Pokémon Reveals the Next TCG Series: ex★ (ex Star)
The Mega Evolution era is coming to an end.
At the closing ceremony of the Pokémon World Championships 2026, held in San Francisco from 28 to 30 August 2026, The Pokémon Company revealed the logo of the next Pokémon Trading Card Game series: ex★, pronounced “ex Star”.
The reveal was confirmed on the official Japanese Pokémon Card Game website on 31 August 2026, together with the teaser video. It is short, it is deliberately vague, and it is packed with details worth analysing.
Here is what was actually confirmed, what is still speculation, and what it changes for collectors right now.
What Was Officially Confirmed
The official announcement is unusually restrained. These are the only points confirmed by Pokémon itself:
- The name and logo of the new series: ex★ (ex Star)
- That it follows the current MEGA (Mega Evolution) series
- That Mega Lucario Z ex will appear in it
- That other cards will be revealed in future announcements
Deliberately not confirmed: no release date, no set name, no price, and no explanation of what the “★” actually does in gameplay.
That last point is the big question. In the history of the Pokémon TCG, a new series name has almost always meant a new mechanic – EX, GX, V, VMAX, VSTAR, ex, Mega ex. The ★ symbol suggests something new is coming, but Pokémon has said nothing about it yet.
Mega Lucario Z ex: The First Full Card Shown
The most concrete element of the teaser is a fully finished English-language card: Mega Lucario Z ex.
What is readable on it:
- Stage 1 Pokémon
- 330 HP
- Ability “Aura Seeker” – search your deck for a Supporter card, once per turn
- Attack “Dancing Fist” – 120+ damage
Two things stand out. First, 330 HP on a Stage 1 is enormous, in line with the current Mega ex power level. Second, an Ability that fetches a Supporter every turn is a consistency engine, not a finisher – the kind of card that quietly defines a format.
Four New MA Cards – and an M7a Set Stamp
The teaser also showed four MA (Mega Attack Rare) cards:
- Mega Darkrai ex
- Mega Greninja ex
- Mega Rayquaza ex
- Mega Zygarde ex
An important clarification, because it is being reported incorrectly in a lot of places: MA is not a brand-new rarity. Mega Attack Rare was announced in August 2025 and debuted in the Japanese High Class Pack MEGA Dream ex (M2a) in November 2025. MA cards are alternate-illustration versions of Mega Evolution ex Pokémon, recognisable by their attack name printed in English across the artwork.
What is new is the four cards themselves – and one detail collectors spotted immediately: their card numbers sit above 165, which is the secret-rare range, and the set stamp reads M7a.
In the Japanese numbering system, an “a” suffix marks a special or high-class product rather than a main expansion. M7a therefore points to a product that has not been announced yet.
Entei, Suicune and Raikou Take Centre Stage
Beyond the cards, the teaser prominently features the legendary beasts – Entei, Suicune and Raikou.
Pokémon has not said what role they play. But putting three legendaries at the heart of a series reveal is rarely accidental, and the community reading is that they will headline the ex★ launch in some form.
The Attack Names Are a Puzzle Worth Solving
This is the detail that made collectors look twice.
Two of the attack names on the MA cards match the names of existing Japanese MEGA-era sets:
- “Abyss Eye” – the M5 set
- “Storm Emeralda” – the M6 set, released on 31 July 2026
Two others do not match anything announced: “Ninja Spinner” and “Munikisu Zero”.
If the pattern holds, those two names could be pointing at sets that have not been revealed yet. This is speculation, not confirmation – but it is well-founded speculation, and it is the kind of breadcrumb Pokémon has left before.
What About the M7 Set at the End of 2026?
Here is where you need to be careful, because there is a lot of confusion online.
PokeBeach reported back in May 2026 that a Japanese set was scheduled for 27 November 2026, and the name circulating for it was “Aura Seeker”.
The Worlds teaser complicates that story: “Aura Seeker” is the name of Mega Lucario Z ex’s Ability. It may still be the set name, it may have been a trademark filing that ended up being used for a card mechanic instead. Pokémon has confirmed neither.
So, to be precise:
- A Japanese set for late November 2026 has been reported, not officially confirmed
- The M7a stamp on the MA cards confirms M7-era products exist
- No official name, contents or date has been published by Pokémon
The Japanese Release Calendar as It Stands
To put the ex★ announcement in context, here is what is actually on the Japanese schedule:
- M6 – Storm Emeralda – released 31 July 2026
- M6a – 30th CELEBRATION – 16 September 2026, a worldwide simultaneous release for the 30th anniversary, introducing the new FUR rarity
- 30th CELEBRATION Card Set – 16 October 2026
- High Class Pack – MEGA x MEGA Parade – 19 February 2027, with 550 yen packs of 10 cards and a guaranteed hit in every pack
Note the unusual timing of MEGA x MEGA Parade. Japan’s High Class Pack normally lands in late November or early December; it was pushed to February 2027 because of the worldwide 30th anniversary release in September.
That February slot matters: it suggests the MEGA era closes in early 2027, which lines up with ex★ launching in spring 2027 – the current expectation among specialist outlets, though again, not an official date.
What This Means for Collectors
A series transition is one of the few genuinely predictable moments in this hobby, and it has consequences worth planning around.
Mega Evolution products enter their final stretch
Once ex★ launches, MEGA-era sets stop being reprinted and stop being the focus of new products. Sealed MEGA displays and High Class Packs become finite. That does not automatically mean prices rise – but supply stops growing.
MA cards gain a longer runway
MA was already one of the most visually striking rarities in the modern game. With four new MA cards confirmed for an M7a product, the subset now spans multiple sets, which usually strengthens collector demand for the earlier ones.
The 30th anniversary window is the priority right now
ex★ is a 2027 story. The 30th CELEBRATION wave in September and October 2026 is the immediate one, and it carries its own new rarity, FUR.
Do not buy on rumours
The “Aura Seeker” confusion is a good reminder. Between a trademark filing, a leak and an official announcement, there is a lot of room for a name to change meaning entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ex★ (ex Star)?
ex★ is the name of the next Pokémon Trading Card Game series, revealed at the closing ceremony of the Pokémon World Championships 2026 in San Francisco. It follows the current MEGA (Mega Evolution) series.
When was ex★ announced?
The logo was revealed during the Worlds 2026 closing ceremony, and the official Japanese Pokémon Card Game website published the announcement and teaser video on 31 August 2026.
When will ex★ be released?
No release date has been announced. Specialist outlets expect a launch in spring 2027, after the MEGA x MEGA Parade High Class Pack in February 2027, but Pokémon has not confirmed anything.
What does the ★ mean in gameplay?
Nothing has been confirmed. A new series name has historically signalled a new card mechanic, but Pokémon has not explained the ★ yet.
Which cards were shown in the teaser?
A finished Mega Lucario Z ex card, plus four MA cards: Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Greninja ex, Mega Rayquaza ex and Mega Zygarde ex. Entei, Suicune and Raikou also appear in the video.
What are Mega Lucario Z ex’s stats?
The card shown is a Stage 1 Pokémon with 330 HP, the Ability “Aura Seeker” (search your deck for a Supporter card once per turn) and the attack “Dancing Fist” for 120+ damage.
Is MA (Mega Attack Rare) a new rarity?
No. MA was announced in August 2025 and first appeared in the Japanese High Class Pack MEGA Dream ex (M2a) in November 2025. What is new is the four MA cards shown in the teaser, which carry an M7a set stamp.
How do you recognise an MA card?
MA cards are alternate-illustration versions of Mega Evolution ex Pokémon, with the attack name printed in English across the artwork in large lettering.
What is the M7a set?
M7a is the set stamp visible on the four MA cards. The “a” suffix in the Japanese system indicates a special or high-class product rather than a main expansion. No M7a product has been officially announced.
Is there a new set coming at the end of 2026?
A Japanese set for 27 November 2026 has been reported by PokeBeach, but not officially confirmed. The name “Aura Seeker” that circulated for it turned out to be the Ability name on Mega Lucario Z ex, so treat it with caution.
Is the Mega Evolution era over?
Not yet. The MEGA x MEGA Parade High Class Pack is confirmed for 19 February 2027 in Japan, and it looks like the closing product of the era.
What should collectors focus on right now?
The 30th CELEBRATION wave, released on 16 September 2026 as a worldwide simultaneous release with the new FUR rarity, and the 30th CELEBRATION Card Set on 16 October 2026.
Why Follow Pokémon News with JapHunter?
At JapHunter, we track official Japanese and international announcements so collectors in Switzerland and Europe do not have to sort rumour from fact themselves.
- Verified information, with the difference between confirmed and speculation made clear
- Authentic, factory-sealed Japanese and international products
- Secure collector-grade packaging
- Fast shipping from Switzerland
- Customer support in French, German and English
Final Thoughts
ex★ is, for now, a logo, one card, four MA reveals and three legendary beasts. That is not much – and that is exactly how Pokémon likes to start a series.
What it does tell us is clear enough: the Mega Evolution era has an end date in sight, the next chapter arrives in 2027, and the months in between belong to the 30th anniversary.
We will update this article as soon as Pokémon confirms the set name, contents and release date.
Will JapHunter sell ex★ products?
JapHunter will follow official availability and update the shop as soon as reliable release and stock information is confirmed.
