delta Reign bringing back some classic Legendary ‘mon such as Kyogre, Rayquaza, and, of course, the Legendary Beasts trio. Thankfully, that stunning Kyogre card is an ETB promo, so that’s one chase I can scratch off my list, but now Raikou has taken its place.
Over 20 of the English cards from Pokémon Delta Reign have been revealed by publications (thanks, PokéBeach), and one chase is the Raikou #136 SIR. Seeing the Legendary Beast jump across rocky spires, lightning flaring from its paws, blends spectacle with simplicity. And seeing a ‘mon with a lot of power doing something that requires delicate precision makes it even more captivating.
Of course, it seems like the mascot of the expansion, Rayquaza ex’s SIR, is the set’s leading chase. That’s not surprising, but I just hope that means cards like Raikou will avoid the inevitable price spikes. Although, considering that the last three standard expansions have dropped in price ahead of the 30th Celebration, I’m hoping that Delta Reign will see equal drops after release.
However, with such an iconic Pokémon, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it more popular than the trio of sets that were released after Ascended Heroes. Rayquaza is just an awesome-looking design, and Ruby & Sapphire are still some of the best in the franchise. Kyogre is still better in my eyes, sorry Ray.
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