Dragosi, Author at CyberGameway

June 27, 2026

Top 5 Rayquaza cards to invest in before Storm Esmeralda

The upcoming set “Storm Esmeralda” has officially been revealed! The rumors of the set being a Rayquaza set were true, as a new Mega Rayquaza EX card was revealed. With that information, you can expect that amazing looking higher rarity Rayquaza cards will be in the set. Rayquaza has been in the conversation for some of the top chase cards in the game for a while, specifically with respects to the Evolving Skies Alternate Art, and the Gold Star Rays commanding the highest attention. Many other cards for Rayquaza have more reasonable price tags, and we’re already seeing market movement for these cards. Today, we’re looking at cards you might want to look out for in preparation for Storm Esmeralda. Now this is entirely speculation, so take what we say here with a grain of salt, but these cards would be ones that we’d pick up.

Honorable Mentions

We have a few honorable mentions that we’d like to lead off with. These cards are generally going to be a bit more affordable and easier to acquire. While these may not spike as crazily as others on the list, these are good if you’re investing on a budget.

Rayquaza VMAX – Crown Zenith

First on the Honorable Mentions is Rayquaza VMAX (102) from Crown Zenith. Crown Zenith in general is getting pretty expensive as a set, namely for a few other cards in the set, but one that flies a bit under the radar. While it’s no fancy alternate art, it does have a really cool look in person. The texturing gives it some depth, and the background and coloration is awesome on this card. You can scoop up a near mint copy of this card for about $15 at the time of writing.

Rayquaza Amazing Rare – Vivid Voltage

Second up for our honorable mentions is the Amazing Rare Ray from Vivid Voltage. This one has been steadily climbing over the last couple months, and it is a pretty spectacular card. The Amazing Rares in general are awesome, and a unique style of rarity that we don’t see now a days. Even though it is a normal framed card, the coloration on the background pops, and the outlining makes Ray really stand out. At the moment, this card can get picked up for about $30 if you want to get it alone. That being said, Vivid Voltage isn’t too terribly expensive as a set, so you could try to pull one of these bad boys pack fresh.

Rayquaza VMAX (Secret) Trainer Gallery – Silver Tempest

The final honorable mention card is the Secret Rare Trainer Gallery Rayquaza VMAX from Silver Tempest. Trainer Galleries overall have seen a big spike in popularity as of late, and this one is no different. For a time, people were not a huge fan of the flat black background, but that is changing. This card is the equivalent of Hyper Rare (Gold) cards in modern sets, and typically those are not the most sought after cards. But over the last three months, this card has doubled in price, and can be had for around 40 bucks.

The top 5 list

With those honorable mentions out of they way, let’s kick off our top 5 list. These cards are going to vary in price, and levels of accessibility, but if you happen to see one of these in the wild, definitely consider picking it up.

5. M Rayquaza EX – XY Roaring Skies

Our first card is going to be the M Rayquaza EX from XY Roaring Skies. If we want to talk about iconic looking Mega Ray cards, this has to be one of them. Roaring Skies has some absolute bangers in there including the full arts of regular and mega Ray. This one falls in the realm of affordability, coming in at around $85 for a near mint copy at the time of writing. With this card, you’re going to get a two-for, because the Celebrations edition of this card exists for about half the price so you have options to snag this awesome artwork for even cheaper.

4. Rayquaza Delta Species – Holon Phantoms

Next up is going to the Rayquaza Delta Species from Holon Phantoms, specifically the non-holo version. This is a super old school card, coming from 2006 Pokemon, so it holds a lot of nostalgia value. Obviously the holo version will command a much higher price tag, so if you can snag one of them, it’s probably worth it. But the non-holo version is rather affordable, coming in at around $70-$80 bucks. This one is also a great grader, as the PSA 10 value is over $1500.

3. Shining Rayquaza – Shining Legends

Shining Legends may be known for the Test Tube Mewtwo or Shining Mew, but Mega Rayquaza is the third most expensive card in that set, and is number three on our list. This is our first Shiny version of Ray on our list today, and everyone loves shiny Pokemon. This is another normal framed card, but the artwork and coloration are top tier. A near mint version of this card can be found for around $120, which is crazy as this card was about $80 three short months ago.

2. Rayquaza GX – Alt Art Promo

Our second shiny Ray on the list and our number two card we’d pick up is the Rayquaza GX Alternate Art from the Hidden Fates Ultra-Premium Collection. The GX era of cards were a special one for many, and the cards themselves are really cool to look at. Since this card came from a UPC, it makes it a bit more sought after. The non-shiny full art and the secret rare can be found in Celestial Storm, which is a rather expensive set. Now this card isn’t necessarily “cheap” but it’s not terrible, coming in around $190-$200 for a near mint copy at the time of writing, though this is rising quickly.

1. Rayquaza VMAX Trainer Gallery – Silver Tempest

Our top pick for Rayquaza cards to scoop up is going to be the Silver Tempest Rayquaza VMAX Trainer Gallery! Like I mentioned at the beginning of the article, Trainer Galleries are incredibly popular. The artwork on this card is awesome, and it harkens back to the Evolving Skies Rayquaza V Alternate Art. But that’s not the reason this one is topping the list. This card is topping the list because it’s actually rather accessible to try and pull. While the pack price of Silver Tempest is rising, the ETB prices for are less than more modern ETBs. Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Boxes are currently under $175, while ETBs such as Ascended Heroes are $185 and rising, and Prismatic Evolutions are around $200. Even better yet, you can pick this card up for about $225 from TCGPlayer for a near mint copy. Just like other Ray cards on this list, the price of this one has doubled over the last three months. As Silver Tempest ages, and Storm Esmeralda gets closer to release, I wouldn’t be surprise if this card continues to rise.

As we creep ever closer to Storm Esmeralda preview season, we should see movement of Rayquaza cards. Hopefully, this has given some insight into some key cards that you’ll want pick up. While you’re here, check out our other articles, such as our Top 10 cards to pick up from Pitch Black. Also check out our shop, as well as our Tiktok and Youtube channels for some video content that we make!

June 24, 2026

Top 10 Best Cards in Pokemon Pitch Black to pick up on release

Dragosi Top 10 Pitch Black, Pokemon, Top 10 1

Welcome to the Darkness

Pitch Black is set to officially release in just a few short weeks in the States. It’s due to release on July 17, 2026. There’s already a ton of hype around the set! The Japanese version, Abyss Eye, saw an increase in the typical box price for a Standard set. Prices were as high as $150 USD. Collectors ripped boxes in droves with the hopes of pulling some of the top chases from the set early. Today we’re going to go over the top 10 cards to pick up for when Pokemon Pitch Black drops.

10. Slowbro – Illustration Rare

The Slow-Line of Pokemon has been a sneakily popular line amongst fans. The derpy nature of these guys does something for the Pokemon community, making it deserving of the number 10 spot. The artwork is spectacular on this card. The Slowbro is incredibly vibrant in contrast to the dingy and dark background it’s sitting in. If you’re a Slow-fan, this is a definite add to the collection.

9. Gwynn – Super Rare

Number nine on the list is the Gwynn Super Rare. This trainer became a fan favorite from Legends Z-A, but the card is also a fantastic card competitively. It allows you to discard up to 2 Pokemon from you hand (rule box excluded), but you draw 3 cards for each Pokemon discarded this way. Talk about amazing card advantage in the midgame, and on top of that having a favorite character as well. This card has a lot going for it and is a great pick up for competitive players and collectors alike!

8. Gladion’s Showdown – Special Illustration Rare

Our next card is a rather interesting one, Gladion’s Showdown SIR is number eight on the list. This card features Gladion from Sun & Moon, as the partner of Type: Null. This one is all about the artwork, as it’s very vibrant and colorful. Better yet, the artwork is an extension of the Silvally Illustration Rare, and those kinds of panoramic, connecting artwork cards are gaining more popularity for collector’s personal collections.

7. Mega Chandellure EX – Special Illustration Rare

Our first Mega Evolution SIR shows up here on number seven. Mega Chandelure is one of the newer megas introduced in Legends Z-A, and to say that it’s a beautiful interpretation of the evolution is definitely an understatement. The artwork really showcases the pokemon in its glory. Not to mention, the texturing on the card is spectacular. Now we’ve only seen the Japanese version of this card, so the texturing could be different on the English printing, but it is a sick looking card to spicy up the binder.

6. Misty’s Spirit – Super Rare

This one shocks us that it’s not higher on the list, but Misty’s Spirit comes in at the sixth spot on our list. Cards with Misty in them have always been fan favorites. It harkens back to old fixation on Misty cards, and that has transcended time to the modern day. Cards like Starmie V Trainer Gallery from Astral Radiance, or Misty’s Psyduck Illustration Rare from Destined Rivals have commanded a high price tag as of late. Now this card is only a super rare, so it’ll be a more common to find than the aforementioned cards. Even still, it should still be one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive super rare in the set. The one thing that is surprising to us is that this card didn’t receive a higher rarity version of the card, given how popular Misty is as a character.

5. Mega Zeraora EX – Special Illustration Rare

At number five, we have the Mega Zeraora EX SIR. The inclusion of this mega in the Mega Dimension DLC for Legends Z-A was a bit of a shocker, since Zeraora is a Mythical Pokemon. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that this card is gorgeous. The light blue and white color scheme pops against the specks of black background, and it’s wonderfully accented by the yellow on Zeraora. And because this is an SIR, you can expect some crazy texturing and shine to be included. This card also could be a cool competitive TCG card as well. It’s the new lightning energy dump, that can stack damage up very quickly. It also has a powerful pivoting move, allowing you to dish out the damage and get your card to safety. Regardless of your purpose for getting this card, this is Pitch Black SIR to scoop up.

4. Morpeko EX – Special Illustration Rare

If we want to talk about outlandish and devious cards, the number four card will definitely do the trick. The SIR for Morpeko just evokes chaos and a scarily cute vibe. Heck, it’s literally screaming at you as it’s trying to launch itself out of the card. Now this is the Hangry form of Morpeko so you can expect it to bring that feeling in the artwork. On top of that, this card is actually quite good in the TCG. For a singular Dark energy, you can shuffle your hand and redraw six cards. This is an amazing tech card to add into decks like N’s Zoroak. Either way, this one is a personal favorite of ours, and you can’t go wrong ripping this from a pack, or picking it up for your binder.

3. Gwynn – Special Illustration Rare

Our first of two repeat cards on the list, kicking off the top three is the Gwynn Special Illustration Rare. For all the same reasons that the Super Rare version is sought after, they all apply here. The artwork has gotten a bit of an upgrade, and the pose that Gwynn is doing in this picture is definitely a bit more confident. Again this one also ranks up this high because of the SIR treatment, but that doesn’t diminish that this card rocks and deserves to be one of the top cards of Pitch Black.

2. Mega Darkrai EX – Mega Ultra Rare

What might be a bit of a surprise to some, the Mega Darkrai EX Mega Ultra Rare, or the Gold Darkrai, comes in at number two on the list. Historically, Gold cards in English are not the top chase of any given set that they’re in, even if they are the equivalent of the top chase or featured Pokemon. Mega Charizard X EX is a perfect example of this. The Mega Gold cards as of late have had a bunch of detail work done on the backgrounds, and really gives a clean look at the Pokemon portrayed in the artwork. While it might now have as much flare as the SIR versions, it’s still a statement in any binder, and is still going to be a super chase hit from Pitch Black.

1. Mega Darkrai EX – Special Illustration Rare

We have arrived at the top card to pick up from Pitch Black, and to no one’s surprise, it’s the Mega Darkrai EX Special Illustration Rare. When this card was revealed for Abyss Eye, it immediately shot to the top of many collector’s must have list. While the Pokemon itself, another crazy Mythical Mega Evolution, has caught some slack for how it looks, no one can deny that the artwork by AKIRA EGAWA is legendary in its own right. The artwork is on the same level as the Crown Zenith Gold VSTAR Arceus, Giritina, Dialga and Palkia. The Japanese version from Abyss Eye had some insane texturing and shine, and we expect that the English printing will be the very same.

Hopefully you enjoyed that list, and you have a good idea of what to scoop up once Pokemon Pitch Black releases next month. If you did enjoy this article, check out other articles on the website, and consider picking up some product from our shop! If you’re a fan of Live Streams, drop a follow on our Tiktok and Youtube channels, as we’re live on the channels nearly every day, ripping Pokemon packs and shiny cardboard!

Dragosi

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