Ascended Heroes Review
Every time a new Pokémon TCG set releases, I am looking for two things: playability and art direction. An expansion rarely hits both, but Ascended Heroes has done it. This special selection of cards that celebrate trainers and iconic Pokémon across multiple generations is stunning – and will be a treat for anyone who manages to pick up a booster pack.
Special sets are difficult for the Pokémon TCG right now. A frustrating shortage of new releases makes sets without booster boxes a challenge for regular players to get ahold of. That said, like Paldean Fates and other special sets from the past few years, Ascended Heroes packs a punch with its selection.
The expansion offers an ETB, poster collections, a Booster Bundle, tech sticker sets, Trainer spotlight blisters, tins, and pin collections that started releasing in January and will continue through late April.
Bonus Action was given the opportunity to look at these sets hands-on, and we can confirm that it is a remarkable card list filled with some valuable, stunning pulls that should be framed on a wall instead of stuffed in binders.
Key Details
- Developer: The Pokémon Company
- Expansion Collection: Ascended Heroes
- Card Number: 290+
- Set Type: Special
- Review Samples Provided: Yes
Dozens of Beautiful Gallery Cards Are a Feast for Fans
One of the best parts of special Pokémon TCG expansions is the extended art galleries, and Ascended Heroes delivers on this in spades. The expansion guidebook included with the Elite Trainer Box details the stunning selection of pulls, with dozens of Illustration Rares done in high saturation.
This is one of those rare sets where there are no “ugly” cards. The mixture of artists blends beautifully, and like the Mega Dragonite ex on the ETB, everything is rich in eye-catching color.
Some of the stand-out cards that are going to be big chase pulls for Pokémon fans include the Illustration Rare Mega Dragonite ex, Illustration Rare Lillie’s Clefairy ex, and Illustration Rare Mega Diancie ex, among many others. We had the amazing opportunity to pull an Illustration Rare Iono’s Bellibolt ex, and the colors are so vivid and crisp that it looks more like a high-quality art print than a playable card.
In addition to the gallery cards, Ball cards have made a reappearance, but they don’t feel as special as in past sets. This time, these rare reverse holos come in a range of “rare” Ball cards. The Ball holo is seen on the body of the card, and can reflect Poke Balls, Friend Balls, Dusk Balls, Quick Balls, and Rocket Balls.
In addition to this, there are also Type reverse holos, which look the same as the Ball reverse holos, but with an emblem for the Pokémon’s type instead of the ball print. These were very cute, but they don’t have as much impact as the Poke Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Master Ball effects of previous special sets. It felt a bit bloated here, and I wish the slot had been for a bonus chance at a rare gallery card instead.
The special collections also come with stunning posters, pins, and stickers. We were lucky to look at the Mega Lucario ex poster set, and the impressive, resized card looks fantastic on a wall. However, fans looking to dig into the set may end up with several of these if they are trying to get collections with plenty of booster packs.
Tough Pull Rates For Another Special Set
Unfortunately, with 75+ rare cards in this expansion, and a bulky 290+ card list in total, players are going to have a tough time getting some of the premium pulls for this set.
Ascended Heroes isn’t going to be handing out Gold Star Rares or better without a fight. Because there are no Booster Boxes, the ability to pull is going to come at a high price, and that is if the players can even get their hands on any product.
One of the hardest things about special sets with good card lists is that they get hit badly by the reseller market that is currently wreaking havoc on accessibility. Because of this, the Ascended Heroes rare cards are likely to stay Evolving Skies levels of expensive. Access is going to be difficult, and the long release schedule for the set will likely make the availability issues worse as resellers hit each new drop in bursts, emptying shelves.
In short, the pull rates aren’t actually that bad for the set, but the availability and cost of special sets are going to make it more difficult. This is a frustrating problem for fans and players. Those who do manage to get Ascended Heroes may have a good chance to pull something, however, from Ball and Type reverse holos to the more elusive Illustration Rares. Don’t bet on those Gold rares, though. With only two, and rarity ramped up just as high as the previous few sets, those will remain a very rare catch for those lucky enough to find one.
Ascended Heroes Hits Hard With Good Combos
If you are looking to build a deck, the arrival of Ascended Heroes could be the time to jump. This expansion is loaded with monster cards ready to crush opponents. Galarian Obstagoon is back with an attack selection including Punk Smash for 160 and Scarring Shout, which does 70 times every damage counter on an opponent. This card, when matched with the right defense machines, will devastate opponents with very little effort.
Meanwhile, Mega Scrafty ex will slowly drag opponents down into the mud with a 330 HP count and an ability that does 50 damage for every hit it takes while in the active spot.
If you are looking to truly strike fear into your opponent, load up and send out Iono’s Bellibolt ex. While it doesn’t have the HP of the Megas, Thunderous Bolt will make short work of opposing Pokémon with 230 points of damage in a single attack. Its Ability Electric Streamer will allow you to load it up almost as soon as it hits the bench, making it a fearsome and fast-moving option.
The whole set is filled to the brim with opportunities that could shape the build of an entire deck. Those who choose to build with these cards are going to tear up local tournaments and potentially throw a wrench in the circulating Championships meta.
Final Score – 8.5/10
The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolutions: Ascended Heroes collection is a stunning and beautifully constructed expansion of cards that are going to delight fans who manage to get hold of them. From collectible pulls perfect to playable strategic nightmares, it is a set that will keep on giving with every booster players open.
Unfortunately, the sheer size of the card list and the Special Collection status make Ascended Heroes a mixed bag. Players will have a hard time opening enough packs to get a good selection of cards, and shortages will impact that, making collecting from the 290+ list a bit of a nightmare. It will also be painfully expensive. That said, the pins, posters, and tech stickers that come with the sets are the high-quality standard players have come to expect from special sets, making them a treat.
Ascended Heroes is a beautiful collection, and it’s a shame it’s going to be so difficult to find.
**Bonus Action was provided with samples of the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolutions: Ascended Heroes expansion for the purpose of this review**
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