Pokémon Delta Reign Review: Our 5 Favorite SIR and IR Cards

Mega Rayquaza ex gives Delta Reign its big entrance. The Illustration Rares give us a reason to keep looking after the headliner has had its moment.

That is what we like most about this set: the jump from a green dragon wrapped in golden energy to a cheerful Eevee or a wonderfully chaotic Kecleon. There is room for spectacle, personality, and a binder page that feels like a collection of miniature paintings.

We reviewed all 141 English Delta Reign card records in DCM’s catalog, including their artwork, collector numbers, rarities, and illustrator credits. Below are our five favorites across Special Illustration Rare (SIR) and Illustration Rare (IR) printings. These are our editorial picks for the art and collecting appeal, rather than a price ranking or a prediction of future value.

What is Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign?

Released on November 6, 2026, Delta Reign brings Mega Rayquaza back to the Pokémon TCG alongside Mega Golisopod ex, Mega Golurk ex, and Mega Malamar ex. Its new Legendary Stadium feature combines two Stadium cards into one paired feature with connected artwork. Pokémon says a booster containing a Legendary Stadium includes both halves. Source: The Pokémon Company’s expansion announcement.

Our English catalog contains 103 cards in the main numbered set and 38 additional numbered cards, for 141 entries total. That explains a number such as 138/103: the denominator is the printed main-set total, rather than the count of every card in the expansion.

The catalog breakdown includes 14 Illustration Rares, 17 Ultra Rares, six Special Illustration Rares, and one Mega Hyper Rare. Those categories matter. The gold Mega Rayquaza ex at 141/103 is a different printing from the SIR at 138/103 featured here.

Our take on the set is straightforward: the legendary Pokémon deliver the drama, but the IR selection makes Delta Reign interesting beyond a single chase. We especially like how different the artists’ approaches feel. The five below would make a varied display even if rarity labels were removed.

Our five favorite Delta Reign SIR and IR cards

The images below show catalog reference artwork, not customer submissions or examples of cards assigned a grade.

1. Mega Rayquaza ex 138/103: our favorite SIR

Mega Rayquaza ex 138/103, Special Illustration Rare, illustrated by Kazuki Minami.

View the full-resolution Mega Rayquaza ex catalog artwork.

Rayquaza earns the top spot because the whole card feels in motion. Its green body cuts through a dense burst of gold, with looping streaks of light carrying your eye around the illustration. There is very little quiet space, which is exactly the appeal: this is the centerpiece you notice from across a binder page.

Kazuki Minami’s illustration makes the SIR feel distinct from the other Rayquaza printings. We would choose this one for the composition and the contrast between the green Pokémon and the surrounding light.

Identify this version: Look for Mega Rayquaza ex, DLR, 138/103, with 280 HP. DCM stores this exact English printing under catalog reference me6-138, with the rarity Special Illustration Rare and artist Kazuki Minami. The same set also has Mega Rayquaza ex 084/103 (Double Rare) and 141/103 (Mega Hyper Rare), so the name and HP alone do not identify the version.

Before grading: The bright artwork can make a reflected light streak difficult to separate from the design in a photo. Use soft lighting and check the actual surface from more than one angle before taking clear front and back images. Pay attention to the silver perimeter and corners, where small edge defects may be easier to see than in the busy illustration.

2. Raikou ex 136/103: the atmosphere pick

Raikou ex 136/103, Special Illustration Rare, illustrated by Oku.

View the full-resolution Raikou ex catalog artwork.

Raikou brings a different kind of energy. Oku places the Pokémon in a towering rocky setting, with pale lightning cutting across subdued greens and grays. The purple mane and yellow body pull your attention to the center without flattening the landscape behind them.

We like the sense of scale. Raikou feels powerful because of how it occupies the scene, and the painterly background rewards a closer look. Next to Rayquaza’s gold explosion, it offers a more restrained but equally memorable SIR.

Identify this version: The featured card is Raikou ex, DLR, 136/103, 200 HP, artist Oku, catalog reference me6-136. Its rarity is Special Illustration Rare. Delta Reign also includes 033/103 (Double Rare) and 121/103 (Ultra Rare). All three share the name, so confirm the collector number and artwork.

Before grading: Keep the darker rock details visible without blowing out the lightning and reflective areas. A surface line that remains visible as the lighting changes deserves a closer inspection; a catalog scan cannot tell you whether your physical copy has that mark.

3. Groudon 111/103: an IR with centerpiece presence

Groudon 111/103, Illustration Rare, illustrated by Ryota Murayama.

View the full-resolution Groudon catalog artwork.

Groudon is our reminder that an Illustration Rare can be just as compelling as a SIR. Ryota Murayama fills the scene with red armor, dark rock, and fiery orange light. Groudon occupies the foreground with enough weight that the illustration feels almost too large for the card.

The warm palette also makes this an excellent visual companion to Rayquaza. One is all skyward motion and glowing loops; the other feels planted in a volcanic landscape. For a collector who builds pages around legendary Pokémon, Groudon is an easy favorite.

Identify this version: Look for Groudon, DLR, 111/103, 150 HP, illustrated by Ryota Murayama. DCM’s catalog reference is me6-111, and the rarity is Illustration Rare. The regular 053/103 Rare is a separate record. This card is named Groudon, without “ex” or “Mega.”

Before grading: Inspect the darker areas and the back edges for marks that can disappear against a busy front. Leave every corner visible in your photos. Strong artwork is a reason to enjoy the card, but centering, corners, edges, and surface condition still determine the condition assessment.

4. Eevee 114/103: the character pick

Eevee 114/103, Illustration Rare, illustrated by Hideki Ishikawa.

View the full-resolution Eevee catalog artwork.

After two legends and a Mega, Eevee changes the mood. Hideki Ishikawa gives it a bright expression and a close, welcoming composition, with warm wood tones and green scenery around it. The appeal is immediate: you see the face first, then start noticing the little environmental details.

We like this one because a favorite card does not need to look like a battle scene. Eevee brings personality to the set and gives the page a softer focal point. It is the pick we would show someone who collects Pokémon for the characters.

Identify this version: This is Eevee, DLR, 114/103, 70 HP, artist Hideki Ishikawa, catalog reference me6-114. It is an Illustration Rare, distinct from the 078/103 Common Eevee in the main set.

Before grading: Use the actual card boundaries when checking centering. The rounded forms and angled lines within the illustration are part of the art, not measuring guides. A straight-on photo of the back is especially useful for checking border balance and edge whitening.

5. Kecleon 117/103: the wild card

Kecleon 117/103, Illustration Rare, illustrated by Tomokazu Komiya.

View the full-resolution Kecleon catalog artwork.

Kecleon is the most exuberant card in our five. Tomokazu Komiya packs the illustration with saturated reds, greens, and pinks, twisting shapes, and patterned details. Kecleon sits within the visual commotion rather than floating in front of a simple background.

This is our pick for collectors who follow illustrators as closely as Pokémon. It has a strong point of view, and it gets more interesting as you spend time with it. A set review that only stopped at the headline legendary would miss one of Delta Reign’s most distinctive images.

Identify this version: Match Kecleon, DLR, 117/103, 90 HP, and artist Tomokazu Komiya. DCM records it as me6-117, Illustration Rare. The main-set 083/103 Common is a different printing.

Before grading: Separate intentional lines and color changes in the illustration from physical damage. The catalog image is useful for that comparison, while your own front and back photos provide the condition evidence. The dense art also makes a careful look at the perimeter particularly worthwhile.

How Delta Reign is represented in DCM’s database

All five featured printings are already in DCM’s English reference catalog. We checked the live records on November 7, 2026. The complete set is stored as Delta Reign, in the Mega Evolution series, with set code DLR, printed total 103, and release date November 6, 2026.

Each featured record includes its name, collector number, rarity, illustrator, HP, Pokémon type, and reference images. These details help distinguish cards that share a name but have different artwork and rarity. For example, “Raikou ex” could refer to three different Delta Reign printings; DLR 136/103 narrows it to the SIR shown above.

The catalog references in this article, such as me6-138, are our reference identifiers. They are not grades or certification numbers. You do not need to memorize them: the useful details on your card are the name, set code, full collector number, language, and artwork.

Identification and grading answer different questions. The catalog helps establish which printing is pictured. Grading assesses the condition visible in your submitted photos, including centering, corners, edges, and surface. Having an exact catalog entry does not establish authenticity, guarantee an automatic match from an unclear image, or promise a particular grade.

For a useful submission, photograph the front and back straight on, keep all four corners in frame, and make the bottom identification line readable. Use diffuse light to control foil glare. If a sleeve or holder obscures the surface, photograph the card outside it when you can handle it safely. Review the identified name, set, and number against your physical card before relying on the result.

Which Delta Reign card would we choose first?

Mega Rayquaza ex 138/103 is our first pick for a centerpiece. Raikou ex 136/103 is the choice for atmosphere, while Groudon 111/103 brings legendary scale to the IR lineup. Eevee 114/103 and Kecleon 117/103 are the cards that make the selection feel personal.

That range is why Delta Reign works for us. It gives collectors a headline Pokémon to talk about and enough artistic variety to build a collection around their own taste.

Pulled one of your favorites? Start a Pokémon grading submission with DCM using clear photos of your own card. The featured printings are already in our reference database to support identification.

Catalog review: November 7, 2026. Card metadata and reference artwork: DCM’s English Delta Reign catalog, imported from the Scrydex Delta Reign checklist. Card artwork © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK. Favorites are DCM editorial selections.