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MEGA Dream ex (Japanese) and Ascended Heroes (English) share most of their chase cards, card for card and art for art. This page compares what the exact same card costs in each language, so you can see where the Japanese copy is the smarter buy. Prices as of Oct 13, 2026.
How we matched the cards
A pair counts only when it's the same Pokémon or Trainer, with the same art, in the matching rarity tier: Japanese SAR to English SIR, MUR to MHR, gold UR to Hyper Rare, AR to IR, SR to Ultra Rare and MAR to MAR. We checked the artwork on any pair that wasn't a clear one-to-one match. Where a card has more than one possible match, we left it out.
Top 10 biggest price gaps
Ranked by the dollar gap between the Japanese and English copies of the same card, using TCGplayer market prices (USD) as of Oct 13, 2026.
1. Mega Gengar ex (SAR 240/193 / SIR 284/217)
The headline chase of both sets, and the biggest dollar gap on the page. $321.65 in Japanese vs $819.67 in English, a $498.02 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Mega Gengar ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Mega Gengar ex
Special Art Rare
$313.71
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Mega Gengar ex
Special Illustration Rare
$764.55
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$450.84
Japanese is 59% lower
2. Mega Dragonite ex (SAR 246/193 / SIR 290/217)
The English copy costs nearly three times as much for the same art. $169.79 in Japanese vs $477.42 in English, a $307.63 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Mega Dragonite ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Mega Dragonite ex
Special Art Rare
$166.82
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Mega Dragonite ex
Special Illustration Rare
$456.33
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$289.51
Japanese is 63% lower
3. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex (SAR 237/193 / SIR 281/217)
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex roughly doubles in price in English. $122.22 in Japanese vs $243.21 in English, a $120.99 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex
Special Art Rare
$120.17
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex
Special Illustration Rare
$236.66
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$116.49
Japanese is 49% lower
4. N's Zoroark ex (SAR 242/193 / SIR 286/217)
A mid-tier chase where the Japanese copy is well under half the English price. $56.19 in Japanese vs $138.67 in English, a $82.48 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
N's Zoroark ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
N's Zoroark ex
Special Art Rare
$53.60
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
N's Zoroark ex
Special Illustration Rare
$134.24
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$80.64
Japanese is 60% lower
5. Mega Froslass ex (SAR 233/193 / SIR 275/217)
One of the cheapest Special Art Rares here, and the English copy costs about three times as much. $21.26 in Japanese vs $64.23 in English, a $42.97 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Mega Froslass ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Mega Froslass ex
Special Art Rare
$20.08
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Mega Froslass ex
Special Illustration Rare
$62.06
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$41.98
Japanese is 68% lower
6. Steven's Metagross ex (SAR 245/193 / SIR 289/217)
Same pattern lower down: the English copy costs more than twice the Japanese one. $27.22 in Japanese vs $64.73 in English, a $37.51 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Steven's Metagross ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Steven's Metagross ex
Special Art Rare
$26.69
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Steven's Metagross ex
Special Illustration Rare
$62.52
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$35.83
Japanese is 57% lower
7. Pikachu ex (SAR 234/193 / SIR 277/217)
The closest race among the big chases: the two Pikachu ex copies are only about 12% apart. $267.10 in Japanese vs $300.27 in English, a $33.17 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Pikachu ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Pikachu ex
Special Art Rare
$267.10
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Pikachu ex
Special Illustration Rare
$299.83
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$32.73
Japanese is 11% lower
8. Mega Dragonite ex (MUR 250/193 / MHR 295/217)
The one exception in the top 10: the English Mega Hyper Rare is cheaper than the Japanese Mega Ultra Rare. $192.43 in Japanese vs $161.28 in English, a $31.15 gap; English is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Mega Dragonite ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Mega Dragonite ex
Mega Ultra Rare
$192.43
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Mega Dragonite ex
Mega Hyper Rare
$155.00
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16+$37.43
Japanese is 24% higher
9. Psyduck (AR 199/193 / IR 226/217)
An Art Rare, not an ex, but the English Illustration Rare still costs nearly three times as much. $15.54 in Japanese vs $43.61 in English, a $28.07 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Psyduck: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Psyduck
Art Rare
$13.57
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Psyduck
Illustration Rare
$44.30
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$30.73
Japanese is 69% lower
10. Mega Scrafty ex (SAR 241/193 / SIR 285/217)
Rounds out the top 10, with the English copy at more than two and a half times the Japanese price. $16.56 in Japanese vs $43.78 in English, a $27.22 gap; Japanese is cheaper.
JP vs EN
Mega Scrafty ex: Japanese vs English
Japanese
Mega Scrafty ex
Special Art Rare
$14.76
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16
English
Mega Scrafty ex
Special Illustration Rare
$43.95
TCGplayer market · Oct 16, 2026Price from Oct 16-$29.19
Japanese is 66% lower
More matched cards
The next eight matches by gap. The Japanese copy is cheaper for all of them, by about $10 to $27 per card: Mega Hawlucha ex 239/193, Fezandipiti ex 244/193, Mega Diancie ex 238/193, Mega Gengar ex 230/193, Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex 243/193, Team Rocket's Mimikyu 205/193, Mega Dragonite ex 232/193 and Mega Eelektross ex 235/193. These are the Japanese versions:
Why the gaps exist
- Different products. English Ascended Heroes has no booster box. It comes in Elite Trainer Boxes (about $128.031 on TCGplayer) and other boxed products, so each English pull costs more to chase. The Japanese High Class Pack is opened in volume as a booster box.
- A bigger English set. Ascended Heroes runs to 217 numbered cards before its secret rares, against 193 for MEGA Dream ex. More cards per slot means each English chase card is harder to pull.
- Where the buyers are. TCGplayer is an English-language marketplace. Demand for English cards is strongest among English-language players and collectors, since English cards are the ones legal in English-language tournament play, so English copies carry a premium.
Gaps move with every reprint, tournament result and new set, so check the live prices before you buy.
Buying the Japanese version
If you're collecting the art rather than playing English-language tournaments, the Japanese copy is often the better value. You can compare sealed MEGA Dream ex boxes from Japanese sellers on the MEGA Dream ex price board, read the MEGA Dream ex booster box guide, or see the full MEGA Dream ex vs Ascended Heroes comparison.
Price gap
MEGA Dream ex (M2A) booster box
Japan-direct, lowest ask
$83.99
≈ ￥13,200
TCGplayer market (US resale)
$85.99
≈ ￥13,500
Market price on TCGplayer, not a seller ask
Save $2.00 · before fees & shipping
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Frequently asked questions
Are Japanese Pokémon cards cheaper than English?
For MEGA Dream ex vs Ascended Heroes, the Japanese copy was cheaper for 49 of 53 matched cards as of Oct 13, 2026. It varies card by card, so check the pairs above.
What is the biggest Japanese vs English price gap in MEGA Dream ex?
Mega Gengar ex: $321.65 in Japanese vs $819.67 in English as of Oct 13, 2026.
Is a Japanese SAR the same card as an English SIR?
Yes. Special Art Rare (SAR) is the Japanese name for the tier English sets call Special Illustration Rare (SIR). The art is the same.
Can I play Japanese cards in English-language tournaments?
Generally no. Japanese cards aren't legal in most English-language sanctioned play.
All Pokémon images © The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Creatures and GAME FREAK. Pacific Card Exchange is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Creatures, or GAME FREAK. Prices are snapshots and change frequently.
Price notes
- TCGplayer, Oct 20, 2026
Sources
- TCGplayer market prices, MEGA Dream ex (Japanese) (as of 2026-10-13)
- TCGplayer market prices, Ascended Heroes (English) (as of 2026-10-13)
Written by
Bryce Watson
Bryce runs Pacific Card Exchange and tracks Japanese sealed Pokémon prices every day for international buyers.
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