Hey there, fellow Pokemon TCG Pocket enthusiasts! If you’re anything like me, you’ve been eagerly waiting for the Mega Rising expansion to drop, and now that it’s finally here, you’re probably staring at those three pack options wondering: “Should I open Mega Blaziken, Gyarados, or Altaria packs first?”
I’ve been playing Pokemon TCG Pocket since day one, and let me tell you, the Mega Rising expansion is a game-changer. With 331 new cards and the introduction of Mega Evolutions to the digital format, we’re looking at a complete meta shift. But with three different booster packs to choose from, each with their own exclusive cards, making the right choice could make or break your early game experience.
After spending countless hours researching, testing different packs, and analyzing the top cards from each set, I’m here to give you the definitive guide on which Mega Rising packs you should be opening. Trust me, I’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have to!
What Makes Mega Rising Different?
Before we dive into the pack recommendations, let me explain why this expansion is such a big deal. The Mega Rising set is the first in Pokemon TCG Pocket to feature Mega Evolution Pokemon ex cards. These aren’t just regular ex cards – they’re powerhouse cards that can completely turn the tide of battle when played correctly.
What’s really interesting is how the expansion is structured. Unlike previous sets where you could get any card from any pack, Mega Rising splits its 331 cards across three distinct booster packs:
- Mega Blaziken Pack: Fire-type focused with some Grass and Dark cards
- Mega Gyarados Pack: Water-type focused with some Lightning and Darkness cards
- Mega Altaria Pack: Dragon and Fairy-type focused with some Lightning cards
Each pack has its own exclusive cards, meaning you can’t get a Mega Blaziken ex from a Gyarados pack, and vice versa. This makes your initial pack choice incredibly important for building your collection.
The Big Question: Which Pack Should You Open First?
I’ve tested all three packs extensively, and I’m going to give it to you straight: you should prioritize opening Mega Blaziken and Mega Gyarados packs first. Here’s why:
Mega Blaziken Pack: The Powerhouse Choice
When I first started opening Mega Rising packs, I was blown away by the sheer power of the Mega Blaziken ex card. This thing is an absolute monster and currently sits at the top of most tier lists for good reason.
Mega Blaziken ex (Ranked #1 overall by Sportskeeda)
- Attack: Blaze Kick – 120 damage for just 2 Fire Energy
- Special Effect: You can discard 1 Fire Energy to inflict Burn on your opponent’s Pokemon
- HP: 210 – making it incredibly tanky
- Why it’s amazing: That burn effect effectively pushes your damage to 140 while adding status condition pressure. Plus, with only 2 energy requirements, you can get it online much faster than other Mega cards.
But here’s what really makes the Mega Blaziken pack special – it’s not just about the main card. The pack comes with incredible support cards that make building a complete Fire deck a breeze:
Flame Patch (Ranked #3 overall) This trainer card is now a staple for any Fire-type deck. It lets you attach a Fire Energy from your discard pile directly to your Active Fire Pokemon. When I paired this with Mega Blaziken ex, I was able to recover from energy discards and keep the pressure on turn after turn.
May Another fantastic supporter that helps you draw cards and set up your board faster. In my experience, having access to both May and Flame Patch makes the Mega Blaziken pack incredibly self-sufficient.
Other notable cards: The pack also includes solid options like Shiftry, Beautifly, and Dustox for Grass-type players, plus the powerful Mega Pinsir ex for Dark-type enthusiasts.
Mega Gyarados Pack: The Versatile Choice
If you’re the type of player who likes to experiment with different deck types (like I do), then the Mega Gyarados pack should be your second priority. While it might not have the single strongest card like the Blaziken pack, it offers incredible variety and deck-building flexibility.
Mega Gyarados ex (Ranked #2 overall)
- Attack: Mega Blaster – 140 damage for 4 Water Energy
- Special Effect: Your opponent discards the top 3 cards of their deck
- HP: 210 – just as tanky as Blaziken
- Why it’s amazing: That deck disruption effect is brutal. I’ve won so many games simply by running my opponents out of resources. Plus, 140 damage is enough to one-shot most non-Mega Pokemon in the game.
But what really makes this pack shine is the depth of options:
Jolteon ex (Ranked #4 overall) This card surprised me with how good it is. Mach Bolt deals 80 damage for just 2 Lightning Energy, which is already solid. But its Electromagnetic Wall ability is what puts it over the top – while Jolteon ex is Active, your opponent takes 20 damage every time they attach an Energy to ANY of their Pokemon. I’ve used this to completely shut down energy-heavy decks.
Mega Absol ex A fantastic Dark-type option with high damage output and disruption capabilities. Perfect for players who like to control the pace of the game.
Hydreigon Don’t sleep on this non-ex option! Hydreigon offers consistent damage and can be a great alternative if you’re having trouble pulling the ex cards.
Other notable cards: The pack also includes Dragalge ex (great for poison decks) and various Water-type support cards that make building multiple deck archetypes easy.
Mega Altaria Pack: The Niche Choice
Now, I’ll be honest with you – the Mega Altaria pack is probably your last priority among the three. That doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means, but it has fewer standout cards compared to the other packs. However, if you’re a fan of Dragon/Fairy strategies or want to try something different, this pack still has some gems.
Mega Altaria ex (Ranked #5 overall)
- Attack: Mega Harmony – 40 base damage + 30 for each Pokemon on your opponent’s bench
- Maximum Damage: Can deal up to 220 damage if your opponent has a full bench
- HP: 200 – slightly less tanky than the other Megas
- Why it’s interesting: This card rewards smart play and reading your opponent’s strategy. I’ve found it’s particularly effective against players who like to load up their bench with support Pokemon.
Mega Ampharos ex (Ranked #6 overall) A solid Lightning-type option with Lightning Lancer, which deals 100 damage plus random bench damage. It’s not as flashy as the other Megas, but it gets the job done consistently.
Lisia This is actually one of the best supporters in the set, letting you search for any Pokemon card from your deck. I’ve found this incredibly useful for setting up evolution chains.
Why it’s third: The pack simply has fewer high-impact cards compared to the others. While Mega Altaria ex and Mega Ampharos ex are good, they don’t have the same level of support cards that make the other packs so compelling.
My Personal Pack Opening Strategy
Based on all my research and testing, here’s the strategy I’ve been using and recommending to friends:
Phase 1: Focus on Mega Blaziken (First 20-30 packs)
I always start with the Mega Blaziken pack. The goal here is to get at least 1-2 copies of Mega Blaziken ex, plus as many Flame Patch and May cards as possible. In my experience, having a complete Fire deck early on gives you a huge advantage in ranked matches.
Phase 2: Diversify with Mega Gyarados (Next 20-30 packs)
Once I have a solid Fire deck built, I switch to the Mega Gyarados pack. The variety here lets me start building Water, Lightning, and Dark decks simultaneously. I’m specifically looking for Jolteon ex and Mega Absol ex, as these cards have completely different playstyles from my Fire deck.
Phase 3: Complete the Collection with Mega Altaria (Remaining packs)
Only after I have solid decks from the first two packs do I start opening Mega Altaria packs. At this point, I’m looking to fill in my collection and maybe build a fun Dragon or Fairy deck for casual play.
Pack Value Analysis
To help you make an informed decision, I’ve put together this comparison table of the key cards from each pack:
| Pack | Top Card | Key Support Cards | Deck Archetypes | Overall Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Blaziken | Mega Blaziken ex (#1) | Flame Patch (#3), May | Fire, Grass, Dark | ★★★★★ |
| Mega Gyarados | Mega Gyarados ex (#2) | Jolteon ex (#4), Mega Absol ex | Water, Lightning, Dark | ★★★★☆ |
| Mega Altaria | Mega Altaria ex (#5) | Mega Ampharos ex (#6), Lisia | Dragon, Fairy, Lightning | ★★★☆☆ |
Advanced Tips for Pack Selection
Now that you know which packs to prioritize, let me share some advanced strategies I’ve learned:
1. Consider Your Playstyle
Are you an aggressive player who likes to end games quickly? Go for Mega Blaziken. Do you prefer control and disruption? Mega Gyarados is your best bet. Like to play the long game and out-maneuver opponents? Mega Altaria might surprise you.
2. Watch the Meta
The Pokemon TCG Pocket meta is still evolving with Mega Rising. I’ve been tracking tournament results and deck usage rates, and right now Fire decks (Mega Blaziken) are dominating, followed closely by Water/Lightning variants (Mega Gyarados). This could change, but for now, it’s smart to follow the meta.
3. Don’t Forget the Commons and Rares
While everyone focuses on the flashy ex cards, I’ve found that some of the best cards in the set are actually the commons and rares. Cards like Sitrus Berry (healing tool) and Indeedee ex (healer support) can make a huge difference in close games, and they’re available in all three packs.
4. Trading Considerations
Remember that you can trade cards with other players. I’ve been focusing on getting multiples of the best cards from each pack so I can trade for cards I’m missing. The Mega Blaziken ex and Flame Patch cards are particularly valuable in the current trading market.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve seen so many players make the same mistakes when opening their Mega Rising packs. Let me help you avoid them:
Mistake #1: Spreading Your Packs Too Thin
Don’t open 5 packs of each type right away. I made this mistake initially and ended up with incomplete decks that couldn’t compete. Focus on one pack type until you have a complete deck.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Support Cards
It’s tempting to chase after the big ex cards, but I’ve learned that support cards like Flame Patch and Lisia are often what make decks consistent and competitive.
Mistake #3: Not Planning for the Future
The meta will shift, and new cards will be released. I’m keeping an eye on which cards might have long-term value beyond the current meta. Cards like Jolteon ex with its unique ability seem like they’ll remain relevant even as new sets come out.
Final Verdict: My Personal Recommendation
After all this research and testing, here’s my honest recommendation:
If you’re a new or intermediate player: Start with Mega Blaziken packs. The power level is unmatched, and the support cards make it easy to build a competitive deck quickly.
If you’re an experienced player who likes variety: Go with Mega Gyarados packs first. The versatility will let you experiment with different strategies and adapt to the evolving meta.
If you’re a collector or casual player: Mega Altaria packs might actually be your best bet. The cards are less common in competitive play, which means they might be more valuable for trading later, and the Dragon/Fairy strategies are really fun for casual matches.
For most players, though, I’d recommend the Mega Blaziken → Mega Gyarados → Mega Altaria order. That’s what I’ve been doing, and it’s given me the best results in both competitive play and collection building.
What’s Next for Mega Rising?
The Pokemon TCG Pocket meta is still young, and I’m excited to see how it evolves. I’ll be keeping a close eye on tournament results and new deck innovations, so make sure to bookmark this page for future updates!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear about your experiences with the Mega Rising packs. Which ones have you been opening? What amazing pulls have you gotten? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
Remember, at the end of the day, Pokemon TCG Pocket is about having fun. While I’ve given you my recommendations based on competitive viability, the best pack is ultimately the one that contains the cards YOU enjoy playing with most.
Happy pack opening, trainers! May your pulls be ever in your favor!
FAQ: Mega Rising Pack Questions
Which Mega Rising pack has the most valuable cards?
Based on current meta analysis and trading values, the Mega Blaziken pack has the most valuable cards overall. Mega Blaziken ex is currently the most sought-after card in the set, and support cards like Flame Patch are essential for competitive Fire decks.
Can I get all cards from just one pack type?
No, each pack has exclusive cards. You’ll need to open all three pack types eventually to complete your collection. However, I recommend focusing on one pack type first to build a complete deck before diversifying.
How many packs should I open before switching pack types?
I suggest opening 20-30 packs of one type before switching. This gives you a good chance of getting the key cards you need for a competitive deck. After that, you can start diversifying into other pack types.
Are the Mega Evolution cards really worth the hype?
Absolutely! In my experience, the Mega Evolution cards completely change how games play out. They’re significantly more powerful than regular ex cards and can often win games single-handedly if played correctly.
What’s the best way to use my daily pack openings?
I recommend consistency over variety. Use your daily pack openings on the same pack type until you’ve built a solid deck, then switch. This approach is much more effective than spreading your openings across all three pack types.
Will the pack recommendations change as the meta evolves?
Most likely! The Pokemon TCG Pocket meta is still developing, and new strategies will emerge. I’ll be updating this guide as the meta shifts, so check back regularly for the latest recommendations.
Looking for more Pokemon TCG Pocket content? Check out our other guides and articles here on webcomicsweekend.com, where we cover everything from beginner tips to advanced deck-building strategies. Don’t forget to bookmark this page for future updates as the Mega Rising meta continues to evolve!