One of 2026's best Pokémon cards is nearly impossible to get

The Mega Gallade special illustration card, drawn by Akira Egawa, is being praised as one of the best Pokémon cards of the year — and also one of the hardest to obtain. It’s a promotional card for Japan’s Storm Emeralda set, which introduces stadiums split into two separate cards, and only a very small number will be printed.

There are two paths to receive the card. Players who enter themed tournaments built mostly from Storm Emeralda cards and win three matches will be mailed a Gallade starting in December 2026. Alternately, people can submit an account describing the experience of playing the Emeralda set with friends or family at home; 2,000 entrants will be chosen at random to get the card.

Both routes require identity verification with a My Number Card, Japan’s national ID. That follows a May policy change that required ID for purchases at official Pokémon Center stores, a step the company framed as giving fans equal opportunities and helping prevent scalpers and bots from snapping up stock.

Japan

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