Mega Charizard X ex is the black-and-blue star of Phantasmal Flames, the second main expansion of the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Evolution series, and it’s the card most collectors think of first when that set comes up. In English it exists as four booster pack versions and two Black Star promos, spread across Phantasmal Flames packs, a tin and the Ultra-Premium Collection.
This guide sorts all of that out. We cover every English version with its number and rarity, how the card plays under the Mega Evolution ex rules, what’s inside the Charizard UPC and the tins, and which sealed products suit a collector, a player or a gift buyer. Everything below has been checked against official product information and the main card databases, and anything we couldn’t confirm has been left out.
What Is Mega Charizard X ex?
Charizard has two Mega Evolutions, X and Y, both introduced in the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games. The X form is the dark one, with black scales and blue flames. In the trading card game it’s a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, the headline card type of the series that began with the English Mega Evolution expansion on 26 September 2025.
The English card arrived in Phantasmal Flames, which was released worldwide on 14 November 2025. Phantasmal Flames has 130 cards: 94 in the main set and 36 secret cards above that number. Bulbapedia names this Charizard as the set’s central Pokémon, and the official line-up for the set lists six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, four Pokémon ex, 13 Illustration Rares, 17 Ultra Rares and five Special Illustration Rares.
The card first appeared in Japan in Inferno X, a Japanese expansion released on 26 September 2025. The set shares its name with the card’s attack. According to Bulbapedia, Phantasmal Flames includes cards from Inferno X, along with cards from Japan’s Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex starter sets. Japanese and English cards are separate printings with their own numbers, so the language matters when you buy singles.
Key Facts at a Glance
Here are the main details in one place, taken from Bulbapedia, Limitless TCG and Serebii.
- English set: Mega Evolution—Phantasmal Flames, set code PFL
- English release: 14 November 2025
- Versions in the set: 013/094, 109/094, 125/094 and 130/094
- Promo versions: MEP 023 (Ultra-Premium Collection) and MEP 029 (Mega Charizard Tin)
- Japanese source: Inferno X, released 26 September 2025
- Type and stage: Fire, Stage 2, evolves from Charmeleon
- HP: 360
- Regulation mark: I
That spread of versions is what makes the card interesting. A player can use the regular Double Rare in a deck, while a collector might chase the Special Illustration Rare or the Mega Hyper Rare that closes the set.
How the Card Plays
Every English version has the same game text, so this section applies whichever copy you own. The card is a Stage 2 Pokémon that goes on top of Charmeleon. It has 360 HP, a Water Weakness, no Resistance and a Retreat Cost of two.
It has a single attack and no Ability. Inferno X costs two Fire Energy. You discard any amount of Fire Energy from among your Pokémon, and the attack does 90 damage for each card you discarded. Because the Energy can come from any of your Pokémon, Fire Energy on your Bench works as fuel for one big hit.
The Mega Evolution Pokémon ex Rules
The Pokémon Company International’s announcement for the series says Mega Evolution Pokémon ex have increased HP and attack damage compared with regular Pokémon ex. The trade-off, set out in the same announcement, is that when a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes three Prize cards rather than two.
There’s an important difference from the XY era, when M Pokémon-EX had their own Mega stage and playing one ended your turn. Bulbapedia notes that playing a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex doesn’t end your turn. The modern cards come as Basic, Stage 1 or Stage 2 Pokémon depending on the species, so you can evolve Charmeleon into this Charizard and attack in the same turn.
Using Inferno X Well
The maths is simple. Discard two Fire Energy and Inferno X does 180 damage, three does 270 and four does 360. The skill is in deciding how much Energy you can afford to lose, because whatever you discard has to be rebuilt before the next big attack.
Building around the card means getting through the evolution line and keeping Fire Energy in play. Phantasmal Flames includes Charmander (011/094) and Charmeleon (012/094) as Commons, right before the Charizard in the set list, so the whole line comes from the same set. Protect your Benched Energy carriers, because losing them shrinks your damage.
Standard Legality
Cards with the H, I and J regulation marks are legal in the 2026–27 Standard format, which began at in-person Play! Pokémon events on 10 April 2026 (and on Pokémon TCG Live on 26 March 2026). Mega Charizard X ex carries the I mark, so it’s legal in Standard as well as Expanded. Check the official rules before an event, because formats change each year.
Every English Mega Charizard X ex Card
Bulbapedia’s printing list shows six English versions of the card: four from Phantasmal Flames booster packs and two Black Star promos that only come in sealed products. The set numbers, rarities and illustrators below are confirmed by Bulbapedia and Limitless TCG, and the set numbers also match Serebii’s list.
| Number | Rarity | Illustrator | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 013/094 | Double Rare | takuyoa | Phantasmal Flames booster packs |
| 109/094 | Ultra Rare (full art) | takuyoa | Phantasmal Flames booster packs |
| 125/094 | Special Illustration Rare | danciao | Phantasmal Flames booster packs |
| 130/094 | Mega Hyper Rare | takuyoa | Phantasmal Flames booster packs |
| MEP 023 | Black Star Promo | Saboteri | Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection |
| MEP 029 | Black Star Promo | takuyoa | Mega Charizard Tin (X version) |
The Four Pokémon Phantasmal Flames Mega Charizard Cards
The regular Pokémon Phantasmal Flames Mega Charizard card is 013/094, a Double Rare. It’s the copy most players use, since every version plays the same and this one is the easiest to find in packs.
109/094 is the Ultra Rare full art. The Pokémon Company International’s series announcement described a new art style for ultra rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, which may show a silhouette of the Pokémon’s regular form. It sits in the secret range with the set’s other full arts.
125/094 is the Special Illustration Rare, painted by danciao, and it’s the version many collectors put at the top of their want list. Special Illustration Rares show the Pokémon in a full illustrated scene rather than a standard frame.
130/094 is the Mega Hyper Rare and the final card in the set, which Bulbapedia describes as gold-etched. No sealed product guarantees any particular Pokémon Phantasmal Flames Mega Charizard card from its packs, so treat the top three versions as a lucky bonus rather than something a box will deliver.
The Two Promo Versions
The Black Star promos can’t be pulled from booster packs at all. MEP 023 comes in the Ultra-Premium Collection and uses Saboteri’s artwork, the same art as the Japanese MEGA Dream ex version. MEP 029 comes in the X version of the Mega Charizard Tin and uses takuyoa’s art. If you want Mega Charizard X ex in hand without relying on luck, these two products are the direct route.
Japanese Versions
Japanese collectors have a separate set of numbers. Inferno X has the card at 013/080, 094/080, 110/080 and 116/080. MEGA Dream ex, a Japanese high class pack released on 28 November 2025, adds a Mega Attack Rare at 223/193. These are Japanese-language printings with their own numbering, so a Japanese card number won’t match the English one even when the rarity tier is similar.
Mega Charizard ex: X or Y?
Charizard’s two Mega forms are both now in the English TCG as separate cards. Both are Fire-type Stage 2 Pokémon with 360 HP, but they have different attacks: the X form uses Inferno X, while Mega Charizard Y ex uses Explosion Y. The Y card arrived in English in Ascended Heroes, as a Double Rare at 022/217 and a Mega Hyper Rare at 294/217, with its own promo, MEP 030, in the Y version of the tin.
That’s why you’ll see “Mega Charizard ex” used as a catch-all in product names. When a listing doesn’t include the letter, check the description or ask the seller which form you’ll get. If the Y form is the one you want, our Ascended Heroes Pokémon Center ETB guide covers that set.
The Charizard UPC: What’s Inside
The Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection was released on 14 November 2025, the same day as Phantasmal Flames. These days, it’s usually the box people mean when they talk about the Charizard UPC. The official contents are:
- 1 foil promo card of Mega Charizard X ex (MEP 023)
- 1 foil promo card of Oricorio ex (MEP 024)
- 18 Pokémon TCG booster packs
- 65 card sleeves featuring Mega Charizard X
- 1 playmat, 1 deck box and 1 metal coin, all featuring the same Pokémon
- 6 damage-counter dice
- A code card for Pokémon TCG Live
The official list says “18 Pokémon TCG booster packs” without naming the sets they come from. Some collectors report a mix of recent expansions, but the official contents don’t say, so we wouldn’t count on any particular set.
The nickname can also mean an older box. The Sword & Shield Ultra-Premium Collection featuring Charizard came out on 28 October 2022 with Charizard V, Charizard VMAX and Charizard VSTAR promos. If you see a Charizard UPC listed without a picture, check which one it is before you buy.
Our listing is the English – Mega Charizard X – Ultra Premium Collection. It suits a collector who wants the promo plus a playmat and accessories, and it makes a strong centrepiece present for a Charizard fan of any age.
The Mega Charizard ex Tin
The Mega Charizard Tins were released on 20 February 2026 in two versions, one for each form. Each tin holds a foil promo of its featured Pokémon, Pokémon TCG booster packs and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. The X tin carries the X form (MEP 029), and the Y tin carries Mega Charizard Y ex (MEP 030).
Our English Pokémon Mega Charizard ex Tin listing doesn’t name the form in its title. If you need one form in particular, email sales@obsidiatcg.co.uk before ordering and we’ll tell you what we can about the version we have.
A tin is the smaller of the two products that include one of these promos, and the metal case is handy for storing cards afterwards. It’s a good choice for younger fans, stocking fillers and anyone who wants one featured card without a large box.
Opening Phantasmal Flames for the Set Versions
If you’d rather chase 109, 125 or 130, Phantasmal Flames booster packs are the only place to find them. Each booster pack contains 10 game cards, and we stock the set in several formats, with the format named in each product title.
Booster Boxes
The English – Phantasmal Flames – 36pack Booster Box is the full display and the natural pick for big openings, group breaks or working towards a master set. The English – Phantasmal Flames – 18pack Booster Box holds half as many packs, which suits a solo opening night or a smaller budget.
Elite Trainer Box
The English – Phantasmal Flames – Elite Trainer Box is the classic all-in-one box. Its official contents are 9 Phantasmal Flames booster packs, a full-art foil Charcadet promo (MEP 022), 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, 6 damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with dividers and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.
Bundles and Blisters
The English Pokémon Phantasmal Flames 6-Pack Booster Bundle is six packs in one box, an easy way to try the set. The English Pokémon Phantasmal Flames 3-Pack Blister is the smallest sealed option here. Official three-pack blisters pair three booster packs with a promo card, and Bulbapedia lists Sneasel (MEP 020) and Weavile (MEP 021) versions for this set.
Other Hits in the Set
The fire dragon isn’t the only card to look out for when you open. The Special Illustration Rares continue straight after it, from 126 to 129, with Rotom ex, Mega Sharpedo ex, Mega Lopunny ex and the Supporter Dawn. The Ultra Rares at 108 to 124 include full arts of Mega Heracross ex, Oricorio ex, Rotom ex, Mismagius ex, Mega Sharpedo ex, Empoleon ex and Mega Lopunny ex, alongside Trainer cards and Ignition Energy.
Choosing the Right Product
The best box depends on whether you want a guaranteed card, the fun of opening, or a bit of both.
- You want the card for certain: the Ultra-Premium Collection includes MEP 023, along with accessories and 18 packs.
- You want a smaller box with a promo: the tin includes a Mega Charizard promo and booster packs; check which form you’ll receive.
- You’re chasing the Special Illustration Rare or Mega Hyper Rare: a Phantasmal Flames booster box gives you the most packs from the one set that contains them.
- You’re new to the game: the Elite Trainer Box has packs, sleeves, dice and Energy to start building a deck.
- You’re buying a gift: the booster bundle, blister and tin are colourful, easy to wrap and simple to understand.
Many collectors combine the two approaches. A promo product plus a booster bundle gives you one copy of the card for certain and a handful of chances at the set versions. For a wider look at the series, our Mega Evolutions booster box guide covers the set that started it.
Tips for Collectors and Players
A few simple habits make collecting this card easier and keep your best pulls safe.
- Read the number first. It tells you exactly which version you have: 013, 109, 125 or 130 in Phantasmal Flames, or MEP 023 and MEP 029 for the promos.
- Sleeve big pulls straight away. Put any full art, Special Illustration Rare or Mega Hyper Rare into a sleeve and a top loader before opening the next pack.
- Check the language. Japanese Inferno X and MEGA Dream ex cards use different numbers from the English set.
- Players can keep it simple. The Double Rare plays exactly like the rarer versions, so it’s the sensible copy for a deck.
- Store sealed boxes carefully. If you keep a UPC sealed for display, store it flat, dry and out of direct sunlight, with nothing heavy on top.
You’ll find more set guides and buying advice on the Obsidia TCG blog.
Mega Charizard X ex FAQs
Which set is Mega Charizard X ex from?
In English, it’s from Phantasmal Flames, released on 14 November 2025, with versions at 013/094, 109/094, 125/094 and 130/094. In Japanese, it first appeared in Inferno X on 26 September 2025.
How many English versions are there?
Six: four in Phantasmal Flames booster packs (Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Special Illustration Rare and Mega Hyper Rare) and two Black Star promos, MEP 023 from the Ultra-Premium Collection and MEP 029 from the Mega Charizard Tin.
What’s inside the Charizard UPC?
The Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection has two foil promos (Mega Charizard X ex and Oricorio ex), 18 booster packs, 65 sleeves, a playmat, a deck box, a metal coin, 6 damage-counter dice and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.
How many Prize cards does it give up?
Three. When a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes three Prize cards instead of the usual two for a Pokémon ex.
Is it legal in Standard?
Yes. It carries the I regulation mark, and H, I and J cards are legal in the 2026–27 Standard format that began at in-person events on 10 April 2026. It’s also legal in Expanded.
Where to Buy Mega Charizard X ex Products
For a guaranteed promo, start with the English – Mega Charizard X – Ultra Premium Collection or the English Pokémon Mega Charizard ex Tin. To chase the Phantasmal Flames versions, choose the English – Phantasmal Flames – 36pack Booster Box, the English – Phantasmal Flames – Elite Trainer Box or the English Pokémon Phantasmal Flames 6-Pack Booster Bundle.
More premium boxes and tins sit in our collection boxes category. For full card details, see Bulbapedia’s Mega Charizard X ex card page, Serebii’s Phantasmal Flames set list, Limitless TCG’s card entry and the official Pokémon TCG website. If you have a question about any product, email sales@obsidiatcg.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
